Arizona, Michigan and Duke had looked like a clear top tier in college basketball as conference play began. All three spent time atop the AP Top 25 and went on to claim a No. 1 seed in March Madness.
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Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd cuts down the net after a win over Purdue in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday in San Jose, Calif.
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg celebrates by cutting down the net after defeating Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday in Chicago.
UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) scores the winning basket during the second half against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday in Washington.
Illinois' Brad Underwood, center, celebrates with players after an Elite Eight game against Iowa in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday in Houston.
Photos from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament
Tennessee's Jaylen Carey (23) and Michigan's Elliot Cadeau (3) reach for the ball as Tennessee's Nate Ament (10) watches during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Arizona forward Koa Peat, center, shoots past Purdue center Oscar Cluff, left, during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arizona guard Anthony Dell'Orso, right, reacts after making a 3-point basket next to forward Tobe Awaka during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Purdue, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arizona guard Anthony Dell'Orso (3) reacts after making a 3-point basket during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Purdue, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. and teammates celebrate their win over Duke after the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
UConn guard Solo Ball scores over Duke guard Cayden Boozer, rear, during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates after defeating Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg celebrates after defeating Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Michigan's Nimari Burnett celebrates after defeating Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
UConn guard Braylon Mullins cuts the net after the team's win against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Duke center Patrick Ngongba sits in the locker room after their Elite Eight game of the NCAA college basketball tournament against UConn, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
UConn players celebrate after their win against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
UConn forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after the team's win against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) reacts with teammates after scoring the winning basket against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
UConn guard Braylon Mullins, right, celebrates his game winning basketball with teammates after the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) scores the winning basket during the second half against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Illinois players celebrate after beating Iowa in an Elite Eight game in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) works for a rebound against Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov, top right, during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelley L Cox)
Illinois coach Brad Underwood celebrates after Illinois beat Iowa in an Elite Eight game in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
From left, Utah State forward Karson Templin (22), Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30), Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) and Utah State forward Garry Clark, right, battle for the ball during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) scrambles for the ball against Utah State during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) celebrates as Arizona defeats Utah State in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
St. John's guard Ian Jackson (11) shoots around Kansas forward Bryson Tiller (15) during a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. John's players celebrate after defeating Kansas a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Kansas players react after losing to St. John's in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Florida guard Isaiah Brown (20) slam dunks over Iowa forward Cooper Koch and guard Isaia Howard during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Iowa forward Cooper Koch (8) celebrates a three-point shot during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Florida Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Purdue's Gicarri Harris (24) and Braden Smith (3) celebrate during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Miami, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Ali Overstreet)
Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) and Miami's Tru Washington (10) dive after a loose ball during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Ali Overstreet)
Iowa State's Blake Buchanan (23) collides with Kentucky's Brandon Garrison on his way to the basket during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Ali Overstreet)
St. John's forward Zuby Ejiofor, right, and Kansas forward Flory Bidunga (40) vie for a reobund during the first half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
St. John's guard Dylan Darling (0) celebrates after St. John's defeated Kansas in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) dunks against Saint Louis during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) dunks over Saint Louis guard Quentin Jones (1) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Texas forward Dailyn Swain (3) shoots during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Gonzaga, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
High Point head coach Flynn Clayman talks with guard Rob Martin (3) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Arkansas, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Arkansas forward Billy Richmond III (24) goes to the basket during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against High Point, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
