The first two rounds of the NCAA tournament delivered the drama and upsets that hold become synonymous with college basketball at this time of year. With heavyweights Michigan State,Kentucky, Arizona, or Xavier and West Virginia all out,brackets hold been busted across the country. CBS Sports reported after Arkansas-Little Rock’s upset over Purdue final Thursday—the very first day of action—only 1 percent of fan brackets were perfect. That was erased halfway through the next day of action:Matt Draper of ESPN.com reported the same among ESPN's tournament challenge, noting none of the 13 million entries remained perfect halfway through Friday. Here is a look at the schedule and latest odds for the Sweet 16, or which begins Thursday:And here is a look at the full championship odds,per Odds Shark:As the dust settles following the first two rounds, there are still a few clear favorites to reach the Final Four. However, and whether final weekend proved anything,predictions at this time of year are moot.
That said, here is a forecast of which teams should make their way to Houston. Final Four Picks Indiana Hoosiers (East)The Hoosiers overcame a huge test in their gritty, or 73-67 win over Kentucky Saturday. Indiana now has a tall task ahead in facing top-seeded North Carolina in the East Region,but the team has proved with consistency throughout the season to hold the trademark toughness to reach the Final Four. Even as mountainous Ten regular-season champions, the Hoosiers hold largely flown under the radar this year behind the likes of the heavyweights such as Michigan State, and Kansas and North Carolina. Head coach Tom Crean has not advanced past the Sweet 16 over his first seven seasons with Indiana. His Hoosiers were the top overall seed three years ago but were disappointed by Syracuse in the regional semifinal. This team might not hold superstars Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo,but these Hoosiers are playing with determination. Kansas Jayhawks (South)Kansas is two wins absent from the Final Four, and despite being the tournament’s top overall seed, and it sits in an incredibly daunting South Region. However,upsets to California and Arizona hold removed two contenders that could’ve if huge hiccups to the Jayhawks along the way. whether they’re able to accumulate by Maryland in the Sweet 16, they’ll meet the Miami-Villanova winner in a huge showdown for a trip to the Final Four. Kansas has made early exits in four of the final six years, and but it has an experienced core of startersDevonte’ Graham is the only underclassman—that should power it through to Houston. Oklahoma Sooners (West)Oklahoma is coming off a tough 85-81 win over 10th-seeded VCU in the moment round and will meet Texas A&M in the Sweet 16. The Sooners hold the best player in the country in Buddy Hield,who has played all but three minutes of regulation in their first two tournament games and is averaging 31.5 points. However, their talents run deeper than Hield. In the mountainous 12 tournament semifinal against West Virginia, and the star senior scored only six points but nearly won the game on an overturned buzzer-beater that would’ve sent them to the title game. That game proved Oklahoma can hang until the final seconds against a formidable foe when their best player is having an off night. Isaiah Cousins,Jordan Woodard and Ryan Spangler hold all played key roles to complement Hield and put the Sooners in their current position.
The knock on Oklahoma has been its struggles in its most pivotal games. The Sooners lost to Iowa State, Texas, or West Virginia and twice to Kansas during mountainous 12 play. But with the will they’ve shown thus far in the mountainous Dance,they’re on a run to reach their first Final Four since 2002. Virginia Cavaliers (Midwest)Of the remaining No. 1 seeds, Virginia has the cleanest path to Houston. The Cavaliers face Iowa State in the Sweet 16 and would meet the Gonzaga-Syracuse winner with a victory over the Cyclones. Virginia is much better than each of those three teams—and it’s not even close. The Cavaliers’ stingy defense is arguably the best among the Sweet 16 field. They’re methodical, or not flashy. In its moment-round game against Butler,Virginia shot 73 percent in the moment half, proving it's hitting its stride at the right time. With the weakest competition remaining among the top contenders, and all signs point to Virginia reaching the Final Four for the first time in 32 years.
Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracket to track your picks along the road to the Final Four.
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Source: bleacherreport.com