Sweet 16 Set: Purdue, Iowa State, St. John’s, Tennessee, Iowa, Arizona, UConn and Alabama Advance in NCAA Tournament
The second weekend of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is set, with Purdue, Iowa State, St. John’s, Tennessee, Iowa, Arizona, UConn and Alabama securing their spots in the Sweet 16 on Sunday. This year’s tournament has seen a strong showing from Big Ten teams, with six conference representatives advancing.
Sunday’s Results
- Purdue 79, Miami (FL) 69
- Iowa State 82, Kentucky 63
- St. John’s 67, Kansas 65 – A buzzer-beating layup by Dylan Darling sealed the victory for St. John’s.
- Tennessee 79, Virginia 72
- Iowa 73, Florida 72
- Arizona 78, Utah State 66
- UConn 73, UCLA 57
- Alabama 90, Texas Tech 65 – Latrell Wrightsell led Alabama with 24 points.
Big Ten Dominance
The Big Ten conference has demonstrated significant strength in this year’s tournament, with at least one team in each region. This sets the stage for a potential all-Big Ten Final Four in Indianapolis.
Sweet 16 Schedule
The schedule for the Sweet 16 will be released shortly. Fans can find their NCAA bracket on Yahoo Sports for updates: Yahoo Sports NCAA Tournament Bracket
UConn Continues Tournament Run
UConn advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 73-57 victory over UCLA, continuing their bid for a third consecutive national championship. However, their path was challenged earlier in the tournament, as they faced a tough battle against Florida in the second round on March 23, 2025, ultimately winning 77-75. ESPN and AP News reported on Florida ending UConn’s bid for a three-peat.
Florida Upset
Top-seeded Florida was upset by Iowa 73-72, marking an early exit for one of the tournament’s top contenders. Walter Clayton Jr. Played a key role in Florida’s second-round victory over UConn, scoring crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes. USA Today detailed the hard-fought game.