NCAA Tournament power rankings: Reseeding the Elite Eight with two No. 1 seeds out

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The Athletic has live coverage of the NCAA Tournament.

(Editor’s observe: That is a part of the Bracket Central Series, an inside take a look at the run-up to the boys’s and ladies’s NCAA Tournaments, together with evaluation and picks through the tournaments.)

The Candy 16 matchups within the NCAA Event didn’t disappoint. Six of the eight video games have been determined by single digits, and a pair of No. 1 seeds have been knocked out. Oh, and a No. 11 seed that when stood 17-14 total coming into the ACC match continues to be standing.

All 4 Elite Eight matchups supply loads of intrigue: UConn vs. Illinois, Alabama vs. Clemson, Duke vs. NC State and Purdue vs. Tennessee. The Duke-NC State, Alabama-Clemson and Purdue-Tennessee video games are rematches of video games from earlier this season.

With the regional finals upon us, listed here are our newest NCAA Event energy rankings for all eight remaining nationwide title contenders. We’ll replace this rating after each spherical and till the Closing 4 begins. If the Candy 16 was any indication, the eight groups left ought to placed on fairly a present. Which groups are in one of the best place to make a run on the championship? Right here’s a take a look at the place issues stand.

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The Huskies have been a freight practice barreling by the NCAA Event. Once more. The most recent instance got here within the Candy 16 when UConn hammered San Diego State 82-52 to advance to an Elite Eight matchup in opposition to Illinois. Cam Spencer scored 18 factors as certainly one of 4 gamers to attain in double figures. The defending nationwide champion has gained its three NCAA Event video games by a median of 28.7 factors. UConn coach Dan Hurley has a lot confidence in his crew that he lately known as the group “bulletproof.” Up to now, it’s exhausting to argue with that evaluation.

No. 5 San Diego State

82-52

Matt Painter has Purdue on the point of historical past following an 80-68 victory in opposition to Gonzaga. Purdue can attain its first Closing 4 since 1980 with a win in opposition to Tennessee within the Elite Eight. Purdue has spent all season attempting to reply from dropping its first-round NCAA Event recreation as a No. 1 seed a yr in the past, and the Boilermakers have met the problem. Zach Edey tallied 27 factors and 14 rebounds in opposition to Gonzaga, whereas Braden Smith added 14 factors, 15 assists and eight rebounds. Purdue beat each Gonzaga and Tennessee earlier this season within the Maui Invitational and should do it once more with an entire lot extra on the road.

No. 16 Grambling State

78-50

Illinois has performed in addition to any crew within the nation over the previous month, successful 10 of its final 11 video games, and confirmed its expertise and grit by beating Iowa State 72-69 within the Candy 16. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored a team-high 29 factors and recorded his seventh consecutive recreation of not less than 20 factors. This marks the primary time Illinois has made it to the Elite Eight for the reason that Illini have been the nationwide runner-up 19 years in the past. Illinois has some excellent items. Shannon, Marcus Domask and Coleman Hawkins all common double figures in scoring. However the subsequent take a look at would be the hardest in opposition to top-seeded UConn.

No. 14 Morehead State

85-69

Tennessee took out Creighton 82-75 to earn its second Elite Eight look and first since 2010. Dalton Knecht scored a game-high 26 factors, whereas Zakai Zeigler scored 18 factors and Josiah-Jordan James added 15 factors. Tennessee performs Purdue for a spot within the Closing 4. Purdue beat Tennessee 71-67 within the Maui Invitational after the Volunteers shot simply 33.3 p.c from the sphere.

No. 15 Saint Peter’s

83-49

Duke defeated No. 1 seed Houston 54-51, producing a number of crucial defensive stops down the stretch to carry the Cougars 23 factors under their season common. Kyle Filipowski (16 factors) and Jeremy Roach (14 factors) each scored in double figures for the Blue Devils. An Elite Eight matchup in opposition to fellow ACC foe NC State is up subsequent.

No. 12 James Madison

93-55

The breakneck tempo at which Alabama performs continues to pay dividends. Alabama upended No. 1 seed North Carolina 89-87 to advance to its second-ever Elite Eight (and first since 2004). Grant Nelson was the star of the present, scoring 19 of his 24 factors within the second half and ending with 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. Rylan Griffen and Aaron Estrade scored 19 factors apiece, and Mark Sears added 18. Now comes a postseason matchup most followers are accustomed to seeing in soccer: Alabama vs. Clemson.

No. 1 North Carolina

89-87

Chase Hunter transformed a three-point play with 25.7 seconds remaining to place away No. 2 seed Arizona throughout Clemson’s 77-72 Candy 16 victory. The Tigers superior to the Elite Eight for the primary time since 1980. Hunter led Clemson with 18 factors, whereas PJ Corridor scored 17 and Ian Schieffelin had 14. Clemson can attain its first-ever Closing 4 with a victory in opposition to Alabama.

NC State’s magical March continued with a 67-58 victory in opposition to No. 2 seed Marquette, which moved the Wolfpack to the Elite Eight for the primary time since 1986. That marks eight consecutive victories for NC State, which gained all 5 video games it performed within the ACC match to earn a spot within the massive dance. DJ Horne scored a team-high 19 factors, whereas Mohamed Diarra added 11 factors and 15 rebounds. NC State performs a Duke crew that the Wolfpack beat 74-69 through the ACC match, although Duke did win the common season matchup between the groups.

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