Getty Images The quick breakdown of the team playing Thursday is here. Here are the teams playing Friday.
SOUTH
No. 1 KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Record: 34-2
How it got here: Beat No. 16 Western Kentucky 81-66; beat No 8 Iowa State 87-71.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2011
Next up: No. 4 Indiana
Essential info: The tournament favorite played like it in two wins, displaying a knack for elevating its play when challenged by opponents. The defense has been good; the offense has been better. The Wildcats’ performance against Iowa State was similar to what they did at home vs. Florida last month. And now they’re playing one of the two teams to beat them this season. Motivation won’t be a problem.
No. 3 BAYLOR BEARS
Record: 29-7
How it got here: Beat 14 South Dakota State 68-60; beat No 11 Colorado 80-63.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2010
Next up: No. 10 Xavier
Essential info: Perry Jones III wasn’t much of a factor vs. Colorado, but who needs him when you’ve got a guy who hits 9 3-pointers? The Bars seem poised to reach their second Elite Eight in three years, provided Heslip and guard Pierre Jackson provide a portion of the scoring they did vs. Colorado. The frontcourt can do the rest.
No. 4 INDIANA HOOSIERS
Record: 27-8
How it got here: Beat 13 New Mexico State 79-66; beat No. 12 VCU 63-61.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2002
Next up: No. 1 Kentucky
Essential info: Thanks to a dramatic rally and clutch jumper vs. VCU, the Hoosiers now face a team they’ve already beaten once this season. But this time, Kentucky gets Indiana at a neutral site. No other Sweet 16 game will receive as much attention as this one. Unless Cody Zeller (15 ppg, 9.5 rpg during the tourney) stays out of foul trouble and has a massive day, it might not live up to the hype.
No. 10 XAVIER MUSKETEERS
Record: 23-12
How it got here: Beat 7 Notre Dame 67-63; beat No. 15 Lehigh 70-58.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2010
Next up: No. 3 Baylor
Essential info: The Sweet 16 didn’t seem possible three weeks ago. Xavier was inconsistent and wrapping up a third-place finish in the A-10. But thanks to an impressive rally vs. Notre Dame (Tu Holloway, 25 points, the hero) and overpowering Lehigh (Kenny Frease, 25 points), Xavier’s back. But can it contain the Bears? That’s the question.
MIDWEST
No. 1 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Record: 31-5
How it got here: Beat No. 16 Vermont 77-58; beat No. 8 Creighton 87-75.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2011
Next up: No. 13 Ohio
Essential info: Yes, the Heels rolled into the Sweet 16. But until they know more about how much – if at all – point guard Kendall Marshall can play, everything’s up in the air for their title hopes. They still have plenty of size and talent, but Marshall’s the guy who puts it all together.
No. 2 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Record: 29-6
How it got here: Beat No. 15 Detroit 65-50; beat No. 10 Purdue 63-60.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2011
Next up: No. 11 N.C. State, Friday
Essential info: When Thomas Robinson struggled vs. Purdue, junior guard Elijah Johnson delivered his one of his best performances of the year, scoring 18 points and hitting two clutch 3-pointers. KU is the onlyone of two 2 seeds remaining in the field and is one of two Big 12 teams left.
No. 11 NC STATE WOLFPACK
Record: 24-12
How it got here: Beat No. 6 San Diego St 79-65; beat No. 3 Georgetown 66-63.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 2006
Next up: No. 2 Kansas, Friday
Essential info: The Wolfpack are rolling. They’re getting scoring from all positions – C.J. Leslie’s averaging 15.5 ppg in the tourney, with Richard Howell and Lorenzo Brown right behind – while the defense has been outstanding. There might not be any other team in the field with better chemistry right now.
No. 13 OHIO BOBCATS
Record: 29-7
How it got here: Beat 4 Michigan 65-60; beat No. 12 South Florida 62-56.
Last Sweet 16 appearance: 1964
Next up: No. 1 UNC, Friday
Essential info: History isn’t with the Bobcats. They’re the seventh team seeded 13 or higher to reach the Sweet 16, but none of those teams ever won their next game. It’s not a big team, but it’s quick, fairly deep and has an offense that’s clicking, scoring at least 1.02 points per possession in 10 of its last 11 games.
You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.
-
Fellow student and fraternity brother charged with disorderly conduct in assault of Brown guard Joseph Sharkey
May 19, 2013, 3:04 PM EDT
brownbears.com
The story continues to unfold on the assault of Joseph Sharkey, a sophomore guard on the Brown University baskstball team, who was found in critical condition in the early hours of Sunday morning (May 12th) with an injury to the head. According to the Providence Journal: Dillon J. Ingham, 22 of New York, was charged…
-
Boston College nears completion of 2013-14 non-conference schedule
May 19, 2013, 1:47 PM EDT
Getty Images
Steve Donahue and the Boston College Eagles nearly have their non-conference schedule for the upcoming season set in stone. It was recently reported by BC Interruption that Toledo, Sacred Heart, and Philadelphia University were added to the home slate. Not exactly three teams to get overly excited about, especially with Philadelphia U being a sub-Division…
-
Getty Images
As teams begin to solidify their non-conference schedules for the 2013-14 season, it has been reported that UCLA will host Alabama next season with the Bruins traveling to Alabama the following year. Anthony Grant may have his best team in next season his fifth in Tuscaloosa even with Trevor Lacey transferring out of the program.…
-
gohatters.com
When Lipscomb completed their search for a head men’s basketball coach this past Friday evening, it was supposed to represent the end of the coaching carousel for 2013. However, the Bisons poached Casey Alexander from fellow Atlantic Sun school Stetson, so now that leaves the Hatters as the final Division 1 school remaining without a…
-
Providence’s Ed Cooley joins staff for USA Basketball Men’s Under-19 World Championship team
May 19, 2013, 10:09 AM EDT
AP
Yesterday, news broke that Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski was in discussions to return as the USA Olympic men’s basketball coach through the Rio 2016 Olympics. On a smaller scale, earlier last week the Providence Journal reported that Providence head coach Ed Cooley will join Marquette head coach Buzz Williams and Tim Ryan, head coach from the College of Central…
-
VIDEO: Shaka Smart throws a strike, gets his own bobblehead
May 18, 2013, 9:00 PM EDT
photo courtesy of the Richmond Flying Squirrels
Friday evening, VCU head coach Shaka Smart did one of those things coaches do in the offseason. He took to the field in a minor league game to throw out a first pitch. It was an auspicious day for the Rams’ head man, as he was being honored with his very own bobblehead doll last…
-
AP
There has been a lot of change at Arizona over the past few months, with several players and even a coach leaving the program. Replacing assistant James Whitford, who became head coach at Ball State, was easy: Wildcat legend Damon Stoudamire came back home to round out the staff. But the personnel situation on the…
-
Report: Baylor coach told Griner not to talk about her sexuality
May 18, 2013, 5:20 PM EDT
Getty Images
Former Baylor player and current WNBA top draft pick Britney Griner made it quite clear recently that she has no problem talking about her sexuality. She spoke with Sports Illustrated shortly after her college career ended, and was candid about something that is, frankly, not really anybody’s business. We now know why she never mentioned…
-
AP
The Atlantic Sun tournament was played in front of a near-capacity crowd at Mercer’s Hawkins Arena last March. Hawkins was chosen as the tourney site ahead of time, and the whole event played out there. The reported crowd of 4,394 was packed with Mercer fans who simply had to roll out of bed and find…
-
Since he led Team USA to a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in London, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has maintained that it would, in fact, be his last run at the head of the USA Basketball program. That may be changing, however. According to a report from Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated, Coach…
-
Adreian Payne, Lacey Holsworth attended Dick Vitale’s gala on Friday
May 18, 2013, 2:32 PM EDT
Adreian Payne was a special guest at Dick Vitale’s celebrity gala on Friday night, but he wasn’t the star of the show. Lacey Holsworth was. If you haven’t heard the story by now, watch the video above. In short, Payne has befriended a seven-year girl, Lacey, who has been battling cancer for much of her…
-
Georgetown forward Brandon Bolden transfers to Kansas State
May 18, 2013, 1:15 PM EDT
After appearing in only four regular season games and registering five minutes of playing time with no statistics, Georgetown forward Brandon Bolden has opted to transfer to Kansas State, the Wildcats announced on Friday. The 6-10, 210-pound Bolden will sit out the upcoming 2013-14 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will have three years of…
-
Report: Lipscomb hires a former Belmont player as head coach
May 18, 2013, 12:12 PM EDT
Lipscomb has finally replaced long time head coach Scott Sanderson, as they hired Stetson head coach Casey Alexander, according to a report. Alexander led the Hatters to a 15-16 record last season, as they finished 11-7 in the Atlantic Sun. Both records were the best for the program since the 2008-2009 season. But here’s where…
-
FIBA
Oregon State picked up a late 2013 commitment when 6-2 combo guard Malcolm Duvivier opted to sign his letter of intent on Friday after previously being a member of the 2014 class. Duvivier — a native of Toronto — was previously regarded as Rivals’ No. 116 player in the 2014 national rankings before filling an…
-
Report: Tennessee center Makanjuola transfers to UNC-Wilmington
May 18, 2013, 10:02 AM EDT
AP
Tennessee sophomore center Yemi Makanjuola has opted to transfer to UNC-Wilmington, per a Tweet from Brian Mull of StarNews. Makanjuola — a 6-9, 250-pound native of Nigeria — will have two years of eligibility remaining after NCAA transfer rules force him to sit out next season. Makanjuola will be eligible in the 2014-15 season and saw action…
-
Washington guard C.J. Wilcox undergoes surgery on left foot
May 17, 2013, 9:02 PM EDT
AP
One month after making the decision to return to Washington for his senior season, second team All-Pac-12 selection C.J. Wilcox underwent surgery on his left foot to stabilize a stress fracture that according to the Associated Press lingered for much of the 2012-13 season. The purpose of the surgery was to stabilize the fifth metatarsal…
-
AP
Last May 6-7 forward Sheldon Jeter chose to attend Vanderbilt, picking the Commodores over Penn State and Wisconsin and South Carolina with Pittsburgh showing some interest late but never offering the Beaver Falls, Pa. native. Jeter played 17.5 minutes per game as a freshman, averaging 5.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. And after one…
-
AP
In the immediate aftermath of Steve Alford’s decision to leave New Mexico to take over as head coach at UCLA, many wondered how much would he have to pay UNM in order to get out of his contract. While Alford and his representation argued that the coach, who led the Lobos to four Mountain West…
-
Reuters
A good week on the recruiting front for the Xavier coaching staff got even better Friday afternoon. 6-4 guard Remy Abell, who spent his first two seasons at Indiana, announced his decision to transfer to Xavier as reported by multiple outlets. Abell won’t be eligible to play this season per NCAA transfer rules, but he will…
-
Marshall bolsters backcourt depth with addition of Jaylen Brantley
May 17, 2013, 5:23 PM EDT
ny2lasports.com
With three guards, most notably leading scorer DeAndre Kane, deciding to transfer Marshall head coach Tom Herrion was in need of some extra depth for his backcourt in 2013-14. Thanks to a commitment from 2013 combo guard Jaylen Brantley, the Thundering Herd won’t go into next season shorthanded in that area. Brantley, who played at…
