NCAA Tournament upsets still in store? Here’s five bold predictions for the Sweet 16 of March Madness
Throw your brackets out.
Anyone who boldly called No. 15 seed Oral Roberts over Ohio State (and Florida!) or Loyola Chicago over No. 1 seed Illinois is a legitimate fortune teller.
This March Madness has been historically unpredictable, with four double-digit seeds making it to the men's NCAA Tournament second weekend. It's the first time four teams seeded No. 11 or lower are in the Sweet 16.
It's also stunning that the mighty Big Ten – the top conference in NET rankings – sent nine teams to the Big Dance and only one (No. 1 seed Michigan) is still standing. Especially in contrast to the Pac-12, which has four teams set to square off Saturday and Sunday in Indianapolis.
But now that the smoke has cleared, we have a feel for each of the 16 teams remaining. A look at some bold predictions for the rest of the tournament:
1. Double-digit seeds make it to the Elite Eight. Both UCLA and Syracuse were NCAA bubble teams that barely got into the field of 68. Now they're among the 16 teams left. Both teams have played their best brand of basketball and are capable of pulling off more upsets, this time against No. 2 seeds. Coach Mick Cronin has the Bruins (20-9) rolling right now, pulverizing Abilene Christian by 20 and cruising past Brigham Young by 11. But this will be a taller task against an SEC champion Alabama team. If UCLA's guards – namely Johnny Juzang – can outplay 'Bama's, this game is winnable. Much of Syracuse's deep run – beating San Diego State and West Virginia – has been based on the hot shooting of the coach Jim Boeheim's son, Buddy. The marksmen has made 13 triples and poured in 55 points in two tourney games. If he's on from beyond the arc, No. 2 seed Houston is in trouble vs. the Orange (18-9).
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IT'S NOT YOU: This March is madder then ever. The men's NCAA tournament seeds left show it
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