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Last Updated 12:14 AMApril 052026
Caroline Bagwell

MichiganUConn to meet in the 2026 NCAA championship game

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7:44
3:26 amApril 52026

FINAL: (1) Michigan 91(1) Arizona 73

Michigan dominates Arizona in the Final Four

Michigan made it look easy in the Final Foursteamrolling Arizona91-73. The Wolverines are back in the national championship game for the first time since 2018when they fell to Villanova.

Michigan becomes the first team in NCAA tournament history to score 90+ points in five consecutive games.

Michigan came out hot in this onejumping out to an early 10-1 lead and holding it all the way until the final buzzereven leading by as many as 30 points in the second half. The Wolverines kept Arizona locked up all nightholding the Wildcats to 37% from the field. 

Aday Mara led the Wolverines with 26 points and nine reboundsdominating Arizona in the paint all night. Elliot Cadeau finished with a double-double: 13 points and 10 assists.

Michigan moves on to face UConn in the title game at 8:50 p.m. ET on MondayApril 6. The Wolverines will look to capture their first championship since 1989when they defeated Seton Hall.

2:55 amApril 52026

12:17 second half: Michigan 72Arizona 45

It's all Michigan.

The Wolverines have now made 7 out of 7 of their last field goals and are on a 6-0 run over a 28-second period. Michigan fans have for sure asserted their dominance in the stadium.

2:23 amApril 52026

HALFTIME: Michigan 48Arizona 32

The Wolverines have been on fire in the first halfmaking all their free throws and having seven different players score at least five points each.

One major storyline that we are following is that Yaxel Lendeborg has played only five minutesduring which he picked up two early fouls and had to leave the court due to an injury.

MeanwhileArizona is struggling to find its rhythmshooting 12 for 32 from the field. Jaden Bradley has now picked up his third fouland Arizona cannot afford to have him on the bench right nowas they are currently down by 16 points.

1:58 amApril 52026

6:56 first half: Michigan 28Arizona 21

Michigan-Arizona

Michigan has established a strong lead over Arizonabut the Wildcats have now gone on an 11-2 runcutting the Wolverines' lead to seven points with 6:56 remaining.

The atmosphere in the arena is electricas fans from both sides are fully engagedwatching closely to see if Arizona can continue this momentum and mount a potential comeback. MeanwhileMichigan is feeling the pressure and must buckle down to maintain its advantage and secure the win as the final minutes of the first half approach. 

1:04 amApril 52026

Up next: (1) Arizona vs. (1) Michigan

Michigan vs. Arizona in the 2026 Final Four

It's a clash of juggernauts as Arizona and Michigan fight for a date with the Huskies in the title game. Tip time is set for 9:19 p.m. ET on TBS.

12:43 amApril 52026

〽️ Fab Five reunite for Michigan’s Final Four altcast

A legendary reunion is happening tonightand you won’t want to miss it.

Michigan’s iconic “Fab Five” are back together for a special alternate broadcast of the Michigan–Arizona Final Four matchup.

Chris WebberJalen RoseJuwan HowardJimmy King and Ray Jackson changed college basketball foreverleading Michigan to back-to-back national title games in 1992 and 1993 as the first team to start five freshmen.

Now they’re watching it all unfold livesharing real-time reactionsstories and insight throughout the game.

📺 Watch the Fab Five AltCast on truTV and HBO Max

12:21 amApril 52026

FINAL: (2) UConn 71(3) Illinois 62

UConn beats Illinois to advance to the national championship game

No. 2 UConn took a 14-point lead and held off No. 3 Illinois71-62to advance to the national championship game. The Huskies return to the title game in search of their third championship in four years. 

UConn nearly led this game wire-to-wire — Illinois briefly led in the first half 22-21 before the Huskies reclaimed the lead and never gave it up. UConn’s stifling defense limited Illinois’ ball movementholding the Illini to just three total assists and forcing eight turnovers. 

Meanwhilethe Huskies spread the ball around wellracking up 14 team assists as three starters put up double-digit points. Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Illinois went on an 10-0 run to close the gap late in the second halfcutting the UConn lead to four with 6:08 to playbut the Huskies locked it down and pulled awayand Braylon Mullins delivered a dagger 3-pointer to secure their spot in the championship game.

UConn will face the winner of No. 1 Arizona and No. 1 Michigan as the Huskies chase their third title in four seasonswhich would mark the best stretch since UCLA won 10 titles in 12 years from 1964-75. 

12:04 amApril 52026

2:46: UConn 61Illinois 56

The Illini crowd is fired up in Lucas Oilas they are just within 5. Illinois went on a 10-0 run over 4:33while UConn faced a 5-minute scoring drought.

Illinois is shooting only 33 percent to UConn's 36but the Illini have made 17 free throws to the Huskies' eight.

We'll see if the Illini can make the complete comeback. It would tie for the fifth-largest comeback win in Final Four history.

11:38 pmApril 42026

8:00 2H: UConn 57Illinois 49

The Fighting Illini are desperately trying to get back into the game. After facing their largest deficit of the seasonthey have now closed the gap to within eight points.

MeanwhileBraylon Mullins and Tarris Reedwho led the Huskies in the first halfhave not scored any points in the second half.

Illinos vs. UConn Final Four stats
11:06 pmApril 42026

HALF: UConn 37Illinois 29

Illinois briefly grabbed its first lead of the night after finding a defensive rhythmbut UConn answered quickly and regained control behind an efficient stretch from Tarris Reed Jr and Braylon Mullinswho are powering the Huskies offensively so far. Reed is 5 of 8 from the fieldwhile Mullins leads all scorers with 12 points.

UConn also has nine assists without any turnoverswhile the Illinis had just one assist in the first half.

10:28 pmApril 42026

11:25 first half: UConn 18Illinois 11

The first semifinal game is underwaywith UConn leading by six as we figure out the first half of the national championship matchup now.

Braylon Mullins was the last scorer in the Elite Eight and picked up right where he left offscoring the Huskies' first points. 

8:56 pmApril 42026

📍 We're here at the Final Four in Indy

Illinois vs. UConn

We’ve made it inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

Fans battled through a quick downpour right at the time gates openedbut the energy hasn’t dipped — it’s only building as we get closer to tip.

UConn and Illinois tip off at 6:09 p.m. ETand we’ve got you covered with everything from live game updates to behind-the-scenes moments all night long.

We’re posted up right behind the UConn student sectionbut Illinois fans are making their presence known early. As the Huskies stepped onto the court for warmupsboos immediately rang out across the stadium — a clear sign this crowd is leaning Illini.

With Champaign just about 120 miles awayIllinois fans are showing up in full force and turning this into a near-home environment.

The seats are fillingthe noise is rising and soon we will have a heavyweight showdown unfold. 

Follow along here for live updateshighlights and everything you might miss in the moment.

8:13 pmApril 42026

How the nation picked these Final Four teams

Arizona celebrates making the Final Four

We started tracking around 36 million brackets during March Madness across the major online games. All perfect brackets busted in the second round when No. 6 Tennessee defeated No. 3 Virginia on Game No. 44 of March Madness.

But our bracket tracking continued even after the chase for perfection ended. With the Final Four set in Indianapoliswe discovered that only a small percentage of brackets went 4 for 4 in picking the national semifinalists.

In factonly 12,624 brackets in the Men's Bracket Challenge Game correctly picked ArizonaMichiganUConn and Illinois to reach the Final Four.

Here’s how those brackets stack up when it comes to picking a national champion:

  • Arizona: 37.99%
  • Michigan: 29.97%
  • UConn: 20.21%
  • Illinois: 11.83%

Arizona leads the way as the most-picked championwith Michigan close behind. Just 11.83% — 1,493 brackets — picked Illinois. Now we’ll see who got it right.

6:21 pmApril 42026

🎥 WATCH: Braylon Mullins’ family relives his game-winning shot

As we made our way around Lucas Oil Stadiumtalking with fanswe accidentally ran into a special group: Braylon Mullins’ family.

Just days after his iconic game-winner sent UConn past Duke and into the Final FourMullins' family shared what it was like watching that moment unfold in real timefrom where they were sitting to the emotions that followed. It’s a memory they won’t forget.

NowMullins returns to his hometown with a chance to compete for a national title — and his family will be right there watching it all again.

1:02 pmApril 42026

🌅 It's Final Four Saturday

Good morning from Indianapolis. Todaywe find out who's moving on to the national championship.

We’re here providing on-site coverage all weekend for this year’s Final Four. No. 1 UConn and Illinois tip things off at 6:09 p.m. ETfollowed by Michigan and Arizona at 8:54 p.m. ET — two heavyweight battles with everything on the line. 

The Huskies are building a modern dynasty and sit two wins away from a third national championship in four years. Illinois is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2005looking to ride its momentum back to the top. 

Arizona returns to Indianapolis — the same city where it won it all in 1997 — looking to capture its first national title since that yearwhile Michigan is back for the first time since 2018chasing its first championship since 1989 after a dominant run all season.