Print Out Your Sweet Sixteen Brackets
After one of the most exciting opening weekends in NCAA Tournament history, the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ have been set and will tip off beginning March 27th. If you were late in jumping into the tournament pool during the round of 64, there’s still time to print out a sweet sixteen bracket and get in on the fun with all the other slackers.
You still have time because come Friday night, the 16 remaining teams will have been pared to eight and each will only be one step away from a trip to the Final Four.
Despite a weekend that saw plenty of upsets, three of the four #1 seeds still remain in the tournament. The notable exception on that list is Wichita State, who was served their only defeat of the season by the talented but inexperienced Kentucky Wildcats. The victory for UK sets up a matchup with their state rivals Louisville in what is sure to be one of the most exciting games of the whole event.
Let’s take a quick look at where each region stands
Sweet 16 Brackets Set: Teams to Play Thursday and Friday
South Region: This region features one game that could have been easily predicted, and one that no one saw coming. Top overall seed Florida matches up with #4 UCLA, while bracket busters Stanford and Dayton play in a surprise meeting. Florida is still the overwhelming favorite to reach the Final Four from this region. These games are going to be played on Thursday, March 27 in Memphis, Tennessee.
West Region: In games also played on Thursday, the West region will be contested in Anaheim, CA. The number one seed in the West is Arizona, who will meet with San Diego St., with the winner headed for a showdown with the winner of #6 Baylor vs. #2 Wisconsin. For those who enjoy offense, the Baylor vs. Wisconsin game is one worth paying special attention to.
East Region: Played on Friday at the historic Madison Square Garden, the East Region starts off with surprising Connecticut Huskies squaring off against Iowa State. ISU was a popular pick pre-tournament, but a broken foot to one of their best players has lower expectations a bit. Capping off the night at MSG will be a clash between #4 Michigan State vs. #1 Virginia. This game should be a defensive struggle, with both coaches focused on tough, physical basketball.
Midwest Region: Also Friday, but being played in Indianapolis, the Midwest region will be settled with another #11 seed Tennessee playing against Big Ten champion #2 Michigan, and the aforementioned Kentucky vs. Louisville battle. Tennessee had to get into the tournament via the ‘play-in’ games and along with Dayton, the lowest seed remaining in the tournament. Yet Tennessee looked formidable last weekend to reach the Sweet Sixteen. However, if there is one game of this round that can’t be missed, it is definitely the in-state clash between Kentucky vs. Louisville.
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