Arizona vs Michigan, 4/4/2026: Final Four

[Carolinacacti]

Glad I didn't go to the pub for this one

 

[TJ]

I locked myself in my room. I may or may not have kicked over my clothes hamper midway thru the game

 

[Stout]

Well, that was gutless. At least they made the Final 4 again, but to go out like that? Oof.

 

[ajcardfan]

Of course I wanted au to lose. But I think everyone, including myself, was shocked to see them get beat THAT bad. I was hoping to see a great game and both Final Four games disappointed.

Once again, the best basketball happened in the Elite Eight, and not the Final Four.

Michigan deserves to be a heavy favorite against UConn.

 

[Russ Smith]

Side note but the first game again points out playing the games in huge arenas is bad for the actual product. More fans looks cool but the shooting background is horrible and there's years of evidence. Didn't impact the UA/Michigan game, Michigan railed 3's and UA doesn't shoot that many 3's but in the first game it was insane how many open 3's Illinois missed.

 

[TJ]

Side note but the first game again points out playing the games in huge arenas is bad for the actual product. More fans looks cool but the shooting background is horrible and there's years of evidence. Didn't impact the UA/Michigan game, Michigan railed 3's and UA doesn't shoot that many 3's but in the first game it was insane how many open 3's Illinois missed.

That should’ve favored Arizona, which relies a lot more on getting under the basket and drawing fouls.

In the end, Michigan was able to neutralize Arizona’s size and the team looked frightened from the moment the players were introduced.

 

[Russ Smith]

That should’ve favored Arizona, which relies a lot more on getting under the basket and drawing fouls.

In the end, Michigan was able to neutralize Arizona’s size and the team looked frightened from the moment the players were introduced.

Yeah it wasn't a UA specific comment just I want the final 4 and final to be great games and playing them in cavernous arenas is counter productive to that.

 

[GatorAZ]

Side note but the first game again points out playing the games in huge arenas is bad for the actual product. More fans looks cool but the shooting background is horrible and there's years of evidence. Didn't impact the UA/Michigan game, Michigan railed 3's and UA doesn't shoot that many 3's but in the first game it was insane how many open 3's Illinois missed.

I heard Dusty May had Michigan practicing the Big House in preparation. May has been to a F4 and Tommy hasn’t and it showed. The freshman were God awful.

 

[Russ Smith]

I heard Dusty May had Michigan practicing the Big House in preparation. May has been to a F4 and Tommy hasn’t and it showed. The freshman were God awful.

I think May is probably good at relieving some of the pressure he seems to have a way of getting his kids loose.

Can't really blame Lloyd though IMO his 2 best players for the last couple of months were Burries and Bradley. Bradley got into early foul trouble, clear fouls IMO, and was a non factor and Burries was total deer in the headlights until the game was out of reach. Not much you can do as a coach when 2 core players are that bad in the same game

 

[Dback Jon]

It’s never great when your coach is negotiating with two programs before the final four but man you at least gotta be competitive. Disappointing end.

Yes, that was really poor timing on his part

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I heard Dusty May had Michigan practicing the Big House in preparation. May has been to a F4 and Tommy hasn’t and it showed. The freshman were God awful.

Other than krivas they were all gawd awful.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Other than krivas they were all gawd awful.

Michigan was good that was it Burries was awful

 

[Raindog]

That should’ve favored Arizona, which relies a lot more on getting under the basket and drawing fouls.

In the end, Michigan was able to neutralize Arizona’s size and the team looked frightened from the moment the players were introduced.

My girlfriend noticed/said the same thing, that AZ looked nervous AF. I don't put much stock in such things, but she was right on, I guess.

 

[GoBlue]

Hey guys, wanted to show some more love and respect after the game. Thanks for letting me in your forum to chop it up a bit. No one expected that, I certainly didn’t. The program seems to be in a good place though if that can be a bit of a consolation. For a coach as good as Tommy to pass on UNC and stay at Arizona I think says good things about where Arizona is at even if some reporting has claimed otherwise. Personally, I think going forward, Arizona needs a little more balance to paint scoring and 3 point shooting. If one is not working too well, it is nice to have a counter punch. And Ik they can shoot but it just felt like they really didn’t want to. Obviously a lot more went into this game but again, great season. It feels like Arizona will follow this up with more success and I hope you do. I’ll try to return here if we get the chance to play again.

 

[GatorAZ]

Arizona was starting 3 freshman which was successful until the end of the road, I expect more experience next season.
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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Hey guys, wanted to show some more love and respect after the game. Thanks for letting me in your forum to chop it up a bit. No one expected that, I certainly didn’t. The program seems to be in a good place though if that can be a bit of a consolation. For a coach as good as Tommy to pass on UNC and stay at Arizona I think says good things about where Arizona is at even if some reporting has claimed otherwise. Personally, I think going forward, Arizona needs a little more balance to paint scoring and 3 point shooting. If one is not working too well, it is nice to have a counter punch. And Ik they can shoot but it just felt like they really didn’t want to. Obviously a lot more went into this game but again, great season. It feels like Arizona will follow this up with more success and I hope you do. I’ll try to return here if we get the chance to play again.

Solid victory lap. Congrats.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Arizona was starting 3 freshman which was successful until the end of the road, I expect more experience next season.
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The five starters being transfers wasn’t lost on me. And the fact that the losing UConn team had a starter who formerly was a Michigan guy had to be painful. I hate where mercenary college sports is, even if I completely understand and support players being paid.

 

[Dback Jon]

The five starters being transfers wasn’t lost on me. And the fact that the losing UConn team had a starter who formerly was a Michigan guy had to be painful. I hate where mercenary college sports is, even if I completely understand and support players being paid.

A couple of points

One of the starters had been there for 3 years, so not a typical transfer.
One of the starters came from a mid-major program
Two of the others weren't regular starters on their old teams, each of which was blocked by a new transfer/recruit so left for playing time.
And the other - well, UNC fans were happy to see him go.

At first I was opposed to the transfer portal, but if coaches can up and leave, why are players trapped? Greater movement allows for players to go where their is better opportunities to grow their game.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

A couple of points

One of the starters had been there for 3 years, so not a typical transfer.
One of the starters came from a mid-major program
Two of the others weren't regular starters on their old teams, each of which was blocked by a new transfer/recruit so left for playing time.
And the other - well, UNC fans were happy to see him go.

At first I was opposed to the transfer portal, but if coaches can up and leave, why are players trapped? Greater movement allows for players to go where their is better opportunities to grow their game.

I get it for the players. As I said. But it makes for imbalance competitively imo. I think the Cinderella’s are endangered species now.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Cinderellas with cash ?

 

[Raindog]

Teams that are freshmen loaded don't win anymore for a variety of reasons, but mostly because potential doesn't necessarily translate to performance any more.

Contemporary programs would be far better off forgetting about hoarding blue chip one-and-dones. That era is over because you have no continuity with that type of roster, especially now with the portal. You have to concede to the fact that your roster is going to largely turn over from year to year, so you're much better spending your resources on talented and most importantly, experienced, transfers.

That's why Kentucky, NC, UCLA, and the other programs that traditionally rely on loading up on five star freshmen are beginning to lose relevance. And although Duke still manages to be a top of the charts program doing that, their ROI has been slipping for years now.