College basketball metrics guru Evan Miyakawa posted on X a graphic showing the best-performing lineups for each Final Four team. Miyakawa also included a list of the best-performing lineups overall nationally per 100 possessions with a grade of +60.1 in observed efficiency margin.
Guards Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, forwards Ivan Kharchenkov and Koa Peat and center Motiejus Krivas are the fourth most productive lineup nationally and the best among Final Four teams. Nebraska, Iowa and Iowa State had the top three most productive lineups nationally per Miyakawa.
Connecticut has the second most productive lineup among Final Four teams at +50.1, Michigan is third at +47.3 and Illinois is last at 46.7. Arizona's second-best lineup and third among Final Four teams graded out at 50.0 with forward Dwayne Aristode, Tobe Awaka and Peat and guards Burries and Anthony Dell'Orso.
The lineups listed by Miyakawa are based on playing a minimum of 125 possessions together. Bradley, Burries, Kharchenkov, Krivas and Peat is the primary lineup to pay attention to for Arizona. Aristode and Dell'Orso's minutes have decreased in the NCAA Tournament.
Best performing lineup for each Final Four team (min 125 poss):
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) April 1, 2026
Arizona +60.1 - Bradley, Burries, Ivan, Peat, Krivas
UConn +50.1 - Demary, Ball, Stewart, Karaban, Reed
Michigan +47.3 - Cadeau, Burnett, Yaxel, Johnson, Mara
Illinois +46.7 - Wagler, Stojakovic, Davis, Mirk, Big T pic.twitter.com/7AOsbLxlti
Shortening the rotation
Dell'Orso had a season high 26 points in 29 minutes in Arizona's epic 82-80 win over Iowa State in the Big XII Tournament quarterfinals. In the NCAA Tournament, Dell'Orso is averaging 15.5 minutes per game and 5.5 points. Aristode is averaging 6.3 MPG and 1.8 PPG in the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has primarily played Awaka and the starting five during the NCAA Tournament. Awaka is averaging 21.5 MPG, 9.7 PPG and 9.1 rebounds for the entire 2025-26 season In the NCAA Tournament, Awaka is averaging 8,3 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 16.5 MPG.
Lloyd is clearly leaving on his starting five. Awaka had a significant presence with 14 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes as Arizona beat Arkansas 109-88 in the West Regional Semifinals. Expect Awaka to play more minutes than his average during the NCAA Tournament against a big Michigan lineup.
Michigan starts 6'1 Elliott Cadeau at point guard, 6'2 Nimani Burnett at shooting guard 6' 9 and 240 pounds Yaxel Lendeborg at small forward, 6'9, 250 pounds Morez Johnson at power forward and 7'3, 255 pounds Aday Mara at center. Michigan is one of the few teams nationally that can match Arizona's size.