Sixteen teams left. Win or go home. Four wins separate contenders from history.
Welcome to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which has already delivered its usual chaos. The ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes sent shockwaves through the bracket by knocking off the defending national champion Florida Gators on Sunday, while Texas arrives as an unlikely Cinderella in a Sweet 16 made up entirely of power-conference teams for the second straight year.
The matchups only get better from here, from Dan Hurley’s UConn squad vs. Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team to a Big Ten clash between Iowa and Nebraska with a long-awaited Elite Eight berth on the line.
FOX Sports’ Casey Jacobsen is here to rank the Sweet 16 matchups, from 8-to-1.
8. Purdue (29-8) vs. Texas (21-14)
Matas Vokietaitis of the Texas Longhorns posts up against Ven-Allen Lubin of NC State. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 7:10 p.m. ET
Where: SAP Center at San Jose (West Region)
How to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: Purdue -6.5, OVER/UNDER 148.5
I’m looking forward to this game, but it doesn’t have quite the same draw as the others. Texas has reached this spot after starting in Dayton as a “First Four” entry. Sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a win over BYU, then followed that up with 17 points and nine rebounds in an upset victory over Gonzaga. Can the 7-foot big man from Lithuania match that production against Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn, who is playing his best basketball of the season right now? Braden Smith struggled in Purdue’s Round of 32 win over Miami (3-12 FG, eight turnovers), so I expect a bounce-back performance from him. I’ll take Purdue moving on here.
7. Iowa State (29-7) vs. Tennessee (24-11)
Joshua Jefferson #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones attempts a shot as he is guarded by Jalen Celestine #32 of Cincinnati. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
When: Friday, March 27 at 10:10 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago (Midwest Region)
How to Watch: TBD/tru TV
Betting Line: Iowa State -4.5, OVER/UNDER 138.5
The Cyclones were impressive in Round 2, blowing out Kentucky without their best player in senior forward Joshua Jefferson (ankle). Senior guard Tamin Lipsey had his best game of the season with 26 points, 10 assists, and five steals to fill the void. Jefferson is expected to give his ankle a try against Tennessee, which has the nation’s 14th ranked defense in the land. The Vols have a fun offensive combo of senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie and freshman forward Nate Ament. I think this game will be low scoring and close. If the Cyclones shoot average or better from 3, they should win.
6. Michigan (33-3) vs. Alabama (25-9)
Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates against the Purdue Boilermakers. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
When: Friday, March 27 at 7:35 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago (Midwest Region)
How to Watch: TBD/tru TV
Betting Line: Michigan -9.5, OVER/UNDER 175.5
Michigan remains my pick to win the national title and the Wolverines’ play against a good St. Louis team only confirmed those feelings. The Wolverines are not a perfect team, but they do not have a glaring weakness. When senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg is hitting 3s and junior center Aday Mara is protecting the rim, opposing teams have to resort to hitting perimeter shots. Well, do you know who the most dangerous 3-point shooting team in the country is? That’s right … The Alabama Crimson Tide. They made 19 3-pointers in a Round of 32 win over Texas Tech, led by senior guard Latrell Wrightsell, who went 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. If Alabama makes 17-plus triples in this game, they’ll probably win. Anything short of that and I’ll take Michigan.
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5. UConn (31-5) vs. Michigan State (27-7)
Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 of the Michigan State Spartans seems on in the course of the first half in opposition to Michigan. (Picture by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Pictures)
When: Friday, March 27 at 9:35 p.m. ET
The place: Capital One Enviornment, Washington, DC (East Area)
Methods to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: UConn -1.5, OVER/UNDER 136.5
The Huskies haven’t been very spectacular over the past month of the season, however do you need to doubt Dan Hurley’s group within the NCAA Event? Me neither. Senior ahead Alex Karaban saved the perfect scoring sport of his profession (28 factors) for the group’s Spherical of 32 win over UCLA, whereas senior large man Tarris Reed mixed for 40 rebounds in two event video games. However, the Spartans have the perfect passing level guard within the nation in redshirt sophomore Jeremy Fears Jr., who has dished out 27 assists in two event video games. If junior ahead Coen Carr can proceed to attain on this event, Michigan State can win this sport. If it’s simply the “Jeremy Fears Jr. Present,” it received’t be sufficient. Give me the Spartans on this one.
4. Arizona (34-2) vs. Arkansas (28-8)
Darius Acuff Jr. of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives to the basket in opposition to Latrell Wrightsell Jr. of Alabama. (Picture by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Pictures)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 9:45 p.m. ET
The place: Capital One Enviornment, Washington, DC (East Area)
Methods to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: Arizona -7.5, OVER/UNDER 166.5
Arizona has been probably the most constant group within the nation this season, whereas Arkansas has been up and down. However, make no mistake about it, the Razorbacks are extraordinarily harmful. Most of that hazard is equipped by their lead guard, freshman Darius Acuff Jr. He has scored 60 factors within the first two rounds of the event, however Arizona has two perimeter defenders that may be as much as the duty in senior Jaden Bradley and freshman Ivan Kharchenkov. That is the important thing to the sport: Can Acuff be particular? If he can’t, it’s arduous for me to think about every other state of affairs leading to an Arkansas win. Arizona is the good alternative right here.
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3. Nebraska (28-6) vs. Iowa (23-12)
Pryce Sandfort of the Nebraska Cornhuskers makes an attempt a shot over Aday Mara of the Michigan Wolverines. (Picture by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Pictures)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Toyota Heart, Houston (South Area)
Methods to Watch: TBS/truTV
Betting Line: Nebraska -1.5, OVER/UNDER 132.5
That is probably the most shocking of the Candy 16 matchups, and that’s what makes it so particular. Each fan bases are simply pleased to be right here. Nebraska is the higher defensive group (sixth nationally), however Iowa is best on offense (twenty fifth nationally). The X-Issue? The Hawkeyes have senior guard Bennett Stirtz. He’s the perfect participant on this sport and can have the ball in his fingers for almost all of Iowa’s possessions. Stirtz went 0-for-9 from 3-point vary, and the Hawkeyes nonetheless beat No. 1 Florida on Sunday night time. Nebraska’s protection will attempt to maintain Stirtz out of the center and if the Cornhuskers get scorching from 3 (particularly Pryce Sandfort), I feel Nebraska prevails.
2. Duke (34-2) vs. St. John’s (30-6)
Dylan Darling #0 and Zuby Ejiofor #24 of St. John’s have fun after Darling scored the game-winning basket in opposition to Kansas. (Picture by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photographs through Getty Pictures)
When: Friday, March 27 at 7:10 p.m. ET
The place: Capital One Enviornment, Washington, DC (East Area)
Methods to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: Duke -6.5, OVER/UNDER 141.5
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino is 73 years previous, whereas Duke head coach Jon Scheyer is simply 38. Let that sink in for a second. Each of those groups are properly coached and St. John’s is coming in with a swagger after the group’s buzzer-beating win over Kansas. However Duke’s protection is lots higher than something the Johnnies have seen all season, particularly with middle Patrick Ngongba again within the fold. The matchup to observe on this sport is on the energy ahead spot: St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor vs Duke’s Cameron Boozer. They’re each requested to do a little bit of all the pieces for his or her respective groups. Enjoyable reality of the day: Duke has received 5 nationwide titles. In each single a type of seasons, the Blue Devils beat St. John’s both within the common season or the NCAA Event. I’ll take Duke to win right here, however I don’t suppose the Blue Devils will reduce down the nets subsequent week.
1. Houston (30-6) vs. Illinois (26-8)
Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Preventing Illini dribbles in the course of the second half in opposition to Nebraska. (Picture by Steven Branscombe/Getty Pictures)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 10:05 p.m. ET
The place: Toyota Heart, Houston (South Area)
Methods to Watch: TBS/truTV
Betting Line: Houston -3.5, OVER/UNDER 140.5
It is a residence sport for Houston after the Cougars regarded dominant of their two blowout victories in Oklahoma Metropolis. The Cougars are showing of their seventh straight Candy 16 and on the lookout for their eighth Closing 4 look, probably the most of any group with out a nationwide title. Standing of their method is the tallest group within the nation. Illinois has the second-most environment friendly offense within the nation going in opposition to Houston’s fourth-ranked protection. Each groups have loads of expertise, however the two greatest gamers shall be freshman guards: Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler. Flemings is a driver and mid-range pull-up shooter, whereas Wagler is capturing 40% from 3 and loves to complete across the rim. Houston is my decide.
