Following five months of the 2025-26 season, merely eight squads persist. Each collective possesses a shot at reaching Indianapolis to partake in the Final Four, contingent on emerging victorious from just one additional contest.
At the commencement of the campaign, many would have presumed that all these programs possessed the capability to compete during the season’s penultimate weekend — with the exception of the 9-seed Iowa. However, the path they would all take to arrive here might have been difficult to foresee.
Duke was forced to navigate significant injuries to endure until the Elite Eight. Arizona finds itself here without a singular standout player, but rather a collective comprised of altruistic talents who are all capable of pacing the Wildcats in scoring on any given evening. Michigan boasts three players measuring 6-foot-9 or more in their primary lineup — a stark divergence from the small-ball philosophy so frequently lauded within the sport. Illinois is spearheaded by a first-year player who was overlooked during recruitment, complemented by a contingent of European prodigies.
Then, there are those Hawkeyes — a squad that held a 3-7 record entering the NCAA tournament yet has progressed to the Elite Eight for the initial occasion in 39 years.
The reality, nonetheless, is that considerable favoritism exists amongst the final eight teams. A substantial measure of fortitude, too. Let’s arrange the Elite Eight teams in order of merit.
All times Eastern
How the regional championships were determined
1. Arizona Wildcats
Initial seed: No. 1 (West)
Tournament outcomes: Defeated No. 16 Long Island 92-58 (first round); vanquished No. 9 Utah State 78-66 (round of 32); overcame No. 4 Arkansas 109-88 (Sweet 16)
Arizona has been pursuing excellence throughout the current season. The Wildcats not only inflicted the most substantial defeat of John Calipari’s career during Thursday’s overwhelming Sweet 16 triumph over Arkansas, but it also marked the first instance since 2000, as per ESPN Research, that a team (Arizona) amassed 60 points in the paint and 30 free throws in a solitary NCAA tournament game. However, this commanding exhibition against the SEC tournament victor is only novel if one has not been observing college basketball. The Wildcats achieved a 50% shooting accuracy from within the arc during their inaugural season victory over Florida. They bested Alabama — one of the premier offensive squads in America — by 21 points in December, with the Crimson Tide logging merely 99 points per 100 possessions. A 23-point victory against Kansas occurred in February, followed by a 16-point win over Iowa State a few days subsequent. The Wildcats have delivered numerous declarations to bolster their claim as the team to conquer, the collective that could ultimately be the last one standing due to their capacity to execute a comprehensive performance: They rank fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency and third in adjusted defensive efficiency. Furthermore, adversaries find it challenging to pinpoint a specific target given the profound talent on this roster. Is it seasoned player Jaden Bradley? First-year standout Brayden Burries? Or perhaps fellow freshman luminary Koa Peat — who, following a robust start to the season, encountered a challenging period but is now averaging 16.6 points across three NCAA tournament games?
Next encounter: vs. Purdue (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV)
2. Michigan Wolverines
Initial seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Tournament outcomes: Defeated No. 16 Howard 101-80 (first round); vanquished No. 9 Saint Louis 95-72 (round of 32); overcame No. 4 Alabama 90-77 (Sweet 16)
Three years prior, Dusty May was disinclined to depart Florida Atlantic because existence was effortless in Boca Raton. He resided a mere few miles from the campus and cycled to his workplace daily. However, the prospect of helming a Big Ten powerhouse proved too compelling to decline, and he accepted the Michigan position in 2024. Even then, he did not abandon everything. A connection exists between the 2022-23 Owls, who embarked on a journey to the Final Four, and this season’s Wolverines, who are one triumph away from the institution’s initial run to the Final Four since 2018: interior defense. May’s FAU contingent restricted opponents to a 46.6% success rate in the paint, which was among the top statistics in America that season, according to Synergy Sports. His Michigan squad this season is recording a 48.9% in that particular metric, also demonstrating elite performance. In Friday’s Sweet 16 victory, it compelled opponent Alabama — which entered the game ranked within the top three for offensive efficiency — to attempt only 31 shots, with 23 of those being 3-pointers. This is a direct consequence of May’s stifling interior defense, a defining characteristic of his most successful teams. And it provides evidence that the Wolverines are not merely formidable near the basket defensively; they cause opponents to reconsider attempts at scoring in the post in the first instance.
Next encounter: vs. Tennessee (Sunday, 2:15 p.m., CBS)
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
Initial seed: No. 3 (South)
Tournament outcomes: Defeated No. 14 Penn 105-70 (first round); vanquished No. 11 VCU 76-55 (round of 32); overcame No. 2 Houston 65-55 (Sweet 16)
Illinois demonstrated with Thursday’s Sweet 16 triumph against Houston that it can achieve an offensive prowess that even the nation’s strongest defenses cannot impede. A 17-0 surge early in the second half generated separation between the two teams, with the Cougars spending the remainder of the game endeavoring to close the disparity. David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler became the inaugural freshman teammates to each register double-doubles in the NCAA tournament since first-year players became eligible to participate in the postseason during the 1972-73 season, as per ESPN Research. However, while Illinois’ offensive might has constituted its most captivating attribute, Brad Underwood’s team is a genuine contender for the national championship due to its proficiency in thwarting opposing squads. Since the onset of the Big Ten tournament, the Illini have been recognized as a top-25 defensive team nationwide, according to BartTorvik. They also stand eighth in the country for adjusted defensive efficiency and seventh in adjusted offensive efficiency since the commencement of the NCAA tournament. These are vital metrics to take into account. Eight of the past 10 national titleholders were positioned within the top-11 in both classifications. If equilibrium represents the pathway to a championship, Illinois occupies an advantageous position.
Next encounter: vs. Iowa (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV)
4. Duke Blue Devils
Initial seed: No. 1 overall (East)
Tournament outcomes: Defeated No. 16 Siena 71-65 (first round); vanquished No. 9 TCU 81-58 (round of 32); overcame No. 5 St. John’s 80-75 (Sweet 16)
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A narrow victory against St. John’s was nothing novel for the Blue Devils, as they had encountered similar situations previously: Recall the pivotal performance late in their single-point triumph against Florida? Or being deadlocked with Michigan State as the clock neared two minutes, shortly thereafter? They encountered two unexpectedly challenging contests versus Florida State during both the regular season and the ACC tournament. A rigorous encounter with Michigan in Washington, D.C., also occurred. Crucial foul shots were required to secure a victory against Virginia in the ACC tournament championship match. A demanding first-round skirmish with 16-seed Siena, followed by a sluggish beginning versus TCU in the subsequent round. Throughout all these arduous matchups, Cameron Boozer has remained the sole unwavering presence. He asserted his dominance on the court across high school, AAU, and currently, collegiate stages. He instills self-assurance in his squad during the most dire circumstances, preparing the Blue Devils to navigate difficult periods – even when another player rises to the occasion. During Friday’s Sweet 16 game against the Johnnie’s, Caleb Foster remarkably excelled (contributing 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting post-halftime), notwithstanding a fractured foot sustained 20 days prior. Isaiah Evans (25 points) delivered a stellar performance. Maliq Brown (four blocks) exerted a greater defensive impact on this game than he will likely be acknowledged for. And Cameron Boozer (22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists) simply played like Cameron Boozer. No one on this squad falters when faced with challenges.
Up next: vs. UConn (Sunday, 5:05 p.m., CBS)
5. Purdue Boilermakers
Original seed: No. 2 (West)
Tournament results: Def. No. 15 Queens University 104-71 (first round); def. No. 7 Miami 79-69 (round of 32); def. No. 11 Texas 79-77 (Sweet 16)
A scarcity of college basketball mentors has experienced the degree of basketball sorrow that Matt Painter has faced. During the 2009-10 season, prominent player Robbie Hummel sustained a season-ending injury late in the campaign, depriving the Boilermakers of an opportunity to contend for a national championship. In 2019, one-time Purdue standout Carsen Edwards tallied 42 points yet was unable to defeat eventual victor Virginia in an extra period. Painter, in 2024, again advanced to the national championship game alongside Wooden Award recipient Zach Edey – only to confront the formidable force of UConn, which was en route to securing its second consecutive national crown. Nevertheless, none of those previous Purdue teams possessed the momentum of this present contingent. Throughout the Boilermakers’ seven-game victorious run, Braden Smith is posting an average of 9.5 assists, and Trey Kaufman-Renn appears to be an All-American once more, contributing 17.8 points per game. This unit ranks second in adjusted offensive efficiency (converting 60% from inside the arc and 38% from beyond the 3-point line) during this period. And now Painter will receive another opportunity to overcome the obstacle.
Up next: vs. Arizona (Saturday, 8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV)
6. UConn Huskies
Original seed: No. 2 (East)
Tournament results: 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)
College basketball for men has seen a profusion of iconic coaches spanning the 60-plus years since John Wooden guided UCLA in the 1960s and 70s. Mike Krzyzewski claimed five national championships. Roy Williams concluded his career with three. Rick Pitino possesses two championship rings achieved with two distinct teams. Bill Self and Billy Donovan each hold a duo of championships. Hurley stands a genuine prospect of capturing his third national title within a four-year span, an achievement that would be unmatched in the contemporary annals of the sport, and a more formidable endeavor than any Wooden encountered in his era. This is due to Hurley pursuing this third championship with a third distinct lineup of players. The squad that fended off Michigan State on Friday evening in the Sweet 16 bears no resemblance to the teams he coached in 2023 or 2024. Alex Karaban remains the sole survivor from those consecutive championship-winning teams. A notable commonality still exists among all three collectives: they all performed optimally when employing an unconstrained style of play, executing robust defense, traversing the court swiftly, and dictating the tempo. This approach enabled the 2026 Huskies to establish an early double-digit advantage over the Spartans and conquer a disjointed period in the latter half. Moreover, they demonstrated that, despite their recent dip in efficiency (they were ranked 74th in adjusted offensive efficiency since March 1 entering Friday), they possess the capability to endure and assail any adversary to progress.
Up next: vs. Duke (Sunday, 5:05 p.m., CBS)
7. Tennessee Volunteers
Original seed: No. 6 (Midwest)
Tournament results: Def. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 78-56 (first round); def. No. 3 Virginia 79-72 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Iowa State 76-62 (Sweet 16)
It is widely known that Texas concluded Rick Barnes had not adapted to contemporary trends and that the sport had outpaced him when the institution terminated his employment in 2015. His termination followed a succession of early tournament eliminations and a seven-year hiatus between his Elite Eight showings. However, upon assuming the Tennessee position that identical year, Barnes – a head coach since 1987 – retained his core philosophy. He consistently maintained that judicious shots, stifling defense across all court positions, and an aggressive rebounding methodology were paramount to triumph and sustained prosperity. He has combined that mindset with the understanding that key players secure victories at the elite tier. He discovered Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier via the transfer portal in consecutive years. This season, his Vols constitute the premier offensive rebounding team nationwide. Nate Ament is anticipated to be a lottery selection. Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie has proven to be Barnes’ most dependable acquisition. This strategy has culminated in Tennessee’s third successive Elite Eight qualification.
Up next: vs. Michigan (Sunday, 2:15 p.m., CBS)
8. Iowa Hawkeyes
Original seed: No. 9 (South)
Tournament 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 arc was brought into D-I men’s basketball during the 1986-87 season by the NCAA’s governing body. At that juncture, it was a daring concept, originating from Ed Steitz, a committee member whose investigations indicated its potential to transform the sport. In that specific season, the Iowa Hawkeyes launched 382 three-pointers – converting 39% of these attempts. They achieved a 5-for-11 record from long range in their 93-91 Sweet 16 triumph over Oklahoma that same year. Thirty-nine years subsequent, they’ve returned to the Elite Eight for only the second occasion in program annals, owing to their rediscovery of the three-point shot’s potency. Ben McCollum’s squad has already unleashed 818 attempts from outside the arc this current season. Since March 11, almost half of their field goal tries have been from three-point territory. They’ve converted 37.4%, a nationally recognized top-40 statistic. Indeed, the Sweet 16 victory against Nebraska on Thursday stemmed from the Hawkeyes’ tenacity and defensive prowess in the second half. However, truly, their ability to remain competitive in the contest was solely attributable to those three-pointers (13-for-30, 43%) – mirroring the method by which the previous Iowa team clinched this stage.