Final Four X-factors: The four March Madness players key to team's national title hopes

There will beplenty of star powerin Indianapolis for the2026 Final Four, but don't forget about the unsung heroes.

Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona and Michigan made the national semifinals with their major playmakers having the primary roles. But what has allowed this quartet to reach the biggest stage in men's college basketball is that they also get significant contributions from people outside the spotlight. It's going to take more than the top guys to cut down the nets − just look atUConn's Braylon Mullinsin the Elite Eight.

So, which under-the-radar players have the chance to step up and be the catalyst for a national championship? Here is one player to watch for each team.

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

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Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamentat Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Connecticut: Malachi Smith

The health of Silas Demary Jr. has been a talking point for UConn as the lead guard, but Smith has stepped up well and become a reliable guard during the tournament.

It was big for Smith, who started in 77 games at Dayton before transferring to Storrs this season, to accept a bench role for the Huskies, but he's wound up becoming a vital part of the second unit, and his value has only risen as the season ended. After averaging 2.7 assists per game before the tournament began, he's averaging 5.5 in the four tournament games. Smith made the most his starting role in the first two rounds, when he played more than 30 minutes against Furman and UCLA.

Even with Demary back, Smith has earned increased minutes and it's paying off for Dan Hurley.

Illinois: Kylan Boswell

It makes sense to see a senior playing a big role for Illinois, but it's easy to forget Boswell is won't turn 21 until later this month, and he'll have to play up to his experience in order for the Fighting Illini to break through.

A look at the stat sheet may make you wonder how Boswell makes such a difference − averaging just 8.3 points and 2 assists during the tournament − but he is the heart and soul of the team, a guy that brings energy and intensity. That will be needed defensively since Connecticut is one of the best teams sharing, so he will have to bring pressure to limit passing lanes. Illinois' offense has done well, but it could really use Boswell as he has struggled to score, as he went a combined 0-for-7 from the field in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. If he can find a shooting touch, that makes the back court mightily stronger.

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The Final Four means a lot to many, but Boswell is playing a big part on his hometown team. The Champaign native will have the chance to bring its first national title home.

Arizona: Ivan Kharchenkov

You want someone that is willing to lay it all on the line every single play? Kharchenkov is your guy.

There may no be no one with more hustle than than the freshman from Germany who is diving for the ball and playing an aggressive style of ball that really makes opponents uncomfortable. If you look at moments where Arizona swung momentum to its side, most of the time its because of Kharchenkov. Not only that, but he's raised his level in the postseason. He entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, but he's improved that to 14 point and 6.5 rebounds per contest.

Teams cannot relax when Kharchenkov is on the court, as he is will do the little things that could be the key moments in an Arizona win.

Michigan: Elliot Cadeau

Michigan is the highest-scoring offense left in the tournament, averaging 87.7 points per game. None of it happens withoutthe guard play of Cadeau.

The North Carolina transfer has had a renaissance in Ann Arbor, averaging 5.8 assists per game. While he's been dishing it out at a great rate, he's really honed in on taking care of the ball, with fewer than four turnovers in each of the last six games. That's on top averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game and becoming a reliable 3-point shooter. What makes it even more incredible? He is partially deaf in his right ear, has asthma and had surgery his freshman year to treat a progressive eye disorder.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara get most of the attention, but the offense doesn't move as exceptional as it does without Cadeau. Michigan needs its guard to spearhead the attack to keep the offense as lethal as its been all season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Final Four X-factors for Arizona, Michigan, UConn, Illinois

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Final Four X-factors: The four March Madness players key to team's national title hopes

There will beplenty of star powerin Indianapolis for the2026 Final Four, but don't forget about the unsung heroes. ...

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You're the best player in the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't mean you'll have an NBA future.

The award for the most outstanding player of the NCAA Tournament's Final Four comes with prestige. Past winners form an exclusive club, including Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Magic Johnson.

The honor comes with a small trophy, too, one mailed to winners once March Madness concludes, an NCAA spokesperson said.

What it no longer comes with, though, is job security.

"It's a lot different," past winner Patrick Ewing told NBC News, "from when I played."

Proving that a player could come up clutch on college hoops' biggest stage was once a reliable indicator of a can't-miss prospect. Since the start of the modern era of the NBA draft in 1966, 28 of the next 42 Final Four Most Outstanding Players were selected within the first 10 picks of their drafts.

Not every winner would go on to become Hall of Famers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the former all-time NBA scoring leader, or the quartet of Isiah Thomas, James Worthy, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ewing, who won Most Outstanding Player from 1981 to 1985. Yet many carved out long, lucrative careers; in that same span that started in 1966, 25 winners went on to spend at least a decade in the NBA.

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But since 2012 — when one-and-done star Anthony Davis earned the award, was drafted No. 1 overall and began a career that could likely, one day, land him in the Hall of Fame — the last 12 Most Outstanding Player winners have combined for zero All-Star appearances. Four have gone undrafted. Three others quickly washed out of the NBA.

Tristen Newton had no doubt that winning the honor in 2024 while leading Connecticut to its second consecutive national championship helped his case when he auditioned in front of NBA teams. It "was one of the first things that teams would mention" during their interviews, Newton told NBC News.

"But nowadays," he added, "teams in the NBA are looking for, I guess, the younger guys than the more-ready guy who can come and contribute."

Newton, 24, learned that on draft night, when he was selected 49th overall in a 58-player draft. In two seasons, Newton, a 6-foot-5 guard, has appeared in eight NBA games while playing primarily in the NBA's developmental minor league.

He added that "NBA and college careers, I guess those are two different — they don't really correlate with each other anymore."

Winning Most Outstanding Player is but one of hundreds of data points NBA teams use to evaluate prospects, from how they play on the court to how they carry themselves off it. Indeed, two executives of NBA teams, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in exchange for their candor about the draft process, said they didn't even realize the past connection between winners of the award and often strong NBA careers. They viewed a strong performance in the tournament and particularly the Final Four as a helpful line in a player's broader résumé but not a difference-maker. Conversely, struggling in the tournament wouldn't be held against a prospect who had played well all season, an executive said.

When Ewing left Georgetown for the NBA in 1985 and was drafted first overall by the New York Knicks, he was the definition of a college superstar. He had led the Hoyas to three NCAA championship games in four seasons, winning once, and he remains so closely intertwined with his college success, in fact, that this month AT&T placed him in not one but two ads playing throughout the NCAA Tournament.

In 1985, however, the pathway to the NBA was far more limited than it is four decades later. With only a few exceptions, being eligible for the draft then required a player to be at least three years out of high school, and international players often had to be at least 21. Of the 24 players taken in that year's first round, just three were international; last year, international players accounted for more than a third of the first round.

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A record 135 foreign-born players were on NBA rosters at the start of this season, many of whom never played collegiately. That has meant more competition for a few roster spots.

"When I played, there was a few guys from Europe that was in the league or from Africa with Hakeem and Dikembe [Mutombo] and those guys. But now it's a lot larger pot," Ewing said.

And many foreign players, he said, are the "cream of the crop" — such as Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who have combined to win the Most Valuable Player award in five of the last seven NBA seasons. They never played a second in college.

It isn't that players are leaving college worse than in previous eras, said a high-ranking NBA team executive who has helped oversee college scouting. Younger players now have access to better technology, equipment and health care. But the difficulty of sticking in the NBA for even decorated college players has increased as eligibility rules have changed and, as a result, so have the draft preferences of NBA teams. Since 2006, draft-eligible prospects must be 19 and a year removed from high school.

"The thought is always you get these younger guys in your [NBA or G-League] program and they don't have to worry about school and you can really develop their bodies and games and make them better players," an NBA team executive said. "The old-school mentality was 'I just want ready-made players who can win games,' and that's changed in the NBA. We're spending more time developing guys than winning right off the bat with them."

In theory, a younger prospect arrives with fewer bad habits and can play longer.

"I think they definitely want younger guys," said Walter Clayton Jr., who was 22 when he won the 2025 tournament's Most Outstanding Player with Florida. Clayton was drafted 18th overall and now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.

There's another major difference, too.

The fact that "the game is so different is the first hurdle," the executive said.

Translating what worked in college to the NBA used to be easier, because the styles at both levels were similar. But the college and pro game have diverged. A decade ago, college teams averaged 18.6 3-pointers per game and NBA teams 24.1. This season, the college average crept to a record average of23.2; pros, meanwhile, aretaking 37.

Adjusting to the NBA means getting used to more skilled opponents and roles that can be wildly different from the responsibilities college stars were used to, Clayton said. But certain aspects of playing well under the pressure and spotlight of a Final Four do carry over to the pros, he said.

"Being able to stay calm in high-pressure situations, it definitely helped me," he said. "Some teams view that as a characteristic or an intangible."

As the latest tournament began in late March, the Grizzlies set up televisions showing March Madness action around the arena for players to watch. Florida players on last year's national championship team began pinging messages back and forth in a group chat, Clayton said. The memories were nice. But now, he has a job to do — sticking in the NBA, which is not given.

"The award is the award," Clayton said. "I'm appreciative of it, but it's kind of in the past. Just gotta get adjusted at this level and make things happen here."

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

You're the best player in the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't mean you'll have an NBA future.

The award for the most outstanding player of the NCAA Tournament's Final Four comes with prestige. Past winners form ...

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'Wheel of Fortune' star Pat Sajak gives rare glimpse into retirement in viral social media spotlight

Pat Sajak isn't solving puzzles anymore — he's stealing the spotlight on social media.

The former "Wheel of Fortune" host is offering a glimpse into retirement, popping up alongside his daughter, Maggie Sajak, in a series of playful videos that quickly gained traction online.

During a recent outing, Maggie jokingly tried to bargain her way out of paying for dinner, offering her father "two lipliners and a piece of gum" in a cheekysocial media video.

"POV: you're out to dinner with your parents," the social media text said.

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"It's OK," he lip-synced. "It's on the house."

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Fans were quick to comment on theviral video.

"Yes. Even the vowels are on the house. Hi Pat! I like thesefather and daughter skitsyou both do," one user wrote.

"I love how much you spend with your parents, especially your father. Its hard to find these days.." another added.

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The lighthearted exchange is just the latest example of Pat embracing a more relaxed chapter of life after stepping away from television.

Last month, Pat and Maggie teamed up again — this time on a bigger stage — serving as guest announcers at the Grand Ole Opry inNashville, Tennessee. The appearance marked a full-circle moment for Pat, who landed his first TV job in the same city at WSM-TV (now WSMV).

Backstage, the father-daughter duo appeared to be with country music stars including Brad Paisley. At one point, Pat even got"roped"into dancing with the Opry Square Dancers — a very different moment from his decades behind the puzzle board.

Fans once again chimed in.

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"Miss seeing your dad on The Wheel it's not the same," one commenter wrote.

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"Love that you and your Dad are so close and he goes along with stuff. He's a cool Dad!" another shared.

In February, Pat appeared in another clip, strutting down a hallway while lip-syncing to K-Pop star Jennie's remix of the artist Tame Impala's "Dracula."

In a moment that quickly made the rounds online, he covered his mouth just as the track dropped an F-bomb — a move fans saw asclassic, polished Pat.

"The perfect censoring with the hands. That's a seasoned TV man!" one TikTok user wrote.

"Pat's looking healthy and rested," another commented.

"Man, do we miss Pat. No shade to Ryan [Seacrest] though," another added.

"Hope he's enjoying his retirement!" a fan shared.

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Another "Wheel of Fortune" fan echoed the sentiment: "He's looking so happy as always! I was on the show 15 years ago and he was such a pleasure in person to meet!"

Other comments read, "I miss Pat on my TV!"

Pat announced in June 2023 that he would step down from hosting "Wheel of Fortune," closing the book on a four-decade run that made him one of the most recognizable faces on television.

Weeks later, Ryan Seacrest was named his successor, ushering in a new era for the long-running game show.

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Meanwhile, co-host Vanna White signed a contract extension that will keep her on the show through the 2025–2026 season, maintaining a familiar presence for longtime viewers.

"Wheel of Fortune" first premiered in 1975, with Pat taking over hosting duties in 1981. White joined the following year, cementing a partnership that would span decades.

Original article source:'Wheel of Fortune' star Pat Sajak gives rare glimpse into retirement in viral social media spotlight

byAlex Forten

in

April 01, 2026

'Wheel of Fortune' star Pat Sajak gives rare glimpse into retirement in viral social media spotlight

Pat Sajak isn't solving puzzles anymore — he's stealing the spotlight on social media. The former ...

Read More