NCAA tournament Elite 8: What you need to know for Sunday’s matchups

The biggest college basketball tournament is here, bringing plenty of excitement and storylines. Will we see Cinderellas pull upsets, or will the bluebloods keep their grip on the tournament? With the power of a reliable connection always important during a successful tournament run, we’re keeping you connected to the can’t-miss headlines and standout moments from every round.

We’ll know who all the 2026 Final Four participants are by Sunday evening.

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The last two tickets to Indianapolis will be booked from the Midwest and East regions as No. 1 Michigan plays No. 6 Tennessee in Chicago and No. 1 Duke plays No. 2 UConn in Washington, D.C.

Here’s what you need to know for the final two Elite Eight games of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 6 Tennessee

Michigan’s last Final Four appearance: 2018
Tennessee’s last Final Four appearance: Never

Yes, you read that line above correctly. Tennessee is playing for the chance to get to the first Final Four in school history. Again.

The Vols have hit a wall in the Elite Eight in each of the past two seasons. A season ago, Tennessee had a brutal first half in a 19-point loss to Houston. In 2024, The Volunteers lost by six to Purdue. Both Houston and Purdue went on to lose in the national championship games.

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This year’s Tennessee team is again a significant underdog. Michigan was a machine in the second half on Friday night as they outscored Alabama by 15 on the way to a 13-point win. The Wolverines’ frontcourt gets a lot of deserved attention, but guards Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 33 combined points off the bench in the Sweet 16 and were 6-of-9 from the 3-point line.

Tennessee had a dominant second half late Friday night, too. The Vols outscored Iowa State by 13 points in their 76-62 win. Nate Ament had 18 points while Felix Okpara was 5-of-6 from the field and had 10 rebounds. Can the two forwards have similar success against Michigan’s bigs? They may need to for…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/breaking-news/article/ncaa-tournament-elite-8-what-you-need-to-know-for-sundays-matchups-010855151.html

Author : Nick Bromberg

Publish date : 2026-03-29 01:08:00

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