It’s okay. We know you had Villanova … or Duke … or Louisville. Your bracket is busted. However, it’s more important than ever that you don’t stop watching the NCAA Tournament. Now that we’re truly into the round of 16, the madness is truly about to be put into March Madness.
Here are the games we can’t wait to see this weekend, along with each game’s corresponding TV schedule.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports.
Photo: Getty
March Madness 2017: Can't Miss Sweet 16 Games
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3 Baylor vs 7 South Carolina
March 24, New York, 7:29 p.m. EST, TBS
The Baylor Bears, who were once ranked No. 1 in the country earlier in the season, come into a Sweet 16 matchup with Cinderella South Carolina. Head coach Frank Martin has the Gamecocks in their first Sweet 16 in school history. Everyone is eager to know if -- after they tore through Marquette and Duke -- are the Gamecocks for real or will the clock strike midnight?
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1 Gonzaga vs 4 West Virginia
March 23, San Jose, 7:39 p.m. EST, TBS
Mark Few may easily have his best team ever at Gonzaga, so hopes are high. But West Virginia was another team at the top of the rankings earlier this year, knocking off No. 1 Kansas at one point early in the season. Gonzaga isn't necessarily the little guy anymore after watching their annual run in the tournament for the last several years. But still, the Spokane sexiness hasn't ever made a Final Four. They'll have to get past the crazy athletic Mountaineers in order to have a shot at the regional final.
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(Dream Elite 8 matchup) 1 Gonzaga vs 2 Arizona
Time: TBD
(Would be March 25 in San Jose)
The matchup we're praying for in the West Region is this: Zags vs. Wildcats. Not only would it be a re-match from earlier this year (the Zags won 69-62), again, a win would give Gonzaga -- America's favorite underdog -- their first trip to the Final Four. Analysts and projections love the Zags, but Arizona is a team capable of winning the national championship as well. It's going to be a battle of goliaths.
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1 Kansas vs 4 Purdue
March 23, Kansas City, 9:39 p.m. EST, CBS
Kansas has been playing ridiculous since losing in the first round of the Big 12 tournament and may be the most athletic team in the country, led by two possible lottery picks in Frank Mason and Josh Jackson. They're a No. 1 team and looking like it right now. However, Purdue is no slouch. The Boilermakers are led by Caleb Swanigan, who leads the NCAA with 28 double-doubles this season and just helped beat a very tough Iowa State team, who beat KU earlier this year. This is a game Purdue is very capable of winning, even while being played in Kansas City, practically a home game for KU.
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3 UCLA vs 2 Kentucky
March 24, Memphis 9:39 p.m., EST, CBS
Some are saying that UCLA guard Lonzo Ball is the most exciting college player to watch since Magic Johnson. While that comparison is a stretch, it's not unreasonable to imagine Ball leading the Bruins to their 12th NCAA title, similar to how Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a 'ship in 2003. The problem? Kentucky, as per usual, is stacked full of lottery picks -- basically a future NBA All-Star team. The Wildcats could be dominant, or very inconsistent throughout two halves of basketball. No matter who shows up to play, this game will have the most talent on the floor than any other in the tournament so far.
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(Dream Elite 8 matchup) 1 North Carolina vs 3 UCLA
Time: TBD
(Game would be the 26th in Memphis)
The matchup we're praying for: Roy Williams' UNC squad vs. Ball and UCLA. Both teams are incredibly talented and well coached. It's very possible whomever wins this game will win the entire tournament. But we still hope they lose to Gonzaga if they make it to the final game. 😉
