March Madness: Illinois, Arizona Reach Final Four After Decades
Illinois and Arizona advanced to the men's NCAA Final Four after long absences, with Illinois ending a 21-year drought and Arizona a 25-year drought. In the women's tournament, four No. 1 seeds—South Carolina, Texas, Michigan, and TCU—progressed from the Sweet 16. Elite Eight games for both divisions continue Sunday, featuring matchups like Tennessee vs. Michigan and UConn vs. Duke in the men's bracket. The Final Four is scheduled for April 4 in Indianapolis, culminating in championship games on April 6.
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Illinois and Arizona have clinched spots in the men's NCAA Final Four, ending 21-year and 25-year droughts respectively, after Elite Eight wins on Saturday. The women's tournament has completed its Sweet 16 round, with Elite Eight matchups set for Sunday.
Men's Elite Eight Results
Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59, marking the Illini's first Final Four since 2005. Keaton Wagler led with 25 points, and Andrej Stojakovic added 17 off the bench.
Arizona overwhelmed Purdue 79-64, advancing to their first Final Four since 2001. The No. 1 seed Wildcats erased a halftime deficit with a dominant second half.
Women's Sweet 16 Outcomes
South Carolina (No. 1) routed Oklahoma 94-68, showcasing championship form.
Texas (No. 1) beat Kentucky 76-54 to set up an Elite Eight clash with Michigan.
Michigan (No. 2) cruised past Louisville 71-52 in the opening women's Sweet 16 game.
TCU (No. 3) eliminated Virginia 79-69, ending the Cavaliers' Cinderella run.
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Upcoming Elite Eight Schedule
Men's Games (Sunday):
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Michigan at 2:15 p.m. ET
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 1 Duke at 5:05 p.m. ET
Women's Games (Sunday):
No. 1 UConn vs. No. 6 Notre Dame at 1 p.m. ET
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 3 Duke at 3 p.m. ET
Final Four Details
The men's and women's Final Four will be held in Indianapolis on April 4, with national championship games following on April 6.
