Final Four 2018 Schedule: TV Info, Updated Bracket for NCAA Tournament

A fitting quartet remain as the Final Four of the 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament approaches. 

Sister Jean and the No. 11 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers are here, but so are a pair of No. 1 seeds despite all the bracket-busting affairs befitting of the March Madness name. 

Each team is battle-tested and a believable winner at this point despite the path traveled to survive the bracket.

Who, how and when teams or individuals step up under the bright lights in San Antonio will help cement this bracket's standing as one of the most memorable in a long time, not to mention crowning a deserved champion. 

Below, let's look at everything to know surrounding the Final Four. 

Final Four Schedule

March 31

No. 11 Loyola of Chicago vs. No. 3 Michigan (-5.5), 6:09 p.m. ET; TBS

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 1 Villanova (-5), 8:49 p.m. ET; TBS

Odds are courtesy of OddsShark.

Michigan vs. Loyola-Chicago

David Goldman/Associated Press

It's hard to imagine many brackets picked this one. 

Loyola, quietly 31st overall in KenPom.com ranking and 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency has rattled off 14 wins in a row via tough defense. The Ramblers won their first three games of the tournament by two or fewer points, taking down notables such as No. 6 Miami (Fla.) and No. 3 Tennessee in the process. 

Not bad for a team out of the Missouri Valley Conference making its first bracket appearance in more than 30 years. 

The Ramblers have another chance at making some notable history as well, per ESPN Stats & Info: 

It's all about tempo for the Ramblers considering they rank 315th in the adjusted category—Michigan happens to rank 326th. 

Granted, Michigan also happens to rank fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency. Moritz Wagner at 14.3 points per game and the rest of his side have made their beds on making each possession count in much the same way the Ramblers have, though only two of their four tournament games have classified as close. 

Clearly, oddsmakers like the higher seed and bigger program on the biggest stage yet. As we've seen, though, the Wolverines haven't been bulletproof after escaping No. 9 Florida State 58-54 in the Elite Eight, an affair where Wagner's side only shot 38.8 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent from deep—against a team ranked worse in defensive efficiency than Loyola-Chicago. 

It's another way of saying the Ramblers and Sister Jean could still have some dance left in them. 

Kansas vs. Villanova

This one is more of a cookie-cutter affair. 

Villanova has been almost boring in its dominance as the typical No. 1 seed breezing through the bracket. The only real threats to date were games against No. 5 West Virginia and No. 3 Texas Tech, matchups that ended in 90-78 and 71-59 fashion, respectively. 

No wonder. The Wildcats went 4-0 and 13-3 against the ESPN RPI top 25 and 50, respectively. The No. 1 team at KenPom boasts the nation's top adjusted offense and lands 13th in adjusted defense for good measure as Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges combine to score north of 17 points per game on average. 

Not that any of this should have classified as unexpected. Some maybe didn't notice it happening over the years, but CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein hit the proverbial nail on the head: 

Not that Kansas will blink in the face of Villanova's dominance over the years. 

The Jayhawks have an impressive resume of their own, sitting 4-1 and 11-2 against the RPI top 25 and 50, respectively. They are only seven spots behind the Wildcats at KenPom and boast the nation's fifth adjusted offense thanks to three scorers averaging north of 14 points per game, led by 17.2 from Devonte' Graham. 

Onlookers will point out the Jayhawks have had a harder time than Villanova, slipping past No. 5 Clemson, 80-76, before needing overtime to upend No. 2 Duke, 85-81. 

For a somewhat unlikely trip to the Final Four for this particular squad, though, Graham sees it as something akin to the completion of a journey, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com): "Everything we've been through...we do it for moments like this. Especially after the last two years, getting over the hump. It just feels (perfect)."

The dance might not be over yet, either. Tough path traveled or not, oddsmakers clearly don't feel comfortable swinging this one too far in favor of Villanova. And why not? Top seeds have been vulnerable the entire tournament and, at some point, the Wildcats have to be threatened as well. 

The Jayhawks might provide it in the Final Four from San Antonio.