\u2b05\ufe0f The West<\/h2>\n\n\ud83d\ude82 No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers vs. \ud83e\udd18 No. 11 Texas Longhorns, tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Texas is on an absolute heater, winning a nail-biter in the First Four, then upsetting No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga in the span of five days. But this tournament only gets tougher \u2014 enter: the also<\/em> scorching Boilermakers.<\/p>\n\n- Purdue has cruised thanks to their depth: Even when Player of the Year (POY) candidate Braden Smith is quiet<\/a>, their lights-out three-point shooting buoys the squad. Will the \u2019Horns run into a Boilermaker-shaped buzzsaw, or can this Cinderella keep dancing?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc06 No. 1 Arizona Wildcats vs. \ud83d\udc17 No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks, tonight at 9:45 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Last year, Arkansas logged two major upsets to reach the Sweet 16 as a No. 10 seed under first-year head coach (HC) and Kentucky hoops legend<\/a> John Calipari, so they know a little bit about giant-slaying.<\/p>\n\n- But Arizona is quite <\/em>the foe \u2014 the Wildcats have won 11 straight and anything short of a \u2019ship would be considered a failure. No pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\u2b07\ufe0f The South<\/h2>\n![\"Your](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/8fe2d3fa3e0765740aad441524a9593f1adea3bf-512x341.png?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: The Daily Iowan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\ud83c\udf3d No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. \ud83d\udc41\ufe0f No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes, tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET: <\/strong>This regional rivalry enters new territory: Iowa hasn\u2019t made the Sweet 16 since 1999, and Nebraska hadn\u2019t won a March Madness game at all<\/em> until last week (well, at least the men hadn\u2019t<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n- And both squads\u2019 second-round games were arguably the best of the tourney so far \u2014 Iowa downed reigning champs No. 1 Florida on a three-pointer<\/a> with 4.5 seconds left, while the Huskers barely survived<\/a> an instant classic against No. 5 Vanderbilt. Seat belts, buckled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc31 No. 2 Houston Cougars vs. \ud83d\udfe0 No. 3 Illinois Illini, tonight at 10:05 p.m. ET: <\/strong>The Cougars are out for redemption after narrowly losing to Florida in last year\u2019s title game, and they\u2019re hoping their trademark suffocating defense will deliver them a trophy at last. Meanwhile, the Illini D is nothing to write home about, so their shooters will have to be at their best to topple this tough Houston team.<\/p>\n\n- After both squads made it through the first two rounds with ease, the biggest question ahead of this showdown is how they\u2019ll respond to the pressure. Game on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\u27a1\ufe0f The East<\/h2>\n![\"Your](\"data:image\/png;base64,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\")
![\"Your](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/aa5b7644ebbfcc00cad9edbb637a716bc0f85d0a-512x288.png?rect=1,0,511,288&w=600&h=338&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Duke Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\ud83d\udc7f No. 1 Duke Blue Devils vs. \ud83c\udf27\ufe0f No. 5 St. John\u2019s Red Storm, tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Despite POY frontrunner Cameron Boozer\u2019s two double-doubles<\/a>, the No. 1 overall seed has looked pretty vulnerable: They narrowly avoided a massive stunner<\/a> against No. 16 Siena in the first round, and their second-round game vs. No. 9 TCU was neck-and-neck at the half.<\/p>\n\n- Meanwhile, the Red Storm, led by renowned (and infamous<\/a>) HC Rick Pitino, are surging at exactly the right time, taking down No. 4 Kansas 67\u201365 in a second-round thriller<\/a>. Not not <\/em>nervous for Blue Devils fans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc3a No. 2 UConn Huskies vs. \ud83d\udc9a No. 3 Michigan State Spartans, tomorrow 9:45 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Another pair of storied HCs meet in this battle between traditional powerhouses: Dan Hurley led UConn to the 2023 and <\/em>2024 titles, while Tom Izzo has guided the Spartans to a record 28 straight national tourney<\/a> appearances.<\/p>\n\n- Both squads are big, physical, and command the boards \u2014 expect pure cinema as Husky Alex Karaban (fresh off a career-high performance<\/a>) and Spartan Coen Carr go head-to-head.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\u2b05\ufe0f The Midwest<\/h2>\n![\"Your](\"data:image\/png;base64,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\")
![\"Your](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/acb14896a60c6d80b5141dfda4a60f34dbdc6055-1600x1066.png?rect=1,0,1599,1066&w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: NCAA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u303d\ufe0f No. 1 Michigan Wolverines vs. \ud83c\udf0aNo. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, tomorrow at 7:35 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Alabama loves<\/em> a shootout \u2014 they boast the nation\u2019s top offense<\/a>, scoring a blistering 91.6 points per game but have one of the worst defenses<\/a>, ranking 347th in points allowed<\/em> per game.<\/p>\n\n- That simply won\u2019t fly against Michigan, arguably the most complete team in the bracket. Every single Wolverine can put points on the board, so Bama will either have to develop a defense overnight\u2026or score like there\u2019s no tomorrow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83c\udf00 No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones vs. \ud83d\udfe0 No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers, tomorrow at 10:10 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Compared to the cutthroat Big 12, the Cyclones\u2019 first two rounds were child\u2019s play, breezing past No. 15 Tennessee State and No. 7 Kentucky. But this Tennessee squad is ruthless: They bounced feel-good story No. 11 Miami Ohio<\/a> and dispatched No. 3 Virginia to reach the Sweet 16.<\/p>\n\n- Star Vols guard Ja\u2019Kobi Gillespie has been on a roll, while forward Milan Momcilovic is the standout for Iowa State. This\u2019ll likely come down to a defensive battle as both teams allow fewer than 70 points per game<\/a> on average. Locking it down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83d\ude82 No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers vs. \ud83e\udd18 No. 11 Texas Longhorns, tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Texas is on an absolute heater, winning a nail-biter in the First Four, then upsetting No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga in the span of five days. But this tournament only gets tougher \u2014 enter: the also<\/em> scorching Boilermakers.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc06 No. 1 Arizona Wildcats vs. \ud83d\udc17 No. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks, tonight at 9:45 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Last year, Arkansas logged two major upsets to reach the Sweet 16 as a No. 10 seed under first-year head coach (HC) and Kentucky hoops legend<\/a> John Calipari, so they know a little bit about giant-slaying.<\/p>\n Source: The Daily Iowan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \ud83c\udf3d No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. \ud83d\udc41\ufe0f No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes, tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET: <\/strong>This regional rivalry enters new territory: Iowa hasn\u2019t made the Sweet 16 since 1999, and Nebraska hadn\u2019t won a March Madness game at all<\/em> until last week (well, at least the men hadn\u2019t<\/a>).<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc31 No. 2 Houston Cougars vs. \ud83d\udfe0 No. 3 Illinois Illini, tonight at 10:05 p.m. ET: <\/strong>The Cougars are out for redemption after narrowly losing to Florida in last year\u2019s title game, and they\u2019re hoping their trademark suffocating defense will deliver them a trophy at last. Meanwhile, the Illini D is nothing to write home about, so their shooters will have to be at their best to topple this tough Houston team.<\/p>\n Source: Duke Athletics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \ud83d\udc7f No. 1 Duke Blue Devils vs. \ud83c\udf27\ufe0f No. 5 St. John\u2019s Red Storm, tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Despite POY frontrunner Cameron Boozer\u2019s two double-doubles<\/a>, the No. 1 overall seed has looked pretty vulnerable: They narrowly avoided a massive stunner<\/a> against No. 16 Siena in the first round, and their second-round game vs. No. 9 TCU was neck-and-neck at the half.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc3a No. 2 UConn Huskies vs. \ud83d\udc9a No. 3 Michigan State Spartans, tomorrow 9:45 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Another pair of storied HCs meet in this battle between traditional powerhouses: Dan Hurley led UConn to the 2023 and <\/em>2024 titles, while Tom Izzo has guided the Spartans to a record 28 straight national tourney<\/a> appearances.<\/p>\n Source: NCAA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u303d\ufe0f No. 1 Michigan Wolverines vs. \ud83c\udf0aNo. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, tomorrow at 7:35 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Alabama loves<\/em> a shootout \u2014 they boast the nation\u2019s top offense<\/a>, scoring a blistering 91.6 points per game but have one of the worst defenses<\/a>, ranking 347th in points allowed<\/em> per game.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf00 No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones vs. \ud83d\udfe0 No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers, tomorrow at 10:10 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Compared to the cutthroat Big 12, the Cyclones\u2019 first two rounds were child\u2019s play, breezing past No. 15 Tennessee State and No. 7 Kentucky. But this Tennessee squad is ruthless: They bounced feel-good story No. 11 Miami Ohio<\/a> and dispatched No. 3 Virginia to reach the Sweet 16.<\/p>\n\n
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\u2b07\ufe0f The South<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\n
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\u27a1\ufe0f The East<\/h2>\n
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\u2b05\ufe0f The Midwest<\/h2>\n
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