Illinois and Arizona are more alike than you think heading into the Final Four

· Yahoo Sports

Illinois and Arizona are more alike than you think heading into the Final Four originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Visit goldparty.lat for more information.

Illinois and Arizona did not take the same road to get here. They do not play the same style, they were not built the same way, and they carry very different identities on the floor. But standing in the Final Four, those differences start to fade.

Because both teams did not just arrive here. They earned it. They imposed their will on every opponent in front of them, and now two programs that have been waiting for this moment for decades are suddenly sharing the same stage at the same time.

For Illinois, this has been a 21 year climb. The last Final Four appearance came in 2005, and every season since has been chasing that standard. This team finally broke through by embracing toughness and physical play. Even when shots are not falling, they stay connected, they rebound, and they wear teams down until something gives.

Arizona has been waiting even longer. The Wildcats have not been to the Final Four since 2001, which always felt surprising for a program with that level of history. Under Tommy Lloyd, they have been building toward this, and now they finally broke through.

This is also the first Final Four appearance for Brad Underwood, which adds another layer to it. Two coaches reaching this stage for the first time, both with teams that fully reflect their identity.

How did it happen

What stands out most about both teams is not just that they are here. It is how they got here:

Illinois and Arizona have both won all four NCAA Tournament games by double digits. No last second drama. No coin flips. Just control. That kind of dominance matters this late in March.

Arizona’s Elite Eight win over the Purdue Boilermakers might have been the clearest example. Down seven at halftime, they flipped the switch and exploded for 48 points in the second half, turning a tight game into a 79 to 64 win. Koa Peat scored 20, Ivan Kharchenkov added 18 and eight rebounds, and Jaden Bradley ran the show with six assists and just one turnover. Motiejus Krivas pulled down 12 rebounds and controlled the paint. Arizona had just six turnovers all night.

Illinois does it differently, but the result feels the same.

They beat Iowa by double digits while shooting just 3 for 17 from three. That tells you everything. They do not need perfect offense. They win with physicality, rebounding, and effort. David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler have set the tone inside, and against Houston, last year’s national runner up, Illinois simply outworked and out toughed one of the toughest teams in the country.

How their seasons were built

Arizona came into the year with expectations, but what they became was even bigger.

They started 13-0 in non conference play, stacking wins against some of the best teams in the country. Then they entered the Big 12 and did not slow down. They won 22 straight games at one point, captured the Big 12 regular season title, and followed it up with a conference tournament championship. By the time March arrived, they were one of the most complete teams in the country.

Illinois took a different path.

They grew into this. There were ups and downs early, but over time, they developed one of the most physical identities in college basketball. By the end of the season, they were not just winning. They were dictating games. That carried straight into March, where they have controlled every opponent they have faced.

More: Illinois Fighting Illini advance to 2026 NCAA Final Four

Best wins that defined both teams

Arizona built one of the strongest resumes in the country:

  • Won at Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium

  • Beat UConn on the road

  • Defeated Alabama by 21 in Birmingham

  • Took down Houston late in the season

  • Beat Purdue Boilermakers 79-64 in the Elite Eight after a dominant second half

  • Won both the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles

Illinois built its identity through toughness and big moments:

  • Beat Houston, last year’s national runner up, in dominant fashion

  • Defeated Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight despite poor shooting

  • Won all four NCAA Tournament games by double digits

  • Controlled games physically even when shots were not falling

  • Established itself as one of the toughest teams in the country

The numbers behind their success

Arizona’s balance shows up immediately in the stat sheet.

Brayden Burries leads the team with 16.2 points per game and shoots over 50 percent from the field. Koa Peat adds 13.9 points and over five rebounds per game. Jaden Bradley contributes 13.3 points and 4.4 assists while also leading the team in steals. Tobe Awaka anchors the glass with 9.2 rebounds per game, and Motiejus Krivas adds 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and nearly two blocks per game.

They are efficient, deep, and connected. Five players averaging near double figures tells you everything about how they operate.

Illinois leans less on balance and more on force.

David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler have been dominant on the interior, controlling rebounds and setting the tone defensively. Illinois does not need big three point shooting nights to win. They win by controlling possessions, limiting second chances, and wearing teams down physically over 40 minutes.

It is not always pretty, but it is effective.

Opposite sides of the bracket, same destination in mind

They are not facing each other yet.

Illinois will take on the winner of UConn and Duke. Arizona will face the winner of Michigan and Tennessee. They are on opposite sides, but everything about their paths feels like it is building toward a potential collision.

Because when you step back and look at it, the similarities are hard to ignore.

Both teams have dominated March. Both have multiple scoring options. Both have waited decades for this moment. Both coaches are here for the first time.

Different journeys, same feeling.

And heading into the Final Four, it feels like neither team is done yet.

More College Basketball news:

Read full story at source