Men’s March Madness 2026: Ranking the ultimate 4 groups

The 4 groups left standing had been all seen as fringe males’s nationwide title contenders earlier than the season — however provided that all the things got here collectively. There had been no ensures. Only UConn was ranked within the prime 4 of the AP preseason ballot. Michigan was seventh, Arizona thirteenth and Illinois seventeenth.

Yet, they’re all on their approach to Indianapolis as a result of they proved they had been one of the best in a selected class throughout their NCAA match runs.

If this had been an awards present, Arizona would win the consideration of most balanced crew. The Wildcats are prime 10 in offensive and defensive effectivity. In Saturday’s Elite Eight win over Purdue, eight Wildcats scored.

Michigan would win the award for greatest protection. Led by a frontcourt that includes three 6-foot-9 standouts and a 7-3 heart, the Wolverines are presently ranked first in adjusted defensive effectivity. In Sunday’s Elite Eight win over Tennessee, they outscored the Vols by 23 factors within the final 10 minutes of the primary half.

Illinois would take one of the best offensive engine award. The Illini have been No. 1 in adjusted offensive effectivity for the majority of the season. They’ve made 59% of their photographs contained in the arc since March 1.

Connecticut would earn one of the best coach honor. At one level within the first half of Illinois’ Elite Eight win over Duke on Sunday, Dan Hurley’s Huskies had missed 13 of 15 photographs. Yet, they clawed again within the second, giving Hurley an opportunity to make historical past as the primary coach since John Wooden to win three nationwide titles in 4 years.

Every crew that reached the ultimate weekend of the season needed to struggle to get there. There is not any debate about that. They’re all deserving of this shot at historical past.

All instances Eastern

1. Michigan Wolverines
Original seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Tournament outcomes: Def. No. 16 Howard 101-80 (first round); def. No. 9 Saint Louis 95-72 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Alabama 90-77 (Sweet 16); def. No. 6 Tennessee 95-62 (Elite Eight)

The Wolverines consider they are often one of the best crew in Michigan historical past — however they’re going to must win Saturday towards Arizona to even have an argument, as a result of they’ve some critical competitors:

• At the highest of the listing is the 1998-89 crew that gained the college’s solely nationwide championship. That group was led by future NBA all-star Glen Rice.

• Then there’s the 1964-65 crew, which misplaced within the nationwide title recreation — that had Cazzie Russell, extensively seen as the best participant in class historical past.

• The 1975-76 squad had All-American Rickey Green and three different future NBA gamers when it misplaced within the nationwide title recreation.

• And, in fact, there are the Fab Five groups that reached the nationwide championship video games in each 1992 and 1993. Those two teams had three future NBA standouts — Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose — main the best way.

• Trey Burke was the nationwide participant of the 12 months when he led Michigan to the nationwide title recreation in 2013.

But this 2026 group has Yaxel Lendeborg, who completed with 27 factors and 7 rebounds in Sunday’s Elite Eight win over Tennessee and is one among three NBA prospects on the roster. These Wolverines have the expertise to win all of it.

Dusty May might have additionally made the case for placing collectively the best teaching effort in class historical past. Those different iconic Michigan groups had the posh of time to construct these rosters. May did not even know, final March, who can be enjoying for him this season — 4 of his starters had been at different faculties on the time. But, in lower than a 12 months, he is right here, making a run to the Final Four. So, yeah, this crew is making a case to be one of many biggest Michigan groups. But May — who’s additionally within the Final Four for the second time in three years — may, in the future, even be thought of one among its biggest coaches.

Up subsequent: vs. Arizona (Saturday, following Illinois-UConn, TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

2. Arizona Wildcats
Original seed: No. 1 (West)
Tournament outcomes: Def. No. 16 Long Island 92-58 (first round); def. No. 9 Utah State 78-66 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Arkansas 109-88 (Sweet 16); def. No. 2 Purdue 79-64 (Elite Eight)

It may be greatest to debate Arizona’s dominance underneath Tommy Lloyd not by way of the place he’s now or the place he would possibly go — this run will not do something to quiet the North Carolina teaching rumors. No, it may be higher to take a look at what he left behind at Gonzaga when he took this submit.

Lloyd was Mark Few’s prime assistant when the Zags went to the Final Four in 2021. They had not solely turned Gonzaga right into a revered powerhouse, that they had additionally made the Bulldogs the West Coast’s preeminent program. Lloyd has now snatched that latter title from the fingers of his former mentor, with these Wildcats.

Over the previous 5 years, Few has gained 143 video games. In that very same span, Arizona has gained 148 — and counting — underneath Lloyd.

How has he finished it? It hasn’t been with 3-point capturing: Only 26.4% of the crew’s area aim makes an attempt this season have been from deep — 363rd out of 365 groups. Lloyd is old-fashioned. He’s assembled a crew that is stuffed with expertise, together with projected first-round draft picks Motiejus Krivas, Brayden Burries and Koa Peat. He has the Big 12 participant of the 12 months, Jaden Bradley. He additionally has a supporting forged no different crew remaining on this match can match.

Lloyd’s philosophy is easy. The Wildcats play nice protection — they entered Sunday ranked first in adjusted defensive effectivity — they usually dare opponents to outhustle them. And he believes his prime eight guys are higher than the highest eight guys of any opponent, irrespective of the fashion they play. That’s how he believes his crew can win. And up to now, he has been proper.

Up subsequent: vs. Michigan (Saturday, (Saturday, following Illinois-UConn, TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

3. UConn Huskies
Original seed: No. 2 (East)
Tournament outcomes: Def. No. 15 Furman 82-71 (first round); def. No. 7 UCLA 73-57 (round of 32); def. No. 3 Michigan State 67-63 (Sweet 16); def. No. 1 Duke 73-72 (Elite Eight)

Dan Hurley might construct a statue of Alex Karaban — who hit a 3-pointer that minimize UConn’s result in one then made the help to Braylon Mullins on the game-winning 3 in Sunday’s Elite Eight win over Duke — himself if the college would not find yourself doing it. Karaban guarded Cameron Boozer all through Sunday’s recreation, whereas Tarris Reed Jr. dominated within the paint as a Huskies squad that was down as a lot as 19 factors got here again within the final seconds to win.

It’s no secret Hurley would not have a roster that may match the expertise of the opposite groups within the area. Michigan has three projected first-round picks they usually’re all giants. Arizona has extra depth than anybody — and in addition three projected first-round picks. Illinois’ smallest starter is 6-2 Kylan Boswell, whlie 6-5 guard Keaton Wagler may be one of the best remaining participant within the area.

Although Hurley turned to the switch portal the previous two years to construct his rosters, he has a continuity that is uncommon at this stage. Three Huskies starters have performed at the very least two years in Hurley’s system. Illinois is the one different crew within the Final Four that may make the identical declare. The distinction is, no crew in Indianapolis has Karaban, or the expertise of profitable on the highest stage — keep in mind, he is a holdover from the UConn squads that gained back-to-back nationwide titles in 2023 and 2024. No different crew within the area has a participant who is aware of what it takes to win a nationwide title. Against Duke on Sunday, the Huskies might not have been the extra gifted group, however their expertise gave them an edge towards a squad stuffed with freshmen that appeared to crumble when it squandered a giant lead.

Karaban, who’d averaged 22 factors in three NCAA match video games, wasn’t nice. But he did not must be. His contribution was the calm that comes from enjoying in a bunch of video games precisely like this one. In Indianapolis, he’ll be in a league of his personal.

Up subsequent: vs. Illinois (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

4. Illinois Fighting Illini
Original seed: No. 3 (South)
Tournament outcomes: Def. No. 14 Penn 105-70 (first round); def. No. 11 VCU 76-55 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Houston 65-55 (Sweet 16); def. No. 9 Iowa 71-59 (Elite Eight)

Brad Underwood’s roster options gamers from 5 completely different nations: Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and the United States. The worldwide taste has been all the excitement this season — together with Underwood’s discovery of freshman Keaton Wagler, who did not get a scholarship provide from his dwelling state faculty Kansas however is now pushing for a top-10 spot within the 2026 NBA draft after a shocking season. Tomislav Ivisic is a 7-foot-1 power within the paint. Andrej Stojakovic is a two-way risk who helped corral Iowa star Bennett Stirtz in Saturday’s Elite Eight win. David Mirkovic is a 6-9 ahead who shot 40% from 3 in league play.

You’d suppose Underwood’s success with worldwide gamers would encourage the notion that any coach can go over to Europe and recruit elite expertise. Right?

Wrong. There is not a health club in Europe stuffed with elite gamers school coaches can simply stroll into and recruit out of. Mining the worldwide panorama for expertise is laborious. And it is solely half the battle. Because Underwood’s actual power is not his knack for figuring out worldwide stars. Rather, it is his means to know precisely the place these gamers match into his system. He’s constructed a gaggle that is possessed one of the best offense in America for many of this season and has additionally performed top-25 protection for the previous month. Their wins over Houston and Iowa within the second weekend of the NCAA match had been a byproduct of the dimensions they’ve used to guard the rim, in addition to the stress they’ve utilized to opposing backcourts.

Illinois is a selfless crew stuffed with gamers who fulfill their roles, and had been put in the appropriate place by Underwood. He is aware of himself, and he is aware of his system. Above all, he is aware of what gamers he wants for it to all work.

Up subsequent: vs. UConn (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max)