NCAA Tournament 2022 viewers guide: Why you should watch Friday's Sweet 16 games
By the time Friday night is over, we’ll be down to the Elite Eight in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Will March Madness still live up to its name, or will sanity prevail?
Night two of the men’s Round of 16 features its share of the sport’s blue-blood programs. But the slate includes the field’s last true Cinderella, as well as a couple of other schools hoping to reach unprecedented heights in the modern era.
Once again, we’re here to provide you with all the information you need to take in the action in the East and Midwest Regionals (times p.m. ET).
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East Region, Philadelphia
No. 15 Saint Peter’s vs. No. 3 Purdue, 7:09, CBS
Why watch: We begin with the aforementioned Cinderella. Saint Peter’s has a chance to do what no other No. 15 seed has done and reach the regional final round. But it’s going to take another major upset to pull it off against the Boilermakers, who held the No. 1 ranking in the polls at one point this season and now have a great chance to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1980. There was little to indicate the Peacocks had this kind of potential entering the tournament. There isn’t one thing they do particularly well, but coach Shaheen Holloway has a deep rotation and isn’t afraid to use his bench. Purdue will have a clear size advantage, but the Peacocks found ways to score inside against Kentucky.
Why it could disappoint: The problem for Cinderella is midnight inevitably arrives. The asset Purdue possesses that Kentucky did not is Jaden Ivey. His stabilizing influence from the backcourt should help the Boilermakers better exploit their advantage in the paint. But even if Holloway is off to his alma mater at Seton Hall as soon as this run ends, Peacocks fans enjoyed the ride.
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 4 UCLA, 9:39, CBS
Why watch: The second contest at this venue, by contrast, features a pair of the sport’s true blue bloods. The Tar Heels’ presence here was very much in doubt a few weeks ago. The Bruins are in somewhat of an unusual position, better off in some respects than last year’s First Four to Final Four squad that caught fire at the right time but still seeking that same spark. UCLA’s battle-tested guard group is capable of exploding at any time, but the Bruins might not have an answer for UNC’s Armando Bacot and Brady Manek up front.
Why it could disappoint: Tar Heels’ fans got a glimpse of the best and worst they’d seen from their team in the Baylor victory. The team found a way to survive without several key players but must avoid foul trouble. UCLA seems less likely to get buried early, but the Bruins’ surprisingly spotty 3-point shooting must be on target.
Midwest Region, Chicago
No. 4 Providence vs. No. 1 Kansas, 7:29, TBS
Why watch: The seeds held in this half of the Midwest bracket. The top-slotted Jayhawks expected to be here, though they had to pass a stiff test from Creighton last time out. Another Big East team awaits, and the Friars somewhat unexpectedly made it to this round with relative ease. Providence’s 3-point shooting and 3-point defense have been exceptional thus far. KU will challenge the Friars in both areas, but the inside-out game Bill Self likes to operate hasn’t always worked for this year’s Jayhawks. The matchup between KU’s David McCormack and the Friars’ Nate Watson could provide an early indicator of how the game will unfold.
Why it could disappoint: Providence has thrived in close contests all season, so the Jayhawks will do their best to make sure this one is not. Kansas has more weapons, especially if Remy Martin finds his shooting stroke.
No. 11 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Miami, 9:59, TBS
Why watch: The night wraps up with what might be called the stormy weather game. On one hand, it is difficult to consider either of these double-digit seeds true Cinderellas as they both play in power conferences. Then again, the Cyclones’ lone Final Four appearance occurred in 1944, while the Hurricanes have never reached the tournament’s final weekend. Miami is the field’s most experienced team, and that collective experience helps them limit their turnovers to just 9.3 per game. The Cyclones, who force 16.7 miscues per contest from their opponents, will try to make things as chaotic as possible.
Why it could disappoint: Miami doesn’t mind a chaotic game either, so the contest could be close if not particularly clean in terms of offensive execution. In short, both teams should live up to their stormy nicknames, so take proper precautions.