In a matter of 4 days of March Madness play 48 teams have been eliminated and only 16 teams stand. The Sweet Sixteen is composed of 15 single-digit seeds for the second straight year. Let’s break down the remaining 16 teams and how they got here before the games get underway tomorrow night. At the end I will give my top five NCAA Tournament championship favorites and one reason why.
South Region
1 Auburn vs 5 Michigan (Thursday, March 27, 7:09 P.M. EST, CBS)
Auburn: The 2024-25 Auburn Tigers have arguably put up the best season in school history. This season, the Tigers have not dropped under the top 5 in the AP poll since opening week. They were also ranked first seed in the AP poll for eight straight weeks, which is a program record. They rebounded from a conference tournament loss to eighth seeded Tennessee by defeating both Alabama State (first round) and Creighton (second round) by double digits. The First Team All-American Johni Broome has led the Tigers all season long, but had one of his worst games of the season when guarded by seven-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton. To advance to the Elite Eight, the Tigers will need Broome to step up, but it does not get any easier with Broome having to bang in the paint with another seven-footer in Michigan’s Vladislav Goldin Thursday night.
Michigan: Under the leadership of new Michigan Head Coach Dusty May, the Wolverines have returned to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 2021-22 season. The Wolverines have one of the most unique frontcourts in Division 1 basketball, with two seven-footers on the blocks in junior forward Danny Wolf and graduate student center Vladislav Goldin. Both of the seven-footers became Wolverines via the transfer portal, with Wolf coming from Yale and Goldin following Coach May from Florida Atlantic. Michigan was unranked for the first four weeks of the season, and now they are looking to return to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
6 Ole Miss vs 2 Michigan State (Friday, March 28, 7:09 P.M. EST, CBS)
Ole Miss: The Rebels have returned to the Sweet Sixteen after a 24-year hiatus. Chris Beard in his second year as Ole Miss head coach has led the Rebels to back-to-back 20+ win seasons. He is the first Ole Miss head coach since Andy Kennedy (2013-2015) to accomplish that feat. Beard also became only the eighth coach in college basketball history to win a NCAA Tournament game with four different programs, after defeating a North Carolina team that had won three of their last four prior to their meeting with the Rebels last Friday. It will be a tall task for the underdog Rebels to defeat the Izzo-led Spartans. If they want to reach their first Elite Eight in program history, they will have to continue to make smart decisions with the basketball. The Rebels are fourth in Division I basketball in turnovers per game, with only nine per contest.
Michigan State: Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans have made it to the NCAA tournament 27 of the last 28 seasons. 29 wins is the most wins the Spartans have had since 2018-19, where Izzo’s club won 32 games. This is Izzo’s 16th appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in his legendary career, which is the most of any coach in the tournament.
The Spartans are the best in the nation when defending against the three, holding opponents to 27.8% from deep this season. However, the Spartans struggled to hit the three pointer this season, only shooting 31.1% from deep this season. Expect to see the Spartans attack the paint against the Rebels' small lineup, whose average height is only 6’3”. Michigan State, which is 13th in free throw made per game (17.5) and 20th in free throw percentage this season (78.1%) draw fouls and execute when at the charity stripe.
West Region
1 Florida vs 4 Maryland (Thursday, March 27, 7:39 P.M. EST, TBS)
Florida: The Florida Gators have improved as the season went on. The Gators began the season ranked 20th and finished the regular season ranked 3rd in the AP poll. The Gators are arguably the best team in the nation and have the depth to prove it. Led by First Team All-American Walter Clayton Jr., who has dropped 23 points in both games in tournament play, shooting 9-17 from deep. Clayton is one of four players that average double digits on the team, which leads to them averaging the third most points in Division I basketball (85.4). They also hold their own defensively ranking tenth in adjusted defensive efficiency. Florida looks ready for a deep tournament run.
Maryland: The Maryland Terrapins played in the most exciting game of the tourney thus far in their second round win over Colorado State. Down by one with 3.7 seconds left, freshman center Derik Queen received the inbound pass at the top of the key and changed direction to head to the left block, but he was pushed to the baseline by the defender, making the shot more difficult. Queen faded away towards the baseline, kissing it off the glass to send Maryland to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 2015-16 season. The main weakness that the Terrapins have is their lack of depth. While all the starters average double digits in scoring, the bench is utilized the least of all remaining teams in the tournament.
3 Texas Tech vs 10 Arkansas (Thursday, March 27, 10:09 P.M. EST, TBS)
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders returned to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 2021-22 season, winning both of their tournament games by double digits. The Red Raiders have one of the most efficient offenses in Division I basketball, ranking Top 40 in assist/turnover ratio (6th), points per possession (8th), three point percentage (20th), and effective field goal percentage (35th). Texas Tech is led by the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year, JT Toppin, who transferred from the University of New Mexico after leading the Mountain West Conference in effective field goal percentage as a freshman (64.0%). Texas Tech also has two more all-conference selections, junior forward Darrion Williams (first team) and senior guard Chance McMillian (second team).
Arkansas: First year Razorback and Hall of Fame Head Coach John Calipari has led his new team despite facing adversity. Calipari started the season with only one returning scholarship player from last year, junior forward Trevon Brazile. Calipari built this year’s roster off of the transfer portal and high school recruitment. Two of Calipari's best players, freshman guard Boogie Fland and junior forward Adou Thiero, have missed significant time due to injuries. Fland just returned from thumb surgery in the first round of the tournament, and Thiero is questionable to return against Texas Tech as he deals with a knee injury. He has not played since February 22nd.
Despite Thiero being a late scratch in their second round matchup, the Razorbacks remained focused, defeating the second seeded St. John Red Storm and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in five years.
East Region
6 BYU vs 2 Alabama (Thursday, March 27, 7:09 P.M. EST, CBS)
BYU: The last time the Cougars were in the Sweet Sixteen, they were led by the 2010-11 AP Player of the Year, Jimmer Fredette. Back then, BYU were members of the Mountain West Conference. In 2025, the program is in their second year in the Big 12, and BYU head coach and former Phoenix Suns assistant coach Kevin Young has led them back to the Sweet Sixteen. Young has the most wins by a BYU head coach in his first year in program history (26). The Cougars do not have the biggest lineup, with nobody in the starting five being over 6' 9”, but they do have one of the most efficient offenses in the country. The Cougars are sixth in Division I basketball in effective field goal percentage (.579).
Junior guard Richie Saunders and freshman guard Egor Denim lead this Cougar offense, each averaging double digit points. Denim is a highly touted NBA prospect out of Russia, who has had an up-and-down season as a freshman. He has shown flashes of his NBA potential and still sits as a projected first-round pick going into the Sweet Sixteen. The Big 12 Most Improved Player of the Year Richie Saunders increased his scoring average from 9.8 points last season to 16 this season. He also ranks 15th in Division I in effective field goal percentage (61.5%). Look to see his name in draft boards if he continues to perform well.
Alabama: The highest scoring offense in Division I basketball has not scored more than their average yet this tournament (90.1), but they have made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive season. The Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nate Oats has turned Alabama into a basketball powerhouse. Last year, Oats became the first Alabama head coach to ever reach a final four, and the first head coach in 43 years to make at least five straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Crimson Tide have one of the most aggressive offenses in Division I basketball. They lead Division I in pace. The leader of that fast-paced offense is Mark Spears. The two-time All-American has declined in his production from last season, but still has been one of the best players in the country and looks to increase his draft stock throughout tournament play.
1 Duke vs 4 Arizona (Thursday, March 27, 9:39 P.M. EST, CBS)
Duke: The Duke Blue Devils are arguably the best college basketball program of all time. What makes it more impressive is how they seem to do new guys every year. The Blue Devil starting lineup is composed of three freshmen, one transfer, and one returner, and they have all developed throughout the season. According to Bleacher Report, all of Duke’s starters are projected to be drafted in the next year’s draft.
Duke is tied for first for the tallest team in Division I basketball, with an average height of 6’ 7”. Potential lottery picks Kon Knueppel, Cooper Flagg, and Khaman Maluach are huge reasons why, standing at 6’ 7”, 6' 9”, 7’ 2” respectively. Duke is also highly skilled on the offensive end. The Blue Devils have the highest offensive rating in Division I (126.7) and have the length and athleticism to make a team crumble offensively.
Arizona: Since Tommy Lloyd’s arrival in Tucson, the Wildcats have never missed a NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have the opportunity to make it to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Arizona faces a big challenge in the Duke Blue Devils Thursday night, but they are top 25 in Division I basketball in scoring and rebounding. They must rely on that to keep up with one of the most athletic teams in the nation.
Midwest Region
3 Kentucky vs 2 Tennessee (Friday, March 28, 7:39 P.M. EST, TBS)
Kentucky: This season, Kentucky Head Coach Mark Pope has returned to his alma mater. He has led the Wildcats to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in six seasons. The Wildcats have one of the best offenses in Division I basketball. They have six double digit scorers on their roster, with their leading scorer being Otega Oweh, an All-SEC Second Team selection. Oweh leads an offensive attack that ranks 4th in points per game (85.3) and 20th in offensive efficiency (119.1). Kentucky has a significant advantage in experience, with four of their five starters being graduate students. Coach Pope has brought in a mature group in first year, something we are not used to seeing in Lexington.
Tennessee: The Volunteers have returned to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three years. Tennessee plays a gritty style of basketball with players that excel in their roles. Senior guards Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack were SEC All-Defensive Team selections and have given opponents headaches with their tenacious perimeter defense. Senior guard Chaz Lanier is an All-SEC Second Team selection, who has proven that he can score efficiently at a power five level after 4 years at mid-major Division I, North Florida University. The Volunteers have to put it all together Friday night against Kentucky. They went 0-2 against the Wildcats in conference play this season, and look to make their second straight appearance to the Elite Eight with a win.
1 Houston vs 4 Purdue (Friday, March 28, 10:09 P.M. EST, TBS)
Houston: Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson is the first head coach in program history to lead the Cougars to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and four straight 30+ win game seasons. The key to Coach Sampson’s team has always been energy and effort defensively. Houston is the stingiest defense in Division I basketball, allowing only 58.4 opponent points per game. The Cougar defense is anchored by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year sophomore forward, Joseph Tugler, and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection, graduate student forward J’wan Roberts.
What makes this team elite is their improvement on the offensive end. Last season, the Cougars were 29th (113.6) in offensive rating, and this season they are 18th (119.2). The leader of this Cougar offense is All-Big 12 First Team selection graduate student LJ Cryer, who has led the Big 12 in three point percentage for the past 3 years dating back to his junior year at Baylor.
Purdue: Last year’s NCAA Tournament runner ups find themselves back in the Sweet Sixteen for the second straight year. Despite losing the two-time Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year, Zach Edey, the Boilermakers were still one of the best offenses in the country. Led by AP First Team All-American junior guard Braden Smith, the Boilermakers rank 16th in offensive rating in Division I basketball.
One of the biggest surprises in college basketball was the improvement of junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who increased his scoring average from 6.4 last season to 20.2 this season. He also was 13th in Division I basketball in field goal percentage (59.9%). This earned the Indiana native an All-Big Ten first team selection.
My 2025 NCAA Tournament Favorites
Florida Gators: Best overall team
Houston Cougars: Best defense
Duke Blue Devils: Most talent
Alabama: Best offense
Kentucky Wildcats: Most college experience
The Sweet Sixteen kicks off tomorrow night at 7:09 P.M. as the six-seed BYU Cougars face off against the second-seed Alabama Crimson Tide. You can catch that on CBS.
Thank you for Reading!
Elias Meredith (@EAM_55)
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