While other matchups in the Elite Eight feature some of the nation’s best players, the East Region final features a different kind of star-studded affair. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Louisville’s Rick Pitino are two of the best coaches in the country.
Gonzaga is one win from its first trip to the Final Four, but the last remaining obstacle is a significant one. The Bulldogs have lost only twice all season — by a total of six points — but must get past Duke in the South Region final.
Undefeated Kentucky advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the fourth time in five seasons, defeating third-seeded Notre Dame 68-66 in the Midwest Region final at Cleveland on Saturday.
A year ago, Wisconsin topped Arizona by one point in overtime to advance to the Final Four. On Saturday, the top-seeded Badgers moved on again, coasting past the second-seeded Wildcats 85-78 in the West region final at Los Angeles.
Travis Trice led Michigan State with 24 points, including six points down the stretch, and Denzel Valentine chipped in with 18 to lead the No. 7 Spartans to a 62-58 win over the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners in an East Regional semifinal at the Carrier Dome on Friday.
If it feels like Wisconsin and Arizona just played each other for a Final Four berth, it’s because they did. The Badgers and Wildcats clash in the Elite Eight for the second straight year, with the West Region title at stake.
Justise Winslow scored a game-high 21 points as top-seeded Duke outlasted fifth-seeded Utah 63-57 on Friday night in an NCAA South Regional semifinal game at NRG Stadium.
Kentucky reached the Final Four in 2011, won the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and was the national runner-up in 2014, while Notre Dame has not reached the Final Four since 1978. They’ll meet Saturday in the Midwest Region final.
Sean Miller is arguably the country’s best recruiter not named John Calipari. Miller is also considered an expert coach, having led teams to the Sweet 16 six times and Elite Eight four. But he is also the latest to own this moniker: Best coach not to have reached a Final Four.
Wisconsin plays for the right to reach a second straight Final Four today when it meets Arizona in the West Region final. Should they win, the Badgers then could face a national semifinal matchup against undefeated Kentucky.
