NCAA tournament Sweet 16: What you need to know for Thursday night's matchups

· Yahoo Sports

The biggest college basketball tournament is here, bringing plenty of excitement and storylines. Will we see Cinderellas pull upsets, or will the bluebloods keep their grip on the tournament? With the power of a reliable connection always important during a successful tournament run, we’re keeping you connected to the can’t-miss headlines and standout moments from every round.

Visit moryak.biz for more information.

The men’s Sweet 16 begins on Thursday as the first four spots in the Elite Eight will be booked. The winners of Thursday’s games will play Saturday evening for the chance to go to the Final Four.

Here’s what you need to know for the first four games of the third round of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament.

Can Texas become the third First Four team to advance to the Elite Eight?

Only VCU (2011) and UCLA (2021) have gotten past the Sweet 16 after playing in the play-in games. And each of those two teams made the Final Four. That may be a good omen for the Longhorns if they win. 

After turning the ball over 12 times in its win over NC State in the First Four, Texas has turned the ball over just 13 times combined in its wins over BYU and Gonzaga. The Longhorns had just five turnovers in the win over the Zags and shot over 50% from the field.

Both BYU and Gonzaga shot poorly from 3-point range, too. And Purdue is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country. The Cougars and Bulldogs were just 8-of-38 from behind the arc in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. Purdue, meanwhile, has gone 22-of-38 from behind the arc in its wins over Queens and Miami.

The Boilermakers are one of the best offensive teams in the country and got most of that production from its starting lineup in a 10-point win over the Hurricanes on Sunday. Purdue’s starters combined to score all but five of their 79 points. And reserve Gicarri Harris was the player who provided those five bench points. 

Depth could be a problem if C.J. Cox isn’t at 100%. He left the second half early because of a knee injury, but said after the game that he could have returned if necessary.

Foul trouble could be an issue for Purdue too, especially inside. Texas big man Matas Vokietaitis has shot 28 free throws through his three NCAA tournament games. And Purdue’s Oscar Cluff has committed at least three fouls in four of his last five games. 

After failing to win an NCAA tournament game in program history before the 2026 season, Nebraska is now a win away from the Elite Eight. Iowa, meanwhile, pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NCAA tournament in its second-round win over No. 1 Florida.

The two teams split their regular-season meetings. On Feb. 17, the Cyclones got a 57-52 win at home before Nebraska won at home to end the regular season with an 84-75 overtime win. Is it as simple as saying another low-scoring game favors the Hawkeyes while a higher-scoring game would lean Nebraska’s way?

Iowa plays at the slowest speed of any team remaining in the NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes’ adjusted tempo in KenPom’s rankings is faster than just four of the 365 teams at the top level of college basketball. But Nebraska isn’t a high-tempo team, either. The Huskers rank 222nd overall and eighth among the 16 teams remaining in the tournament. 

Iowa beat Florida 73-72 despite star guard Bennett Stirtz going 0-of-9 from the 3-point line and just 5-of-16 from the field overall. Though he scored just 13 points, Stirtz had five rebounds and five assists along with no turnovers.

However, Stirtz’s shooting performance was part of a larger trend. He’s failed to shoot over 50% in six of his last seven games and has gone 15-of-61 from behind the arc in that span. We’re not sure Iowa can get to the Elite Eight if he continues to shoot that poorly. 

Another year, another deep tournament run for the Razorbacks. It’s the fifth straight Sweet 16 appearance for Arkansas over the last six years (the Razorbacks missed the tournament in 2024) and they made the Elite Eight in 2021 and 2022 under former coach Eric Musselman. 

Freshman guard Darius Acuff has emerged as a star in March. Over Arkansas’ six games since the start of the month, Acuff is averaging just under 30 points per game and he hasn’t scored fewer than 24 in any of the six. Acuff dropped 24 in Arkansas’ first-round win over Hawaii and then had 36 points as he shot 50% from the field against High Point in the second round.

Arizona has a backcourt that could slow him down. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries form one of the best guard combinations in the country as the Wildcats are the co-favorites to win it all alongside Michigan. The Wildcats have the No. 3 defensive rating in the country according to KenPom and are the only team to have an offensive and defensive rating in the top five. 

If Arkansas has to turn to another player to lead the offense, fellow freshman guard Maleek Thomas has dropped 40 across the Razorbacks’ March Madness wins. Like Acuff, Thomas shoots over 40% from behind the arc on over five attempts a game.

But Arkansas will need big performances from Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond and others up front to have a chance at pulling the upset. Arizona’s frontcourt can get after the offensive glass. had nine offensive rebounds in the Wildcats’ second-round win over Utah State.

The late games Thursday night are made for freshman guards. Not long after Acuff, Thomas and Burries tip off in San Jose, the South region will feature Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler.

Like both Acuff and Burries, Flemings and Wagler are potential top-10 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Flemings averages over 16 points per game to go along with five assists, while Wagler is averaging just under 18 points a game with almost five rebounds and over four assists a contest.

Illinois’ offense is incredibly efficient. The Illini average over 84 points a game and shoot the 12th-most 3-pointers in the country while also turning the ball over fewer than nine times per game. But Houston is the best defensive team the Illini have faced all season and match up well against them.

Opponents shoot less than 40% against the Cougars and score just over 62 points a game. Houston is a very slow team, but Illinois doesn’t play at a high tempo either. If Houston’s typical chaotic defense gums up Illinois’ half-court offense, the Illini’s upset hopes will be in serious trouble. Don’t discount Houston’s home-court advantage, either. The South region’s final games are being played at the Toyota Center in Houston. 

Read full story at source