The Top Performers Who Will Decide the 2026 Final Four
The Final Four is upon us. The Field of 64 has been whittled down to just Michigan, Arizona, Illinois, and UConn, who will battle Saturday for the right to a National Championship Game birth. The four remaining teams roll into Indianapolis with rosters that show little to no weaknesses. There will be plenty of individual talent on display for college basketball fans to enjoy. Let's take a look at some star players to keep an eye on this Saturday.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini are loaded with scorers. They dominate with their three-point shooting and shotmaking. Illinois would not be in this position without star freshman Keaton Wagler. The surprise All-American has been the consistent performer that Brad Underwood and company have needed throughout the tournament. Wagler has scored double digits in each game in the big dance with a 25-point performance against Iowa to send his squad to Indy. The Kansas product has earned the right to have the ball in his hands during pressure situations. His efficient shooting and ability to finish anywhere on the floor are backbreakers for defenses. Expect a big game from the freshman if Illinois is to advance to the National Championship game.
UConn
Tarris Reed Jr. is the reason why UConn is in a position to win another title. Mullins is the talk of the town and rightfully so after sending the Duke Blue Devils packing at the buzzer. Without Reed, the Huskies are not in the Elite Eight to start. The Michigan transfer is dominating the paint in epic proportions. Reed is averaging a double-double and putting up monster stat lines while doing it. In a tight game against Furman, he kept the Huskies afloat with a 31-point, 27-rebound outing to move on. This great play continued with another double-double against UCLA, a 20-point showing against Michigan State, and 26 more against Duke. The big fella wreaks havoc down low and has proved he can help carry Dan Hurley's squad to a National Championship. Good luck to the poor defender who has to deal with him Saturday night.
Michigan
The senior transfer has proved why he was the most sought-after player in the portal the previous offseason. Yaxel Lendeborg has helped carry the Wolverines throughout the year and has continued his great play in the tournament. The star forward has scored 20 or more points in three of Michigan's four tourney games. None bigger than the 27-point outing to defeat Tennessee in dominant fashion and advance to the Final Four. A first-team All-American who is shooting 50% from deep in the big dance, creating for others offensively, and being lockdown on the opposite side of the ball, he is the heart and soul of this team. The Wolverines have won each game by double digits in large part due to Lendeborg's excellent all-around play. With the Wildcats looming ahead, another standout performance will be needed for Michigan to advance.
Arizona
Arizona is a star-studded team with multiple future NBA draft picks. Truthfully, there are multiple stars to keep on the lookout for with this squad. None of the stars have raised their level of play like freshman guard Brayden Burries. The future NBA lottery pick is almost shooting 70% from deep on a respectable 13 of 19. This is a much-welcomed bump from a team that struggles with the three-point territory. Burries' scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers have all increased in the tournament. Shooting the ball at 57% clip from the field, the freshman has shown why he is the Wildcat's top scorer. If Burries can continue to be deadly from three and efficient from the field, Arizona should be the all-out favorite to win the 2026 National Title.
