The 2024 NCAA Match started with 68 groups final week, and the bracket has now been decreased to the Candy 16. With regional semifinal matchups set because the second spherical has concluded, scouting work has already begun for the groups which can be simply two wins away from reaching the Last 4 in Phoenix.
UConn, North Carolina, Gonzaga and Duke are again within the Candy 16 as acquainted faces, whereas NC State, Marquette and Illinois are making their long-awaited return to the second weekend of the event. Illinois final reached the Candy 16 in 2005 — the identical 12 months this system appeared within the nationwide title sport.
The theme of Saturday within the second spherical was decrease seeds taking good care of enterprise. Gonzaga was the one upset from a seeding perspective on Saturday; the Bulldogs have been truly the betting favourite towards a shorthanded Kansas group.
Sunday of second-round motion noticed related outcomes. Clemson defeated Baylor 72-64 within 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 Candy 16, which is about to tip off on Thursday.
West Regional
Thursday — Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles
(1) North Carolina vs. (4) Alabama
- Scouting the Tar Heels — North Carolina ranks No. 6 in Division l expertise on the roster, in accordance with KenPom.com. Armando Bacot and RJ Davis have been pillars on UNC’s Last 4 group lower than two years in the past, and so they’re again for an additional run. Cormac Ryan is without doubt one of the oldest gamers within the sport, whereas Harrison Ingram and former five-star Elliot Cadeau spherical out the beginning lineup. Final season, UNC ranked No. 261 in group assists (11.7), and that quantity has improved to 14.4 this season, ok for No. 81. A part of the large bounce 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 function the highest-scoring offense (91.1 ppg) and hit the third-most 3-pointers within the nation. Alabama’s averages 14.5 seconds per possession, the third-fastest, in accordance with KenPom. A lot of the scoring comes from All-American guard Mark Sears, who noticed his function enhance drastically after Jahvon Quinerly departed this system final summer season. Sears went from averaging 12.5 factors to 21.4. The protection, nonetheless, is a distinct story. The Tide are permitting the second-most factors (81.7 ppg) of any event group within the final 25 years.
(2) Arizona vs. (6) Clemson
- Scouting 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 group’s offensive possessions common 15.2 seconds, the Eighth-fastest within the nation. The Wildcats common 13.3 offensive rebounds, and their rebounding margin (+347) ranks No. 3 of all Division l groups. Pac-12 Participant of the Yr Caleb Love is an offensive juggernaut, and the offense stops and begins with him. Oumar Ballo is an inside drive inside able to taking up a sport. Add Pelle Larsson, Kylan Boswell, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis and Keshad Johnson to the combination, and you’ve got one of the crucial 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, probably the most because the 2008-09 season. Clemson’s offense revolves round massive man PJ Corridor, sharpshooter Joseph Girard III and veteran guard Chase Hunter. Regardless of rating in the course of the pack in scoring protection (No. 133, 70.8 ppg), Clemson is on monitor to permit a minimum of 70 factors per sport for under the second time within the final 20 years.
East Regional
Thursday — TD Backyard in Boston
(1) UConn vs. (5) San Diego State
- Scouting the Huskies — UConn walks into the Candy 16 as the most important risk to repeat as nationwide champions in practically 20 years. The Huskies cruised via the common season, the Huge East Match and the primary two rounds of the NCAA Match. The Huskies led the Huge 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 one participant in Division l males’s basketball to common a minimum of seven rebounds and 6 assists per sport. Cam Spencer, Alex Karaban and Hassan Diarra present invaluable taking pictures. And you may’t neglect about massive man Donovan Clingan, who’s enjoying his finest basketball on the proper time after coping with a foot damage earlier this season. If the Huskies are firing on all cylinders, they would be the hardest out.
- Scouting the Aztecs — After falling in final 12 months’s title sport to UConn, San Diego State can have an opportunity at redemption within the Candy 16. SDSU is led by Jaedon LeDee, who went from key reserve on its Last 4 group final 12 months to All-American this season after averaging 21.4 factors and eight.4 rebounds. SDSU held opponents to 66.6 factors and 40.5% taking pictures — each No. 1 within 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) Illinois
- Scouting the Cyclones — Iowa State’s protection is tenacious. The Cyclones rank No. 4 in scoring protection (61.4 ppg) and second in turnovers pressured (17.4), steals (10.4) and turnover share (25.2%). On offense, Tamin Lipsey leads this unit as one of the crucial underrated guards within the nation. Huge 12 Match MVP Keshon Gilbert and extremely touted freshman Milan Momcilovic be a part of him as key contributors. Iowa State’s 28-point win over Houston within the Huge 12 Match title sport was the most important margin of defeat towards an AP Prime 25 No. 1-ranked group in 56 years.
- Scouting the Combating Illini — The trio of Marcus Domask, Coleman Hawkins and Terrence Shannon Jr. headline one of the crucial skilled groups in faculty basketball. Hawkins and Shannon elected to bypass the 2023 NBA Draft to return to highschool to assist get the Illinois program over the hump and out of the primary 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 take a look at for Iowa State’s stout protection. Illinois’ 41.3 complete rebounds per sport ranks sixth amongst all Division l groups.
Midwest Regional
Friday– Little Caesars Enviornment in Detroit
(1) Purdue vs. (5) Gonzaga
- Scouting the Boilermakers — Purdue is again within the Candy 16 after final season led to catastrophe with a loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson. Whereas the eye begins and stops with reigning nationwide participant of the 12 months Zach Edey, the nucleus of Purdue’s offense is taking pictures 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 considered one 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 within the Candy 16 for the ninth consecutive NCAA Match. The lows of the season began when prized switch Steele Venters tore his ACL days earlier than the season-opener towards Yale. The excessive level got here in an announcement 89-68 win over Kansas within 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 taking pictures group that shoots the ball virtually higher than anybody from 2-point vary. Gonzaga is taking pictures 58.3% from contained in the arc, which ranks seventh amongst all Division l groups, per KenPom.
(2) Tennessee vs. (3) Creighton
- Scouting the Volunteers — The id of this Tennessee group is protection. The Volunteers are limiting opponents to the sixth-lowest taking pictures share (38.9%) and are considered one of 10 groups that ranks within the high 10 in offensive and defensive effectivity, in accordance with KenPom. Dalton Knecht‘s emergence from a mid-major star to SEC Participant of the Yr is why Tennessee is again within the Candy 16. The anchor of the protection is veteran guard Zakai Zeigler, who’s averaging 1.8 steals. One of many different x-factors is Jonas Aidoo; Tennessee is 13-0 this season when he scores a minimum of 14 factors. If this group goes to achieve its first Last 4 in program historical past, it begins with sticking to what received it right here within the first place.
- Scouting the Bluejays — The three-headed scoring monster of Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman headlines one of many top-scoring offenses as every is averaging a minimum of 17 factors per sport. As a group, Creighton is high 40 taking pictures 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 within the second-round win over Oregon. When the Bluejays are clicking offensively, they’re exhausting 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 group.
South Regional
Friday — American Airways Middle in Dallas
(1) Houston vs. (4) Duke
- Scouting the Cougars — Houston’s protection is relentless. The Cougars function the top-scoring protection (56.7 ppg) and permit the bottom subject purpose share (37.8%) to their opponents. The Cougars ranked seventh in steals (10), No. 12 in turnovers pressured (15.9), and led the nation in turnover margin (+7.1). Houston received 16 video games over Quad 1 opponents — greater than any group — and went 12-4 towards NCAA Match groups. All-American guard Jamal Shead is the center and soul of the roster. Houston will go so far as Shead will take them.
- Scouting the Blue Devils — Duke ranked on the high of the ACC in subject purpose share (48.2%), 3-point share (37.7%) and assists (15.4). The Blue Devils are considered one of 9 groups ranked twenty sixth or higher in offensive and defensive adjusted effectivity by KenPom. Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain is taking pictures 41.5% from distance on 5.7 makes an attempt. If he stays above each thresholds, he’ll turn into the third Duke freshman within 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 State
- Scouting the Golden Eagles — The top of the snake is Tyler Kolek. The Marquette star level guard missed the ultimate two video games of the common season and all the Huge East Convention Match with an indirect damage earlier than returning for the NCAA Match. Kolek grew to become the primary participant since Cal’s Jason Kidd (1993) with a minimum of 10 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds in consecutive NCAA Match video games. Marquette ranks No. 14 in help/turnover ratio (1.61). UConn, Gonzaga and Purdue are the one groups remaining within the event which can be higher in that division.
- Scouting the Wolf Pack — NC State is on a scorching streak heading into the Candy 16. The Wolfpack received 5 straight video games within the ACC Match to obtain an computerized bid and held off a late surge from March Insanity Cinderella Oakland in time beyond regulation to advance previous the primary 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 massive man D.J. Burns Jr. has already turn into a March Insanity legend, and he might be counted on if the Wolfpack wish to proceed their magical run.