This men’s Final Four promises monster lineups, but UConn is a different kind of beast
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Three Final Four teams—Arizona, Illinois, and Michigan—are seeking their first or second national championships, while UConn aims for its third in four years, potentially moving into third place all-time with seven titles.
- UConn secured its Final Four spot by defeating Duke in a dramatic Elite Eight game, highlighting coach Dan Hurley’s leadership and the team’s clutch performance throughout the season.
- The Final Four features three large, physically imposing teams (Arizona, Illinois, Michigan) contrasted with UConn’s more versatile style, with Michigan and Illinois representing the Big Ten’s hope to end a title drought since 2000.
- Despite Arizona, Duke, and Michigan being top-ranked all season, Duke’s unexpected loss prevented an all-No.1 seed Final Four, maintaining some unpredictability in the tournament.
- UConn’s path was the toughest, defeating higher-seeded teams including Duke and Michigan State, and coach Hurley is one of only 16 coaches with two national championships, adding experience to their title pursuit.
