The NCAA Men’s Final Four arrives Saturday night in Indianapolis, and the field is set: No. 3 Illinois faces UConn, followed by a heavyweight matchup between the two No. 1 seeds, Michigan and Arizona. Associated Press national sports writer Eddie Pells joined the broadcast from Indianapolis to break down the matchups and offer his picks.
Pells started with the UConn-Illinois game. UConn is making its third Final Four in four seasons and is riding a huge surge after a late, dramatic 3 by Braylon Mullins to punch their ticket. “They do this very well,” Pells said, noting that teams with this kind of postseason experience often carry momentum deep into March. He described UConn as being on a major high and suggested that experience and timing make them a slight favorite.
Illinois, by contrast, is a strong program that finally broke through this year. Pells called them “solid” but said their outside shooting can be inconsistent — a potential vulnerability against a confident, well-rounded UConn squad. Overall, he predicted a close game but leaned toward UConn.
On Michigan vs. Arizona, Pells said both teams are similar in quality but that Arizona may have a deeper rotation. He pointed out an interesting wrinkle: Arizona averages roughly 90 points per game despite attempting very few 3s, relying on versatile scoring and waves of offense rather than perimeter volume. He expects a bruising contest featuring many future NBA players and said Arizona’s depth might give them a small edge.
When asked to choose a national champion, Pells picked UConn over Arizona. He noted the grind of the semifinal matchups — a brutal Arizona-Michigan game could leave the winner short on recovery time — and described UConn as a “team of destiny.” He highlighted key contributors: veteran Alex Karaban, double-double threat Tarris Reed, and coach Dan Hurley’s knack for preparation and game-planning. Those ingredients, he said, make UConn a plausible upset pick to take the title.
A lighthearted thread ran through the interview: Pells gave a shout-out to his son Charlie, who correctly picked three of the four Final Four teams in his bracket. When asked about bringing Charlie on air, Pells joked that his son might wonder why he’s not getting the spotlight.
Bottom line: expect two tightly contested semifinals. UConn’s experience and momentum make them a narrow favorite over Illinois, Arizona’s depth could edge out Michigan, and Pells ultimately likes UConn’s chances to win it all.