Jay Bilas: Ranking the Sweet 16 teams and their chance to win the NCAA tournament

March Madness Sweet 16: Where Did All the Upsets Go?

The Bilastrator’s picks from ESPN’s “More Than Five Minutes Bracket” proved remarkably accurate! 12 of his 16 picks made it to the Sweet 16, with 7 still projected to reach the Elite Eight and all four Final Four picks remaining. Only Kentucky, Auburn, Oregon, and the Cinderella Wolfpack (NC State) derailed a perfect bracket. NC State’s win over Virginia in the ACC tournament was particularly impressive, overcoming fatigue to win seven games in just 11 days.

Jay Bilas: Ranking the Sweet 16 teams and their chance to win the NCAA tournament

The Sweet 16 is a predictable bunch. All top seeds and number two seeds remain, joined by two number threes and two number fours. The lowest remaining seed is Clemson (6), and NC State is the lone double-digit seed left.

Only two mid-majors, Gonzaga and San Diego State, remain. However, these aren’t your typical Cinderella stories. Gonzaga is a powerhouse, making their ninth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. San Diego State was a Final Four team last year. The remaining 14 teams are all major conference representatives.

Conference breakdown reveals the ACC with the most teams (4), followed by the Big East (3), then the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC with two each. The Pac-12, Mountain West, and West Coast Conference round out the field with one team apiece. Looking at conference performance, the Big East remains undefeated (6-0) including play-in games. The ACC is close behind at 8-1, with the Pac-12 at 6-3 and the Big Ten at 6-4.

Jay Bilas: Ranking the Sweet 16 teams and their chance to win the NCAA tournament

KenPom efficiency ratings show the dominance of the remaining teams. The Sweet 16 includes 13 of the top 14 teams and 15 of the top 23. NC State, the lowest-rated team, sits at 52nd. This year’s “March Madness” seems to have been a chalk walk so far.

Here’s a breakdown of The Bilastrator’s remaining Sweet 16 team rankings:

No. 16 San Diego State Aztecs: A championship contender with the nation’s most improved player in Jaedon LeDee. Their elite defense and deliberate offense were bolstered by an unexpected offensive outburst against Yale (13 for 27 from three). However, their regular season shooting average suggests this might be an anomaly. If they can repeat their hot shooting, they could challenge UConn. Otherwise, their Sweet 16 run ends here.

Jay Bilas: Ranking the Sweet 16 teams and their chance to win the NCAA tournament

No. 15 NC State Wolfpack: The Wolfpack’s incredible run continues thanks to “Miracle Mike” O’Connell’s game-saving three against Virginia. This is one of the best post-season runs in recent memory. DJ Burns Jr. is a dominant force, but his teammates have recently stepped up in a big way. O’Connell’s scoring surge, Diarra’s rebounding, and Morsell’s defensive presence have all been crucial. Burns’ offensive skillset presents a matchup challenge, making him a difficult double-team target.

See more stuffs of NCAA here:

From: Tongassf

Style, Travel

Jay Bilas: Ranking the Sweet 16 teams and their chance to win the NCAA tournament