We're left with only 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament.
While the second round of the NCAA Tournament didn’t see as many upsets, it was still an exciting weekend. After all, we'll get some really competitive games in the Sweet 16, with most of the favorites advancing.
Below, I'll break down the two East Region matchups for the Sweet 16. Can we get an upset in one of these games?
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#5 San Diego State Aztecs vs. #1 UConn Huskies
The San Diego Aztecs are back in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. They made it all the way to the Finals last season and are proving it was no fluke.
The Aztecs defeated Yale 85-57 thanks to impressive shooting and intense defense. But after beating a 12-seed and 13-seed, they have to face the UConn Huskies, the best team in the nation.
The Aztecs likely won't have the same offensive output as their game against Yale. UConn has one of the best defenses in the nation, holding opponents to 31.3% from three and 43.5% from inside the arc. While the Huskies won't earn a high rate of turnovers, UConn will limit offensive rebounds and typically doesn't foul at a super high rate. Instead, the Huskies block over 14% of shots taken against them.
On the other hand, SDSU's defense is also one of the best in the nation. The Aztecs have held opponents to 30.8% from three and 47.7% from inside the arc. They're just as good as UConn on the defensive end. The difference is UConn's offense. It's way more consistent than SDSU. The Huskies have drilled 36.1% from downtown and 59.2% from inside the arc. They've also added 36.2% of offensive rebounds and have turned the ball over under 15% of the time.
SDSU's offensive outburst against Yale was fun. But don't count on it against UConn.
Bet: UConn -9.5 (-120)
