What a weekend of March Madness. We saw a handful of upsets that have truly shaken up the remainder of this tournament. However, we are now down to the Sweet 16, where the final 16 teams remain in their quest to reach the next stage, the Final Four in Indianapolis. Perhaps the strongest Sweet 16 ever, with no mid-major overachievers left in the field, this group is loaded from top to bottom. Here’s how the Power 16 shapes up heading into the second weekend of the tournament after all the movement and elimination of teams from the rankings.
1. Arizona Wildcats
Seed: No. 1 (West)
Opening Weekend: Opened with a 92-58 win over No. 16 Long Island before taking down No. 9 Utah State 78-66 in the Round of 32.
Up next: vs. No. 4 Arkansas
The Wildcats cruised through Long Island before facing more resistance from Utah State. Freshman guard Brayden Burries amplified his impact as a three-level scorer alongside senior guard Jaden Bradley, who once again shined down the stretch. Junior big Motiejus Krivas also asserted his dominance on the offensive glass with freshman forward Koa Peat dealing with foul trouble. Arizona will need to be ready for another challenge as it faces No. 4 Arkansas in the Sweet 16.
2. Michigan Wolverines
Seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Opening Weekend: Rolled past No. 16 Howard 101-80 and followed it up with a 95-72 win over No. 9 Saint Louis.
Up next: vs. No. 4 Alabama
The Wolverines continue to overwhelm teams with their size and versatility. Junior Aday Mara anchors the paint, while senior Yaxel Lendeborg brings one of the most complete all-around skill sets in the country. Alongside Morez Johnson Jr., they arguably form the best frontcourt in the country. Michigan had all five starters finish in double figures against Saint Louis, which speaks volumes about the team’s balance and complementary play. The Wolverines now get their toughest test yet in a Sweet 16 matchup with the high-powered offense of No. 4 Alabama.
3. Duke Blue Devils
Seed: No. 1 overall (East)
Opening Weekend: Survived No. 16 Siena 71-65 in the opener, then handled No. 9 TCU 81-58 in the second round.
Up next: vs. No. 5 St. John’s
Duke began the tournament a bit sluggish against Siena but looked much more like itself in the second round. Freshman forward Cameron Boozer’s steady production didn’t disappoint, while freshman guard Cayden Boozer continued to answer the call with Caleb Foster sidelined. Duke’s poise and talent showed in the second-half pull-away against TCU, and the Blue Devils will now face their biggest test yet against No. 5 St. John’s.
4. Houston Cougars
Seed: No. 2 (South)
Opening Weekend: Dispatched No. 15 Idaho 78-47 before dominating No. 10 Texas A&M 88-57.
Up next: vs. No. 3 Illinois
Houston has looked every bit like a title contender through two games. The Cougars’ defensive pressure has been relentless, and the veteran backcourt of Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan continues to set the tone. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings and big Chris Cenac Jr. also flashed their upside during the opening weekend. Houston now heads into a fascinating Sweet 16 matchup against No. 3 Illinois.
5. Iowa State Cyclones
Seed: No. 2 (Midwest)
Opening Weekend: Ran away from No. 15 Tennessee State 108-74, then knocked off No. 7 Kentucky 82-63.
Up next: vs. No. 6 Tennessee
The Cyclones looked dominant all weekend, even after senior forward Joshua Jefferson sustained an injury in the first round. His absence didn’t slow Iowa State against Kentucky, as junior forward Milan Momcilovic and senior guard Tamin Lipsey stepped up in a major way. The Cyclones also showcased their depth, with Nate Heise delivering key moments on both ends. Iowa State now prepares for a physical Sweet 16 battle with No. 6 Tennessee.
6. UConn Huskies
Seed: No. 2 (East)
Opening Weekend: Held off No. 15 Furman 82-71 before defeating No. 7 UCLA 73-57.
Up next: vs. No. 2 Michigan State
UConn may not have looked fully dominant in the first round, but it responded well against UCLA. Seniors Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. led the charge in the frontcourt, and the Huskies once again showed the ability to win with defense, rebounding and toughness. Karaban in particular looked like a veteran determined to extend his final run. UConn now meets Michigan State in one of the best Sweet 16 matchups on the board.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini
Seed: No. 3 (South)
Opening Weekend: Blew out No. 14 Penn 105-70 and then beat No. 11 VCU 76-55.
Up next: vs. No. 2 Houston
Illinois has been one of the most explosive teams in the field so far. The Illini overwhelmed both Penn and VCU with their shot-making depth and offensive firepower. Junior guard Andrej Stojakovic has made his mark off the bench, while freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic have found their comfort level on the biggest stage. Illinois’ ceiling remains one of the highest in the tournament, but now comes the challenge of solving Houston’s defense.
8. Purdue Boilermakers
Seed: No. 2 (West)
Opening Weekend: Crushed No. 15 Queens 104-71 before rallying past No. 7 Miami 79-69.
Up next: vs. No. 11 Texas
Purdue’s veteran core continues to rise to the occasion. Senior guard Braden Smith recently broke the all-time assists record in college basketball history, while seniors Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn have been instrumental in this latest March push. The Boilermakers showed both their offensive firepower and their composure in the comeback win over Miami. They now face a red-hot No. 11 Texas team in the Sweet 16.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks
Seed: No. 4 (West)
Opening Weekend: Beat No. 13 Hawai’i 97-78 and then outlasted No. 12 High Point 94-88.
Up next: vs. No. 1 Arizona
Arkansas’ offense has been clicking behind one of the most electric young backcourts in the country. Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. has been outstanding in his first NCAA tournament run, and Meleek Thomas has been right there with him. The Razorbacks have leaned heavily on their star power, and it has paid off so far. They will need another big-time effort against No. 1 Arizona.
10. Michigan State Spartans
Seed: No. 2 (East)
Opening Weekend: Opened with a 92-67 win over No. 15 Bryant and followed with a 77-69 victory over No. 6 Louisville.
Up next: vs. No. 2 UConn
Michigan State has looked increasingly dangerous. Sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. is playing some of his best basketball of the season, controlling the game with his playmaking and composure. Junior wing Coen Carr has also brought a major spark, injecting life into the Spartans on both ends. Michigan State’s reward is a heavyweight Sweet 16 showdown with No. 2 UConn.
11. St. John’s Red Storm
Seed: No. 5 (East)
Opening Weekend: Took care of No. 12 Northern Iowa 79-53, then stunned No. 4 Kansas 67-65.
Up next: vs. No. 1 Duke
The Red Storm have continued to win with toughness, physicality and belief. Senior guard Dylan Darling delivered the late heroics against Kansas, while the frontcourt duo of Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins remains the foundation of the offense. St. John’s has shown grit all season, and that has carried over into March. The next hurdle is a major one with top-seeded Duke waiting in the Sweet 16.
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
Seed: No. 3 (Midwest)
Opening Weekend: Took down No. 13 Hofstra 90-70 and then dismantled No. 5 Texas Tech 90-65.
Up next: vs. No. 1 Michigan
Alabama’s pace and offensive energy have overwhelmed opponents through two rounds. Sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr. continues to lead the attack, and even without junior guard Aden Holloway, the Tide’s depth has stepped up in a big way. Alabama has looked fast, confident and dangerous, and it now gets a clash of styles against No. 1 Michigan.
13. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Seed: No. 4 (South)
Opening Weekend: Earned a 76-47 win over No. 13 Troy before surviving No. 5 Vanderbilt 74-72.
Up next: vs. No. 9 Iowa
Nebraska’s run has become one of the best stories of the tournament. The Cornhuskers earned their first NCAA tournament win in program history and then followed it up with another dramatic victory. Junior Pryce Sandfort and senior Rienk Mast continue to lead the frontcourt, while freshman Braden Frager provided a huge spark off the bench. Senior guard Sam Hoiberg remains the steady glue guy as Nebraska now prepares for a Sweet 16 rivalry matchup with Iowa.
14. Tennessee Volunteers
Seed: No. 6 (Midwest)
Opening Weekend: Defeated No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 78-56 and then upset No. 3 Virginia 79-72.
Up next: vs. No. 2 Iowa State
Tennessee has carved out a strong run behind its backcourt and physicality. Senior Jakobi Gillespie and sophomore Bishop Boswell have given the Vols much-needed spacing and playmaking, and their chemistry has been obvious. Their physicality has translated well to March, and that identity will be tested again against No. 2 Iowa State. Freshman Nate Ament struggled at times, especially in the opening game, but still has time to flip the narrative as the tournament progresses.
15. Iowa Hawkeyes
Seed: No. 9 (South)
Opening Weekend: Beat No. 8 Clemson 67-61 before stunning No. 1 Florida 73-72.
Up next: vs. No. 4 Nebraska
Iowa has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. The Hawkeyes took down Clemson and then followed it with a thriller against defending champion Florida. Even with senior guard Bennett Stirtz struggling from the field, senior Tavion Banks and freshman Cooper Koch stepped up at key moments to help Iowa finish the upset. The Hawkeyes now meet familiar Big Ten foe Nebraska with an Elite Eight berth on the line.
16. Texas Longhorns
Seed: No. 11 (West)
Opening Weekend: Escaped No. 11 NC State 68-66 in the First Four, then beat No. 6 BYU 79-71 and No. 3 Gonzaga 74-68.
Up next: vs. No. 2 Purdue
Texas has gone from simply trying to survive to becoming one of the most intriguing teams left in the field. Feeding sophomore big Matas Vokietaitis has been a major answer, as he has controlled the paint and given the Longhorns a true interior presence. Texas’ run has already shaken up the region, but the challenge only grows from here against No. 2 Purdue.
Top Players I Watched In Person:
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Shifting back over to the Huskies, Reed Jr. had one of the most impressive first rounds out of anyone in the tournament this season as he recorded 31 points and 27 rebounds on 12-of-15 shooting from the field in a win over Furman. He became a menace on both sides of the glass. Meanwhile, he posted a season-high in rebounds with 16 in the first half. Reed Jr. was on a mission, and he continued making an impact, posting another double-double against UCLA.
Alex Karaban, UConn
Karaban showed his veteran presence throughout the weekend. He posted 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc against Furman before posting 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from distance. Karaban elevated his play when it mattered most, looking as composed as anyone on the floor. As he echoed postgame, he wasn’t going out without a fight in what’s his final tournament run with UConn.
Jakobi Gillespie, Tennessee
Gillespie has become a true leader in his first season with Tennessee, and it culminated in a great first weekend. He dropped 29 points and nine assists on 11-of-21 shooting from the field and 6-of-11 from long range against Miami (OH) before posting 21 points and six assists in Tennessee’s win over Virginia. Gillespie had a ton of poise as he shot well from distance but complemented it with an ability to drive to the basket and space out the defense.
Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA
Dailey Jr. didn’t finish out the weekend how he wanted, but he didn’t back down from the fight, posting 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field and 2-of-6 from three in a first round win over UCF before giving the Bruins 12 points in a loss where they couldn’t get the ball in basket. Dailey Jr. showed off his all-around motor, contributing on both ends of the floor as he didn’t shy away from a challenge early and often during the weekend.
Jacari White, Virginia
White was electric all weekend long, logging a season-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from distance. He proved to be a marksman from deep for Virginia, and as I watched him, he showed why any shot is a good shot when it’s in his hands. White didn’t finish the season how he would’ve liked, but his ability to provide a scoring spark off the bench for the Cavaliers never went unnoticed.
