The first half of the Sweet 16 is about, with 16 groups taking part in for one of the ultimate eight tickets to the second weekend of the 2026 males’s NCAA match because the second spherical continues Sunday.
ESPN reporters are on-site throughout the nation, from Philadelphia to San Diego, to ship courtside insights. Follow alongside as they and the workers observe all the motion.
Previews
All instances Eastern.
12:10 p.m., CBS
How Purdue can advance to the Sweet 16: Purdue can win if Braden Smith (26 factors, 8 assists in opposition to Queens) controls the tempo of the matchup and its frontcourt will get the higher hand over Miami’s frontcourt. Over the previous 5 games, Trey Kaufman-Renn (25 factors, 9 rebounds, 3 assists) has averaged 17.4 factors and seven.4 rebounds. That inside-outside risk was the catalyst for a run to the Big Ten match title recreation. Add Fletcher Loyer‘s sharpshooting, and the Boilermakers can beat anybody — they are a powerful workforce to stall with their dimension inside and Smith’s potential to dictate the move of any recreation. In their final loss this season, Wisconsin made 18 3-pointers. Miami would not current an identical risk on this matchup. — Myron Medcalf
How Miami can advance to the Sweet 16: Jai Lucas has already orchestrated one of the most important turnarounds in Division I basketball this season. A win over Purdue and a Sweet 16 look can be one other achievement in a exceptional first season on the helm, nevertheless it will not come simply. Malik Reneau should be one of the best participant on the court docket to provide Miami — a workforce that does not have wins in opposition to any nationwide title contenders — an opportunity to win. The Hurricanes will even must stress Smith and play disciplined within the paint. Even in the event that they do exactly that, although, they’re going to nonetheless want Reneau, Tre Donaldson and Shelton Henderson to match — or exceed — no matter Smith, Kaufman-Renn and Loyer deliver. This is the type of recreation the place Miami’s greatest gamers should be higher than Purdue’s. — Medcalf
2:45 p.m., CBS
How Iowa State can advance to the Sweet 16: Even with Joshua Jefferson unlikely to play, Iowa State has sufficient to beat Kentucky. The Cyclones have the person perimeter defenders to decelerate the trio of Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler and Denzel Aberdeen — significantly Tamin Lipsey and Killyan Toure — and will have success forcing turnovers. Kentucky additionally would not have a solution for Milan Momcilovic, who has a case to make as one of the best shooter within the nation and stands at 6-foot-8. The Wildcats will doubtless have to protect him with 6-4 Oweh or 6-5 Chandler, so Momcilovic ought to have the sting there. Without Jefferson, TJ Otzelberger might decide to go along with a smaller lineup that options Momcilovic on the 4, which could create a more durable particular person matchup however would additionally area out the Kentucky protection and take away some of its shot-blockers from the paint. — Jeff Borzello
How Kentucky can advance to the Sweet 16: It begins with taking care of the ball. Iowa State thrives when it might power turnovers and get out in transition for simple baskets. The Cyclones are fourth within the nation in defensive turnover share and in factors off turnovers per recreation. Kentucky was twelfth within the SEC in turnover share, though the Wildcats have tightened issues up these days, giving it away simply 46 instances of their final 5 games. Still, they’ve had points in opposition to groups making use of aggressive ball stress, together with in opposition to Vanderbilt and Texas A&M, probably the most turnover-prone defenses within the SEC. They will even must make photographs from the perimeter — they shoot higher than 37% from 3 in wins in comparison with simply 29% in losses. Iowa State can guard the three, however Kentucky’s trio of Oweh, Chandler and Aberdeen must get going. — Borzello
5:15 p.m., CBS
How Kansas can advance to the Sweet 16: Flory Bidunga needs to be the important thing for Kansas in opposition to St. John’s. He can have his palms full in opposition to Zuby Ejiofor, one of one of the best two-way massive males within the nation, however Bidunga has held his personal in matchups in opposition to Motiejus Krivas and JT Toppin. Bidunga has additionally struggled mightily in different massive games, 5 factors and 4 factors in two games in opposition to Houston, two factors in opposition to Arizona and eight factors in opposition to North Carolina, and his win/loss splits are telling. In Kansas’ wins, Bidunga averages 15.1 factors and shoots higher than 70% from the sphere. In losses, he averages 9.9 factors and shoots 50.6% from the sphere. Defensively, the Jayhawks must preserve St. John’s out of transition and power the Red Storm to make perimeter photographs. They ranked close to the underside of the Big East in 3-point try price and share of factors from 3s. Their 10 3s in opposition to Northern Iowa was the primary time they made double-digit 3s in a recreation since Jan. 10. — Borzello
How St. John’s can advance to the Sweet 16: The greatest edge St. John’s can have in opposition to Kansas is on the offensive glass. The Red Storm are one of the simplest offensive rebounding groups within the nation, rating seventeenth nationally in second-chance factors per recreation. Kansas, in the meantime, was one of the worst defensive rebounding groups within the Big 12, permitting opponents to rebound practically 32% of their misses. Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell ought to get additional possessions for the Red Storm. With the exception of the drubbing at UConn in late February, St. John’s protection has been working at an extremely excessive degree for a number of weeks. The Red Storm have allowed their previous 5 opponents to make a mean of simply 3.4 3-pointers per recreation. — Borzello
6:10 p.m., TNT
How Virginia can advance to the Sweet 16: This is not Tony Bennett’s workforce anymore. The Cavaliers knock down 3s and likewise rating with a rugged recreation within the paint. They even have a top-25 protection. They’ll want all of these instruments in opposition to Tennessee, which is No. 1 within the nation in offensive rebounding price. They cannot enable the Vols to dominate with second-chance factors, and the Cavaliers are outfitted to do this because of a top-five protection contained in the arc. They’ll additionally must restrict the touches of projected NBA draft lottery decide Nate Ament. Tennessee is 2-3 in its previous 5 games when he shoots 9 or fewer photographs contained in the arc. They additionally must stress Ja’Kobi Gillespie (11 turnovers up to now 4 losses). The Cavaliers’ 3-point barrage should proceed after Virginia made 13 in opposition to Wright State. The Cavaliers in all probability cannot win with no massive recreation from Thijs De Ridder, however they may battle in the event that they go chilly from the 3-point line. — Medcalf
How Tennessee can advance to the Sweet 16: Rick Barnes’ workforce ended Miami (Ohio)’s fairy story Friday. The Volunteers outscored Travis Steele’s squad 40-16 within the paint to advance — and so they did it regardless of projected NBA draft lottery decide Ament going 0-for-3 within the recreation. The Vols will want Ament to look extra just like the participant who scored 27 factors in an SEC match win over Auburn to achieve the Sweet 16. Ja’Kobi Gillespie continues to make this group soar. If he will get to his spots, Ament performs to his potential and the Vols dominate the offensive glass, they may have the offensive instruments to win. But practically 50% of Virginia’s discipline objective makes an attempt are 3-pointers, and the Cavaliers are a top-10 offensive rebounding workforce. They can play Tennessee’s recreation, too. The Vols should play it higher. — Medcalf
7:10 p.m., TBS
How Florida can advance to the Sweet 16: Florida’s recreation prep will give attention to stopping Bennett Stirtz and getting the ball out of his palms. Stirtz is a high-usage level guard, and Ben McCollum’s system revolves round him having a hand in practically each possession. Boogie Fland has actually developed as a defender this season and can doubtless be tasked with guarding Stirtz. The relaxation of Florida’s plan shall be about imposing its will. The Gators are greater and extra athletic than Iowa, and so they’re elite on protection. If they’ll pace the sport up and make Iowa uncomfortable, it is exhausting to image the Hawkeyes maintaining. Iowa hasn’t performed a recreation with greater than 70 possessions this season; Florida averages 70.7 possessions per recreation, per KenPom. — Borzello
How Iowa can advance to the Sweet 16: On paper, Iowa is in for a troublesome night time down low in opposition to Florida. The Gators have one of probably the most dominant frontcourts within the nation, rating second nationally in paint factors per recreation and third in second-chance factors per recreation. They additionally lead the nation in offensive rebounds per recreation. Iowa would not block photographs and permits opponents to shoot 56.5% contained in the arc in Big Ten play, however the Hawkeyes performed a frontcourt with comparable dimension and skill after they confronted Michigan earlier this month. And although they misplaced, they held their very own up entrance, outscoring the Wolverines within the paint and scoring extra second-chance factors. Can the Hawkeyes repeat the feat in opposition to Florida? Iowa will even must get the sport at its most well-liked tempo, one of the slowest within the nation, forcing the Gators to play within the halfcourt greater than they want. — Borzello
7:50 p.m., truTV
How Arizona can advance to the Sweet 16: Arizona would not must tweak something to its recreation plan to achieve its third consecutive Sweet 16. Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley scored simply seven factors in opposition to LIU on Friday, and the Wildcats nonetheless put up 92 factors. If they proceed to depend on that depth, they’re going to be tough to cease; 5 Arizona gamers scored at the very least eight factors within the win over Long Island. Plus, the Wildcats, who’ve been criticized after making simply 33% of their 3-point makes an attempt in Big 12 play, have made 39% of their photographs from past the arc over their present 10-game successful streak. They’re completely different now. To cease Utah State’s offense, Arizona should defend properly in opposition to quite a few ball screens that put MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev in positions to attain. The Aggies will in all probability assault 7-foot-2 Arizona middle Motiejus Krivas greater than anybody else on these ball screens, and try to make use of their pace to arrange massive performs for his or her prime guards. Utah State will want a magical effort to beat Arizona. — Medcalf
How Utah State can advance to the Sweet 16: Utah State will want one other clutch effort from Collins and Falslev — one of one of the best guard duos in America who mixed for 42 factors in opposition to Villanova — to advance previous Arizona, a workforce with simply two losses. In the second half of Friday’s recreation, the pair acquired scorching thanks partly as a result of of off-ball screens and backdoor cuts to the basket. They have to seek out their spots to have an opportunity in opposition to Arizona, too. On protection, the Aggies might comply with two blueprints in opposition to Arizona: Kansas refused to relent to Arizona’s bruising frontcourt, and Texas Tech wanted a mixture of 31 factors from JT Toppin and perimeter stress that held the Wildcats to a 4-for-16 clip from 3. But the Wildcats are numerous, so Utah State will want 6-foot-10 Zach Keller and 6-foot-9 Adlan Elamin to guard the paint. The Aggies will even want their guards to restrict an Arizona workforce that has been scorching from past the arc in current weeks. — Medcalf
8:45 p.m., TNT
How UConn can advance to the Sweet 16: UConn can win most of its matchups on this recreation, even when Silas Demary Jr. is unavailable. Solo Ball can create photographs off the dribble, Alex Karaban is a risk on the perimeter as a 38.6% 3-point shooter, Tarris Reed Jr. simply completed with 31 factors and 27 rebounds within the win over Furman, and Braylon Mullins is a first-round NBA prospect. The Huskies have handled effectivity points and turnovers in current weeks, but when they’ll play with extra rhythm, they’ll beat any workforce within the nation. If Tyler Bilodeau returns, nevertheless, their bigs — together with Reed — shall be challenged to defend in area. Still, a Huskies workforce with wins over Florida, BYU and St. John’s has overcome extra star energy than UCLA has on its roster. UConn can preserve issues easy and win. — Medcalf
How UCLA can advance to the Sweet 16: It would assist if Bilodeau returned. The 6-foot-9 star is UCLA’s greatest 3-point shooter — he areas the ground for the Bruins in a novel method that balances their offense. Against UConn, his presence can be a difference-maker as a result of of his dimension and expertise. Without him, the Bruins must work more durable to seek out open seems to be in opposition to a UConn squad with a top-15 protection. And Donovan Dent, who was 4-for-17 from the sphere in opposition to UCF, cannot be a spectator on this recreation. He was one of probably the most coveted transfers within the portal through the offseason. He has to play to his ceiling to assist UCLA beat a workforce that has received two of the previous three nationwide titles.
On protection, Xavier Booker can have the duty of containing Reed, who simply completed with 31 factors and 27 rebounds in a win over Furman. If the 6-foot-11 Booker cannot decelerate Reed, UCLA will not have an opportunity. The Bruins must also look to use UConn’s ballhandling woes — the Huskies have dedicated 79 turnovers of their previous six games — particularly if Demary is out once more. — Medcalf
9:45 p.m., TBS
How Alabama can advance to the Sweet 16: Similar to Tech’s keys, Alabama has to win the perimeter battle. The Crimson Tide shoot the ball at an unbelievable quantity from past the arc, however aren’t fairly as correct because the Red Raiders — and the Tide have misplaced 4 of the six games by which they’ve made fewer than 10 3s. Moreover, Alabama’s 3-point protection is much worse than Texas Tech’s 3-point protection. Without Aden Holloway, Alabama has fewer gamers who can get their very own shot off the dribble, making the Crimson Tide extra reliant on Labaron Philon Jr. to have one other massive recreation. As one of the elite playmakers and shotmakers within the sport, Philon is probably going up for the duty. But he’ll be dealing with a fellow All-American and first-round decide in Christian Anderson. Who wins that matchup? That’s the important thing. — Borzello
How Texas Tech can advance to the Sweet 16: Texas Tech is one of the few groups in America that may sustain with Alabama from the perimeter. Though the Crimson Tide lead the nation in 3-point try price and made 3-pointers per recreation, the Red Raiders aren’t far behind — they’re third nationally in 3-point taking pictures share and fifth in made 3-pointers per recreation. They’ve leaned into it much more since JT Toppin suffered a season-ending proper knee harm, with a 3-point try price above 51% in 4 of its previous 5 games. At the opposite finish, can Tech preserve Philon from moving into the lane at will? He is a bit greater than Anderson, however Donovan Atwell has proven promise as a person defender and will draw the project. — Borzello
