Sweet 16 Recap – Thursday, March 27
• (2) Alabama 113, (6) BYU 88
Alabama made NCAA Tournament history by draining 25 three-pointers. Mark Sears was sensational with 34 points, hitting 10-of-16 from deep. The Crimson Tide advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight year.
• (1) Florida 87, (4) Maryland 71
Florida cruised past Maryland with efficient offense and a strong defensive showing. The Gators punched their ticket to the Elite Eight, looking like a serious Final Four threat.
• (1) Duke 100, (4) Arizona 93
Duke won a high-octane battle behind freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, who tallied 30 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Arizona fought hard, but couldn’t close the gap late.
• (3) Texas Tech 85, (10) Arkansas 83 (OT)
In the thriller of the night, Texas Tech rallied from 16 down and survived overtime to edge Arkansas. Clutch free throws and late defense sealed their Elite Eight appearance.
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Sweet 16 Preview – Friday, March 28
Game 1: (6) Ole Miss vs. (2) Michigan State
• Time: 7:09 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
• Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Odds: Michigan State -4.5
• Viewing Tip: Also streamable via Paramount+, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live
Key Notes:
This matchup pits Ole Miss’s elite three-point shooting (49%) against Michigan State’s top-tier perimeter defense. Tom Izzo’s squad is physical and tough on the boards, which could expose Ole Miss’s rebounding struggles. Look for tempo control and transition defense to be key.
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Game 2: (3) Kentucky vs. (2) Tennessee
• Time: 7:39 p.m. ET
• TV: TBS / truTV
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Odds: Tennessee -2
• Viewing Tip: Available on Sling TV, TBS App
Key Notes:
Kentucky has already beaten Tennessee twice this season — historically, the third meeting is the toughest. Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier is on a tear in the tournament and looking for redemption after two subpar games vs. the Wildcats. Kentucky’s fate may hinge on limiting turnovers and staying hot from three.
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Game 3: (5) Michigan vs. (1) Auburn
• Time: 9:39 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS
• Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Odds: Auburn -6.5
• Viewing Tip: Also streamable via Paramount+, YouTube TV, Hulu Live
Key Notes:
Michigan’s size and disciplined defense could frustrate Auburn, but they’ll need to protect the ball and finish inside. Auburn plays fast and physical, with a deep bench. Expect Michigan to try and slow the game down to grind it out.
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Game 4: (4) Purdue vs. (1) Houston
• Time: 10:09 p.m. ET
• TV: TBS / truTV
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Odds: Houston -3.5
• Viewing Tip: Available via TBS App, Sling TV, Hulu Live
Key Notes:
Houston brings the nation’s top defense into this matchup. Purdue has struggled with turnovers and enters short-handed. Houston’s physicality and backcourt depth could overwhelm the Boilermakers if they can’t get consistent offense from the perimeter.
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Looking Ahead:
• Winners of tonight’s games will join Duke, Alabama, Florida, and Texas Tech in the Elite Eight (March 29–30).
• Matchups and times will be announced after the Sweet 16 concludes.
TGIF!!!
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