As college basketball fans gear up for the Final Four, the spotlight is on Illinois, a team that unexpectedly finds itself in the underdog role. Despite its strong Big Ten record, Illinois is seen as the “Cinderella” story among basketball giants like Arizona, Michigan, and UConn.
Illinois, a Big Ten powerhouse with more conference wins than any other school over the past seven seasons, will play a surprising role in this year’s Final Four in Indianapolis. Coach Brad Underwood’s squad is tasked with overcoming UConn, a team that clawed back from a 19-point deficit with a buzzer-beater by Braylon Mullins, an Indianapolis native, to secure their spot in the tournament’s penultimate stage.
“It’s a UConn culture, a UConn heart,” said UConn coach Dan Hurley. “We believe we’re supposed to win this time of year.”
Meanwhile, the Wildcats of Arizona, led by Brayden Burries, and the Michigan Wolverines, with Yaxel Lendeborg, each boast up to nine NBA prospects. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Arizona is slightly favored at plus-165 to win the championship, but oddly, they are 1 1/2-point underdogs against Michigan in the semifinals.
Illinois is a 2 1/2-point favorite over UConn, yet the Huskies are considered the biggest long shot at plus-550 in Indianapolis. Illinois’ underdog status, despite being a major university with nearly 60,000 students, reflects the evolving landscape of college basketball.
The Illini are the highest-seeded team at the Final Four in two years, a No. 3 seed compared to UConn’s No. 2. This year’s heavyweight matchup features top-seeded Michigan against Arizona, both representing power conferences in a contest with significant stakes.
NIL deals and the transfer portal have drastically changed college basketball dynamics. In contrast to past tournaments, where mid-majors like Florida Atlantic and San Diego State made significant impacts, this year’s underdogs have struggled, with double-digit seeds winning only five games.
Underwood, who gained national attention a decade ago by leading Stephen F. Austin to tournament upsets, views Illinois’ Final Four appearance as a natural progression. “I don’t want to sound arrogant,” said Underwood. “I’ve never doubted us getting to a Final Four would happen.”
Illinois vs. UConn
Illinois, featuring the “Balkan Bloc” with players from Eastern Europe, includes potential NBA lottery pick Keaton Wagler. Despite the talent, Andrej Stojakovic, son of NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, is perhaps the most recognizable name. The Illini face the challenge of managing UConn’s roster, which includes five players averaging double figures, led by Tarris Reed Jr.
Michigan vs. Arizona
The Michigan-Arizona matchup highlights the varied strategies teams use to build rosters in the modern era of transfers and NIL deals. Arizona’s lineup includes four starters who began their careers in Tucson, while Michigan’s top players arrived via the transfer portal.
Both coaches, Tommy Lloyd of Arizona and Dusty May of Michigan, have roots in mid-major programs and have successfully transitioned to the sport’s highest levels. Lloyd was a long-time assistant at Gonzaga before taking over at Arizona, while May led FAU to the Final Four before joining Michigan.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
