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Effectively, now it will get attention-grabbing.
It is at this level within the NCAA event that issues usually cease making sense. The unique seeds nonetheless carry weight for the groups which have survived — they provide us the complete image a few crew’s season to date. However what do you do with the surprises within the area?
That is what makes reseeding the Candy 16 far tougher than reseeding the second spherical. Within the 2022 version, Baylor, Kentucky and Auburn have all been eradicated. However Michigan, North Carolina, Miami and Saint Peter’s have survived.
At this level, the reseed facilities extra on how far a crew can go than the place it began. The highest of the listing will look acquainted, however the remaining is admittedly chaotic, and the rankings mirror as a lot. We like UCLA, however is Jaime Jaquez Jr. going to be wholesome sufficient to play within the Candy 16? How a lot ought to we care about North Carolina squandering a 25-point lead in opposition to Baylor? And what if Brady Manek cannot play? Miami beat Auburn, however was that extra about Miami’s latest surge or an Auburn squad that had appeared flat for weeks?
That is what we’re making an attempt to determine.
If this listing is something like our unique bracket, we’ll rip it up and check out once more with the Elite Eight.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Unique seed: No. 1 general
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event document: Defeated No. 16 Georgia State 93-72; defeated No. 9 Memphis 82-78
Since 1990, solely three freshmen have received Most Excellent Participant honors within the Last 4 (Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis and Tyus Jones). Veteran gamers have all the time been the leaders within the NCAA event. With projected top-10 NBA draft picks Jalen Duren and Chet Holmgren — each freshmen — on the ground, junior Drew Timme was nonetheless the most effective participant Saturday.
Timme’s crew was down 10 at the beginning of the second half when he determined that the Bulldogs wouldn’t be going house. He scored 21 of his 25 factors over the subsequent 20 minutes within the win over a Memphis crew that had beforehand misplaced simply two video games over the previous two months. Timme hit pictures in site visitors, pictures off the backboard and turnaround leap pictures. He was in a groove.
The Bulldogs’ Rasir Bolton (17 factors) and Andrew Nembhard (23 factors) mixed to go 8-for-16 from 3, and Holmgren (4 blocks) made his best impression on protection. Sure, Gonzaga needed to launch a comeback in opposition to a very good Memphis crew. However that is nonetheless the crew to beat within the Candy 16.
Up subsequent: vs. Arkansas (Thursday, 7:09 p.m. ET, CBS)
2. Kansas Jayhawks
Unique seed: No. 1
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event document: Defeated No. 16 Texas Southern 83-56; defeated No. 9 Creighton 79-72
Give Greg McDermott’s squad credit score for delivering Kansas stiff competitors even with no pair of injured starters (Ryan Kalkbrenner and Ryan Nembhard). However the story of the Jayhawks’ run to the Candy 16 this season is the emergence of Remy Martin.
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Ochai Agbaji grabs the large dunk and David McCormack makes an important block within the closing minute as Kansas defeats Creighton, 79-72.
The Arizona State switch struggled to duplicate his previous manufacturing (19.1 factors per sport in his two years with the Solar Devils) on his new crew. Accidents performed a job, however he additionally by no means appeared snug. That has modified within the postseason.
A wholesome, assured Martin has elevated a program that Invoice Self admitted “wouldn’t have received [Saturday’s] sport two months in the past.” In these two NCAA event video games, Martin is averaging 17.5 PPG, (10-for-16 contained in the arc, 3-for-6 from past) and 4.Zero assists per sport, all with only one turnover. That is the crew we anticipated to see when Self added the first-team All-Pac-12 guard to his roster final yr. It has taken a while, however KU is a special, higher crew when Martin is excelling.
Up subsequent: vs. Windfall (Friday, 7:29 p.m. ET, TBS)
3. Arizona Wildcats
Unique seed: No. 1
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event document: Defeated No. 16 Wright State 87-70; defeated No. 9 TCU 85-80 (OT)
Nothing about that final sport was fairly or easy. The TCU Horned Frogs might style their first Candy 16 look since 1968 on Sunday. As a substitute, Tommy Lloyd led Arizona to its first Candy 16 look since 2017, in his first season as a Division I head coach.
The Wildcats have been outplayed in stretches, however in extra time, their stars dominated. Christian Koloko‘s dunk with 9.5 seconds to play — two of his 28 factors — sealed the win for the Wildcats. Projected draft lottery decide Bennedict Mathurin (30 factors, 10 rebounds, 2 steals) made a mess of clutch performs down the stretch. The 2 gamers have been too good, and TCU made too many errors in extra time.
Sure, Arizona appeared weak (5-for-27 from 3) in opposition to a TCU squad that completed with an 8-10 document in Large 12 motion. However a few of the greatest groups within the nation failed to succeed in the second weekend of this yr’s NCAA event. Going through comparable adversity, Lloyd’s squad superior in opposition to a troublesome TCU crew.
Up subsequent: vs. Houston (Thursday, 9:59 p.m. ET, TBS)
4. Houston Cougars
Unique seed: No. 5
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event document: Defeated No. 12 UAB 82-68; defeated No. Four Illinois 68-53
After his crew’s win over Illinois on Sunday, Kelvin Sampson bumped into the locker room and ripped his shirt off in celebration together with his squad. At 66 years outdated, he’s nonetheless having fun with the journey. Clearly.
Since Jan. 1 — days after dropping prime gamers Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark to season-ending accidents — Houston has been ranked within the prime 10 nationally in adjusted offensive and defensive effectivity, per Barttorvik.com. Fabian White Jr. and Josh Carlton have shot 56% and 62%, respectively, from contained in the arc throughout that stretch.
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Houston ahead Fabian White Jr. by some means retains the ball in bounds and finds Taze Moore for the layup, placing the Cougars up 9 late.
White, a fifth-year standout, lately informed ESPN he stayed for one more season as a result of he didn’t need basketball to grow to be a “enterprise” for him but. Now, he’s in his third consecutive Candy 16 with a Cougars squad that should not have been a 5-seed. They’re higher than that.
Kyler Edwards, Jamal Shead and Taze Moore outscored your complete Illinois roster 54-53. And Houston is 11-1 in its previous 12 video games. Of these 11 victories, Houston has received 10 by double digits. The Cougars are harmful.
Up subsequent: vs. Arizona (Thursday, 9:59 p.m. ET, TBS)
5. Villanova Wildcats
Unique seed: No. 2
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event document: Defeated No. 15 Delaware 80-60; defeated No. 7 Ohio State 71-61
Jay Wright’s greatest groups have had comparable profiles: They’re environment friendly offensively with a excessive success price on the free throw line, they usually have the flexibility to play nice protection. This present crew is not as sturdy defensively as Wright’s 2016 and 2018 nationwide championship squads. However the 2022 Wildcats appear to be enhancing within the NCAA event.
Throughout its present 7-Zero profitable streak, Villanova’s opponents have related on simply 26.6% of their 3-point makes an attempt. Success from past the arc often has extra to do with the shooter than the defender. Delaware and Ohio State, nevertheless, have been each within the prime 5 in 3-point capturing of their respective leagues, they usually completed a mixed 10-for-42 in that metric in opposition to Villanova. The Wildcats, in the meantime, have made 36% of their contested 3s within the NCAA event, which is their prime mark because the 2018 nationwide title run, in line with ESPN Stats & Info analysis.
Collin Gillespie, a freshman on that crew, is averaging 17.Zero PPG and 4.Zero APG. Issues might tighten up for Villanova in its subsequent sport, however the No. 1 free throw capturing crew within the nation (82.6%) can thrive in these conditions, too.
Up subsequent: vs. Michigan (Thursday, 7:29 p.m. ET, TBS)
6. Duke Blue Devils
Unique seed: No. 2
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event document: Defeated No. 15 CSU Fullerton 78-61; defeated No. 7 Michigan State 85-76
Early in Sunday’s sport, Paolo Banchero made a shot then appeared to his bench and appeared to yell, “We right here!” His presence was the distinction in Duke’s win over Michigan State. With 2:06 to go, Banchero made a jumper to present Duke a 75-74 lead earlier than he blocked Joey Hauser on the opposite finish, which arrange Jeremy Roach to hit a Three to increase the benefit to an important four-point hole the Spartans couldn’t shut.
The sequence additionally was a reminder of Duke’s stability of each youth and expertise. There have been occasions late within the contest when it appeared as if the younger Blue Devils may stumble. However Banchero (19 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists, one block) wouldn’t let that occur. Down the stretch, he performed just like the projected top-five draft decide that he’s. We noticed that at his greatest, he can do no matter Duke wants him to do to get a win.
5 Duke gamers, together with Banchero, recorded double figures in scoring. This sort of adversity has given the Blue Devils a chance to develop, and it might assist them of their subsequent sport.
Up subsequent: vs. Texas Tech (Thursday, 9:39 p.m. ET, CBS)
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders
59-53 Unique seed: No. 3
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event document: Defeated No. 14 Montana State 97-62; defeated No. 11 Notre Dame 59-53
That is Mark Adams’ crew now. Certain, it was Adams’ crew as quickly as he agreed to take over for Chris Beard after he left for Texas final yr. However the Beard storyline had lingered, and the Crimson Raiders and the Longhorns, 382 miles aside, have been in comparison with each other all season.
This Candy 16 run belongs to Adams, whose crew outscored Notre Dame 10-1 within the closing 2:09 on Sunday. It was in that stretch that Texas Tech confirmed the identical resilience that has carried it all through this season. In these difficult moments, the Crimson Raiders will all the time be harmful.
Many assumed Beard was the important thing to the Crimson Raiders’ success and anticipated their ambitions and achievements to vary with out him. They have been incorrect. The Crimson Raiders are ranked first in adjusted defensive effectivity on KenPom, and Bryson Williams is averaging 17.Zero PPG by two NCAA event video games. Three years in the past, Texas Tech additionally was within the West Area (in Anaheim, California) and reached the Last 4. In San Francisco this yr, Texas Tech hopes Adams can duplicate that outcome.
Up subsequent: vs. Duke (Thursday, 9:39 p.m. ET, CBS)
8. Purdue Boilermakers
Unique seed: No. 3
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event document: Defeated No. 14 Yale 78-56; defeated No. 6 Texas 81-71
The best concern about Purdue, which can make its fourth journey to the Candy 16 since 2017, was justified at factors on Sunday. A crew with an adjusted defensive effectivity within the 90s is never a candidate for a Last 4 run. As Texas bounced again from a 14-point deficit, it appeared as if that defensive weak point would value Matt Painter, who misplaced to Beard’s Little Rock squad within the second spherical of the 2016 NCAA event.
However Purdue’s elite offense — ranked second in adjusted effectivity — overwhelmed Texas within the closing minutes of the sport. A crew that was within the bonus for many of the second half turned to projected lottery decide Jaden Ivey (18 factors) and its massive males to remain in entrance of a decided Longhorns squad.
Purdue’s offensive capabilities are distinctive. Trevion Williams led all scorers with 22 factors, and he got here off the bench. Ethan Morton, a reserve who has gone scoreless in 13 video games this season, recorded eight factors and hit two massive 3s. Zach Edey (11 factors, 10 rebounds) completed with a double-double on a crew that went 33-for-46 on the free throw line.
Yeah, the defensive challenges might value Purdue within the subsequent spherical. However opposing groups are nonetheless left with the impediment of defending Ivey, and one among America’s most potent offensive groups.
Up subsequent: vs. Saint Peter’s (Friday, 7:09 p.m. ET, CBS)
9. Providence Friars
Unique seed: No. 4
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event document: Defeated No. 13 South Dakota State 66-57; defeated No. 12 Richmond 79-51
After main his crew to its first Candy 16 look since 1997, Ed Cooley reminded Windfall’s doubters that the Large East regular-season champions are “within the rattling constructing.” His enthusiasm was warranted. The Friars have been a stylish decide to lose to South Dakota State within the first spherical after which needed to tussle with a Richmond squad — which had stopped Iowa, the Large Ten event champion with one of many nation’s strongest offensive assaults — within the second spherical.
Windfall held South Dakota State, the nation’s prime 3-point capturing crew, to a 7-for-23 mark (30%) from past the arc. The Friars then shot 54% from 3 — with 5 gamers scoring in double figures, as Noah Horchler led the best way with 16 factors — in Saturday’s win over Richmond. The chip on Windfall’s shoulder has helped the crew beat a few harmful underdogs, because the Friars have reminded us all that they deserve extra credit score for topping a troublesome Large East.
Up subsequent: vs. Kansas (Friday, 7:29 p.m. ET, TBS)
10. North Carolina Tar Heels
Unique seed: No. 8
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event document: Defeated No. 9 Marquette 95-63; defeated No. 1 Baylor 93-86 (OT)
You may have a look at Saturday’s final result a few methods: both a North Carolina crew with a 25-point lead within the second half needed to outplay Baylor in extra time to earn a visit to the Candy 16 (and that must be regarding); or heading off the defending nationwide champions with a miraculous comeback and one among your greatest gamers within the locker room demanded numerous dedication and validated this crew’s 8-1 rally in its previous 9 video games.
Hubert Davis will select the latter. With 10:08 left to play on Saturday, UNC had a 67-42 lead when Brady Manek (26 factors, 4-for-6 from 3) was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 on Jeremy Sochan — and nonetheless discovered a approach to beat a prime seed. Since Feb. 16, North Carolina has defeated each Duke and Baylor. The Tar Heels are additionally in a area (East) that has misplaced its prime two seeds (Kentucky, Baylor) and contains a 15-seed (Saint Peter’s). A run to New Orleans for UNC wouldn’t be surprising anymore.
Up subsequent: vs. UCLA (Friday, 9:39 p.m. ET, CBS)
11. Michigan Wolverines
Unique seed: No. 11
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event document: Defeated No. 6 Colorado State 75-63; defeated No. Three Tennessee 76-68
The viral clip of Juwan Howard’s postgame incident with Wisconsin’s Joe Krabbenhoft appeared to sum up the Michigan season. The Wolverines have been a top-five crew coming into 2021-22 however by no means lived as much as these expectations, after which they misplaced Howard to a five-game suspension simply as they have been pushing to get into the NCAA event. When their identify was referred to as on Choice Sunday, many thought the Wolverines ought to have been despatched to the First 4.
Michigan has proved it belongs, nevertheless. And it reached this stage with restricted time from place to begin guard DeVante’ Jones, who missed the first-round sport in opposition to Colorado State and your complete second half in opposition to Tennessee because of concussion protocols. However Hunter Dickinson (24.Zero PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.5 blocks per sport, 3-for-6 from Three by the primary two NCAA event video games) is taking part in like a celebrity for a Michigan squad that clearly has some endurance.
And Howard now has to take care of another viral clip: the one which exhibits him consoling Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler after Saturday’s sport.
Up subsequent: vs. Villanova (Thursday, 7:29 p.m. ET, TBS)
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Kennedy Chandler sobs within the arms of Juwan Howard after Tennessee is upset by Michigan.
12. UCLA Bruins
Unique seed: No. 4
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event document: Defeated No. 13 Akron 57-53; defeated No. 5 Saint Mary’s 72-56
If the 2020 NCAA event had been held, Mick Cronin would doubtlessly be making his third tourney look in his three years because the Bruins’ coach. In opposition to a Saint Mary’s crew ranked within the prime 10 in adjusted defensive effectivity on KenPom, the Bruins shot 56% from the sphere and completed 4-for-9 from the 3-point line to succeed in a second consecutive Candy 16.
The excellent news for UCLA? Johnny Juzang (14 factors on 6-for-11 capturing, eight rebounds) performed his greatest sport since getting back from an ankle damage that sidelined him for a number of video games final month. The dangerous information for UCLA? Jaime Jaquez Jr. (15 factors) suffered a nasty ankle damage that might pressure him to overlook the Candy 16.
Cronin stated after the sport that if Jaquez can stroll, he’ll attempt to play, however there are not any ensures. If Jaquez is wholesome, the Bruins — who’ve dedicated simply 14 complete turnovers by two NCAA event video games — have an actual probability to make a run to New Orleans in a area (East) that now not has Kentucky or Baylor.
Up subsequent: vs. North Carolina (Friday, 9:39 p.m. ET, CBS)
13. Arkansas Razorbacks
Unique seed: No. 4
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event document: Defeated No. 13 Vermont 75-71; defeated No. 12 New Mexico State 53-48
Arkansas and New Mexico State performed Saturday’s ugliest sport. JD Notae (18 factors) led a Razorbacks crew that made simply 28% of its area aim makes an attempt. Its two benefits? A 12-Zero edge in transition and a 22-for-25 mark from the free throw line. Per ESPN Stats & Information information, Arkansas’ 53 factors have been the bottom tally ever for an SEC crew that received an NCAA event sport. Arkansas is now 17-Three in its previous 20 video games, although.
Eric Musselman’s crew orchestrated that turnaround after dropping its first three SEC video games through the league’s greatest protection. It’s no small feat to carry the WAC’s prime offensive crew — or any Division I crew, actually — to 48 factors. It’s tough, nevertheless, to go on a run within the NCAA event with restricted 3-point capturing (30.5% this season). However most of Arkansas’ opponents have didn’t play to their potential through the Razorbacks’ present rally. Possibly that is their ticket: relying on being the superior crew in a grind-it-out Candy 16 matchup.
Up subsequent: vs. Gonzaga (Thursday, 7:09 p.m. ET, CBS)
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Miami’s Isaiah Wong glides to the bucket for a poster dunk over Auburn’s Jabari Smith.
14. Miami Hurricanes
Unique seed: No. 10
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event document: Defeated No. 7 USC 68-66; defeated No. 2 Auburn 79-61
After his crew’s win over Auburn — which had been considered as a possible prime seed for the majority of the season — Jim Larranaga stood subsequent to level guard Charlie Moore and smiled. “He is our Chris Paul,” Larranaga stated. Early within the win over the Tigers on Sunday, Moore dribbled previous Walker Kessler, who anticipated a drive to the rim. As a substitute, Moore simply stopped. Kessler ran into him and dedicated his first foul of the evening. A second foul quickly sidelined Kessler for a bit of the primary half.
It is these veteran performs and moments, coupled with Moore’s general manufacturing — he completed with 15 factors, 9 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in opposition to Auburn — that may ship Miami to the Candy 16 for the primary time in six years. Moore, who’s competing at his fourth faculty, will return to Chicago, his hometown, for the second weekend of the event after Miami thumped the SEC’s regular-season champion, which is anchored by projected lottery decide Jabari Smith (3-for-16 on Sunday).
The Hurricanes will enter the Candy 16 assuming they’ll beat anybody. And why should not they?
Up subsequent: vs. Iowa State (Friday, 9:59 p.m. ET, TBS)
15. Iowa State Cyclones
Unique seed: No. 11
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event document: Defeated No. 6 LSU 59-54; defeated No. Three Wisconsin 54-49
T.J. Otzelberger grew up in Milwaukee, the place he defeated Wisconsin, the premier Division I program in his house state, on Sunday. In doing so, he led his crew to the Candy 16 for the sixth time at school historical past — and for the second time since 2016. He had all the time considered Iowa State as his dream job, and now the Cyclones, in his first season, have gone from a two-win crew a yr in the past to a second-weekend crew. Izaiah Brockington (17.Three PPG, 7.Zero rebounds per sport) has been his prime participant, however Tyrese Hunter (23 factors within the first-round win over LSU), Gabe Kalscheur (a game-high 22 factors on Sunday) and different gamers have been tapped to guide, too.
When you get previous the romantic storyline of this crew’s rise, do not forget that the Cyclones have compelled turnovers on 25.5% of their opponents’ possessions since March 1. Wisconsin, No. 1 nationally in turnover price coming into the sport, coughed up the ball 17 occasions.
The Cyclones have no attractive metrics to name them a Last 4 sleeper. Then once more, a crew picked to complete final within the Large 12 was not speculated to make it this far, both.
Up subsequent: vs. Miami (Friday, 9:59 p.m. ET, TBS)
16. Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Unique seed: No. 15
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event document: Defeated No. 2 Kentucky 85-79 (OT); defeated No. 7 Murray State 70-60
On Feb. 20, Siena (255th on KenPom) hosted Saint Peter’s and received 84-70. In that sport, the Saints related on 58% of their pictures contained in the arc. How did that very same Saint Peter’s crew attain the Candy 16 for the primary time at school historical past? Shaheen Holloway has spent the previous few days highlighting his crew’s New York and New Jersey swagger and toughness. Certain, a few of that’s simply teaching clichés. However the numbers inform a special story.
This isn’t the identical crew that misplaced to Siena a month in the past. Till that time within the season, the Peacocks’ opponents had related on 48% of their 2-point makes an attempt (85th within the nation, per Barttorvik.com). Throughout their present 10-game profitable streak — prolonged by Saturday’s victory in opposition to a Murray State squad that hadn’t misplaced a sport in additional than three months — the Peacocks have boasted America’s prime protection contained in the 3-point line, with a 35.8% clip allowed. Kentucky (47.8% contained in the arc) and Murray State (35.7%) each struggled to get pictures that had in any other case fallen all season in opposition to an undersized Saint Peter’s squad, which is on its approach to the second weekend with a tangibly improved protection.
Up subsequent: vs. Purdue (Friday, 7:09 p.m. ET, CBS)
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