Final Four finally here, but will Michigan prevail? The picks

1-seed Michigan basketball takes on 1-seed Arizona on Saturday, April 4 (8:49 p.m., TBS), in the 2026 NCAA Tournament national semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Wolverines opened as 1½-point favorites and have stayed there throughout the week. Here’s how three Free Press sports writers see the game going down, as well as the rest of the weekend’s matchups:

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates after winning the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Champion by defeating Tennessee 95-62 rat United Center in Chicago on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

SHAWN WINDSOR: Only blue Dusty May should worry about is worn by Michigan basketball

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Michigan vs Arizona prediction

Tony Garcia: Michigan has felt all year that if it plays its “A” game, it can beat anyone in the country. Arizona will certainly put that to the test. But this Michigan team, led by Lendeborg (coming off his best month of the season), remains on a mission. Onto the title game the Wolverines go. The pick: U-M 86, Arizona 83.

Carlos Monarrez: Another tournament game, another 90-point, double-digit win for Michigan, which is playing better in each round. Yaxel Lendeborg is taking over games at just the right time. U-M coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd should make a gentlemen’s bet before the game: Whoever wins gets the UNC job. The pick: U-M 90, Arizona 78.

Shawn Windsor: The Wolverines finally get to play someone that looks a lot like them. The Wildcats are also big, athletic, balanced, defend and have future pros. But U-am has a little more size and a touch more shooting and will make one more shot. The pick: U-M 71, Arizona 70.

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Illinois vs UConn prediction

Tony Garcia: For a while it seemed like neither team would be here. Illinois’ losses piled up in February, then a highly talented roster led by a freshman All-American found its form. And Connecticut? It just overcame a 19-point deficit and stunned Duke in the most improbable way imaginable. Dan Hurley has…

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Publish date : 2026-04-04 09:08:00

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