The 2024 NCAA Tournament started with 68 groups final week, and the bracket has now been lowered to the Sweet 16. With regional semifinal matchups set as the second spherical has concluded, scouting work has already begun for the groups which might be simply two wins away from reaching the Final Four in Phoenix.UConn, North Carolina, Gonzaga and Duke are back in the Sweet 16 as acquainted faces, whereas NC State, Marquette and Illinois are making their long-awaited return to the second weekend of the match. Illinois final reached the Sweet 16 in 2005 — the identical yr the program appeared in the nationwide title game.The theme of Saturday in the second spherical was decrease seeds taking good care of enterprise. Gonzaga was the solely upset from a seeding perspective on Saturday; the Bulldogs had been truly the betting favourite towards a shorthanded Kansas team.Sunday of second-round action noticed comparable outcomes. Clemson defeated Baylor 72-64 in the lone upset of the day from a seeding standpoint. Purdue, Duke and UConn cruised to double-digit victories to arrange intriguing showdowns for the second weekend.Now that the matchups are set, let’s take an early have a look at what’s forward for the Sweet 16, which is about to tip off on Thursday. West Regional Thursday — Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles (1) North Carolina vs. (4) AlabamaScouting the Tar Heels — North Carolina ranks No. 6 in Division l expertise on the roster, in line with KenPom.com. Armando Bacot and RJ Davis had been pillars on UNC’s Final Four team lower than two years in the past, and so they’re back for an additional run. Cormac Ryan is one in every of the oldest gamers in the sport, whereas Harrison Ingram and former five-star Elliot Cadeau spherical out the beginning lineup. Last season, UNC ranked No. 261 in team assists (11.7), and that quantity has improved to 14.4 this season, adequate for No. 81. Part of the huge soar is the emergence of Cadeau, who averages a team-leading 4.1 assists. Scouting the Crimson Tide — Alabama’s offense is potent. The Crimson Tide characteristic the highest-scoring offense (91.1 ppg) and hit the third-most 3-pointers in the nation. Alabama’s averages 14.5 seconds per possession, the third-fastest, in line with KenPom. Most of the scoring comes from All-American guard Mark Sears, who noticed his function enhance drastically after Jahvon Quinerly departed the program final summer time. Sears went from averaging 12.5 factors to 21.4. The protection, nonetheless, is a unique story. The Tide are permitting the second-most factors (81.7 ppg) of any match team in the final 25 years. (2) Arizona vs. (6) ClemsonScouting the Wildcats — Arizona’s deadly offense (87.9 ppg) ranked third out of all Division l groups in scoring and completed high 10 in adjusted effectivity on offense and protection, per KenPom. The team’s offensive possessions common 15.2 seconds, the Eighth-fastest in the nation. The Wildcats common 13.3 offensive rebounds, and their rebounding margin (+347) ranks No. 3 of all Division l groups. Pac-12 Player of the Year Caleb Love is an offensive juggernaut, and the offense stops and begins with him. Oumar Ballo is an inside drive inside able to taking on a game. Add Pelle Larsson, Kylan Boswell, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis and (*16*) to the combine, and you’ve got one in every of the most full rosters top-to-bottom.Scouting the Tigers — Clemson is having a historic season on offense by its requirements. The Tigers are averaging 77.4 factors, the most since the 2008-09 season. Clemson’s offense revolves round large man PJ Hall, sharpshooter Joseph Girard III and veteran guard Chase Hunter. Despite rating in the center of the pack in scoring protection (No. 133, 70.8 ppg), Clemson is on monitor to permit a minimum of 70 factors per game for less than the second time in the final 20 years. East Regional Thursday — TD Garden in Boston(1) UConn vs. (5) San Diego StateScouting the Huskies — UConn walks into the Sweet 16 as the largest risk to repeat as nationwide champions in almost twenty years. The Huskies cruised via the common season, the Big East Tournament and the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies led the Big East in scoring offense (81.5 ppg) and scoring protection (64.4 ppg), and so they entered the week with the second-highest level differential (+17.1) behind McNeese. UConn All-American guard Tristen Newton was the solely participant in Division l males’s basketball to common a minimum of seven rebounds and 6 assists per game. Cam Spencer, Alex Karaban and Hassan Diarra present useful capturing. And you’ll be able to’t overlook about large man Donovan Clingan, who’s enjoying his greatest basketball at the proper time after coping with a foot harm earlier this season. If the Huskies are firing on all cylinders, they are going to be the hardest out.Scouting the Aztecs — After falling in final yr’s title game to UConn, San Diego State could have an opportunity at redemption in the Sweet 16. SDSU is led by Jaedon LeDee, who went from key reserve on its Final Four team final yr to All-American this season after averaging 21.4 factors and eight.4 rebounds. SDSU held opponents to 66.6 factors and 40.5% capturing — each No. 1 in the Mountain West. San Diego State’s magic quantity is 71. The Aztecs are 23-3 after they hit that mark.(2) Iowa State vs. (3) IllinoisScouting the Cyclones — Iowa State’s protection is tenacious. The Cyclones rank No. 4 in scoring protection (61.4 ppg) and second in turnovers compelled (17.4), steals (10.4) and turnover proportion (25.2%). On offense, Tamin Lipsey leads this unit as one in every of the most underrated guards in the nation. Big 12 Tournament MVP Keshon Gilbert and extremely touted freshman Milan Momcilovic be part of him as key contributors. Iowa State’s 28-point win over Houston in the Big 12 Tournament title game was the largest margin of defeat towards an AP Top 25 No. 1-ranked team in 56 years.Scouting the Fighting Illini — The trio of Marcus Domask, Coleman Hawkins and Terrence Shannon Jr. headline one in every of the most skilled groups in faculty basketball. Hawkins and Shannon elected to bypass the 2023 NBA Draft to return to high school to assist get the Illinois program over the hump and out of the first weekend. Shannon has been on an offensive tear of late and has scored a minimum of 25 factors in his final six video games. Illinois’ high-scoring offense (84.4 ppg) ought to present a check for Iowa State’s stout protection. Illinois’ 41.3 complete rebounds per game ranks sixth amongst all Division l groups.Purdue gamers are in a greater temper than they had been this time final season Midwest Regional Friday– Little Caesars Arena in Detroit(1) Purdue vs. (5) GonzagaScouting the Boilermakers — Purdue is back in the Sweet 16 after final season ended in catastrophe with a loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. While the consideration begins and stops with reigning nationwide participant of the yr Zach Edey, the nucleus of Purdue’s offense is capturing from distance. The Boilermakers are connecting on 40.8% of their triples, which ranks solely behind Kentucky. They rank second in rebounding margin (+10.7) and commit the Twentieth-fewest fouls (14.4). Edey’s co-star, Braden Smith, is one in every of six Division l gamers since 1983 with a minimum of 700 factors, 375 assists and 325 rebounds via his sophomore marketing campaign.Scouting the Bulldogs — Gonzaga’s season has been a rollercoaster, but the Bulldogs nonetheless discover themselves in the Sweet 16 for the ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament. The lows of the season began when prized switch Steele Venters tore his ACL days earlier than the season-opener towards Yale. The high point got here in an announcement 89-68 win over Kansas in the second spherical behind a balanced scoring assault from veterans Anton Watson, Graham Ike, Nolan Hickman, Ben Gregg and Ryan Nembhard. Gonzaga is an above-average 3-point capturing team that shoots the ball virtually higher than anybody from 2-point vary. Gonzaga is capturing 58.3% from inside the arc, which ranks seventh amongst all Division l groups, per KenPom.(2) Tennessee vs. (3) CreightonScouting the Volunteers — The id of this Tennessee team is protection. The Volunteers are limiting opponents to the sixth-lowest capturing proportion (38.9%) and are one in every of 10 groups that ranks in the high 10 in offensive and defensive effectivity, in line with KenPom. Dalton Knecht‘s emergence from a mid-major star to SEC Player of the Year is why Tennessee is back in the Sweet 16. The anchor of the protection is veteran guard Zakai Zeigler, who’s averaging 1.8 steals. One of the different x-factors is Jonas Aidoo; Tennessee is 13-0 this season when he scores a minimum of 14 factors. If this team goes to succeed in its first Final Four in program historical past, it begins with sticking to what received it right here in the first place.Scouting the Bluejays — The three-headed scoring monster of Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman headlines one in every of the top-scoring offenses as each is averaging a minimum of 17 factors per game. As a team, Creighton is high 40 capturing the ball from 2-point vary, 3-point vary and the free-throw line. The Bluejays rank third in 2-pointers (60.5%), No. 36 in 3-pointers (36.5%) and No. 15 from the charity stripe (78%). Creighton additionally has the luxurious of getting nightly manufacturing from level guard Steven Ashworth, who scored 21 factors in the second-round win over Oregon. When the Bluejays are clicking offensively, they’re laborious to cease. It additionally helps that Creighton permits the fewest free throw makes an attempt (10.7) and fouls the least (11.3) of any team.South RegionalFriday — American Airlines Center in Dallas(1) Houston vs. (4) Duke
Scouting the Cougars — Houston’s protection is relentless. The Cougars characteristic the top-scoring protection (56.7 ppg) and permit the lowest area goal proportion (37.8%) to their opponents. The Cougars ranked seventh in steals (10), No. 12 in turnovers compelled (15.9), and led the nation in turnover margin (+7.1). Houston received 16 video games over Quad 1 opponents — greater than any team — and went 12-4 towards NCAA Tournament groups. All-American guard Jamal Shead is the coronary heart and soul of the roster. Houston will go as far as Shead will take them.Scouting the Blue Devils — Duke ranked at the high of the ACC in area goal proportion (48.2%), 3-point proportion (37.7%) and assists (15.4). The Blue Devils are one in every of 9 groups ranked twenty sixth or higher in offensive and defensive adjusted effectivity by KenPom. Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain is capturing 41.5% from distance on 5.7 makes an attempt. If he stays above each thresholds, he’ll grow to be the third Duke freshman in the final 25 years to perform the feat. Gary Trent Jr. (40.2% on 6.5 makes an attempt) and Brandon Ingram (41% on 5.4 makes an attempt) did it throughout their first season at Duke.(2) Marquette vs. (11) NC StateScouting the Golden Eagles — The head of the snake is Tyler Kolek. The Marquette star level guard missed the closing two video games of the common season and the complete Big East Conference Tournament with an indirect harm earlier than returning for the NCAA Tournament. Kolek grew to become the first participant since Cal’s Jason Kidd (1993) with a minimum of 10 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds in consecutive NCAA Tournament video games. Marquette ranks No. 14 in help/turnover ratio (1.61). UConn, Gonzaga and Purdue are the solely groups remaining in the match which might be higher in that division.Scouting the Wolf Pack — NC State is on a scorching streak heading into the Sweet 16. The Wolfpack received 5 straight video games in the ACC Tournament to obtain an automated bid and held off a late surge from March Madness Cinderella Oakland in time beyond regulation to advance previous the first weekend. NC State turns the ball over solely 13.8% of the time, per KenPom. That ranks Tenth-best amongst all Division l groups. NC State star large man D.J. Burns Jr. has already grow to be a March Madness legend, and he will likely be counted on if the Wolfpack need to proceed their magical run.