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 throughout the first half in opposition to Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
When: Friday, March 27 at 9:35 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC (East Region)
How to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: UConn -1.5, OVER/UNDER 136.5
The Huskies haven’t been very spectacular over the final month of the season, however do you wish to doubt Dan Hurley’s crew in the NCAA Tournament? Me neither. Senior ahead Alex Karaban saved the finest scoring sport of his profession (28 factors) for the crew’s Round of 32 win over UCLA, whereas senior massive man Tarris Reed mixed for 40 rebounds in two match video games. On the different hand, the Spartans have the finest passing level guard in the nation in redshirt sophomore Jeremy Fears Jr., who has dished out 27 assists in two match video games. If junior ahead Coen Carr can proceed to attain on this match, Michigan State can win this sport. If it’s simply the “Jeremy Fears Jr. Show,” 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. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 9:45 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC (East Region)
How to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: Arizona -7.5, OVER/UNDER 166.5
Arizona has been the most constant crew in the nation this season, whereas Arkansas has been up and down. But, make no mistake about it, the Razorbacks are extraordinarily harmful. Most of that hazard is provided by their lead guard, freshman Darius Acuff Jr. He has scored 60 factors in the first two rounds of the match, however Arizona has two perimeter defenders that may be as much as the job in senior Jaden Bradley and freshman Ivan Kharchenkov. This is the key to the sport: Can Acuff be particular? If he can’t, it’s exhausting for me to think about every other situation leading to an Arkansas win. Arizona is the sensible 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. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Toyota Center, Houston (South Region)
How to Watch: TBS/truTV
Betting Line: Nebraska -1.5, OVER/UNDER 132.5
This is the most stunning of the Sweet 16 matchups, and that’s what makes it so particular. Both fan bases are simply completely happy to be right here. Nebraska is the higher defensive crew (sixth nationally), however Iowa is best on offense (twenty fifth nationally). The X-Factor? The Hawkeyes have senior guard Bennett Stirtz. He is the finest participant on this sport and could have the ball in his arms for the majority of Iowa’s possessions. Stirtz went 0-for-9 from 3-point vary, and the Hawkeyes nonetheless beat No. 1 Florida on Sunday evening. Nebraska’s protection will attempt to preserve Stirtz out of the center and if the Cornhuskers get sizzling from 3 (particularly Pryce Sandfort), I believe Nebraska prevails.
2. Duke (34-2) vs. St. John’s (30-6)
Dylan Darling #0 and Zuby Ejiofor #24 of St. John’s rejoice after Darling scored the game-winning basket in opposition to Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos by way of Getty Images)
When: Friday, March 27 at 7:10 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC (East Region)
How to Watch: CBS
Betting Line: Duke -6.5, OVER/UNDER 141.5
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino is 73 years outdated, whereas Duke head coach Jon Scheyer is simply 38. Let that sink in for a second. Both of those groups are nicely coached and St. John’s is coming in with a swagger after the crew’s buzzer-beating win over Kansas. But Duke’s protection is loads higher than something the Johnnies have seen all season, particularly with heart Patrick Ngongba again in the fold. The matchup to observe on this sport is at the energy ahead spot: St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor vs Duke’s Cameron Boozer. They are each requested to do a little bit of all the pieces for his or her respective groups. Fun 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 in the common season or the NCAA Tournament. I’ll take Duke to win right here, however I don’t assume the Blue Devils will reduce down the nets subsequent week.
1. Houston (30-6) vs. Illinois (26-8)
Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles throughout the second half in opposition to Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
When: Thursday, March 26 at 10:05 p.m. ET
Where: Toyota Center, Houston (South Region)
How to Watch: TBS/truTV
Betting Line: Houston -3.5, OVER/UNDER 140.5
This is a house sport for Houston after the Cougars seemed dominant of their two blowout victories in Oklahoma City. The Cougars are showing of their seventh straight Sweet 16 and searching for their eighth Final Four look, the most of any crew with out a nationwide title. Standing of their means is the tallest crew in the nation. Illinois has the second-most environment friendly offense in the nation going in opposition to Houston’s fourth-ranked protection. Both groups have loads of expertise, however the two finest gamers will probably be freshman guards: Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler. Flemings is a driver and mid-range pull-up shooter, whereas Wagler is taking pictures 40% from 3 and loves to complete round the rim. Houston is my choose.