If you were bright and savvy enough to use The Bilastrator's picks from the "More Than Five Minutes Bracket" piece on ESPN, a hearty congratulations on being at the top of your respective bracket pools. As we enter the Sweet 16, The Bilastrator gifted you 12 of the 16 teams that remain, with seven teams remaining projected to reach the Elite Eight and all four Final Four selections remaining. Kentucky, Auburn and Oregon were impediments to our perfection, and NC State is the lone slipper-wearer, overcoming mental and physical fatigue to do the unthinkable: win seven games in 11 days. Amazing.
The Sweet 16 is an interesting group. All four No. 1 seeds remain, all No. 2 seeds remain, two No. 3 seeds remain and two No. 4 seeds remain. The lowest single-digit seed remaining is No. 6 seed Clemson, and the sole double-digit seed remaining is NC State.
Of the remaining 16 teams, only two are mid-majors: Gonzaga and San Diego State. Those two programs are hardly Cinderellas; Gonzaga is participating in its ninth consecutive Sweet 16, and San Diego State was a Final Four team last year. Fourteen of the Sweet 16 teams are major conference teams.
Of the Sweet 16 teams, four are from the ACC; three are from the Big East; two each from the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC; and one each from the Pac-12, Mountain West and West Coast Conference. Including the play-in games, the Big East is 6-0, the ACC 8-1, the Pac-12 6-3, the Big Ten 6-4, the Big 12 7-6, the SEC 5-6 and the Mountain West 4-5.
Based upon the KenPom.com efficiency ratings, the Sweet 16 includes 13 of the top 14 teams in the country and 15 of the top 23. The lowest-rated team remaining is NC State, rated 52nd by KenPom. In a season in which March chaos was expected, the bracket has been written in chalk.
Here are The Bilastrator's rankings of the remaining 16 teams still alive to compete for the national championship -- which is, in the end, what this tournament is really all about. As always, you're welcome.
No. 16 San Diego State Aztecs
NO. 5 SEED | EAST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 12 Alabama-Birmingham 69-65
Round of 32: def. No. 13 Yale 85-56
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 1 UConn (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The Aztec program has championship DNA, and the most improved player in the nation in Jaedon LeDee. An elite defensive team with a deliberate but solid offense, San Diego State shot the lights out against Yale, hitting 13 of 27 from deep. That marksmanship was from a team that shot only 32% from distance on the season -- ranking in the bottom third of Division I -- and the lowest among the remaining teams in the field. If San Diego State shoots the ball like it did against the Ivy champs, it can give UConn a go. Absent that, UConn is too strong, and the ride ends in the Sweet 16 for the Aztecs.
No. 15 NC State Wolfpack
NO. 11 SEED | SOUTH REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 6 Texas Tech 80-67
Round of 32: def. No. 14 Oakland 79-73 (OT)
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 2 Marquette (Friday, 7 p.m. ET)
Thanks to "Miracle Mike," the impossible ride of the Wolfpack continues. Michael O'Connell's banked 3-pointer to take the team to overtime against Virginia in the ACC tournament semifinal not only saved the season, it extended one of the great postseason runs in NCAA history. The headliner is DJ Burns Jr., the offensive lineman with Baryshnikov's feet. I have been asked several times how Burns was not this effective during the regular season. He was, but his teammates were not. Since the start of the ACC tournament, O'Connell has been a double-figure scorer and more aggressive option, Mohamed Diarra has been a rebounding and defensive machine, and Casey Morsell has been a stopper and a reliable scoring option. Burns is a tough decision on doubling. He catches it far off the lane and backs his defender down. It is a long distance to bring a double-team, and he is a terrific passer who is now passing to more capable and dangerous teammates. I keep waiting for mental and physical fatigue to show in NC State, but it hasn't shown yet. Marquette presents a challenge with its turnover-forcing pressure defense. But NC State can impact the glass, where Marquette can have issues.
No. 14 Clemson Tigers
NO. 6 SEED | WEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 11 New Mexico 77-56
Round of 32: def. No. 3 Baylor 72-64
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 2 Arizona (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET)
The ACC would like a word with the selection committee. How could you fine people, with a straight face, value the Mountain West over the ACC and the Big East? And how many years of data do you need to process things correctly? The ACC and the Big East will not hold their breath for a response while you take a bow over ratings and attendance. Clemson, which was inexplicably omitted from the field last season, has proved its mettle by beating New Mexico and Baylor to reach the Sweet 16. Clemson is solid in most every area, but not spectacular. The strength of the team is in its frontcourt, with PJ Hall and Ian Schieffelin. Hall is the scorer and Schieffelin is the rebounder and passer. Guards Joseph Girard III and Chase Hunter can both shoot it, and both are knockdown free throw shooters. The Tigers will have to slow the game down.
No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide
NO. 4 SEED | WEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 13 Charleston 109-96
Round of 32: def. No. 12 Grand Canyon 72-61
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 1 North Carolina (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET)
The Tide are rated the fourth-most efficient offense of the remaining Sweet 16 teams but the lowest-rated defense. In fact, Alabama is the only remaining team ranked outside of the top 100 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Alabama needs to hit perimeter shots and outscore the opponent, rather than rely upon getting consistent stops. Mark Sears, the lefty scoring guard, has been the engine of the Tide offense, and he has been as effective as any guard in the nation. Sears is a driver who can create his own shot, and he put up 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists against Grand Canyon in a physical shootout. Against North Carolina, scoring will not be as easy, and the Tide will need their best defensive effort. Where Alabama can be hurt is on the glass, where North Carolina excels.
No. 12 Creighton Bluejays
NO. 3 SEED | MIDWEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 14 Akron 77-60
Round of 32: def. No. 11 Oregon 86-73 (2OT)
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 2 Tennessee (Friday, 7 p.m. ET)
This is the most intriguing team in the field. Creighton is a terrific offensive team that has excellent scoring guards and an outstanding big man in Ryan Kalkbrenner. Yet, the Bluejays have no real depth. Very few teams have weapons like Baylor Scheierman, the lefty who can knock down deep shots, midrange fadeaway jumpers, rebound and pass like a point guard. Trey Alexander can score, make plays and defend multiple positions, and Steven Ashworth can hit open 3s from anywhere. The key is Kalkbrenner. He protects the rim without fouling, and he is an efficient scorer around the rim. Tennessee's physicality will be a challenge, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Creighton beat the Vols, especially if Tennessee shoots it as poorly as it did against Texas.
No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs
NO. 5 SEED | MIDWEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 12 McNeese 86-65
Round of 32: def. No. 4 Kansas 89-68
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 1 Purdue (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
This is Gonzaga's ninth consecutive Sweet 16, which is simply remarkable. Earlier this season, Gonzaga was written off as a title contender after losses to Purdue, Washington, San Diego State and UConn before the new year. A win over Kentucky at Rupp opened some eyes, but criticism went toward Kentucky rather than credit to Gonzaga. All the while, Mark Few kept building on what he had, and it has paid off. Because Gonzaga played Purdue in Hawaii, the Zags understand the challenge of Zach Edey, who had 29 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Gonzaga's offense can compete with anyone's. Can the Zags' defense and rebounding derail Purdue? It was excellent against a depleted Kansas, and Gonzaga put Hunter Dickinson in multiple actions to make him defend. Expect the Zags to try similar things with Edey. Their key guy will be Anton Watson, who had eight points in the first matchup. Watson has to be a more aggressive scorer in this one, and Gonzaga needs to keep Purdue off the free throw line.
No. 10 Marquette Golden Eagles
NO. 2 SEED | SOUTH REGION
Round of 64: def. Western Kentucky 87-69
Round of 32: def. No. 10 Colorado 81-77
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 11 NC State (Friday, 7 p.m. ET)
The Golden Eagles garner extra possessions through turnovers and turnover margin. Marquette forces turnovers at a high rate and doesn't cough the ball up much, resulting in one of the best turnover margins in the country. That will be the key against NC State. Expect Marquette to put DJ Burns in ball-screen actions all over the court, and to run him at every opportunity. Few teams are better suited to double-team and bother Burns, yet still recover if he passes out. With a healthy Tyler Kolek, who is averaging 19 points, 5.5 rebounds and 11 assists in the NCAA tournament, Marquette is crazy dangerous in the South Region. The question is, though, can Marquette rebound with NC State? If Marquette hangs on the glass, this is an Elite Eight team ... at least.
No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones
NO. 2 SEED | EAST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 15 South Dakota State 82-65
Round of 32: def. No. 7 Washington State 67-56
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 3 Illinois (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET)
The Cyclones had a good draw to the Sweet 16 and have been shooting well from deep, going 18-for-37 from behind the arc in two games. Yet, as satisfying as scoring can be, Iowa State has been winning with defense and a turnover margin of plus-6.5. Tamin Lipsey has been the leader, averaging 16 points and 5.5 assists against South Dakota State and Washington State. A key will be Iowa State's pressure to keep Illinois from playing isolation "bully ball" with its big, quick strong wings.
No. 8 Duke Blue Devils
NO. 4 SEED | SOUTH REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 13 Vermont 64-47
Round of 32: def. No. 12 James Madison 93-55
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 1 Houston (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET)
Duke played its best game against James Madison, a team that many picked to upset the Blue Devils. Duke responded by shooting 52% from the floor, shooting 14-for-28 from deep and blowing out JMU. It was never a game. Tyrese Proctor, Jeremy Roach and Jared McCain handled JMU's pressure, but that pressure does not compare to what Duke will face against Houston. The game will hinge upon Duke's physical and mental toughness, and its ability to absorb the physical challenge presented by Houston. The Cougars are relentless. Duke is perhaps a bit more skilled, but Houston is bulkier and stronger at most every position. Can Duke operate under that kind of physical stress?
No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers
NO. 2 SEED | MIDWEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 15 Saint Peter's 83-49
Round of 32: def. No. 7 Texas 62-58
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 3 Creighton (Friday, 10 p.m. ET)
The Volunteers blasted Saint Peter's but struggled to beat Texas. As usual, the Tennessee defense was difficult to deal with, but Tennessee's offense was inefficient and made it vulnerable to an early exit. Tennessee shot just 33% against the Longhorns and hit just 3 of 25 shots from deep. Turnovers, rebounding and Jonas Aidoo free throws late were the difference, but Tennessee was gettable in the second round. Creighton will present a much more difficult challenge than Texas, and Tennessee will need to operate much more efficiently on the offensive end to win.
No. 6 Illinois Fighting Illini
NO. 3 SEED | EAST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 14 Morehead State 85-69
Round of 32: def. No. 11 Duquesne 89-63
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 2 Iowa State (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET)
No team is playing better offensively than Illinois. With big, physical, isolation wings, Illinois can find a matchup advantage and go right at it. Whether Terrence Shannon Jr. or Marcus Domask, Illinois operates like Villanova used to when it had Jalen Brunson, and nobody has been better this March than Shannon. He will be a handful for Iowa State. The question is, can Illinois take care of the ball and defend the Cyclones?
No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels
NO. 1 SEED | WEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 16 Wagner 90-62
Round of 32: def. No. 9 Michigan State 85-69
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 4 Alabama (Thursday, 9:30 ET)
Wearing out Wagner was expected. Beating up Michigan State and taking away the Spartans' will was not. North Carolina was dominant for the last 30 minutes of its second-round game against Michigan State, and crushed the Spartans after Tom Izzo's crew got off to a great start. There are two keys to Carolina's success: bringing an edge defensively and Harrison Ingram being an aggressive scoring option. After a slow start on the defensive edge front, both Carolina and Ingram turned it on and ran away from the Spartans. Alabama can put up points in a hurry. If Carolina guards and rebounds with a furrowed brow and that edge, Carolina will score plenty of points. Carolina is the best defensive team in the West Region. If the Heels prove it, they'll be in Phoenix.
No. 4 Arizona Wildcats
NO. 2 SEED | WEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 15 Long Beach State 85-65
Round of 32: def. No. 7 Dayton 78-68
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 6 Clemson (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET)
There are similarities between Arizona and North Carolina. Both teams need to bring defensive intensity first, because offense is usually not a problem. That mindset is the force multiplier for both teams. Arizona has positional size and skill everywhere, and Keshad Johnson might be the key to everything. Johnson played for San Diego State last season and is the best defender and toughest competitor. With Johnson and Oumar Ballo, Arizona can guard Clemson's big men effectively. On the perimeter, the play of Kylan Boswell is an indicator of whether Arizona can win the whole thing. When the strong and athletic Boswell plays at a high level, Arizona wins.
No. 3 Houston Cougars
NO. 1 SEED | SOUTH REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 16 Longwood 86-46
Round of 32: def. No. 9 Texas A&M 100-95 (OT)
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 4 Duke (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET)
If you can't get Houston when you shoot 45 free throws, get 26 offensive rebounds and foul out half of the Houston roster, exactly when can you get Kelvin Sampson's Cougars? The Houston win over Texas A&M was amazing, and it reinforced that no team plays harder and is so relentless. It also points out that Jamal Shead is the toughest dude in the college game. If Emanuel Sharp and L.J. Cryer continue to make shots, Shead will not let Houston lose. Duke is a challenge, but Houston is relentless. Relentless is hard to beat.
No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers
NO. 1 SEED | MIDWEST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 16 Grambling 78-50
Round of 32: def. No. 8 Utah State 106-67
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 5 Gonzaga (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
The baggage that Purdue was expected to carry has clearly been dropped. The Boilermakers were superb in the first and second rounds, and Zach Edey continues to prove that he belongs among the game's best and most impactful big men, ever. The last player to put up similar numbers to Edey in the first two games of the tournament was Lew Alcindor at UCLA. If Purdue takes care of the ball and handles pressure, all the Boilermakers have to do is make open shots off of the defense played to stop Edey. Edey will dominate the paint and his teammates need to hold their own on the perimeter. Purdue can be beaten, but it will take a great effort to do it in the Midwest Region.
No. 1 UConn Huskies
NO. 1 SEED | EAST REGION
Round of 64: def. No. 16 Stetson 91-52
Round of 32: def. No. 9 Northwestern 75-58
Sweet 16 opponent: No. 5 San Diego State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Going back to last year's NCAA tournament, UConn has now played eight straight games without being challenged, and has won eight straight games by double digits. Simply put, UConn is the best team, period. That is not to say UConn cannot be beaten, but it will take a truly great performance to clip the Huskies in this tournament. UConn is fully healthy, with Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan playing injury-free, and the results are impressive. UConn played nowhere near its best game against Northwestern, and blew out the Wildcats despite the Huskies shooting only 3-of-22 from deep. UConn has size, depth, great guards, rim-protecting big men and an offense that is beautiful to watch and hard to guard. And the UConn defense has gone from good to truly elite over the past month. The biggest threat to UConn, before Phoenix, is Illinois because of its isolation scoring ability. A second national championship is not a given, but UConn is the clear favorite -- and for good reason.