March 29, 2026 / 9:58 PM EDT / AP
UConn completed a furious comeback and punched its ticket to the Final Four with a last-second 3-pointer, toppling Duke 73-72 Sunday and setting up a semifinal matchup with surprising Illinois in Indianapolis.
After falling behind by as many as 19 points, the Huskies closed the gap and produced a wild finish. With 10 seconds left, Duke guard Silas Demary Jr. made one of two free throws to put the Blue Devils up three. Duke tried to run out the clock, and a pass from Cayden Boozer near midcourt was tipped. UConn recovered and, after a frantic scramble, Braylon Mullins pulled up from about 35 feet and buried a desperation triple that swished with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Coach Dan Hurley said he declined a late timeout because “it just felt like the window where you’ve just got to let March Madness take over. March magic.” His decision paid off: the deflected pass led to Mullins’ game-winner and a berth in the Final Four.
“The last two times the Huskies reached this point, they won the championship,” Hurley said, pointing to the program’s recent pedigree. “It’s a UConn culture, a UConn heart. We believe we’re supposed to win this time of year.”
UConn, a No. 2 seed, will face Illinois, a No. 3 seed that has quietly emerged as this tournament’s unlikely contender. The Illini — a Big Ten program with more conference wins over the last seven seasons than anyone else — look less like a fairytale Cinderella and more like the product of sustained success. Still, their run to the Final Four is the program’s first since 2005.
Illinois coach Brad Underwood, who rose to prominence a decade ago at Stephen F. Austin, said this trip felt earned, not accidental. “I don’t want to sound arrogant,” he said. “I’ve never doubted us getting to a Final Four would happen. I have thought we have had other teams capable. But I also know how doggone hard it is to do it.”
The Illini lean on a balanced attack and a collection of impact pieces: the so-called “Balkan Bloc,” potential lottery guard Keaton Wagler, freshman swing Andrej Stojakovic (son of former NBA All-Star Peja) and veteran scorer Tarris Reed Jr. Illinois features five players averaging double figures and arrives as a 2½-point favorite over UConn in the projected semifinal.
Across the bracket, Arizona and Michigan—each stocked with NBA-caliber talent—meet in the other semifinal. Arizona’s roster is heavy on homegrown talent, with four starters who began their careers in Tucson and the fifth, Big 12 player of the year Jaden Bradley, a transfer from Alabama. Michigan, meanwhile, has been built largely through the transfer portal; leading contributors Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara and Elliot Cadeau all joined the Wolverines from other programs.
Oddsmakers list Arizona as a slight favorite to win the title at about +165 via BetMGM, with Michigan close behind at +180 after a convincing 95-62 win over Tennessee. For the semifinal pairings, Michigan is favored by 1½ points over Arizona, while Illinois holds a small edge on UConn.
The tournament has seen fewer deep runs by double-digit seeds this year than in some recent seasons, underscoring how roster construction — the transfer portal, NIL and conference realignment — has reshaped college basketball. Still, the Final Four’s mix of veteran programs, high-end prospects and sudden drama remains intact.
With UConn’s last-second shot the latest dramatic chapter, the stage is set for next weekend in Indianapolis, where UConn will play Illinois and Michigan will face Arizona in semifinals that promise high stakes and compelling storylines.