The stakes develop upper with every passing spherical, and Saturday’s slate has an opportunity to be some of the highlights of the lads’s NCAA match.
Saturday’s winner earns a place within the Candy 16, and 8 video games function one of the highest groups and avid gamers in faculty basketball. 3 No. 1 seeds are in motion, and the highlight is on first-team All-American Jalen Wilson of Kansas and Alabama’s Brandon Miller and doubtlessly Houston’s do-everything guard Marcus Sasser.
Here is a record of Saturday’s 8 video games so as of the way a lot they are to be had.
No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 5 Duke
Time/TV: 2:40 PM ET, CBS
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A matchup of the 2 absolute best seeds at the day, the Blue Devils taking part in their highest basketball of the season, rolled in the course of the ACC match and dispatched their first spherical opponent Oral Roberts with relative ease, extending their profitable streak to ten. However this recreation will likely be in line with defence.
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Tennessee has been ready to stay the ranking low, however will even want to restrict Duke middle Kyle Filipowski from dominating within the paint if the Vols need to advance. The Volunteers ranked 3rd within the NCAA in scoring protection, 2d in field-goal proportion protection and primary in three-point proportion protection. If the Blue Devils in finding themselves past due, search for most tv publicity, particularly amongst Duke haters.
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 8 Maryland
time/television:9:40 PM, TBS
There is not any doubt that every one eyes will likely be on Miller, now not most effective as a result of he is been within the information in recent years, but in addition as a result of he performed 19 mins within the Red Tide’s opening spherical win over Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. And there used to be a goose egg. scoring column. Maryland will want some other large recreation from Julian Reese, who led the Terps with 17 issues, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks of their win over West Virginia. If Alabama performs its A-game, this is able to get out of hand temporarily.
No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 15 Princeton
Time/TV: 6:10 PM, TNT
Taste of play every now and then issues, particularly staring at faculty basketball, however this matchup within the Struggle of the Tigers is intriguing as a result of the seeds concerned. Princeton is making an attempt to turn out to be simply the fourth No. 15 to get previous the second one spherical, however if you are on the lookout for offensive fireworks, there are higher choices. Princeton can put on down combatants with its planned tempo of play, however Missouri has exceptional offensive skill in Kobe Brown and D’Moi Hodge, who may just make an important level if the Tigers roll as they did in opposition to Utah State. Did in the second one part in opposition to.
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Arkansas
Time/TV: 5:15 PM CBS
1 seed for the 3rd immediately NCAA match, and as excellent because it used to be in opposition to Illinois, the way in which the Razorbacks shoot the ball would possibly not paintings in opposition to Kansas. The Jayhawks had no problems with Howard within the first spherical, even with out head trainer Invoice Self, who remains to be getting better from a clinical downside that led to him to leave out the Large 12 Event.
To have an opportunity, Arkansas must boost up to get simple buckets, forcing the Jayhawks to play protection in some way the place the Razorbacks were given three-point seems. Each groups be capable of ranking within the 80s.
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 9 Auburn
Time/TV: 7:10 PM, TBS
Sasser’s well being is the most important fear for Houston. Sasser left the primary spherical recreation in opposition to Northern Kentucky after re-injuring his groin after most effective 14 mins, leaving the Cougars taking a look to interchange their offensive manufacturing. The Norse shot 28% and misplaced most effective 11, which simply is going to turn you Houston had problems conserving them away.
Houston’s calling card is at the defensive finish, particularly in opposition to three-point line guarding, and Auburn is really atrocious from deep. It is concerning the availability of the sasser. If he performs and is even a bit bit dominant, Houston wins simply. However the sportsbooks are sniffing round and giving Auburn an opportunity to punch out, which makes for an intriguing prime-time matchup.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 7 Northwestern
time/television:8:40 p.m., TNT
The Bruins have the skill to chew down the nets in Houston, and the way in which they move about their trade permits you to know they are neatly coached and would possibly not self-explode. They might additionally care much less about three-point capturing and can put on you down simply on protection. Jaime Jaquez Jr. And Tiger Campbell leads a balanced Bruins assault and freshman Adem Bona may just go back from a shoulder harm.
Northwestern does not make errors, averaging not up to 10 turnovers in step with recreation, however UCLA ranks 2d within the country in turnover margin, so one thing has to provide. The Wildcats want to get the bounce on UCLA early for the disillusioned, however that is more straightforward mentioned than carried out.
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 10 Penn State
Time/TV: 7:45 PM CBS
A well-liked sleeper select to achieve the Ultimate 4, Texas is driving prime after its Large 12 Championship and carried that momentum into a very easy win in opposition to Colgate. Marcus Carr and Sir Jabari Rice, who made seven three-pointers every within the first length, led the offensive skill.
Penn State is among the highest three-point capturing groups within the nation (13 threes from 39% 3-point vary vs. Texas A&M). The Nittany Lions are some of the worst offensive rebounding groups within the country, so if they are now not hitting pictures persistently, the Longhorns — fueled through a deep bench — will kick them out of the fitness center.
No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 13 Furman
time/television:12:10 p.m. CBS
Not anything in opposition to the 2 groups concerned, however there’s no doubt that persons are going to song in most commonly as it’s the first recreation of the day. Fuhrman beat Virginia on a past due 3-pointer through JP Peggs with 2.2 seconds left ahead of an all-time blunder through Cavaliers guard Kehi Clark. The Paladins function balanced scoring with 4 starters averaging in double digits.
San Diego State used to be stingy at the defensive finish of their win in opposition to Charleston, keeping the Cougars to 32% capturing. The Aztecs were not significantly better at capturing, however this recreation may just turn out to be a bore-fest if the groups could not put the ball within the basket.
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