Your brother who said he chose Miami to do the Elite Eight for the first time? Sure. And yes, every Duke fan knew that Coach K would make it to the Elite Eight in his final season. OKAY. At this point in the season, however, nothing makes sense on a pitch that has only one first seed (Kansas) in the final eight. This brings us to the re-emergence of Elite Eight. At this point, what else does that mean? Well, hopefully that means we look at the other teams carefully and tell you where we all think they are right now. But everyone on this list is a good team that has to hit itself in the back to get on stage. And every team on this list has done something to make you believe a run in New Orleans is possible. This is where we believe everyone stands.

  1. Kansas JahoxOriginal seed: No. 1 Elite Eight seeds: No. 12022 tournament record: Defeat No. 16 Texas Southern 83-56; defeated No. 9 Creighton 79-72. defeated Providence No. 4 66-61 In 2020-21, Remy Martin recorded four games with 30 points or more for Arizona State. With Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack returning from last season, Kansas did not need extra tracks. However, Martin’s arrival through the transfer window over the summer expanded the talent pool for a team already considered a contender for the national championship. Then his season stopped, thanks to a prolonged knee injury. Even when he was available for big games early in the season, Martin never looked like the first-all-Pac-12 player who averaged 19.1 PPG in consecutive seasons before coming to Lawrence. As Kansas continued to excel, it was challenged to find a role in a team that had established players everywhere on the pitch and reliable reserves. Complete your bracket by selecting the winner in each of the NCAA tournament games from Sweet 16 to the league. Tournament Challenge Second Chance But this, right now, is Remy Martin that we thought we would see in November. This is Remy Martin who gave Bill Self a significant chance to win his second national title. Since the start of the Big 12 tournament, KU opponents have made only 39.8% of their shots within the arc. This defense is leading this team. And Martin was consistent, averaging 19.3 PPGs and tying 64% of his archers and 40% of his 3-point NCAA effort. Five months ago, we wondered what Kansas’s ceiling was: “How good could Kansas be if Martin became the same star he was in Pac-12?” Now we have the answer. Next: vs. Miami (Sunday, 2:20 p.m. ET, CBS)
  2. Houston CougarsOriginal seed: No. 5Elite Eight seeds: No. 12022 tournament record: Defeat No. 12 UAB 82-68; defeated Illinois No. 4 68-53. defeated Arizona No. 1 72-60 Kelvin Sampson is still taking off his shirt and celebrating with his kids after driving Houston to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season. But the course of 2022 is even more impressive. After the Cougars withdrew from last year’s Final Four, they lost their No. 1 and No. 3 scorers, Quentin Grimes and DeJon Jarreau. Then, an injury in December ended the 2021-22 season for Marcus Sasser, who had taken over from Grimes as Houston’s No. 1 scorer. Tramon Mark, who averaged 7.8 PPG last season, also suffered an injury at the end of the year in December. And somehow, Sampson had a team that, it seemed, would have a hard time winning the American Athletic Conference title. But this group was persistent. She is 12-1 in her last 13 games, 11 of which she won by 12 points or more. Since February 17, the Cougars have made 55% of their archery shots and removed 38% of their missed shots, according to Barttorvik.com. They have won all three NCAA tournament games by 41 points combined. Fabian White Jr. and Josh Carlton have given the toughness around the lip. And Kyler Edwards, who was transferred from Texas Tech, has an average of 17.4 PPG and has tied at 46% of his 3-point effort in his last five games. Houston is not just a wonderful story. Houston is a serious contender for the national championship. Next: vs. Villanova (Saturday, 6:09 pm ET, TBS)
  3. Duke Blue DevilsOriginal seed: No. 2Elite Eight seeds: No. 12022 tournament record: Defeat No. 15 CSU Fullerton 78-61; defeated No. 7 Michigan State 85-76. defeated No. 3 Texas Tech 78-73 Youth can be a challenge at this stage of the season, even if these young players can soon become millionaires with NBA contracts. When Duke lost to North Carolina in Mike Krzyzewski’s last game at the Cameron Indoor Stadium, the pressure seemed to be on a Duke team that was anchored by young talent. Maybe these spotlights were too much for them. The defeat dampens Duke’s expectations in the postseason. It was also a reminder that most youth groups have had a hard time responding to the ad campaign. The only programs in the era of one and finished (after 2005) that have national championships had either Anthony Davis (Kentucky in 2012) or three draft options for the first round of the NBA (Duke in 2015). 2 About On Thursday, however, we all witnessed the promise of a team stacked with young stars. Duke was locked in a fierce game with Texas Tech, which prided itself on America’s top defense. The game recorded 11 draws and 13 changes in the lead. The team that turned the corner in the last 10 minutes would win. This team was Duke. Paolo Banchero (24 points) scored a crucial pair of 3 at the end of the match. Mark Williams (16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) continued to play over the Red Raiders. Jeremy Roots hit the paint to lower the clutch. AJ Griffin (3-for-7 out of 3) was fearless. It was a reminder that, yes, this Duke team is new. But when the game reaches the final of this tournament, the Blue Devils will have the top talent. This reality is because they are still fighting and playing for a shot in Saturday’s Final Four. This reality is why Coach K could win his sixth and final national championship. Next: vs. Arkansas (Saturday, 8:49 pm ET, TBS)
  4. Villanova WildcatsOriginal seed: No. 2Elite Eight seeds: No. 12022 tournament record: Defeat No. 15 Delaware 80-60; defeated No. 7 State of Ohio 71-61. defeated Michigan No. 11 63-55 One of the most painful images of 2020-21 unfolded when Collin Gillespie fell limping from the floor against Creighton on March 3, following a knee injury at the end of the season. He had not yet been diagnosed with a torn MCL, but the silence in the building was palpable. Villanova fans knew it was bad. Gillespie would eventually decide to detox and return for a fifth season, taking advantage of NCAA COVID rules that gave each player one more year of college fitness. Now, the point guard has made a comeback with just 13.5% of his holdings and made 42% of his 3-point effort through the Wildcats’ three tournament victories, according to Barttorvik.com. Fixed point guards (see: Ryan Arcidiacono and Jalen Brunson) were crucial pieces for the Villanova 2015-16 and 2017-18 teams that won national titles. But there is another similarity between the three teams: their dominance at the end of the season. The Wildcats 2015-16 finished 11-1 in their last 12 games. only three of these victories were judged in single digits. The 2017-18 team has won 13 of its last 14 games, with only one of them being judged as a single digit. This year; Villanova has a score of 13-1 in its last 14. He has played closer matches than previous title teams, but the Wildcats are heading in the same direction. Next: vs. Houston (Saturday, 6:09 pm ET, TBS) I’m playing 0:58 Arkansas stuns Gonzaga in Sweet 16 as the 4-seed Razorbacks advance to the Elite Eight.
  5. Arkansas RazorbaksOriginal seed: No. 4Elite Eight seeds: No. 22022 tournament record: Defeat No. 13 Vermont 75-71; defeated No. 12 of New Mexico State 53-48. defeated No. 1 Gonzaga 74-68 Twenty years ago, Eric Muselman was appointed coach of the Golden State Warriors. He was in his 30s and had secured the job of his dreams. Two years later, he was fired after losing the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Musselman cited the arc of his story on Thursday after leading his team to Arkansas to a win over Gonzaga, the No. 1 seed. He told ESPN that he felt more special to win the Bay Area. But Arkansas is not the only team that cost fans the opportunity to watch a heavyweight bout between Gonzaga and Duke on Saturday. It is a program that continues to find an advantage in tight games. All NCAA tournament games are set at an average of five points. Although post-match narrative has focused on what Gonzaga failed to do, it has also minimized what the Razorbacks have achieved: This will be their second consecutive Elite Eight appearance and their second Elite Eight trip since 1995. Against a team with predictions The first three drafts of the NBA he picked Chet Holggren and most likely the Pan American Drew Tim on the floor, Jaleen Williams, the NBA candidate in 10 legs, kept his own. JD Notae was very fast for Gonzaga’s guards. Au’Diese Toney, Trey Wade and Stanley Umude were very athletic. If the Razorbacks can beat the most dominant team in college basketball this season, then nothing is impossible for this group, which has made just 11.7% of its holdings since the start of the NCAA Tournament. Next: vs. Duke (Saturday, 8:49 pm ET, TBS) I’m playing 0:46 North Carolina has a pair of 3s back-to-back by Caleb Love and a clutch tip by Armando Bacot to advance to the Elite Eight.
  6. North Carolina tar heelsOriginal seed: No. 8Elite Eight seeds: No. 22022 tournament record: Defeat No. 9 Marquette 95-63; defeated No. 1 Baylor 93-86 (OT). beat No. 4 UCLA 73-66 There were a lot of moving parts in this North Carolina roster at the beginning of the 2021-22 season. Coach Hubert Davis was assistant for almost nine years under Roy …