Who is in the Sweet 16? The first two rounds of the men’s NCAA Tournament are in the rearview mirror and it’s mostly been chalk to this point. Heading into the Sweet Sixteen all four No. 1 seeds and three No. 2. seeds have advanced with only one single double-digit seed (No. 10 Arkansas) left playing.
Now things get interesting. With the mid-tier programs out of the way, we get to see the best teams in college basketball go head to head on Thursday and Friday with trips to the Elite Eight at stake. Ahead of the action, our Sweet 16 preview will take you through the schedule, top players to watch and deliver predictions.
Sweet 16 schedule 2025
Here is the Sweet 16 schedule that starts on Thursday, including tip-off time and TV info. Below you can find information on the best players in the Sweet Sixteen and the top games.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | (6) BYU vs (2) Alabama | 7:09 PM | CBS |
| Thursday | (4) Maryland vs (1) Florida | 7:39 PM | TBS, truTV |
| Thursday | (4) Arizona vs (1) Duke | 9:39 PM | CBS |
| Thursday | (10) Arkansas vs (3) Texas Tech | 10:09 PM | TBS, truTV |
| Friday | (60 Ole Miss vs (2) Michigan State | 7:09 PM | CBS |
| Friday | (3) Kentucky vs (2) Tennessee | 7:39 PM | TBS, truTV |
| Friday | (5) Michigan vs (1) Auburn | 9:39 PM | CBS |
| Friday | (4) Purdue vs (1) Houston | 10:09 PM | TBS, truTV |
Related: College Basketball Games Today, March Madness schedule for men and women
Best players to watch in Sweet Sixteen
Here are the best players to watch in the Sweet 16 games. Of note, this list is a combination of some of the top 2025 NBA Draft prospects and the best players in college basketball.
1. Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
Being the best player in college basketball at just 18 years old is a remarkable accomplishment. Living up to generational hype as the face of the biggest blueblood program in the sport is absurd. Cooper Flagg is doing both. After being sidelined by an injury during the ACC Tournament, Flagg has risen to the occasion in March Madness. He’s shot 47.83 percent from the field – shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line – while scoring 14-plus points in blowout wins over Mount St. Mary’s (93-49) and Baylor (89-66). Flagg’s defensive prowess is already elite and he’s contributing in other areas – 16 rebounds and 11 assists in two games – while being an effective scored. Already expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg is proving the hype is real.
Related: Cooper Flagg NBA comparison revealed
2. Johni Broome, F, Auburn
The top candidates for Naismith College Player of the Year – Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome – will both be playing in the Sweet 16. Broome, a senior for the Auburn Tigers, averaged a double-double (18.4 PPG and 10.7 RPG) during the regular season while shooting 50.9 percent from the field. The 6-foot-10 forward has been great on the glass in the NCAA Tournament (23 total rebounds) but his scoring efficiency – 11 PPG on 40.9% shooting from the field – has dipped. Entering the Sweet Sixteen, Broome is viewed as a fringe first-round talent who lacks the high-end athleticism to be an impact player in the NBA. However, a strong showing against the Michigan Wolverines could at least lock him into Round 1.
3. Derik Queen, C, Maryland
A five-star 247 Sports recruit, Baltimore native Derik Queen is adding to his legacy back home. The 6-foot-10 center led the Maryland Terrapins to a comeback win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, slamming the dagger into Colorado State’s heart with the game-winner as time expired in a 72-71 win. Through two March Madness games, Queen is averaging 14.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. The freshman’s draft stock is also on the rise with this push likely making him a top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. For now, though, he’s focused on taking the Terps as far as he can.
4. Walter Clayton Jr, G, Florida
Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. has been clutch in the NCAA tournament. He opened things up with an easy 23 points in the Round 1 victory over Norfolk State and then followed that up with late-game heroics in the second round of a 77-75 win over UConn. Against the reigning champion, Clayton came through with 15 second-half points, leading the Gators to a comeback win over UConn. Clayton is currently viewed as a fringe NBA Draft prospect, but the 6-foot-4 guard’s perimeter shooting (9-for-17) through two games should be catching the attention of a few scouts. If Clayton Jr. can lead Florida to a title, he should at least be a second-round pick.
5. Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
Cooper Flagg was the top recruit in the Duke Blue Devils’ 2024 class, but forward Kon Knueppel was also a 247 Sports‘ five-star recruit rated as a top-20 player. The 6-foot-7 wing has exceeded expectations in his age-19 season, averaging 14.1 PPG during the regular season and averaging 2.1 three-pointers made per game. The freshman has been a little quieter through his first two March Madness contests – 9 PPG, 2.5 APG and 2 RPG – but he will be integral on Thursday for Duke to take out Arizona. As for Knueppel’s draft stock, he’s currently a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
6. Egor Demin, G, BYU
BYU Cougars guard Egor Demin has one of the most fascinating backstories of any player in the Sweet 16. A 247 Sports‘ five-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, the 6-foot-9 guard came over from Moscow, Russia and has already played with Real Madrid. Demin offers outstanding size and his passing ability on the pick-and-roll makes the Cougars’ offense difficult to stop. However, he also just shot 41.1 percent from the field this season and is coming off a 3-or-10 game in the nail-biting win over Wisconsin. If the game is on the line against Alabama, Demin can find the right guy for the final shot but he’s not the one to take it. A strong outing in the Sweet 16 would at least give him a shot of being a top-14 pick in the NBA Draft.
7. Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
There is going to be plenty of pressure on Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson to step up after a rough shooting performance in the second round. The 6-foot-3 guard went 1-for-1`0 from the field – 0-for-5 from the perimeter – in the 71-63 win over New Mexico. However, Richardson made up for his shortcomings with 8 combined steals and rebounds with 2 steals. He’s very capable of getting hot – five games with 20-plus points this season – and he was great in the second half of the regular season. Even as an undersized guard, Richardson’s two-way ability and his feel for the game will make him a first-round pick in 2025. The freshman’s basketball IQ and ability to hit big shots are also why he could be an X-factor in the Sweet 16 against Ole Miss.
8. Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
Michigan Wolverines center Danny Wolf has been huge for the team during the NCAA Tournament. In the win over Texas A&M, he scored 14 points with 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. A transfer out of Yale, Wolf moves incredibly well for his size and also offers nice handles and passing ability for a big man. If Michigan is going to pull off the upset over No. 1 Auburn, Wolf will have to win some head-to-head battle against Johni Broome. If he does that, Wolfe could be a top-20 pick this summer.
Ranking Sweet 16 games
Here’s our rankings of the Sweet 16 matchups this week.
- No. 1 Florida vs No. 4 Maryland
- No. 2 Tennessee vs No. 3 Kentucky
- No. 1 Auburn vs No. 5 Michigan
- No. 1 Duke vs No. 4 Arizona
- No. 3 Texas Tech vs No. 10 Arkansas
- No. 1 Houston vs No. 4 Purdue
- No. 2 Alabama vs No. 6 BYU
- No. 2. Michigan State vs No. 6 Ole Miss
Sweet 16 predictions
Let’s dive into our Sweet 16 predictions for each matchup.
No. 1 Florida over No. 4 Maryland
After narrowly sneaking past UConn, the Florida Gators get a little time to regroup before another tough matchup against the Maryland Terrapins. Freshman center Derik Queen has this team riding high after Sunday’s game-winner, but the Terrapins haven’t been playing their best basketball as of late. We expect the Terrapins to keep it close in the first half before Walter Clayton Jr. leads Florida to an eight-point win with another 20-plus points from the Gators’ star.
No. 2 Tennessee sneaks past No. 3 Kentucky
The Tennessee Volunteers have been winning with defense this season, allowing the third-fewest points per game (62.9) among Power 4 teams. It’s in stark contrast to a Kentucky Wildcats team that averaged the fourth-most points per game (85.0) among Power 4 programs. Tennessee has the coaching advantage with a better lineup and defense can often be a huge difference-maker in the Sweet 16. We have the Volunteers advancing to the Elite Eight, where they would face Houston.
No. 1 Auburn vs No. 5 Michigan
Bruce Pearl’s teams have a history of disappointing when dealing with big expectations and the pressure is on the No. 1-ranked team in the NCAA Tournament. However, Auburn matches up pretty well against the Michigan Wolverines and we’ve seen far more signs of dominance from the Tigers (+32 point differential) than the Wolverines (+15 point differential) in the tournament. Broome rises to the occasion on Friday night, carrying Auburn to the Elite 8.
No. 1 Duke cruises past No. 4 Arizona
The Duke Blue Devils have the most talented roster in the Sweet Sixteen and the best player in college basketball. Arizona narrowly scraped by Oregon in the second round and now it has to take on phenom Cooper Flagg. This feels like a one-sided matchup, with Duke jumping out to a big lead in the first half and ultimately cruising to a double-digit victory on Thursday night to reach the Elite 8 again.
No. 10 Arkansas pulls off surprise win over Texas Tech
John Calipari already took down long-time rival Rick Pitino and a St. John’s team that saw thought would at least reach the Final Four. Injuries plagued the Razorbacks’ roster early in the season, resulting in a slow start in SEC play and that directly resulted in this being a No. 10 seed. Texas Tech has had a much easier road to the Sweet Sixteen, but they can get a bit reliant on perimeter scoring. We predict a rough night for the Red Raiders’ shooters from the three-point line, including two missed shots late, which allows Arkansas to miraculously reach the Elite Eight.
No. 1 Houston rides defense to victory over No. 4 Purdue
The Houston Cougars were the best defensive team in college basketball during the regular season (58.4 PPG allowed) and they’ve looked sharp during the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the Purdue Boiler Makers are coming off wins over High Point and McNeese. Houston’s defense will overwhelm the Boilermakers, resulting in a sub-38 percent performance from the field with 14-plus turnovers. Led. by guard L.J. Cryer, who will score 20-plus points with 4 assists, Houston advances.
No. 2 Alabama knocks out No. 6 BYU
The Alabama vs BYU matchup is generating some of the least amount of buzz in the Sweet 16, but it could be one of the most competitive games on Thursday. Unfortunately for BYU, the Crimson Tide’s defense has really been on point thus far in the tournament. Clifford Omoruyi’s impact on the defensive end is going to swing this matchup, with Alabama walking out with a three-point win.
No. 2. Michigan State vs No. 6 Ole Miss
It’s another opportunity for Tom Izzo to reach the Elite Eight but he is facing an Ole Miss Rebels team that’s been rolling as of late. We’ve also seen Michigan State struggle at times, including against New Mexico in the second round, but it has always rallied. We don’t expect another rough shooting night from Jase Richardson and we’re confident Izzo will help find ways for the star freshman to overcome the Rebels’ perimeter defense. This will be a nail-biter, but Richardson hits some big shots in the closing minutes to win.