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March Madness Sweet 16 Day 2 Recap and Gig’em Gazette Bracket Challenge Update

By Matthew Bartlett

Mar 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; General view of a march madness logo during practice the day before the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; General view of a march madness logo during practice the day before the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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After more March Madness on Friday night the Elite 8 has been set and more brackets were busted in some thrilling Sweet 16 games.

The SEC, despite not being perceived as an “elite” basketball conference is sending three teams to the Elite 8. After two relatively decisive victories in the early games, the night caps proved to be some of the best basketball we’ve seen yet in the NCAA Tournament.

  • 1 Seed UNC defeated 4 Seed Butler 92-80
  • 7 Seed Baylor defeated 3 Seed Baylor 90-70
  • 2 Seed Kentucky defeated 3 Seed UCLA 86-75
  • 4 Seed Florida defeated 8 Seed Wisconsin 84-83

The Gig’em Gazette Tournament Challenge

Out of the 28 brackets submitted only 10 have their champion remaining. Five more teams lost their champion tonight as UCLA fell to Kentucky. Of the four leaders coming into Friday’s games it was that game that proved to be the difference maker. As soon as that game went final myles_ing17 2 grabbed control of the leader board. cat22alina 1 and 87Slade1 are tied for first by points, but each has Villanova as their champion.

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We’ve also seen our first few brackets hit zero points possible remaining. At the conclusion of Friday night’s games there are three brackets that are officially “busted”. They have no correct Final Four picks left. That’s pretty rough, but let’s be honest – most of us are their by this point every year. A shoutout to those ending their March Madness successes early: 5jcw51 (520 points), Japowell98 1 (510 points), and missaggie (470 points).

Speaking of most of us, Site Expert Matthew Bartlett (@_MBartlett_) saw his champion (UCLA) knocked out. He has a few more opportunities to make up some ground with Gonzaga and Kansas still alive, but his chances of cutting down the nets seem to have run their course.

Teams Selected As Champions

(The number of championship selections in parenthesis)

  • 1 Villanova (7) – Eliminated in Round of 32 by Wisconsin 65-62
  • 1 Kansas (5) – Won in Sweet 16 over Purdue 98-66
  • 3 UCLA (4) – Eliminated in the Sweet 16 by Kentucky 86-75
  • 2 Duke (4) – Eliminated in Round of 32 by South Carolina 88-81
  • 1 Gonzaga (3) – Won in Sweet 16 over West Virginia 61-58
  • 5 Iowa State (1) – Eliminated in Round of 32 by Purdue 80-76
  • 1 UNC (1) – Won in Sweet 16 over Butler 92-80
  • 2 Kentucky (1) – Won in Sweet 16 over UCLA 86-75
  • 2 Arizona (1) – Eliminated in the Sweet 16 by Xavier 73-71

Next: Aggies in the NFL Draft with PFF

The Elite 8 is set and something doesn’t quite seem even. On one side of the bracket you have Florida, South Carolina, Gonzaga, and Xavier. The other four teams remaining are Kansas, Oregon, UNC, and Kentucky. With the exception of maybe the Zags, you’d think every team on the other side of the bracket would be favored in a potential title game. Sometimes March makes for some crazy things.

***Stats from ESPN***