Arkansas, Arizona set to face off in high-profile Sweet 16 matchup (1:27)Check out some of the best highlights from Arkansas and Arizona ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup in the NCAA tournament. (1:27)
Jay BilasMar 25, 2026, 08:00 AM ETClose College basketball analyst for ESPN and ESPN Insider Played and coached at Duke Practicing attorneyMultiple Authors
Of course, that viewpoint ignores VCU coming from 19 points down to beat North Carolina in overtime. It ignores that High Point beat Wisconsin, then took Arkansas to the wire. It ignores that Kentucky needed a bank shot from 45 feet to tie a game against Santa Clara, and that Siena and Gerry McNamara took Duke to the last few possessions in a game that the 16-seed has won only twice in 164 tries, and that Utah State beat Villanova.
If you like basketball, this tournament has been truly breathtaking. Sit back and enjoy these fabulous performances. Not every tournament is like this.
Player to watch: The obvious choice would be Cameron Boozer, because he is the player of the year and the most consistently productive player in the country. But a healthy Patrick Ngongba II in the lineup makes Boozer even better. Ngongba proved his worth against TCU, teaming up with Boozer to form a near-unstoppable duo. Ngongba operates as another playmaker, and he is a presence in the lane and protecting the rim.
Area of concern: Injuries to Caleb Foster and Ngongba have made Duke seem gettable. The true tests will come in the second weekend. When healthy, Duke is in the Final Four. Without Foster, the rotation is shorter and the task is tougher.
Player to watch: Zuby Ejiofor. Bryce Hopkins had 18 points and hit six deep balls against Kansas, but Ejiofor is the engine that drives St. John’s. The Kansas transfer was the Big East Player of the Year, the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and the Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He can hit a perimeter shot, but he does his best work in the paint, where he shoots 59% from 2-point range and gets to the foul line with frequency.
Area of concern: While St. John’s brings its best against the best teams, the Johnnies can have some perimeter shooting droughts and give up offensive rebounding opportunities to opponents. With Duke’s length and size, St. John’s will have to double down on rebounding and send all five guys to the defensive glass.
Player to watch: Jeremy Fears Jr. Few point guards in the country have improved as much over the past two years as Fears, who led the nation in assists per game this season. He is outstanding in transition and set a Michigan State record with 16 assists in the second round against Louisville. When Fears connects with Coen Carr — who was truly outstanding against Louisville, with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks — it is stunning.
Area of concern: Turnovers. The Spartans had 15 turnovers against Louisville, which is too many. Some of them are unforced, which can’t happen when you rebound as well as Michigan State — you need to get a shot every time down. The glass is a great insurance policy for the Spartans.
UConn makes the Final Four if: The Huskies can get healthy and take better care of the ball. UConn still runs a beautiful offense and is hard to guard; among its 31 wins are victories over Sweet 16 participants Illinois, Texas and St. John’s. The Huskies can turn the ball over a bit too much, but overall this is still an efficient offensive team — and its defense is actually its best attribute.
Player to watch: Tarris Reed Jr. The Michigan transfer has had an All-America season, leading UConn in scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage. Reed had 27 rebounds in the first round and 40 total in UConn’s first two games of the NCAA tournament.
Area of concern: UConn is very good at 31-5, but this is not a dominant team. The Huskies do not get to the foul line as often as their opponents; they have been outscored at the free throw line by more than 100 points. And without a healthy Silas Demary Jr., who leads the Huskies in assists, steals and free throw attempts, UConn is vulnerable against Michigan State.
Iowa makes the Final Four if: The Hawkeyes shoot it well from deep, force opponent miscues and control tempo. Iowa is physical, mentally tough and can stretch the floor with timely shooting and smart cutting. This is a rhythm-disrupting team playing at one of the slowest tempos in the country. Even after losing seven of its last nine games before the NCAA tournament, Iowa beat Clemson and Florida to be the most unlikely of the Sweet 16 participants.
Area of concern: Iowa does not have a ton of size or rim protection, which makes the win over Florida even more impressive. This team can be challenged in the paint and at the rim. But while Iowa has lost 12 times, the Hawkeyes have been in every game, with the exception of an early-season defeat at Michigan State. An interesting stat: Iowa’s leading rebounder averages only 4.7 boards per game.
Nebraska makes the Final Four if: The Cornhuskers continue to keep teams off balance defensively. Nebraska is not a big team, but this is a gritty group that gets its noses dirty and fights. Fred Hoiberg will throw a 1-3-1 zone against opponents, and the Huskers are a great passing and cutting team that can really hit shots from multiple spots and get defenses chasing its players. Nebraska also doesn’t foul much, forcing opponents to make challenged shots, which will make rebounding crucial.
Player to watch: Rienk Mast. The Huskers big man is one of the best frontcourt passers in the country, and Nebraska runs offense through him. He can score. He can rebound at a high level. And he is a great passer. Mast can exploit Nebraska’s smart cutting, and Pryce Sandfort is often a beneficiary to get catch-and-shoot 3s. Sandfort has hit 123 treys on the season at a 41% clip. If you are closing out to Sandfort, you have made a defensive mistake.
Area of concern: To win, Nebraska needs to stretch defenses by making perimeter shots. When the Huskers shoot 5-of-24 from deep — which has happened a few times — it will be tough to beat quality Sweet 16 teams. But when Nebraska is hitting shots, this team is Final Four good, and its defense is underrated.
Player to watch: Keaton Wagler. The freshman point guard conjures up images of Tyrese Haliburton when he was at Iowa State. Wagler was a virtual unknown coming out of high school, only to score 46 points in a game earlier this season. He has great size, skill and feel for a point guard, and it is impossible to speed him up. He plays at his own pace and makes great decisions.
Player to watch: Flemings. The freshman guard from San Antonio is from a hoops family and has incredible game. Flemings put up 42 points on Texas Tech in Lubbock, and he has been very consistent all season. With a great middle game and the ability to rise up and finish over size, Flemings is capable of getting 30 in any given game.
Area of concern: Only minor ones; this is a team that went 30-6 and reached the Big 12 tournament final. Despite terrific length and athleticism up front, the Cougars don’t get a ton of consistent scoring from their big guys. Joseph Tugler is 1 of 1 on the defensive end, and Chris Cenac Jr. is a future lottery pick. But to win it all, Houston needs to stay out of foul trouble and control the glass.
Michigan makes the Final Four if: The Wolverines play beyond the initial action of each offensive possession. On the rare occasions that Michigan has lost, it has been at least in part because the Wolverines settle for a bad shot after the first action. When Michigan stresses the defense with multiple actions, it can beat anyone, anywhere. Remember, Michigan is the first team since Bob Knight’s undefeated 1976 Indiana title team to win every Big Ten road game.
Area of concern: Depth at the point. When L.J. Cason went down with a right ACL injury, the Wolverines lost one of the Big Ten’s best reserves and one of Michigan’s most important players. Cason could spell Elliot Cadeau and bring a different dimension. Now, when Cadeau picks up fouls or needs a reset, Michigan has to adjust responsibilities. The Wolverines can still win it all, but the margin is slimmer without Cason.
Player to watch: Labaron Philon Jr. He is one of the best guards in the country, leading Alabama in scoring, assists, steals and 3-point shooting. He averages 22 points per game and tops the Tide in free throw attempts. Even against Texas Tech, with Philon not shooting well, he had 11 assists.
Area of concern: Alabama can score with anyone, and this is one of the most entertaining teams in the country to watch. But to reach Indianapolis for the Final Four, the Tide need to defend and rebound at a higher level. Alabama was a middle-of-the-pack defensive team in the SEC.
Player to watch: Nate Ament. Belmont and Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie is the Vols’ most important player, but Ament is their best and most talented player. Just a freshman, Ament is long and athletic with great skill. Opposing teams have tried to be physical with Ament and bully him, and he has handled it well. He averages 17 points per game and has scored over 20 points 11 times.
Area of concern: Turnovers. The Vols turn the ball over at a 17% rate, ranking in the bottom third of Division I. Truly, their 24 wins this season would be closer to 30 if the Vols took better care of the ball and made better decisions. Iowa State will test the Vols’ decision-making and ball security with pressure. If the Vols manage it, there are good things available.
Player to watch: Milan Momcilovic. He is the nation’s best shooter and hits almost 50% from deep and at great volume. He has drained more than 130 3-pointers this season and has one of the most accurate turnaround fadeaway jumpers there is. Tamin Lipsey is one of the best defenders and leaders in the country, and freshman Killyan Toure provides length and athleticism at the point of attack. But Momcilovic is 1 of 1.
Area of concern: Iowa State has impeccable credentials; there are few areas in which the Cyclones are not very good to elite. One of them, though, is free throw shooting. The Cyclones shoot 68% from the foul line as a team, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Division I. Can Iowa State overcome that? Yes. But can such a thing bite a team in a close game down the stretch? Also yes.