NCAA tournament: Analyzing Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight games
We are officially down to eight teams left in the NCAA tournament, with Elite Eight action getting under way Saturday.
What do you need to know about the four matchups which will determine this year's Final Four? Let's take a look:
West Regional: No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 1 Gonzaga (Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET)
The first regional final has arguably the most intriguing storyline, as both Xavier and Gonzaga are playing to go to the first Final Four in school history. The Zags had to survive a wild Sweet 16 game against West Virginia — where the Mountaineers had two game-tying shots in the final minute rim out — but are now one step away from Phoenix. Things won't be easy, though, against the 11th-seeded Musketeers, who shot nearly 53 percent from the field in a win over second-seeded Arizona on Thursday.
Midwest Regional: No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 1 Kansas (8:49 p.m. ET)
The Jayhawks are unquestionably the hottest team in the tournament, scoring 90+ points on all three of their opponents so far in the tournament (that included a 98-66 win over Big Ten regular season champ Purdue in the Sweet 16). Still, things won't be easy against Oregon, the regular season Pac-12 champs. The Ducks are down key role player Chris Boucher (who tore his ACL in the Pac-12 tournament) but have managed to survive and advance, with their last two wins coming by a total of four points. Tyler Dorsey has been the star for Oregon, tallying at least 20 points in each of the Ducks' five postseason wins.
East Region: No. 7 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Florida (Sunday, 2:20 p.m. ET)
The Florida Gators gave us an all-SEC regional final, thanks to the most thrilling finish imaginable. Chris Chiozza hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, in overtime, to give the Gators a wild, 84-83 victory. With the win Florida now advances to face South Carolina, the darling of the tournament, which beat Baylor 70-50. These two met twice during the regular season, with each team winning once on its home court.
South Regional: No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 1 North Carolina (Sunday, 5:05 p.m. ET)
The final Elite Eight game will be the most anticipated, as two of college basketball's bluebloods will meet in Memphis. North Carolina is coming into this one off a relatively easy 92-80 win over Butler, while Kentucky made a statement with an 86-75 win over UCLA in the Sweet 16 as De'Aaron Fox went off for 39 points. Speaking of big scoring games, remember, these two teams played an instant-classic in Las Vegas in December, with Malik Monk going off for 47 points. Hopefully the encore will be just as good.
