Males’s March Madness 2026: Score the closing eight teams

Five months into the 2025-26 season, only eight teams stay. Each and each team has of venture to head to Indianapolis to play within the Closing Four, supplied it wins yet every other game.

Before all the pieces up of the marketing campaign, many would have believed all of these applications had of venture to play within the penultimate weekend of the season — excluding for 9-seed Iowa. But it can perchance additionally were advanced to accept as true with the style all of them got here.

Duke played via main accidents to technique to the Elite Eight. Arizona is there with out a unique big name, but a team beefy of selfless standouts who can all lead the Wildcats in scoring on any night time. Michigan has three gamers who are 6-foot-9 or taller within the starting rotation — a difference to the minute-ball period so many internal the game have touted. Illinois is led by a freshman who used to be overpassed on the recruiting circuit and several European abilities.

Then, there are those Hawkeyes — a team that used to be 3-7 in its closing 10 games entering the NCAA match but has reached the Elite Eight for the first time in 39 years.

In fact, nevertheless, that there could be substitute chalk amongst the closing eight teams. A ton of resilience, too. Let’s heinous the squads within the Elite Eight.

All times Jap

How the regional finals were scheme

1. Arizona Wildcats
Normal seed: No. 1 (West)
Match results: Def. No. 16 Lengthy Island 92-58 (first round); def. No. 9 Utah Teach 78-66 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Arkansas 109-88 (Sweet 16)

Arizona has been chasing greatness all season. The Wildcats not only handed John Calipari the worst NCAA match lack of his occupation in Thursday’s lopsided Sweet 16 obtain over Arkansas, nevertheless it used to be additionally the first time a team (Arizona) had 60 paint elements and 30 free throws in a single NCAA match game since 2000, per ESPN Overview. But that dominant effort against the SEC match champion is only fresh must you have not been observing college basketball. The Wildcats shot 50% from all the scheme via the arc of their season-opening obtain over Florida. They beat Alabama — one in every of the most simple offensive teams in America — by 21 elements in December, with the Tide recording factual ninety nine elements per 100 possessions. There used to be a 23-point victory over Kansas in February and a 16-point overcome Iowa Teach days later. The Wildcats have made substitute statements to help the case that they’re the team to beat, the team that frequently is the closing one standing thanks to its capacity to play a total game: Arizona is fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency and third in adjusted defensive efficiency. Or not it’s additionally advanced for opponents to perceive who to focal point on thanks to their depth. Extinct Jaden Bradley? Freshman big name Brayden Burries? Freshman big name Koa Peat — who, after a noteworthy start as much as the season, faced a tough patch — is averaging 16.6 elements via three NCAA match games.

Up next: vs. Purdue (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV)

2. Michigan Wolverines
Normal seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Match results: 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)

Three years within the past, Dusty May perchance additionally did not must leave Florida Atlantic on myth of lifestyles used to be accurate in Boca Raton. He lived a couple of miles from campus and rode his bike to work every day. However the different to lead a Colossal Ten powerhouse used to be too mighty to pass up, and he current the Michigan job in 2024. Even then, he did not leave all of it within the encourage of. There is a tie between the 2022-23 Owls, who made a bustle to the Closing Four, and this one year’s Wolverines, who are a obtain some distance off from the college’s first bustle to the Closing Four since 2018: internal protection. May perchance additionally’s FAU squad held opponents to a 46.6% clip within the paint, one in every of the head marks in America that season, per Synergy Sports activities. His Michigan team this season is clocking in at 48.9% in that metric. In Friday’s Sweet 16 obtain, it held Alabama — which entered the game ranked high three in offensive efficiency — to factual 31 photos, 23 of which were 3-pointers. That is a spinoff of May perchance additionally’s suffocating internal protection, a staple of his simplest teams. And or not it’s proof the Wolverines must not factual advanced across the rim on protection; they obtain opponents think twice about searching to attain within the put up within the first space.

Up next: vs. Tennessee (Sunday, 2:15 p.m., CBS)

3. Illinois Fighting Illini
Normal seed: No. 3 (South)
Match results: 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)

Illinois proved with Thursday’s Sweet 16 obtain against Houston that it goes to attain a level on offense even the most simple defenses in America can’t discontinue. A 17-0 bustle early within the 2nd half created separation between the two teams, with the Cougars spending the comfort of the game searching to conclude the outlet. David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler grew to change into the first freshman teammates to narrative double-doubles within the NCAA match since newcomers grew to change into eligible for to play within the postseason within the 1972-73 season, per ESPN Overview. But while Illinois’ offensive strength has been its most appealing quality, Brad Underwood’s team is a accurate national title contender thanks to its capacity to stall opposing teams. Since the start up of the Colossal Ten match, the Illini were a high-25 defensive team nationally, per BartTorvik. They’re additionally eighth within the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency and seventh in adjusted offensive efficiency for the reason that start up of the NCAA match. These are crucial metrics to help in mind. Eight of the previous 10 national champions were ranked high 11 in both categories. If balance is the attach to a title, Illinois is in a accurate role.

Up next: vs. Iowa (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV)

4. Duke Blue Devils
Normal seed: No. 1 overall (East)
Match results: Def. No. 16 Siena 71-65 (first round); def. No. 9 TCU 81-58 (round of 32); def. No. 5 St. John’s 80-75 (Sweet 16)

The conclude name against St. John’s wasn’t something the Blue Devils hadn’t skilled: Keep in mind the snatch effort gradual in a one-point obtain over Florida? Being tied with Michigan Teach scheme the two-minute brand not prolonged after that? They had two more challenging than anticipated games against Florida Teach within the favorite season and within the ACC match. There used to be the fight with Michigan in Washington, D.C, too. Free throws sealed a obtain over Virginia within the ACC match title game. A first-round tussle with 16-seed Siena and a gradual start up against TCU within the 2nd. The one fixed via all of these advanced games has been Cameron Boozer. He dominated at the highschool, AAU and now the collegiate level. He offers his team with self belief within the most decided situations and has the Blue Devils geared as much as obtain via advanced times — even supposing or not it’s any individual else stepping up. Against the St. John’s in Friday’s Sweet 16 game, Caleb Foster come what could well thrived (11 elements on 5-for-7 shooting after halftime), no matter getting suffered a broken foot 20 days within the past. Isaiah Evans (25 elements) used to be excellent. Maliq Brown (four blocks) did more to disrupt this game defensively than he’ll obtain credit ranking for. And Cameron Boozer (22 elements, 10 rebounds, three assists) used to be factual Cameron Boozer. No person will get stupefied on this team when adversity hits.

Up next: vs. UConn (Sunday, 5:05 p.m., CBS)

5. Purdue Boilermakers
Normal seed: No. 2 (West)
Match results: Def. No. 15 Queens College 104-71 (first round); def. No. 7 Miami 79-69 (round of 32); def. No. 11 Texas 79-77 (Sweet 16)

Few coaches in college basketball have suffered the amount of basketball heartbreak as Matt Painter. In 2009-10, big name Robbie Hummel suffered a season-ending damage gradual within the season that trace the Boilermakers of venture to compete for a national title. In 2019, used Purdue big name Carsen Edwards scored 42 elements and mute couldn’t beat eventual champion Virginia in beyond regular time. Painter yet again reached the national title game in 2024 with Wood Award winner Zach Edey — but all at this time met the bulldozer known as UConn on its technique to its 2nd straight national title. None of those Purdue squads, nevertheless, were as hot as this fresh crew. For the length of the Boilermakers’ seven-game winning trip, Braden Smith is averaging 9.5 assists and Trey Kaufman-Renn appears treasure an All-American yet again while averaging 17.8 elements. The neighborhood is 2nd in adjusted offensive efficiency (60% from all the scheme via the arc, 38% from the three-point line) for the length of this stretch. And now Painter can have every other shot at getting over the trail.

Up next: vs. Arizona (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV)

6. UConn Huskies
Normal seed: No. 2 (East)
Match results: Def. No. 15 Furman 82-71 (first round); def. No. 7 UCLA 73-57 (round of 32); def. No. 3 Michigan Teach 67-63 (Sweet 16)

Males’s college basketball has had a mess of legendary coaches over the 60-plus years since John Wood led UCLA within the 1960s and ’70s. Mike Krzyzewski won five national titles. Roy Williams retired with three. Rick Pitino has two rings with two diversified teams. Invoice Self and Billy Donovan have a pair of championships. Hurley has an accurate chance to acquire his third national championship in four years, which could well perchance be an extraordinary feat within the contemporary history of the game and a greater converse than something Wood ever faced for the length of his time. Because Hurley’s chasing this third title with a third diversified roster. The team that held off Michigan Teach on Friday night time within the Sweet 16 would not resemble the teams he had in 2023 or 2024. Alex Karaban is the single holdover from those encourage-to-encourage title teams. There is mute a necessary similarity between all three teams: They were all greater when they played a free-flowing style, completed great protection and pushed the tempo. Or not it’s how the 2026 Huskies done an early double-digit lead over the Spartans and overcame a sloppy stretch within the 2nd half. They additionally proved that, even with their fresh lack of efficiency (they entered Friday ranked 74th in adjusted offensive efficiency since March 1), they’ll out stay and attack any opponent to scheme.

Up next: vs. Duke (Sunday, 5:05 p.m., CBS)

7. Tennessee Volunteers
Normal seed: No. 6 (Midwest)
Match results: Def. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 78-56 (first round); def. No. 3 Virginia 79-72 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Iowa Teach 76-62 (Sweet 16)

Or not it’s no secret that Texas decided Rick Barnes hadn’t kept up with the times and that the game had left him within the encourage of when the college fired him in 2015. His dismissal came after a string of first-weekend exits and a seven-one year hole between his Elite Eight appearances. But when he current the Tennessee job that same one year, Barnes — who has been a head coach since 1987 — did not substitute his philosophy. He has repeatedly believed unbiased photos, suffocating protection at every role on the floor and a bruising technique to rebounding were the keys to victory and prolonged-duration of time success. He has coupled that attitude with a recognition that playmakers obtain games at the final discover level. He found Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier within the switch portal in encourage-to-encourage years. This one year, his Vols are the head offensive rebounding team in America. Nate Ament is a projected lottery pick. Maryland switch Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been Barnes’ most reputable addition. The system has resulted in Tennessee’s third consecutive Elite Eight look.

Up next: vs. Michigan (Sunday, 2:15 p.m., CBS)

8. Iowa Hawkeyes
Normal seed: No. 9 (South)
Match results: Def. No. 8 Clemson 67-61 (first round); def. No. 1 Florida 73-72 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Nebraska 77-71 (Sweet 16)

The three-point line used to be launched in Division I men’s basketball within the 1986-87 season by the NCAA’s principles committee. It used to be a wild notion at the time, from Ed Steitz, a member of the committee, whose study in fact helpful it can perchance additionally revolutionize the game. That season, the Hawkeyes tried 382 3-pointers — and made 39% of them. They went 5 for 11 from beyond the arc of their 93-91 Sweet 16 victory against Oklahoma that season. They’re now encourage within the Elite Eight for the first time in 39 years on myth of they rediscovered the energy of the three. Ben McCollum’s neighborhood has already taken 818 photos from beyond the arc this season. Since March 11, nearly 50% of its arena arrangement attempts were 3s. It has made 37.4%, a high-40 brand nationally. Certain, the Sweet 16 obtain over Nebraska on Thursday used to be the outcome of the Hawkeyes’ resilience and 2nd-half protection. But in fact, the single scheme they stayed conclude within the game used to be thanks to those 3s (13-for-30, 43%) — the same scheme the closing Iowa team won this round.

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