Michigan have routed Tennessee 95-62 at Chicago’s United Center to reach the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2018.
The top-seeded Wolverines dominated the Midwest regional final on Sunday to secure their 35th victory of a record-breaking season.
Second-year head coach Dusty May has masterminded a remarkable turnaround for a programme that won just eight games only two years ago.
They will now face West Region champions Arizona in Saturday’s national semi-final in Indianapolis.
Lendeborg leads the charge
Forward Yaxel Lendeborg spearheaded the emphatic win with a flawless display, registering 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists without a single turnover.
The recently crowned Big Ten Player of the Year has now recorded 20 or more points in three consecutive tournament appearances.
He becomes the first player from the Ann Arbor school to achieve that scoring feat since Juwan Howard in 1994.
Transfers fuel dominant run
The maize and blue roster has been heavily bolstered by high-profile transfers who proved decisive against the sixth-seeded Volunteers.
Former North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau dictated the tempo with a game-high 10 assists, while UCLA arrival Aday Mara contributed 11 points and two blocks.
An explosive 21-0 scoring streak midway through the first half effectively ended the contest before the interval.
The rampant victors then opened the second period with a 21-12 run to extinguish any fading hopes of a miraculous comeback.
Volunteers suffer Elite Eight heartbreak
Tennessee’s defeat marks their third consecutive Elite Eight exit under veteran coach Rick Barnes.
Senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie fought valiantly to lead his team with 21 points, but the opposition’s blistering pace proved overwhelming.
Michigan are now firmly setting their sights on ending a 35-year wait for a national championship title.
Top seeds the Arizona Wildcats have secured their first Final Four appearance in 23 years with a decisive 79-64 victory over Purdue in San Jose.
The historic triumph also set a new school record for victories in a single season, taking their tally to 36.
Head coach Tommy Lloyd’s side will now travel to Indianapolis to face either Michigan or Tennessee.
It marks a monumental milestone for the basketball programme, whose last Final Four appearance came under legendary coach Lute Olson in 2001.
Freshmen shine on the biggest stage
Despite facing a veteran Boilermakers outfit, the victors were propelled by an outstanding display from their youngest talents.
First-year starters Brayden Burries, Ivan Kharchenkov and Koa Peat combined for a remarkable 52 points.
Senior guard Jaden Bradley offered vital experience, contributing a further 14 points to the historic win.
The top-seeded side initially raced into a 19-12 advantage before their opponents mounted a spirited comeback.
Purdue introduced 7ft 4in sophomore Daniel Jacobsen to disrupt the rhythm, with his sheer size temporarily shifting the momentum.
Lloyd breaks collegiate coaching records
However, the Wildcats required just five second-half minutes to regain control and definitively pull away.
The result cements Lloyd’s historic impact during his fifth season at the helm.
The former Gonzaga assistant has now amassed 148 victories over his first five campaigns, eclipsing Brad Stevens’ previous collegiate coaching record.
Having previously guided his squad to three Sweet 16 appearances, the elusive Final Four hurdle has finally been cleared.
End of an era for Purdue
Defeat spells the conclusion of a remarkable collegiate career for Purdue point guard Braden Smith.
The veteran finished with a team-high 13 points but struggled from the floor, converting just four of his 15 attempts.
Smith departs collegiate basketball as the all-time career assist leader with 1,103, having broken Bobby Hurley’s longstanding record earlier this season.
The Boilermakers finish their campaign with a 30-9 record, falling short in their bid for a second Final Four trip in three years.
Top seeds South Carolina and third seeds TCU have advanced to the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament following commanding Sweet 16 victories on Saturday.
The pair will now face each other for a coveted spot in the Final Four after a thrilling day of collegiate basketball.
Michigan and Texas also demonstrated their might, controlling their respective matchups to successfully book their places in the next round.
Gamecocks stifle Sooners to advance
South Carolina ruthlessly dismantled Oklahoma 94-68 to highlight their championship credentials.
The tournament favourites completely disrupted the offensive rhythm of their opponents from the opening tip-off.
They restricted the Sooners to fewer than 70 points for just the fourth time this season.
A major key to the emphatic victory was the defensive containment of Raegan Beers.
The imposing 6ft 4in senior centre was frequently double-teamed by a physically imposing rotation, limiting her to just five made field goals on the night.
Miles and Suarez power Horned Frogs
Earlier in the day, TCU overcame a sluggish start to defeat tenth seeds Virginia 79-69 and reach their second consecutive Elite Eight.
Trailing at the end of the first half, the Horned Frogs sparked into life with a devastating 11-point scoring streak immediately after the break.
The dynamic duo of Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez were utterly unplayable, combining for a staggering 61 points.
Remarkably, the pair scored or assisted on every single one of their team’s 79 points during the contest.
Virginia’s Kymora Johnson fought valiantly to energise her squad and apply pressure in the paint.
However, the Cavaliers simply could not match the blistering second-half pace dictated by the masterful passing of Miles.
A heavyweight Elite Eight clash awaits
TCU must now prepare for a daunting encounter against a formidable South Carolina defence.
If the Texas-based programme are to cause a monumental upset, they cannot afford another slow start.
They will need to establish early offensive dominance and capitalise on the playmaking brilliance of their star guard to break down the top seeds.
Top seeds Michigan and Duke face pivotal round of eight matchups against Tennessee and UConn respectively as the 2026 men’s college basketball tournament continues on Sunday.
The highly anticipated fixtures will determine who advances to the prestigious semi-final stage of the national collegiate competition.
Michigan enter their afternoon clash as strong favourites to overcome the sixth-seeded Volunteers.
Later in the evening, fellow number one seeds Duke take on second seeds Connecticut in a heavyweight encounter.
Duke seek to break down stubborn Huskies
Bookmakers have installed the Blue Devils as 5.5-point favourites for their evening tip-off.
However, analysts suggest the low projected points total of 133.5 may underestimate the offensive capabilities of both prestigious programmes.
The Durham-based outfit have consistently surpassed higher points totals when facing elite defensive units throughout the current campaign.
Danny Hurley’s Huskies will need to establish an early offensive rhythm to prevent their formidable opponents from controlling the late stages.
Volunteers face massive test against Wolverines
In the early game, Michigan carry a 7.5-point handicap advantage into their battle with the Southeastern Conference challengers.
The Ann Arbor institution possesses one of the most efficient shooting attacks in the nation, ranking second overall in two-point conversion percentage.
To orchestrate an upset, the underdog Volunteers must restrict their highly-fancied opponents to below 45% shooting from the field.
Tennessee rely heavily on offensive rebounding to generate scoring opportunities, but they face a daunting task against an elite Michigan frontcourt.
Top seeds South Carolina stormed into the Elite Eight of the women’s March Madness tournament with a dominant 94-68 victory over Oklahoma in Sacramento.
Ta’Niya Latson scored 28 points as the Gamecocks overpowered their fourth-seeded opponents to set up a regional final clash against either TCU or Virginia.
Raven Johnson added 18 points during a commanding performance that keeps the perennial contenders on track for the Final Four in Phoenix.
The emphatic win also served as revenge for South Carolina, who suffered their only regular-season Southeastern Conference loss to this same Oklahoma outfit earlier this year.
Latson leads early offensive blitz
Playing in her first Sweet 16, former Florida State guard Latson orchestrated a blistering 10-0 start for the tournament favourites.
The senior playmaker accounted for eight of those opening points as her team established an early stranglehold on the contest.
Johnson further compounded the misery for the Sooners, contributing nine points to build a 23-13 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
Oklahoma struggled to find their rhythm in response, turning the ball over on three of their first four possessions in the second period.
Sooners’ comeback hopes extinguished
A sensational four-point play from Latson in the final minute of the half extended the lead to 47-28, effectively putting the game out of reach before the break.
Despite Second-team AP All-American Joyce Edwards being held scoreless in the opening 20 minutes, the Gamecocks possessed more than enough firepower to maintain their dominance.
The top seeds made a concerted effort to involve Edwards after the interval, with the forward scoring the team’s first four points of the third quarter.
She eventually finished with eight points and nine rebounds, ensuring the Sooners had no realistic path back into the match.
Aaliyah Chavez managed a valiant 21 points for the eliminated side, while Raegan Beers contributed 14 in a losing effort.
South Carolina, who boast three national championships in their recent history, are now just one victory away from their seventh Final Four appearance in nine tournaments.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been officially eliminated from NBA playoff contention after suffering a heavy 127-95 defeat by the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
The comprehensive loss brings a bitter end to a nine-year postseason streak for the Eastern Conference franchise.
Only the Boston Celtics now hold a longer active run of consecutive playoff appearances.
Milwaukee’s alarming late-season struggles have been severely compounded by the ongoing absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo absence proves costly
The two-time MVP missed his sixth consecutive game at the weekend due to a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
He has featured in just 36 games this campaign, a pivotal factor behind his team’s disastrous slide down the standings.
Recent debates have intensified regarding the franchise’s medical handling of the Greek forward.
The National Basketball Players Association issued a statement earlier this week seemingly criticising the organisation for considering shutting their star player down entirely.
Without their talisman on the court, the struggling side have now lost nine of their past 11 matches.
Spurs continue impressive surge
In stark contrast, San Antonio secured their eighth consecutive victory to maintain a remarkable run of late-season form.
The Texas-based team have completely transformed their fortunes by winning 13 of their last 14 fixtures.
This relentless surge moves them within two games of the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Stephon Castle orchestrated the latest triumph by registering a dominant triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
Meanwhile, French sensation Victor Wembanyama further bolstered his MVP credentials by adding 23 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.
Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo insists her team will not repeat their starstruck performance when they face rivals UConn in Sunday’s Elite Eight rematch.
The Fighting Irish suffered a bruising 38-point defeat during the previous meeting in Storrs back in January.
However, the junior guard believes the sixth seeds are now playing their best basketball of the season following a strong recent run.
“I feel like I can say that UConn hasn’t seen the best Notre Dame,” Hidalgo said.
Moving past early intimidation
The previous encounter proved a difficult learning experience for a relatively inexperienced roster.
The talented playmaker was restricted to just 16 points on five-for-15 shooting during that heavy mid-season loss.
“I think before when we played UConn, we played a little afraid,” Hidalgo admitted.
“I think we were a little probably starstruck, but now that we’ve seen it, we’ve been through it, I think it’ll help us a lot.”
Peaking at the perfect moment
The Indiana-based programme has recovered formidably since the turn of the year, winning 10 of their past 11 matches.
Their only defeat during that impressive stretch came by a narrow two-point margin against a resilient Duke side.
Head coach Niele Ivey, who previously won a national championship as a player, understands the mental fortitude required against such dominant opposition.
“They can crush you from the beginning, so you have to have confidence for 40 minutes,” Ivey explained.
The former assistant coach stressed that her squad now possesses the necessary experience to handle the high-pressure tournament environment.
LeBron James and Bronny James have made NBA history by recording the league’s first father-son assist during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The historic moment arrived in the second quarter when the veteran forward, facing a heavy double team, kicked the ball out to his open son on the left wing.
Bronny confidently drained the three-pointer, officially etching the James family name into the basketball record books twice on a single play.
“It was a special moment with us two and a lot more to come down the road,” the 21-year-old guard said following the victory.
Confidence returning after health scare
The young prospect is enjoying an increasingly prominent role for the Lakers following a highly publicised and challenging start to his collegiate career.
His freshman season at USC was heavily disrupted after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a summer workout prior to the 2024 draft.
However, the rookie has demonstrated steady improvement during his second NBA season, currently shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
The four-time NBA champion expressed immense pride at seeing his eldest son earn meaningful back-to-back minutes on the court.
“Just not take it for granted being in a moment of us being on the floor once again… definitely a cool moment for us and also for the family.”
LeBron James
A growing rhythm on the court
Bronny’s shooting proficiency extends to the G League, where he boasts a 41.7% success rate for the South Bay Lakers.
“I’ve gotten more and more reps being comfortable shooting behind the NBA line,” the former Trojan explained.
His legendary father noted that the young guard is simply returning to the high-level form he consistently displayed throughout high school.
“It’s just getting back to where it was before the incident. He’s always been able to shoot the ball,” the NBA’s all-time leading scorer observed.
This growing on-court confidence has reportedly translated into some lighthearted familial trash talk behind closed doors.
Following Friday’s victory, Bronny humorously claimed his father once broke a backboard at their Miami home out of frustration after losing a one-on-one game against him.