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(6) BYU Cougars vs. (2) Alabama Crimson Tide
The Sweet 16 kicks off Thursday night with what may end up being the most fun game of the round. BYU was a bit under-seeded after finishing third in the Big 12, but it won’t catch Alabama napping in this matchup. The Cougars scored 80 points in an opening win over VCU and outlasted #3 Wisconsin, 91-89, in a back-and-forth slugfest in the Round of 32. Richie Saunders led the team in scoring in both games and dropped 25 points on the Badgers. Meanwhile, the Tide have been just as explosive on offense. Alabama needed to score 90 points against #15 Robert Morris to escape with a nine-point win, and it scored 80 in a convincing win over #7 St. Mary’s. Alabama led the nation in scoring this season and were the No. 2 rebounding team. While those two factors may suggest a win for the Tide, I am going with BYU to pull off the upset. The Cougars have nothing to lose and will take advantage of entering the matchup as the underdog
(4) Maryland Terrapins vs. (1) Florida Gators
The top-half of the bracket in the West features a chalk matchup pitting the #4 Maryland Terrapins against the #1 Florida Gators. To reach the Sweet 16, both teams had a similar experience. Maryland opened its tournament with 32-point win over Grand Canyon and Florida led by as many as 32 points en route to a 95-69 win over Norfolk St. Then, both teams survived a scare in the Round of 32. First, the Gators overcame a six-point deficit in the second half to beat the defending champion UConn Huskies 77-75. Late Sunday, the Terrapins trailed #12 Colorado State by seven at halftime. The Terps and Rams went back-and-forth down the stretch until CSU drained a three with 6 seconds remaining to go up 71-70. Then, following a timeout, freshman Derik Queen sent the Terps to the Sweet 16 with a buzzer-beater. Maryland’s starting five is one of the best in the country and it could certainly topple the 1-seed Gators, but Florida’s depth and ability to rebound will be the difference in this contest.
Winner: Florida
(4) Arizona Wildcats vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils
The first three games of the Sweet 16 are as good as it gets. In the third game of the night, fans will be treated to a classic battle between #4 Arizona and #1 Duke. The two teams met in Tucson in late November — a 69-55 Duke victory — but both squads are greatly improved entering this game. Arizona has won three-of-four including an impressive win over Texas Tech in the semifinal of the Big 12 Tournament. In the Round of 32, Arizona proved why its offense is regarded as one of the nation’s best by dropping 87 points on the #5 Oregon Ducks. The favored Blue Devils have dominated their first two opponents, with their 23-point win over #9 Baylor being particularly impressive. Cooper Flagg will be the best player on the court and Duke’s defense is better than Zona’s. While an Arizona victory in this contest wouldn’t come as a surprise, Duke’s talent will ultimately win out.
(10) Arkansas Razorbacks vs. (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Can #10 Arkansas continue its surprising run with a win over #3 Texas Tech? John Calipari’s men entered the tournament with low expectations. The Razorbacks finished 8-10 in the SEC and were an underdog in the Round of 64 against #7 Kansas. Following a 79-72 win, Arkansas was a 7.5-point dog against #2 St. John’s. Despite St. John’s shooting 28.0% overall, it cut Arkansas’ lead to two in the closing minutes. While Arkansas survived, it will need a much better showing if it wants to beat Texas Tech. The Red Raiders average over 80 PPG and have breezed through their first two opponents. Tech’s offense is potent and its defense is capable of shutting down the Razorbacks. Tech will win comfortably.
(6) Ole Miss Rebels vs. (2) Michigan State Spartans
With former Texas Tech coach Chris Beard in charge, Ole Miss has reached its first Sweet 16 since 2001. The Rebels lost two-of-three entering the tournament — losses to Florida and Auburn, respectively — but they looked great in the first weekend. A dominant start against North Carolina led to a 22-point lead in a game that they never trailed. Against #3 Iowa State, the Rebels overcame an eight-point deficit and led by as many as 26 en route to a convincing 91-78 win. #2 Michigan State, meanwhile, has looked vulnerable at times. The Spartans struggled in the first half against #15 Bryant before dominating the final 20 minutes. In the Round of 32, Sparty trailed #10 New Mexico by 10 points — and was down at half — before outscoring the Lobos 20-12 over the final 7:07 to secure a 71-63 win. MSU is a slight favorite in this matchup, but I’m going with Ole Miss. The Rebels are shooting 49% from three in the tournament and their hot shooting will lead to an Elite 8 berth.
(3) Kentucky Wildcats vs. (2) Tennessee Volunteers
Seven teams from the SEC reached the Sweet 16 but this is the only head-to-head battle of the round. For the third time this season, #3 Kentucky and #2 Tennessee will battle. In the regular season, the Wildcats went 2-0 — winning the first matchup in Tennessee as a 10.5-point underdog and taking down the Vols at home by 11 a few weeks later. Kentucky will certainly enter this tilt with a ton of confidence due to the two victories, but the Vols are the higher-rated team for a reason. Tennessee’s defense is elite and it boasts a true star in guard Chaz Lanier. Lanier is 10-of-18 from three through two games and has scored 49 total points. Kentucky’s defense has improved tremendously with the return of Lamont Butler, but its season will end with a narrow loss to its rival.
Winner: Tennessee
(5) Michigan Wolverines vs. (1) Auburn Tigers
Despite going 1-3 ahead of the NCAA Tournament, Auburn secured the Overall No. 1 seed. Now, the Tigers are faced with playing a hot Michigan team in the Sweet 16. #5 Michigan has carried over its momentum from winning the Big Ten Tournament, first surviving a 68-65 battle with UC San Diego, and then overcoming a 10-point deficit against #4 Texas A&M en route to a 12-point victory. Michigan dropped 56 points in the second half against A&M to extend its winning streak to five games. Auburn trailed #9 Creighton at halftime, but pulled away in the second half with a great all-around performance. Bruce Pearl’s group is the better team in this matchup, but I can’t help but shake the feeling that the Wolverines are going to shock the country.
Winner: Michigan
(4) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (1) Houston Cougars
The final Sweet 16 matchup of the week features two programs that have been near the top of the sport for the past few seasons. #4 Purdue was last year’s runner-up and has reached the Sweet 16 six times since 2016. Meanwhile, #1 Houston has advanced to the Sweet 16 six tournaments in a row. The Boilermakers are led by stud forward Trey Kaufman-Renn and two dynamic guards (Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer). Purdue has dominated its first two opponents but #1 Houston is an entirely different animal. The Cougars boast one of the nation’s best offenses led by former Baylor standout L.J. Cryer, and their defense remains elite. Houston survived a late comeback attempt by perennial contenders Gonzaga and it will continue to sharpen its game against Purdue.
