In this article, I’ll be recapping all the action from the Sweet 16. I’ll break down each game, from big-time scorers to strong defensive showings, here’s everything you need to know about how the Sweet 16 played out.
East Region
- Duke 100, Arizona 93: Duke showed they can win a high-pressure game. Cooper Flagg’s 30 points prove that he’s already a star. Arizona played hard, especially Caleb Love, but their defense couldn’t stop Duke. This win shows Duke’s offense is tough to take down, although their defense needs to lock back in before facing a highly anticipated game against Alabama.
- Alabama 113, BYU 88: Alabama’s record-setting 25 three-pointers show how scary they are from distance. Mark Sears led an offense that was fast and fierce. If they stay this hot, they could definitely beat Duke. But offense doesn’t win championships, defense does! Alabama will have to have their best defensive game against Duke’s playmakers.
West Region
- Florida 87, Maryland 71: Florida struggled early on but stayed calm and used their formidable defense to get ahead. Their capability to bounce back mid-game is a really good sign. They’ll need to work on having a faster start in their next round. Especially once they face tougher competition.
- Texas Tech 85, Arkansas 83: Texas Tech’s comeback shows how they don’t give up. Being down 16 doesn’t mean anything in March. JT Toppin stepped up massively. However, they can’t keep falling behind early, because better teams won’t let them come back.
Midwest Region
- Houston 62, Purdue 60: Houston just came out with a clutch win over Purdue, showcasing their ability to stay calm under pressure in the final seconds of the game. Their defense carried, holding Purdue to only 60 points, which is really impressive. Milos Uzan’s game-winner proves they have players who can take in the spotlight and thrive. Houston is turning out to be a team that is made for close games.
- Tennessee 78, Kentucky 65: Tennessee’s defense won them this game. They didn’t really need to score a lot because they basically shut down Kentucky’s offense as a whole. If they can keep defending this way, they’ll be an extremely hard team to beat, even against high-scoring teams such as Houston.
South Region
- Auburn 78, Michigan 65: Auburn’s second-half performance was very solid. Johni Broome scored 22 points, conveying a great team effort to take down Michigan. Their ability to make the necessary halftime changes highlights good coaching by Bruce Pearl. If they have stronger starts, they’ll be a really big threat against Michigan State.
- Michigan State 73, Ole Miss 70: Michigan State relied on experience, an exception would be Jase Richardson who is only a Freshman, who cooked during this game. They didn’t let Ole Miss get into a rhythm. They may not be the flashiest, but they play smart and tough, which is a great combo for success in this rigorous tournament.
With the Sweet 16 in the books, the stage is now set for exciting Elite Eight games. The teams that advanced proved they have what it takes to survive the madness, but the competition is now only getting tougher. Stay tuned to see who will punch their ticket to the Final Four.