The Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament is set. The matchup between Baylor and Villanova will be one of the most compelling games in the round. Baylor has been one of the best teams in the country all season long, and their depth and athleticism make them a nightmare to guard. Villanova, on the other hand, has a history of making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament and has a veteran-laden team. Another exciting matchup to watch is between Oral Roberts and Arkansas, with Oral Roberts being the surprise team of the tournament so far. They are led by Max Abmas, who is the leading scorer in the country, and Kevin Obanor. Arkansas, on the other hand, is one of the hottest teams in the tournament and is looking to make a deep run. The other Sweet 16 matchups are also fascinating, with each game featuring teams with unique styles of play and individual players to watch.
Scouting the Sweet 16 Teams of the 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracket
After days of intense competition, the NCAA Tournament field has been reduced to 16 teams. The remaining teams are focused on advancing to the Final Four, with the Sweet 16 matchups set to determine which teams will move forward in the tournament. With some teams being familiar with this stage of the tournament, others are entering uncharted territory.
Expectations for this year’s tournament have already been exceeded, with some lower-ranked teams such as Princeton and FAU making it to the Sweet 16. With No. 15 and 16 seeds winning games and top-ranked teams like Kansas and Purdue making early exits, anything can happen in this week’s matchups. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with just four teams remaining in contention for the national title.
Let’s take a look at one of the matchups scheduled for Thursday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fourth-seeded UConn Huskies will take on the eighth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks.
Scouting the Huskies
UConn is a versatile team that can win in a variety of ways. They have several players who excel at 3-point shooting, including Jordan Hawkins, Alex Karaban, and Joey Calcaterra. The team’s post players, Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan, also play an important role in their success. Sanogo has had two dominant performances in the tournament so far, while Clingan, a 7-foot-2 center, is known for his shot-blocking ability.
Despite being a No. 4 seed, UConn has been ranked in the top five of the AP Top 25 poll for five consecutive weeks earlier this season. As they enter the Sweet 16, they look like a top-five team once again.
The matchups in the Sweet 16 will be tough, with teams facing unfamiliar opponents and rhythms. While some programs have already made history in this tournament, the opportunity to achieve legendary status awaits. It will be interesting to see which teams will make it through to the next round and which teams will fall short.
Scouting the Sweet 16 Teams of the 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracket
The Sweet 16 matchups are set for the NCAA Tournament, and the remaining 16 teams are focused on advancing to the Final Four. Some teams are entering uncharted territory, while others are familiar with this stage of the tournament. Expectations for this year’s tournament have already been exceeded, with some lower-ranked teams making it to the Sweet 16.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the matchups and provide scouting reports for each team.
Scouting the Razorbacks
Arkansas dropped four of its last five games before pulling off a stunning upset over reigning champion Kansas in the first round. The Razorbacks rely on relentless defense to create transition opportunities, compensating for their poor 3-point shooting. They force turnovers at a rate of 14.3 per game, with five players averaging double figures. Coach Eric Musselman is a star in his own right, leading the Razorbacks to a third consecutive Elite Eight appearance.
Scouting UCLA
UCLA has one of the best pairs of veteran leaders in the Sweet 16 in senior point guard Tyger Campbell and senior forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. The two lead the Bruins in scoring and have been through many battles during their careers. Although they are unusually reliant on 2-pointers in an era that prioritizes 3-pointers, Jaquez knows how to find good looks, and the Bruins have evolved into one of the nation’s top defensive squads over the course of the season.
Scouting Gonzaga
Led by senior forward Drew Timme, Gonzaga boasts multiple offensive weapons, including Julian Strawther, a dynamic playmaker on the wing who has dramatically improved his 3-point shooting this season. The Zags lack elite rim protection this year with Chet Holmgren’s absence, making them a bit mercurial on defense. However, keeping up with the Zags is a challenge even when they aren’t playing much defense.
Scouting Tennessee
Tennessee’s identity is found on the defensive end of the floor, with the Volunteers ranking as the nation’s top defensive squad for most of the season, according to KenPom.com. Opponents are averaging just 57.3 points per game against this physical bunch, which imposes its will with a rotation of four bigs who aren’t afraid to pick up some fouls while trying to swat your shot. Offensively, senior guard Santiago Vescovi is the engine that makes things go, especially amid a season-ending injury to point guard Zakai Zeigler.
The Sweet 16 matchups will be tough, with teams facing unfamiliar opponents and rhythms. While some programs have already made history in this tournament, the opportunity to achieve legendary status awaits. It will be interesting to see which teams will make it through to the next round and which teams will fall short.
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Scouting Each Team as March Madness Continues
The NCAA Tournament field has been narrowed down to only 16 teams, and they are all aiming to advance further in the Big Dance. With the Sweet 16 matchups set, scouting work has already begun as the remaining teams are just two wins away from reaching the Final Four.
The Favorites and Underdogs
Some programs like Arkansas, Houston, and UCLA have been in this situation before, but for the likes of Princeton and FAU, this marks uncharted territory. The rhythms of the regular season are gone, and the opponents are unfamiliar. Considering what we saw during the first weekend with No. 15 and 16 seeds winning games and previously dominant teams like No. 1 seeds Kansas and Purdue making early exits, it’s probably smart to expect the unexpected this week. Ultimately, just four teams will be left standing by Sunday night as the Big Dance shrinks to a mere quartet of national title contenders.
West Regional
On Thursday, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the matchups for the West Regional.
UConn vs. Arkansas
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Scouting the Huskies — UConn is a well-rounded team with a versatile offense. Jordan Hawkins, Alex Karaban, and Joey Calcaterra are excellent 3-point shooters, and they get plenty of open looks because of the attention that Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clingan command in the post. Sanogo is coming off a pair of monster performances on the NCAA Tournament’s first weekend, and Clingan is a 7-foot-2 shot-blocking menace. UConn spent five consecutive weeks ranked in the top-five of the AP Top 25 poll earlier this season.
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Scouting the Razorbacks — Arkansas dropped four of its last five games entering the NCAA Tournament before pulling a stunner and taking down reigning champion Kansas last weekend. The Razorbacks are a terrible 3-point shooting team but make up for it with relentless defense, which creates transition opportunities. Teams turn the basketball over 14.3 times per game against the Razorbacks, who have five players averaging double figures.
UCLA vs. Gonzaga
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Scouting the Bruins — UCLA may have the best pair of veteran leaders in the Sweet 16 in the form of senior point guard Tyger Campbell and senior forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. The two lead the Bruins in scoring and have been through some battles during their careers. The Bruins have evolved into one of the nation’s top defensive squads over the course of the season.
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Scouting the Bulldogs — Gonzaga is a well-balanced team with multiple offensive weapons, led by senior forward Drew Timme. Julian Strawther is a dynamic playmaker on the wing who has dramatically improved his 3-point shooting this season, and forward Anton Watson has come on strong lately as well. The Zags lack elite rim protection, but keeping up with the Zags is a challenge even when they aren’t playing much defense.
East Regional
On Thursday, Madison Square Garden in New York will host the East Regional matchups.
Tennessee vs. FAU
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Scouting the Volunteers — Tennessee is a defensive-minded team that has ranked as the nation’s top defensive squad for most of the season. Opponents are averaging just 57.3 points per game against this physical squad. Offensively, senior guard Santiago Vescovi is the engine that makes things go.
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Scouting the Owls — FAU is a great 3-point shooting team, both in volume and percentage, and likes to play fast. What’s arguably most important about this team, though, is its depth. FAU is among the national leaders in bench minutes, allowing them to
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Scouting Reports
The NCAA Tournament is well underway, and we’ve reached the Sweet 16. Here’s a look at each matchup and what to expect from each team.
East Regional
(4) Tennessee vs. (9) FAU
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Scouting the Volunteers — Tennessee’s identity is found on the defensive end of the floor as the Volunteers have ranked as the nation’s top defensive squad for most of the season, according to KenPom. Opponents are averaging just 57.3 points per game against this physical bunch, which imposes its will with a rotation of four bigs who aren’t afraid to pick up some fouls while trying to swat your shot. Offensively, senior guard Santiago Vescovi is the engine that makes things go, especially amid a season-ending injury to point guard Zakai Zeigler.
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Scouting the Owls — FAU is a great 3-point shooting team, both in volume and percentage. The Owls like to play fast, but they also defend. What’s arguably most important about this team, though, is its depth. FAU is among the national leaders in bench minutes. No one averages more than 26 minutes per game, and nine players average at least 15 minutes per contest. That allows FAU to keep its offensive tempo and defensive intensity high throughout the game.
(2) UCLA vs. (3) Gonzaga
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Scouting the Bruins — UCLA may have the best pair of veteran leaders in the Sweet 16 in the form of senior point guard Tyger Campbell and senior forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. The two lead the Bruins in scoring and have been through some battles during their careers. The Bruins are unusually reliant upon 2-pointers in an era that prioritizes 3-pointers. But Jaquez knows how to find good looks, and the Bruins have evolved into one of the nation’s top defensive squads over the course of the season.
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Scouting the Bulldogs — Gonzaga is led by a familiar face in Drew Timme as the senior forward tops the roster in points and rebounding. But, per usual, the Zags have multiple offensive weapons. Julian Strawther is a dynamic playmaker on the wing who has dramatically improved his 3-point shooting this season, and forward Anton Watson has come on strong lately as well. The Zags are a bit mercurial on defense because they lack the elite rim protection they enjoyed last season with Chet Holmgren on the roster. But keeping up with the Zags is a challenge even when they aren’t playing much defense.
Midwest Regional
(1) Houston vs. (5) Miami
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Scouting the Cougars — Questions surrounded the health of star guard Marcus Sasser entering the NCAA Tournament, but he answered them resoundingly in a second-round victory over Auburn by scoring 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting. The Cougars outscored Auburn 50-23 in the second half of that game to roar back from a 10-point deficit and demonstrate just how incredible they are when at their best. This team ranks in the top-10 at KenPom in both offensive and defensive efficiency and has few discernible flaws. Sasser is the star, but five players average double figures for this squad.
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Scouting the Hurricanes — Miami is undersized but doesn’t mind a bit. The Hurricanes have elite guards and a dynamic small-ball big man in Norchad Omier, who is 6-7 but rebounds as though he’s 7-1. He’s among a group of four Miami players averaging 13 or more points per game.
Scouting the Sweet 16 Teams in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is in full swing, and the field has been narrowed down to just 16 teams. Each of these teams has unique strengths and weaknesses, and we will take a closer look at four of them in this article.
South Regional
(1) Alabama vs. (5) San Diego State
Scouting the Crimson Tide — Alabama is the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and has a deep rotation of elite athletes, including a handful of NBA prospects. The Crimson Tide are excellent on both ends of the court, scoring 82.3 points per game on a whopping 10.1 made 3-pointers, and also rank third in defensive efficiency, per KenPom. Versatile freshman forwards Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney are both likely first-round NBA Draft picks, but this team also has veteran guards such as Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly providing leadership.
Scouting the Aztecs — San Diego State hangs its hat on defense, holding opponents to only 63.1 points per game and limiting them to just 28.8% 3-point shooting. They prefer to play at a slow pace and are excellent at forcing opponents to play slow. Physical guard Matt Bradley is the only SDSU player who averages double figures. This isn’t an attractive offensive team, but the Aztecs are fully bought in to the imposing style that sixth-year coach Brian Dutcher prefers as they make their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2014.
Midwest Regional
(3) Kansas State vs. (7) Michigan State
Scouting the Wildcats — Kansas State’s heartbeat is 5-8 point guard Markquis Nowell. He’s the team’s second-leading scorer and led the Big 12 in both assists and steals this season. Nowell and Keyontae Johnson make quite a combo as Johnson is a dynamic and physical wing capable of scoring at all three levels. The Wildcats are not a great 3-point shooting team, but they like to run and are excellent in transition. They force 14.8 turnovers per game, so there are plenty of fast-break opportunities for this fast-paced squad. First-year coach Jerome Tang is a steadying presence and National Coach of the Year candidate for the remarkable turnaround he’s orchestrated.
Scouting the Spartans — Michigan State’s two leading scorers, Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser, both shoot better than 40% from beyond the arc for a team that is one of the best in the country in terms of outside shooting percentage. But as the Spartans showed in a second-round victory over No. 2 seed Marquette, they can win even when their outside shots aren’t falling if they are locked in defensively. MSU made only 2-of-16 long-range shots in that game but won 69-60 because it forced 16 turnovers and won the battle of second-chance points 15-8. Walker and Hauser are the types of veterans you want this time of year, and the legendary Tom Izzo is among the best March coaches of all-time.
West Regional
(2) Texas vs. (3) Xavier
Scouting the Longhorns — Texas ranks No. 6 nationally in Division I experience, according to KenPom, and it shows in the way it plays. The Longhorns rank among the nation’s best teams at avoiding turnovers and barely missed a beat after the midseason firing of coach Chris Beard. Combo guard Marcus Carr leads the team in scoring, but Texas has numerous weapons and a deep bench. Five players average 9.1 or more points per game for a squad that seems impossible
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