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By Sunday night, the men’s Final Four will be set. The pair of teams that have already punched their tickets have waited two decades to make a run this deep. Arizona is in its first Final Four in 25 years, while Illinois is back for the first time since 2005. Both of those programs finished as the national runner-up that season.

All four of the teams playing Sunday have been a familiar fixture in the Elite Eight in recent years, and only one — Tennessee — has never been to the Final Four. To make history, though, the sixth-seeded Volunteers will have to take down formidable No. 1 seed Michigan.

In the second game, Duke and UConn will meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their 2004 Final Four showdown. The Huskies edged out the Blue Devils 79-78 before going on to win the national championship.

That was then, several years before freshman phenom Cameron Boozer was even born. Here’s how to watch this Sunday’s action.

All times ET. All efficiency stats via KenPom.


Men’s March Madness Elite Eight schedule, Day 2

Game Location Time TV Stream

Michigan vs. Tennessee

Chicago

2:15 p.m.

CBS

Duke vs. UConn

Washington, D.C.

5:05 p.m.

CBS

CBS is free over the air and included in Paramount+ subscriptions. Streaming is also available on the March Madness Live app.


No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 6 Tennessee

Midwest Region

This matchup features two of the nation’s most relentless rebounding teams, defined by their physicality, size and nonstop pursuit of the ball on both ends.

For Tennessee, the formula is clear: shot-making determines everything. The Volunteers are 24-3 when they make at least 43 percent of their attempts from the field, but just 1-8 when they fall below that mark. The challenge? Michigan rarely allows it — only eight teams all season have managed to shoot better than 43 percent against the maize and blue. The Wolverines enter Sunday ranked No. 2 in defensive efficiency.

Michigan’s guards can be suspect at times and Tennessee will need its best game from senior Ja’Kobi Gillespie. The Volunteers also have to find a way to slow down All-American Yaxel Lendeborg, who has recorded two straight 20+ point games, including a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double against Alabama in the Sweet 16.

The winner will advance to take on No. 1 Arizona in next Saturday’s Final Four.

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 UConn

East Region

Both teams have taken nearly identical paths to the Elite Eight. Each stumbled a bit in the opening round despite being heavy favorites, responded with a double-digit win in the round of 32, and then survived a tight Sweet 16 battle.

The frontcourt matchup is what jumps off the page. Both sides feature NBA-level talent in the paint, combining skill and production in a way that should make for a must-watch battle. Can UConn seniors Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban get the better of Duke’s younger duo of Cameron Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II? That clash alone could swing the game.

Ultimately, though, this one will be decided by the guards and rebounding. Whichever team controls the glass and gets more playmaking from its backcourt will have the edge. Duke has a higher offensive rebounding rate, checking in at 38.4 percent, fourth-best in the nation. But UConn also ranks in the top 30 at 35.8 percent.

Both squads are healthier now — Duke just got Caleb Foster back in the last round — and shooting the ball better, so watch closely to see which guards step up when the pressure hits.

Whoever does will likely move on to Indianapolis, where they will face No. 3 seed Illinois.


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