UConn on a mission to prove the doubters and underdog narrative wrong in Final Four
By Zach Braziller
Published on April 3, 2026.
UConn, the team that owns the most national championships (six) since 1999 and has won all three seasons, are a 1.5-point underdog to third-seeded Illinois in the Final Four. If they advance, they would face the winner of No. 1 Michigan/No. 1 Arizona. They are the lowest-rated team in KenPom.com after a wild rally from 19 points down to defeat Duke in the Elite Eight. Coach Dan Hurley has used this underdog narrative as an excuse for his team to maintain their focus on winning the national championship. Despite this, the Huskies have been inconsistent in conference play and have lost games to non-tournament teams Marquette and Creighton.
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