Schedule and TV Info
Saturday, March 25
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Xavier, 6:09 p.m. ET (TBS)
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 3 Oregon, 8:49 p.m. ET (TBS)
Sunday, March 26
No. 4 Florida vs. No. 7 South Carolina, 2:20 p.m. ET (CBS)
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Kentucky, 5:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Xavier
How They Got Here
Gonzaga had to survive a physical foul fest against West Virginia in the Sweet 16. The Mountaineers might just be the most difficult team to play in the country because the experience of facing that press is unlike anything else you see all season. The Zags showed some toughness in surviving 40 minutes of whistles and pressure.
Chris Mack is in the Elite Eight for the first time and proving himself as one of the game’s best coaches. He has his team here despite losing his starting point guard Edmond Sumner late in the season. The Musketeers can also thank the hot shooting of Trevon Bluiett, who has averaged 25 points per game in upset wins over Maryland, Florida State and Arizona.
Individual Battle to Watch: Trevon Bluiett vs. Jordan Mathews
The outside shooting for both wings has been key to their team’s tourney runs. Bluiett has made 11 of 23 threes in the tournament and Mathews has made 9 of 25, including what turned out to be the game-winner against West Virginia. If he gets the Bluiett assignment, his defense will be key against Xavier. Gonzaga could probably win without Mathews scoring the ball, but I'm not sure Xavier can win without Bluiett staying hot.
Upset Potential: Medium
It would be silly to count out Xavier at this point. Gonzaga has more talent, but so did Florida State and Arizona. Mack’s zone defenses appear to be an upset creator in the NCAA tournament, and Bluiett is one of the hottest shooters in this tournament. But the Zags have more experience than anyone Xavier has faced thus far and should be more composed against Mack’s switching defenses.
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 3 Oregon
How They Got Here
The Jayhawks spent the regular season just squeaking by on most nights and have found another gear in the NCAA tournament, obliterating their opponents by an average margin of victory of 30. The latest casualty was Big Ten champs Purdue, who got ran off the floor 98-66.
Oregon’s path has not been so easy. The Ducks cruised past Iona in the first round and then have had close wins against Rhode Island and Michigan. Michigan point guard Derrick Walton Jr. had a shot in the final seconds against the Ducks that could have ended their season, but it fell short.
Individual Battle to Watch: Josh Jackson vs. Dillon Brooks
These are two of the most confident—borderline cocky—players in the country, and they have the games to back it up. Both small-ball 4s are usually matchup nightmares for their opponents. That will not be the case in this game. You can expect both will go at each other and maybe do some jabbing in the process.
The key could be who plays the smarter game and doesn’t try to do too much offensively.
Upset Potential: Medium
KU’s team speed has been too much for its opponents thus far, but Oregon is more equipped to handle it. Jordan Bell’s rim protection could be a difference-maker. Even if KU’s guards get into the paint, they have not seen a presence like Bell in the tournament. But it’s probably going to take a hot shooting performance from the Ducks to end this mission Kansas seems to be on.
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Kentucky
How They Got Here
The Heels skated by in the second round with a sloppy performance against Arkansas and then looked more like what we’re used to seeing with a 92-80 win over Butler.
Kentucky survived a rough second-round pairing against Wichita State, winning by three, and then got redemption for a nonconference loss to UCLA in the Sweet 16. The Wildcats have won 14 straight since losing by 22 at Florida on Feb. 4.
Individual Battle to Watch: Joel Berry II vs. De’Aaron Fox
It would be easy to say Malik Monk against Justin Jackson—the two scored a combined 81 points in the first meeting—but the point guard matchup seems more like it could decide this one.
Fox outplaying Lonzo Ball in the Sweet 16 was a huge factor in the Wildcats' winning. Berry found his shooting stroke again in UNC’s Sweet 16 win after a rough start to the tournament. He scored 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He is the guy the Heels need playing well over all others.
Upset Potential: High
This category isn’t exactly relevant, as a Kentucky win wouldn’t be an upset. This is more like a coin-flip game. UK won the first meeting on a neutral floor. One reason UNC got a No. 1 seed and Kentucky didn’t was the perceptions of the strength of their respective leagues. Well, the ACC has had a rough NCAA tournament, while the SEC has three teams in the Elite Eight.
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