After a dramatic opening week, the Candy 16 area is ready. 9 groups are returning to the second weekend of the NCAA Event from final 12 months, essentially the most since 2003. For the second consecutive 12 months, there aren’t any mid-majors within the Candy 16, and the sphere consists of only one double-digit seed: Texas.
Final 12 months, the one double-digit seed to achieve the second weekend was No. 10 seed Arkansas. The Razorbacks are among the many 9 returning groups, together with Alabama, Arizona, Duke, Houston, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Tennessee. Houston has superior previous the primary weekend in seven consecutive tournaments, the longest lively streak.
Whereas greater than half of the Candy 16 area is again from final 12 months, a number of packages are ending lengthy droughts. St. John’s and Iowa reached the Candy 16 for the primary time since 1999, whereas Nebraska is making its first look in program historical past.
March Insanity Candy 16 set: Picks, matchups and what to observe after wild opening weekend
Isaac Trotter
The Cornhuskers had been the one high-major staff that had by no means received an NCAA Event sport earlier than successful two in simply over 48 hours.
It does not matter in case your bracket is busted or your favourite staff has already been eradicated, as a result of each staff nonetheless taking part in has a narrative. In case you’re searching for a compelling purpose to hop on the bandwagon for one of many remaining Candy 16 groups, right here is one purpose to root for every of them.
(9) Iowa
Why you need to root for the Hawkeyes: Coach Ben McCollum merely wins
Iowa’s Ben McCollum is in his first season as a coach on the high-major degree, and he is already leaving his mark. McCollum has Iowa within the Candy 16 for the primary time this century, however postseason success is nothing new to him. At Northwest Missouri State (Division II), McCollum had a 32-7 report within the event and received 4 nationwide championships. In his lone season at Drake, he helped this system win 31 video games and attain the second spherical of the NCAA Event. Now, he has Iowa again within the Candy 16 for the primary time since 1999. He is likely one of the fastest-rising coaches within the nation.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 4 Nebraska (Thursday)
(4) Nebraska
Why you need to root for the Cornhuskers: First-timer within the Candy 16
Nebraska has been the most effective tales in faculty basketball this season.
The Cornhuskers had been the one high-major staff that had by no means received an NCAA Event sport. Now, this system has two in lower than every week and has an opportunity to make an excellent deeper run towards Huge Ten foe Iowa.
Another excuse to root for Nebraska is the daddy/son-player/coach duo of Fred and Sam Hoiberg. Sam, a former walk-on, has been a key contributor to one of the best staff in program historical past.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 9 Iowa (Thursday)
(3) Illinois
Why you need to root for the Combating Illini: Elite depth
Star freshman Keaton Wagler, a projected top-10 choose within the 2026 NBA Draft, grabs many of the headlines for Illinois. However that is extra than simply the Wagler present.
The Illini’s depth is a significant purpose this system is making its second Candy 16 look in three years. They’ll go eight deep and have a mixture of star energy and high-level contributors off the bench. Andrej Stojaković, the staff’s third-leading scorer, has just lately come off the bench and offered a spark. He scored a team-high 21 factors in Illinois’ win over VCU final week.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 2 Houston (Thursday)
(2) Houston
Why you need to root for the Cougars: Redemption story
Who does not love redemption story? If that is you, then Houston ought to be your staff. The Cougars fairly actually had been one good possession away from beating Florida within the nationwide title sport. After all, the Cougars weren’t even in a position to get a shot off on their remaining offensive possession.
Led by freshman guard Kingston Flemings and returners Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler, this is likely to be Houston’s greatest shot at giving Kelvin Sampson a much-deserved nationwide title.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 3 Illinois (Thursday)
(1) Duke
Why you need to root for the Blue Devils: Finest NBA prospect taking part in
With BYU (AJ Dybantsa) and Kansas (Darryn Peterson) eradicated from the NCAA Event, Duke’s Cameron Boozer is one of the best NBA Draft prospect left within the Huge Dance.
The presumptive Nationwide Participant of the 12 months and a projected top-three choose within the 2026 NBA Draft has been essentially the most constant participant within the sport. Boozer is averaging 22.4 factors, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists for the Blue Devils. Including a nationwide championship to his resume would give Boozer a case for one of the best one-and-done season in faculty basketball historical past.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 5 St. John’s (Friday)
(5) St. John’s
Why you need to root for the Purple Storm: Gritty protection
After watching St. John’s up shut within the NCAA Event, I can affirm that the Purple Storm are much more bodily imposing than what you see on TV.
St. John’s had Kansas struggling to even get the ball in-bounds due to its relentless press. The Purple Storm picks up all 94 ft on protection. In case you’re an enormous fan of protection, St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino ought to be your staff down the stretch.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 1 Duke (Friday)
(2) UConn
Why you need to root for the Huskies: Probability at historical past
Love him or hate him, UConn coach Dan Hurley wins. The Huskies weren’t in a position to full the three-peat final season after dropping to Florida within the second spherical, however may nonetheless win three titles in 4 seasons.
UCLA was the final program to do this, after it received 10 nationwide titles in 12 seasons between 1964-72. That can clearly by no means occur once more within the fashionable panorama of the game. Profitable three titles in 4 years is likely to be one thing that does not occur once more for a very long time, both. That is UConn’s likelihood to make historical past.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 3 Michigan State (Friday)
(3) Michigan State
Why you need to root for the Spartans: Finest dunker in faculty basketball
In case you love high-flyers, then Michigan State is a must-watch. Ahead Coen Carr is a human spotlight reel able to throwing down one of the best in-game dunk you’ve got ever seen on the faculty degree on a nightly foundation.
He has additionally improved his all-around sport this season. He’s averaging a career-high 12 factors per sport.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 2 UConn (Friday)
(1) Arizona
Why you need to root for the Wildcats: Elite freshmen duo
This 12 months’s Candy 16 matchup between Arizona and Arkansas would be the first of its variety. This can mark the primary time in Candy 16 historical past the place the highest two scorers in factors per sport on every staff are each freshmen.
For Arizona, that will be Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. These two have established themselves as the most effective freshmen duos within the sport. Burries, a possible lottery choose, is Arizona’s main scorer. Peat is a bruiser inside who had one of the best debut of any participant in his class again in November, when he dropped 30 factors towards the reigning nationwide champions.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 4 Arkansas (Thursday)
(4) Arkansas
Why you need to root for the Razorbacks: Arkansas has one of the best guard
It is no secret that guards win video games in March. Fortunately for Arkansas, it has one of the best guard within the nation in Darius Acuff Jr. In his first two NCAA Event video games, Acuff has mixed to attain 60 factors, which is essentially the most by any freshman in his first two NCAA Event video games ever.
Acuff is a dynamic scorer and playmaker who has raised Arkansas’ ceiling. He has the second-most factors in a sport (36) by a freshman in NCAA Event historical past and in addition essentially the most by any first-year participant this season, when he dropped 49 factors towards Alabama.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 1 Arizona (Thursday)
(11) Texas
Why you need to root for the Longhorns: Solely double-digit seed left
The one double-digit seed for the second consecutive 12 months is from the SEC. Nevertheless, Texas took the street much less traveled to get thus far. The Longhorns are the primary staff since UCLA in 2021 — and simply the sixth squad ever — to go from the First 4 to the Candy 16.
Make no mistake, the Longhorns aren’t any Cinderella story regardless of being a double-digit seed. They’ve the expertise and the coach (Sean Miller) to maintain successful within the Huge Dance.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 2 Purdue (Thursday)
(2) Purdue
Why you need to root for the Boilermakers: Core three caught collectively
Purdue’s roster is an anomaly within the fashionable faculty basketball panorama. That is as a result of the Boilermakers’ “Core Three” of Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn have been collectively for the final 4 seasons.
Because of the switch portal and early NBA Draft declarations, you hardly ever see one thing like that occur. Smith set the NCAA help report final week, and it is one thing that may stand within the historical past books for a very long time.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 11 Texas (Thursday)
(1) Michigan
Why you need to root for the Wolverines: Finest frontcourt trio
Michigan coach Dusty Might used a novel lineup of 7-footers within the frontcourt to propel this system to an unlikely turnaround final 12 months. Michigan went from eight wins to the Candy 16 in 2025 and has an excellent higher frontcourt this season.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. are the Wolverines’ three main scorers and are essentially the most terrifying frontcourt to face on each ends of the ground. All three of them transferred in from totally different colleges this previous offseason, and but, Might has made it work.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 4 Alabama (Friday)
(4) Alabama
Why you need to root for the Crimson Tide: Highest-scoring offense
A staple of Alabama basketball since Nate Oats took over this system has been elite offenses. It has been no totally different this season. The Crimson Tide (91.6 factors per sport) ranks No. 1 amongst all Division I groups in scoring.
Guard Labaron Philon Jr. is the pinnacle of the snake. averaging 21.6 factors per sport. Nevertheless, Alabama might want to proceed to search out offense elsewhere as a consequence of Aden Holloway’s absence. He was arrested final week on felony drug prices and did not play within the first weekend of the NCAA Event.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 1 Michigan (Friday)
(2) Iowa State
Why you need to root for the Cyclones: Finest shooter in faculty basketball
Iowa State ahead Milan Momcilovic is within the midst of the best taking pictures season in NCAA historical past. He’s flattening 49.3% of his 7.6 3-point makes an attempt per sport, which is on tempo to be the best taking pictures proportion in NCAA historical past (minimal 250 makes an attempt).
He’s presently forward of Northern Arizona’s Stephen Sir, who shot 49% from the 3-point line in the course of the 2006-07 marketing campaign. On the season, he has made 134 3-pointers.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 6 Tennessee (Friday)
(6) Tennessee
Why you need to root for the Volunteers: Looking for first Last 4 look
Is that this the 12 months Tennessee coach Rick Barnes returns to the Last 4? He guided Texas to the ultimate weekend of the NCAA Event again in 2003. Nevertheless, Tennessee as a program has by no means been to the Last 4. The Volunteers have come near getting over the hump.
The Volunteers have reached the Candy 16 in 4 consecutive seasons, together with back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. This is likely to be the most effective pictures the 71-year-old has at getting again to the Last 4 for the primary time in over 20 years.
Candy 16 opponent: No. 2 Iowa State (Friday)