The full NCAA Tournament bracket has been released with UConn leading the way as No. 1 overall.
(Editor’s note: This is part of the Bracket Central Series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.)
Eight double-digit seeds secured first-round upsets in the NCAA Tournament to bust brackets across the country. But when the dust settled on the opening weekend, only one double-digit seed was left standing in the Sweet 16: No. 11 NC State in the South Region.
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Despite a season filled with so many evenly-matched teams, every No. 1 and No. 2 seed is still alive in the Sweet 16 for the first time in five years and just the fifth time since the NCAA Tournament began seeding in 1979. Of the 16 games involving one or two seeds, only three were decided by single digits.
With the Sweet 16 upon us, here are our latest NCAA Tournament power rankings for all 16 remaining national title contenders. Consider this our re-seeding of the Sweet 16, if you wish. We will update this ranking after every round and until the Final Four begins. Many of the top-seeded teams have looked dominant. Which one is in the best position to make a run at the championship? Here’s a look at where things stand:
Connecticut Huskies
Two NCAA Tournament games, two blowout victories for the Huskies. UConn, which beat Stetson by 39 points in the first round, led Northwestern by 22 points at halftime and cruised to a 75-58 victory to reach the Sweet 16. Tristen Newton recorded 20 points and 10 assists, while Donovan Clingan notched 14 points and 14 rebounds. UConn has lost just once this calendar year and continues to look like a team capable of becoming the first repeat national champ since Florida in 2006 and ’07.
Purdue Boilermakers
The baggage that clung to Purdue all year after losing in the first round as a No. 1 seed last season is a whole lot lighter. Purdue played every bit like the No. 1 seed this time around, beating Grambling State 78-50 in the first round and dominating Utah State 106-67 in the second round. The 106 points surpassed the program’s previous NCAA Tournament record of 104 set in 1987. Center Zach Edey has 53 points and 35 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games. All the pieces are in place for the Boilermakers to reach their first Final Four since 1980.
Houston Cougars
Houston, which leads the country in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense, ended up in a second-round track meet against Texas A&M. The Cougars survived in overtime, beating the Aggies 100-95, despite blowing a 12-point lead late in regulation. Emanuel Sharp scored a game-high 30 points, while Jamal Shead added 21 points and 10 assists. Houston will play No. 4 seed Duke in the Sweet 16.
North Carolina Tar Heels
UNC trailed ninth-seeded Michigan State by as many as 12 points early in the second round before a sizzling 23-3 run helped propel the Tar Heels on to the Sweet 16. RJ Davis once again led the team in scoring with 20 points, but North Carolina also got 18 points from Armando Bacot, 17 points from Harrison Ingram and 14 points from Cormac Ryan.
Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee took down seventh-seeded Texas 62-58 to reach its second consecutive Sweet 16. Dalton Knecht, the Northern Colorado transfer, continues to lead the way for the Vols. He scored a team-high 18 points and added nine rebounds against Texas. Tennessee will have to beat third-seeded Creighton to advance to its first Elite Eight since 2010.
Arizona Wildcats
Arizona, which beat Long Beach State in the first round, held off Dayton 78-68 to reach the Sweet 16 against Clemson. The Wildcats’ quick pace and defensive length gave the Flyers fits. Caleb Love, the team’s leading scorer, scored 13 points in the first 12 minutes and finished with a team-high 19. Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson and Jaden Bradley also reached double figures in scoring.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette accomplished what it couldn’t a year ago, making it out of the second round as a No. 2 seed. The Golden Eagles showed great resolve to break a tie with three minutes remaining and beat Colorado 81-77 for the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in 11 years. Point guard Tyler Kolek has two double-doubles since returning from an oblique strain, and his ability to cut into the lane and score or draw defenders and distribute to open teammates is a critical weapon. There is a lot to like about this team, beginning with the backcourt duo of Kolek and leading scorer Kam Jones.
Iowa State Cyclones
At this point, opponents know exactly what they’re getting into when they play Iowa State. It’s going to be a grind, and the Cyclones make teams work for every point. Iowa State’s 67-56 victory against seventh-seeded Washington State was yet another example. Iowa State, which ranks fourth in the country in scoring defense, held Washington State 18 points below its season average. T.J. Otzelberger has Iowa State in the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons. The Cyclones will play No. 3 seed Illinois.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 behind a dominant 89-63 victory against Duquesne. The Illini, who won the Big Ten tournament championship, are playing as well as any team in the country. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored at least 30 points for the seventh time this season, including his third time in the last four games. Marcus Domask, coming off a triple-double in the first round against Morehead State, added 22 points. Forward Dain Dainja has not missed a single shot from the field in any of his last three games, going a perfect 17-for-17.
Duke Blue Devils
Duke absolutely manhandled James Madison in a 93-55 victory behind a program NCAA Tournament record eight 3-pointers from Jared McCain, who finished with 30 points. Tyrese Proctor, Jeremy Roach and Kyle Filipowski also scored in double figures for the Blue Devils. It’s the first Sweet 16 for Jon Scheyer, whose debut season as coach last year ended with a second-round loss. Duke will play top-seeded Houston on Friday.
Creighton Bluejays
Creighton won an epic double-overtime game against Oregon, 86-73, to reach the Sweet 16 for the third time in the last four seasons under Greg McDermott. The Bluejays scored the first 15 points of the second overtime to outlast the Ducks. Steven Ashworth scored a team-high 21 points. Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman — the only trio in the country to average at least 17 points per game on the same team — hit those marks again while playing all 50 minutes. It will be Creighton against Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
It’s truly remarkable what Mark Few has achieved at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs don’t simply qualify for the NCAA Tournament — they have staying power. Gonzaga, which dominated the second half against Kansas in an 89-68 victory, have reached the Sweet 16 for a ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga scored 15 straight points in the second half to pull away. Anton Watson scored 21 points and led five players in double figures. Next up: A date with top-seeded Purdue.
San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego State barely escaped with a four-point win against UAB in the first round. The Aztecs had no such trouble during an 85-57 second-round blowout victory against Yale. Jaedon LeDee tallied 26 points and nine rebounds. San Diego State went on a magical run to the national title game last season before being stopped by UConn. The teams will meet in a Sweet 16 rematch.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama survived a scare from No. 12 seed Grand Canyon, turning a 58-55 deficit into a 72-61 victory over the final six minutes. The Crimson Tide, who lead the country in scoring, showed they could win in a physical rock fight type of game after dropping 109 points in their first round victory against Charleston. Mark Sears led the way for Alabama against Grand Canyon with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Alabama will play top-seeded North Carolina in the Sweet 16.
Clemson Tigers
Clemson is on to the Sweet 16 for the second time under 14th-year coach Brad Brownell, whose Tigers last made this round in 2018. Clemson defeated No. 3 seed Baylor 72-64 to advance out of the first weekend. Chase Hunter scored 20 points, while Joseph Girard III (13 points), Ian Schieffelin (11 points) and PJ Hall (11 points) all scored in double figures. Next up is No. 2 seed Arizona.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
NC State entered the ACC tournament just 17-14 and needed a miracle — five wins in five days — to reach the NCAA Tournament as an automatic qualifier. Seven wins and two weeks later, the Wolfpack are onto the Sweet 16. NC State dispatched Texas Tech 80-67 in the first round and then fended off No. 14 seed Oakland and Jack Gohlke 79-73 in overtime. DJ Burns Jr. has become a star on the national stage, tallying 24 points and 11 rebounds against Oakland.
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GO DEEPER
Will Caitlin Clark and Iowa's second-round struggles be the key to a Sweet 16 victory?
(Photo of NC State’s Casey Morsell: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
