The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament has mostly gone as expected, with three of the four No. 1 seeds still alive going into the sweet 16. There were a few exciting upsets, including when Florida lost on a last-second shot to No. 9 seed Iowa, showcasing the unpredictability of the tournament. Duke, the top overall seed, has looked strong even when they have not started fast. They fell behind early against Siena and TCU but took control in the second half both times. The team’s ability to finish games by performing well towards the end of the game when it matters most is a big reason they are so dangerous.

St. John’s, the No. 5 seed in the East, has proven they belong in the tournament. Led by head coach Rick Pitino, they beat Cal Baptist and then took down the No. 4 seed Kansas. The team’s full-court press, when they pressure the ball in the back court, has caused problems for opponents and helped them stay in control for most of their games. However, facing Duke in the sweet 16 will be their toughest challenge yet.

Michigan State and UConn have both played very well so far. With experienced coaches Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley, respectively, both teams look prepared and confident. They will face off in the Sweet 16, and the winner will move on to play either Duke or St. John’s.

Iowa pulled off one of the biggest upsets so far by beating Florida with a late three-pointer. Now they face Nebraska, a team that started the season 20–0. Nebraska beat Troy easily and won a close game against Vanderbilt. The winner of Iowa and Nebraska will go to the Elite Eight.

Illinois has one of the best offenses in the country, scoring more points per game than anyone else in the regular season. Freshman and projected lottery pick, Keaton Wagler, has been a key player for Illinois, leading the team with 17.9 points per game. They won easily against Penn and VCU, but now they face a tough test against No. 2 seed Houston, known for its strong defense. This game will be a battle between offense and defense.

Arizona, the No. 1 seed in the West, has looked solid with wins over Long Island, as well as Utah State. They are in a good position going forward, and many people believe they can win the championship.

Arkansas, the SEC Champions, have beaten Hawaii and High Point so far. Now the team faces Arizona, which will be a much tougher matchup for them. Darius Acuff Jr. has been an important player for Arkansas—averaging 23.5 points per game—and they will need a big performance from him to have a chance against Arizona.

Only one double-digit seed is left: No. 11 Texas. They won their play-in game, then went on to beat BYU and Gonzaga, both strong teams. Texas has been playing really well, but they still have a tough path ahead.

Purdue is playing with confidence after winning the Big Ten championship and beating Queens and Miami. Their point guard, Braden Smith, has been leading the team well and making smart decisions on the court. During their first round matchup against Queens, Smith set the all-time NCAA assists record, recording 1,083 assists in his college career. 

Michigan has beaten Howard and Saint Louis and now faces Alabama. Alabama, even without Aden Holloway, has played very well in wins over Hofstra and Texas Tech.

Tennessee beat Miami (OH), the only team with an undefeated regular season, and then defeated Virginia, who struggled late in the game. Iowa State has also been very impressive, beating both Tennessee State and Kentucky by more than 20 points.

As the Sweet 16 begins, the mix of top teams and surprising underdogs sets up an exciting next round with plenty of big matchups.