One of the great things about March Madness is that you never know which games will be the best games in the NCAA tournament this year. Arizona’s thrilling 85-80 overtime victory over TCU on Sunday, for example, was the last game of the opening weekend of the tournament and ended after much of America had gone to sleep. But it was perhaps the most exciting finish of the first two rounds.
Then, of course, last Thursday’s first round game was the stunning No. 15 seed Kentucky St. Peter. Some genius at CBS Sports put it last in the Big Dance’s first-round games, and it turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments in NCAA tournament history. That’s why they call it March Madness.
Now that we know the protagonists of this NCAA tournament a little better, it might be easier to predict exactly which Sweet 16 matches will be the most exciting. With four games scheduled for Thursday and four more scheduled for Friday, the regional semi-final action will once again require viewers to make tough choices when watching TV. Even if you unplug your second TV again, you’ll have to select a game for your home screen and decide which one should be unmuted.
So here’s a look at the Sweet 16 games, ranked in descending order and moving closer to the best as we gear up for another big weekend of college basketball.
Friday, 21:59 | TBS March Madness Live
It’s just random. It’s like a match that would otherwise only take place in November at a tropical resort in a ballroom converted into a basketball arena. Alas, this is the Sweet 16 fight at the Chicago United Center. Miami has never made the Elite Eight, but coach Jim Larranaga has the experience of making the Final Four with a double-digit seed. He did it with George Mason in 2006. Meanwhile, Iowa State is looking to continue its historic turn under freshman coach T. J. Otzelberger after the Cyclones won just two games last season.
Thursday, 19:29 | TBS March Madness Live
Is Michigan the most talented #11 seed of all time? With five-star freshmen Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate playing alongside elite seven-foot sophomore Hunter Dickinson, it’s certainly possible. While senior fifth-year quarterback Eli Brooks brings an important element of veteran savvy to this group, the Wolverines will have to play against Villanova beyond her years. Point guard Collin Gillespie played a key role off the bench in the 2018 Nova national team that beat who in the final? Michigan. Yes, this is a rematch of the 2018 finals, which adds another intrigue. But between Gillespie and the other Villanova veterans, the Wildcats are a much more experienced team.
Friday, 19:29 | TBS March Madness Live
If your team is eliminated, you are probably a fan of St. Peters. But if the Peacocks laid eggs in the first half against Purdue, switch to this one. Providence could be the group’s last hope in preventing a Final Four full of big sports brands. If the Friars can beat the Kansas, then the Midwest Regional winner is guaranteed to make his first Final Four appearance in at least 35 years. Miami has never been in the Final Four, Iowa State last made it to 1944 and Providence last made it to 1987. Kansas was there just four years ago.
Friday, 21:39 | CBS, March Madness Live
To the extent that blue blood programs can be dormant, that’s what these two teams are. UCLA has played second fiddle to Arizona in the Pac-12 this season, and North Carolina needed a late draw to get into the NCAA Tournament. These programs have won a total of 17 national titles, but since none of them have been particularly well weeded out, expectations for that number to reach 18 this season are minimal. But with the No. 1 seed Baylor and No. 2 seed Kentucky already eliminated from the Eastern Region, the winner will have a great chance of reaching the Final Four.
Thursday, 19:09 | CBS, March Madness Live
Mark Few and Eric Musselman are only two years apart and look like they could be brothers. But they are completely different. Few have spent their entire careers in one place and are reserved for college basketball coaching, letting their players—looking at you, Drew Timm—bring the antics. Musselman is Twitter a junkie and third-party fireworker whose resume reads like a concert tour schedule. Gonzaga is definitely the more talented team, but you could say the same about Baylor last season when Arkansas defeated the eventual national champions in an Elite Eight game.
3. East: (3) Purdue vs. (15) Saint Peter’s
Friday, 19:09 | CBS, March Madness Live
St. Peters vs. Kentucky was ranked 32nd in first round game rankings. Oops! This mistake will not be repeated as the Peacocks try to maintain their magical play against Purdue’s vaunted offensive attack. The St. Peters will need a powerful offensive game to keep up with the Boilermakers. But even if it doesn’t, just seeing one of the best NCAA Tournament stories of all time on the floor will be fun again. The Peacocks showed off their skills this month and will have the whole country behind them on Friday, except for the Purdue fans.
2. South: (1) Arizona vs. (5) Houston
Thursday, 21:59 | TBS March Madness Live
Mayhem. That should be the expectation from this as Houston and his tough, physical brand stand up to Arizona’s bombastic attack. Both of these teams are playing with a certain amount of desperation and that should make for an exciting game. Even if someone jumps ahead with a double digit, rest assured they will come back. These are two teams of chaos, and if the final is like the Sunday night final between Arizona and TCU, it’s worth staying up late to see, even if you have to be at work in the morning.
Thursday, 21:39 | CBS, March Madness Live
The following schools are among the locations Texas Tech’s Mark Adams coached during Mike Krzyszewski’s 42-year tenure at Duke: Clarendon College, Wayland Baptist, West Texas A&M, Texas-Pan American, Howard College, and Little Rock. After Duke survived the second round of Michigan State’s legendary Tom Izzo, it would be rather ironic if it was Adams, who just a decade ago was a junior college coach in rural Texas, who put an end to C. Steele’s coaching career. the courts here are made for a fantastic battle between Duke’s superb offense and the tough, tenacious Texas Institute of Technology defense.