Mar 27 2021

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament 2021: Sweet 16 – Day One

At this point “March Madness” fits this year’s tournament perfectly.

Your bracket is shot. We know it. Ours is, too.

A year after the NCAA Tournament was canceled, the madness returned with an opening weekend full of upsets.

No. 1 seed Illinois, gone. So is Ohio State. High seeds Texas and Virginia also are out, replaced by upstarts and mid-major noisemakers.

And we have Sister Jean, the 101-year-old nun who serves as team chaplain for Chicago Loyola. So good to have her back.

It was a wild opening ride to be sure and the tournament is all but guaranteed to have a few more unexpected twists and turns.

Here’s what to look for:

THE REGULARS

Gonzaga — The Zags are the only team to reach the Sweet 16 in six consecutive seasons. They’re also four wins from completing perfection, trying to become the first undefeated champion since Indiana 45 years ago.

Baylor — The big, bad ball-hawking Bears appear to have found the form they had before a second COVID-19 pause, so watch out.

Michigan — The Wolverines have looked like a No. 1 seed, even without Isaiah Livers.

Alabama — The Tide’s mauling of Maryland in the second round shows just how potent this team can be.

Houston — The Cougars sport some of that same swagger as the Phi Slama Jama teams back in the ’80s.

THE UPSTARTS

Chicago Loyola — Sister Jean and the lovable Ramblers are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since that 2018 Final Four run. Seeing her on the sideline warms the heart. The Ramblers have some heart of their own.

Oral Roberts — The Golden Eagles aren’t Dunk City, but they are the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since Florida Gulf Coast became the first eight years ago.

Oregon State — The Beavers were picked to finish 12th in a conference with 12 teams. After two wins as a No. 12 seed, you’d be wise not to pick against these underdogs.

UCLA — Hard to call the all-time leader in national championships an upstart, but the Bruins barely got into the bracket. With three wins and a trip to the Sweet 16, they quickly proved they belong.

Arkansas — The Muss Bus has the Razorbacks chugging into their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1996. Quite a job by coach Eric Musselman in two short years.

After a number of upsets in the the first round and regional Quarter Finals, here we are the Men’s Sweet 16. These are the teams and final scores from the Regional Quarter Finals

 

Seed School Record Score Seed School Record Score Region
8 Loyola Chi* 24 – 4 71 1 Illinois 23 – 6 58 Midwest
4 Wisconsin 17 – 12 63 1 Baylor* 22 – 2 76 South
11 Syracuse* 17 – 9 75 3 W. Virginia 18 – 9 72 Midwest
6 Texas Tech 17 – 10 66 3 Arkansas* 22 – 6 68 South
10 Rutgers 15 – 11 60 2 Houston* 19 – 7 63 Midwest
15 Oral Roberts* 16 – 10 81 7 Florida 14 – 9 78 South
13 N. Texas 17 – 9 61 5 Villanova* 16 – 6 84 South
12 Oregon St.* 17 – 12 80 4 Oklahoma St. 20 – 8 70 Midwest
7 Oregon* 20 – 6 95 2 Iowa 22 – 8 80 East
8 Oklahoma 15 – 10 71 1 Gonzaga* 26 – 0 87 West
14 Abilene Christian 23 – 4 47 11 UCLA* 17 – 9 67 East
13 Ohio 13 – 7 58 5 Creighton* 20 – 8 72 West
8 LSU 16 – 9 78 1 Michigan* 20 – 4 86 East
5 Colorado 22 – 8 53 4 Florida St.* 16 – 6 71 East
10 Maryland 16 – 13 77 2 Alabama* 12 – 5 96 East
6 USC* 22 – 7 85 3 Kansas 16 – 7 51 West

 

Here is the schedule and match ups for the eight teams from the South and Midwest. I’ll post the scores as the games conclude.

Time Network Seed School Record Score Seed School Record Score Region
2:40 CBS 12 Oregon* 17 – 2 65 8 Loyola Chi. 24 – 4 58 Midwest
5:15 CBS 5 Villanova 16 – 6 51 1 Baylor* 22 – 2 62 South
7:25 TBS 15 Oral Roberts 16 – 10 70 3 Arkansas* 22 – 6 72 South
9:55 TBS 11 Syracuse 16 – 9 2 Houston 24 – 3 Midwest

TMC for ek hornbeck-