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The second weekend of March Madness will begin on Thursday with the first slate of Sweet 16 matchups. After this weekend, we will know the participants of the 2022 Final Four in New Orleans. While some of the teams left are familiar names, others are strutting to their first Sweet 16 appearance. Here is the Busted Coverage preview of the Sweet 16.
(4) Arkansas vs. (1) Gonzaga
ππ’πΊ ππ³π¦π’ π pic.twitter.com/j1Roc5E8OI
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 23, 2022
The lone SEC team left standing in the field will take on the number one overall seed when Arkansas and Gonzaga tip-off the Sweet 16 action on Thursday. The Bulldogs are led by a diaper dandy named Chet and a mustachioed face of the program in Drew Timme. Arkansas has an entire conference on its back and wants to prove the SEC wasn’t all bad this season. Gonzaga is still chasing the program’s first title, while the Razorbacks seek their second title in program history.
(11) Michigan vs. (2) Villanova
π @attcenter #LetsMarchNova #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/Cdd3YPx7gt
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) March 23, 2022
One of Selection Sunday’s most significant talking points was that the Michigan basketball team did not deserve to be dancing in March. The Wolverines and head coach Juwan Howard took on the challenge, and the chip on their shoulder has landed them in the second weekend of the big dance.
A return visit to San Antonio
A return visit with Villanova
A chance to become ELITE!Let's Go!
Game Info | https://t.co/yWiDON1Jmt
γ½οΈπ | #GoBlue#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/TeolHwt8ob
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) March 23, 2022
What awaits the Wolverines in the Sweet 16 is quite possibly the most underrated program of the last decade. Villanova has been a mainstay in Final Four picks, and the Wildcats will be looking to punch another Final Four trip after the weekend.
(3) Texas Tech vs. (2) Duke
Winner to the Elite 8οΈβ£. Thursday at Chase Center. π‘π‘π‘πΊπ pic.twitter.com/ba1L2jnsL7
— Duke Menβs Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 22, 2022
Has anyone heard that Coach K is retiring after the season? Yes, it’s true, and while the jokes have been pouring in due to media coverage, Coach K being in the Sweet 16 in his final year is no surprise. The Blue Devils will be playing a Texas Tech team that many counted out after the coach who led them to the National Championship in 2019 left for greener pastures in the same state. ESPN has to be salivating at the chance of the Blue Devils taking on Gonzaga for a trip to New Orleans.
(5) Houston vs. (1) Arizona
MARCHING ON βΌοΈ
WHAT A GAME βΌοΈ pic.twitter.com/UyKqHioqaE
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) March 21, 2022
Arizona narrowly escaped the 2nd round after a controversial overtime win over TCU. The Wildcats won’t have much time to lick their wounds as they meet up with the most challenging team to guard left in the tournament. Houston has deadly shooters from each position and could potentially be a roadblock to the Wildcats finally reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2001. Their 2008 appearance has been vacated in a move that never makes sense by the NCAA.
