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Thanks to some amazing games in the first and second round, the 2022 Sweet 16 is looking like one for the ages.
You have the small and plucky Peacocks from Saint Peter’s channeling their inner George Mason, Coach Mike Krzyzewski dancing his “Last Dance” and Gonzaga hoping to finally close the deal. This year’s NCAA Men’s tournament has a little something for everyone.
In the West Region, will the overall top seed (1) Bulldogs continue the amazing run of Mark Few and his talented squad headlined by No. top prospect Chet Holmgren and Kevin Love clone, Drew Timme? Or will the dark horse (4) Arkansas Razorbacks spoil another brilliant season by Zags?
Could this be the end of the line for Coach K and his illustrious and storied coaching career? For all of his many accomplishments in winning five national titles and producing a who’s who of NBA—and Hall of fame—talent, (2) Duke is 0-3 all-time in the state of California, as well as being an underdog versus a underrated (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders squad. If Duke hopes to advance to their 13th Final Four under Coach K, then Paolo Banchero and Wendell Moore will need to step their game up out in The Bay.
In the South Regional, (1) Arizona faces off against (5) deep in the Lone Star State. Thanks to the brilliant coaching job of Kelvin Samspon, the Cougars are not your typical five seed, hoping to return back to the program’s 11th Final Four. That and playing three hours from UH, will give them a distinct home-court advantage. The Cougars will need every bit of “The Cage” down in The Alamodome vs. a very talented Pac-12 champion Wildcats squad that looks like they may be one of the top teams in the tournament not named Gonzaga.
A rematch of the 2018 national title game, (2) Villanova and (11) Michigan cross paths once again. While Mr. GQ himself in Wildcats head coach is still walking the sidelines for Villanova, former Fab Fave star and alum Juwan Howard roams the sideline for Michigan instead of John Beilein. The Wildcats come into San Antonio fresh off a grinding 71-61 win over Ohio State, and now face their second straight Big 10 team of the tournament, hoping for similar results.
One of the most gifted big men in the country, sophomore center Hunter Dickerson, may be the focal point of the Wolverine’s balanced offense and controlling the boards, as they did in their 76-68 upset of (3) Tennessee, to neutralize Villanova’s inside-out game of timely scoring and outside shooting led by senior guard Collin Gillespie.
In The Midwest region, you have (1) Kansas facing (4) Providence in Chicago, in what promises to be a de facto home court feel for the Jayhawks in the Windy City. One of the most balanced squads in the country, can Jayahwks guard Ochai Agbaji help Bill Self finally get over the Sweet 16 hump, after escaping Creighton, 79-72.
While advancing to the Sweet 16 for the 24th time in the program’s storied history and 11th under Self, can Kansas finally close the deal?
In the second matchup, (10) Miami faces (11) Iowa State in a rare clash of double-digit seeds. Both the Hurricanes and Shockers have traveling long roads to reach Chicago, and while many feel this is a pick-em game, Miami appears to be the quicker and more athletic team thanks to guard Kameron McGusty, who is averaging 17.5 points per game.
In The East region, you have America’s newest sweetheart and a clash of hoops royalty in The City Of Brotherly Love.
In a clash of two of college basketball’s bluest bluebloods, you have North Carolina meeting UCLA in what could be an instant classic.
With 17 national titles and a who’s who of hoops legends, the Tar Heels and Bruins coming into Philly with a Elite Eight–and potential Final Four spot on the line.
Boasting two of college basketball’s most prolific offenses, UCLA is led by their explosive backcourt of Tyger Campbell and Johnny Juzang against The Tarheels and their tough and physical play of junior power forward Armando Pacot and his team-high 16.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
In arguably the most anticipated game, you have the Purdue Boilermakers facing Saint Peters in front of what will be a pro-Peacock crowd in Philly. Thanks to upset wins over (2) Kentucky and (7) Murray State, the Peacocks will have a de facto home game vs. the third-seeded Boilermakers.
Led by Daryl Banks III and Doug Edert, the Peacocks have the backcourt and shooting able to contend with and keep up with Purdue’s high-powered shooting led by Jaden Ivey (17.6 points) and the rebounding of Zach Edey (7.9) in what will be an exciting back-and-forth thriller.