The second round of the Madness is right here! After two thrilling days of huge wins, shut calls and star performances, the round of 32 will get going Sunday with 16 groups vying to make it to the Sweet 16.
Will Duke placed on one other defensive clinic? Can Washington — or anybody — cease Olivia Miles? Before the video games tip off, our ESPN faculty basketball analysts have you ever coated with a key to profitable the sport for each group.
Make certain to return again because the video games get underway for live updates from the second round.
Jump to: Sunday game previews
All occasions Eastern.
Noon ET, ESPN
How the Terps can advance to the Sweet 16: Other than one first-round loss in 2023, Maryland has reached the Sweet 16 in each NCAA match courting to 2021. Brenda Frese has a profitable historical past within the second round, too. The manufacturing from Mir McLean and Kyndal Walker is an effective signal. So a lot had fallen on main scorers Oluchi Okananwa and Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu in different video games, however the assist wasn’t there. That was largely responsible for Maryland shedding two video games previous to the NCAA match — which value the Terps the power to host video games this weekend. That duo mixed for simply 13 factors on Friday, but the Terps nonetheless gained comfortably. — Charlie Creme
How the Tar Heels can advance to the Sweet 16: The Tar Heels face former ACC rival Maryland, which might be a really aggressive sport. The Terps beat Murray State 99-67 within the opening round and outrebounded the Racers 51-21. North Carolina might want to attempt to restrict Maryland on the boards and in addition hold the Terps off the road as a lot as potential. Maryland made 19 of twenty-two free throws vs. Murray State. — Michael Voepel
1 p.m. ET, ABC
How the Wolfpack can advance to the Sweet 16: With the uncertainty round Zoe Brooks‘ damage, the Wolfpack must lean on one another to push by means of the subsequent round. Players comparable to Zamareya Jones must create greater alternatives within the paint. Tennessee was in a position to restrict NC State’s offense when conserving the Wolfpack out of transition, so the Wolfpack must discover a approach to get to the basket. — Charlotte Gibson
How the Wolverines can advance to the Sweet 16: Consistency over the subsequent couple of video games will likely be key for Michigan. The better part about this group is its energy in numbers. Mila Holloway led the cost Friday, however fellow sophomores Olivia Olson and Syla Swords are the group’s high two scorers this season. Look for them to maintain contributing with large numbers. — Gibson
2 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Rebels can advance to the Sweet 16: The Rebels reached the regional semifinals a yr in the past, however this group is totally totally different from final season’s group. The Rebels introduced in eight new gamers this season however discovered how you can make the transition as seamless as potential. One factor to observe for: Though Ole Miss dominated Gonzaga early, the Bulldogs put collectively a 17-0 run within the fourth quarter to chop into the Rebels’ 30-point lead. The Rebels must hold their foot on the gasoline. — Kendra Andrews
How the Gophers can advance to the Sweet 16: The Gophers cannot afford one other sluggish begin within the second round, as a result of No. 5 seed Ole Miss will make them pay. The Rebels defeated Gonzaga 81-66 within the first round of the Sacramento 2 Regional; Ole Miss had 40 factors within the paint, plus scored 23 factors off turnovers. The Gophers may have their fingers full with Ole Miss, which made it to the SEC match semifinals. — Voepel
3 p.m. ET, ABC
How the Lady Raiders can advance to the Sweet 16: There is little question LSU will present a unique problem, however having performed a protection as robust as Villanova on Friday ought to serve the Lady Raiders effectively. They can’t afford to get off to a sluggish begin, although, as a result of LSU has the kind of offense to place the sport out of attain early. The Lady Raiders must restrict their turnovers — 20 towards Villanova is just not going to get the job finished if they’re going to have any probability at pulling the upset on LSU. — Andrea Adelson
How the Tigers can advance to the Sweet 16: The Tigers have made it to the Elite Eight the previous two seasons, and all the way in which to the title sport — which they gained — in 2023 as a No. 3 seed. As sturdy as their offense was towards Jacksonville, LSU coach Kim Mulkey stated she needed their protection to enhance after the primary half (the Dolphins had 36 factors on the break). Tightening up that protection going ahead is a should if LSU desires to proceed to develop every round. — Andrews
4 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Bears can advance to the Sweet 16: The Bears must beat the No. 3 seed Blue Devils on their house court docket. Duke misplaced simply as soon as at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season: Dec. 4 to LSU. But the Bears have a win over the Blue Devils already this season: 58-52 within the opener on Nov. 3 in Paris. Expect these groups’ NCAA second-round sport to be an identical defensive battle. — Voepel
How the Blue Devils can advance to the Sweet 16: The Blue Devils have had among the finest defenses within the nation, and that confirmed extra within the first half Friday than the second. That’s one thing Duke must be extra constant about within the second round. The Blue Devils moved the ball effectively with 25 assists, however a part of coach Kara Lawson’s irritation was turnovers, as Duke had 20. The Blue Devils gained the rebounding battle 47-39, however Lawson desires extra dominance in that class as effectively. — Voepel
6 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Ducks can advance to the Sweet 16: The Ducks, who beat Maryland within the second round of the Big Ten match, have now gained three of their previous 4 video games, their greatest streak since profitable 4 in a row in late January. When Oregon beat Maryland in Indianapolis, Michigan was up subsequent — and the Wolverines handed the Ducks a 22-point loss. Oregon’s possible subsequent opponent, Texas, presents a good greater problem.
This was additionally the twenty third win of the season for the Ducks, making this their most profitable marketing campaign since Sabrina Ionescu’s senior yr in 2020, when the NCAA match was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Creme
How the Longhorns can advance to the Sweet 16: The Longhorns, who’ve made it to a minimum of the Elite Eight 4 of the previous 5 years, face No. 8 seed Oregon within the second round. The Ducks beat Virginia Tech 70-60 within the first round. You will be certain Texas coach Vic Schaefer is specializing in a defensive sport plan to restrict Oregon standout guard Katie Fiso, who had 22 factors on 9-of-12 capturing towards the Hokies. — Voepel
8 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Spartans can advance to the Sweet 16: Against Oklahoma, the Spartans must take care of the house crowd and among the finest level guards within the sport in freshman Aaliyah Chavez — to not point out one of the crucial dominant facilities in Raegan Beers. The Spartans must knock down some 3-pointers to assist stretch the ground and open the court docket up for Grace VanSlooten down low. Michigan State’s guard-heavy lineup has been right here earlier than and is extra skilled, which might be an X issue towards Chavez. — ESPN
How the Sooners can advance to the Sweet 16: Keep doing what they’re doing. Oklahoma was efficient within the frontcourt and backcourt, shot 51% from the sphere and had 4 gamers in double-digit scoring. As spectacular as Beers and Sahara Williams had been, it is maybe most notable that Chavez — making her NCAA match debut — had zero turnovers in 31 minutes. — ESPN
10 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Huskies can advance to the Sweet 16: This was Washington’s first match win since 2017, the yr the Huskies made it to the Sweet 16 behind Kelsey Plum’s 30 factors per sport. Washington will face No. 3 seed TCU — and triple-double risk Olivia Miles — within the second round. The Huskies can’t fall into an early gap like they did towards South Dakota State. Washington should be sure its protection is clicking early. — Andrews
How the Horned Frogs can advance to the Sweet 16: After the Horned Frogs scored simply 53 factors within the Big 12 match championship sport towards West Virginia, they scored 48 within the first half towards UC San Diego, erasing the reminiscence of their second-lowest offensive output of the season. The Tritons are definitely not the Mountaineers, however an offensive sport like this helps restore TCU’s confidence. The pick-and-roll offense appeared sharp once more with the Horned Frogs registering 23 assists on their 32 discipline objectives. The 13 3-pointers on 26 makes an attempt had been additionally essentially the most for TCU since early December. Having that capturing stroke towards both Georgia or South Dakota State within the second round will likely be essential. — Creme
