Thursday’s NCAA Tournament action varied significantly from the upset madness taking place in the first two rounds.
Highlighted by No. 1 Kentucky’s 78-39 dismantling of No. 5 West Virginia, Thursday’s games saw four favored squads advance. No. 3 Notre Dame capped No. 7 Wichita State’s memorable tournament run and will face off against Kentucky on Saturday night.
Like Kentucky, No. 1 Wisconsin advanced but had to hold off a late North Carolina run to do so; Tar Heel guard Marcus Paige knocked down back-to-back three’s to pull UNC within one with less than a minute left, but the Badgers were perfect from the free throw line and won by a final of 79-72. The Badgers play No. 2 Arizona on Saturday.
The madness continues tonight with a packed lineup of the final Sweet 16 games:
11 UCLA vs. 2 Gonzaga: 7:15 pm EST on CBS
8 NC State vs. 4 Louisville: 7:37 pm EST on TBS
5 Utah vs. 1 Duke: 9:45 pm EST on CBS
7 Michigan State vs. 3 Oklahoma: 10:07 pm EST on TBS