The Arizona Wildcats have secured a berth in the NCAA Men's Final Four for the first time in 25 years after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 79-64 in the West Regional final. With an updated record of 36-2, Arizona is scheduled to compete against the Michigan Wolverines (35-3) in the national semifinals on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The winner of this semifinal contest will advance to the NCAA championship game.
Road to the Final Four: Elite Eight Victory
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats (then 35-2) faced the second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers (30-8) in the West Region finals of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The game, held at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, saw Arizona emerge victorious with a score of 79-64, marking their 13th consecutive win.
Arizona overcame a seven-point halftime deficit, executing a 16-3 run early in the second half. Freshman Koa Peat led Arizona with 20 points and was named the West Region’s Most Outstanding Player. Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 18 points, while Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries each added 14 points. Brayden Burries and Anthony Dell’Orso made three-pointers, and Ivan Kharchenkov secured a layup during the second-half run. Arizona's defense contained Purdue's offense, limiting them to their second-lowest point total of the season and 38% shooting from the field.
For Purdue, Braden Smith scored 13 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn added 10, and Fletcher Loyer contributed eight. The trio combined for 12 of 38 shooting from the field.
NCAA National Semifinal Matchup
The Arizona Wildcats will now face the Michigan Wolverines in the national semifinals of the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
- Teams: Arizona Wildcats (36-2) vs. Michigan Wolverines (35-3)
- Event: NCAA Men's Final Four National Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
- Time: Approximately 5:49 p.m. PT
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Broadcast and Betting Information
The national semifinal game between Arizona and Michigan will be accessible through multiple platforms:
- Television: TBS will broadcast the game. The broadcast team includes Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), and Tracy Wolfson (sideline).
- Online Streaming: A live stream will be available on NCAA.com.
- Radio: The game can be heard on Wildcats Sports Radio 1290 AM.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Arizona is listed as a 1.5-point underdog for the semifinal matchup. The over/under for the game is set at 157.5 points. KenPom.com estimates Arizona's chance of winning at 50 percent.