Must-see TV: Sweet 16 brings a little less parity in 2024

Mar. 27—March Madness hasn't offered as much parity this year. By that, I mean most teams at the top of their regions are playing in the region semifinals on Thursday and Friday.

If all the higher seeds advanced to the Sweet 16, that would mean teams seeded No. 1 through No. 4 were playing the next two days. Only four teams advanced to this point that were seeded lower than fourth. Those are: sixth-seeded Clemson, fifth-seeded San Diego State, 11th-seeded North Carolina State and fifth-seeded Gonzaga.

In 2023, there were seven such teams above the fourth seed that reached the second weekend of the tournament. Two No. 5 seeds (Miami and San Diego State), one No. 6 seed (Creighton), one No. 7 seed (Michigan State), one No. 8 seed (Arkansas), one No. 9 seed (Florida Atlantic) and a No. 15 seed (Princeton).

The only team this year that I would classify as a Cinderella is NC State; the Wolf Pack won two games as a double-digit seed.

It's a little less fun when you don't have as many major upsets, but a fan of the game can also appreciate seeing the top seeds showcase their strength by avoiding an upset.

Don't get me wrong, there were upsets in the first round — eight to be exact. It's just that only one of those teams was able to win two games.

All four No. 1 seeds have advanced as well as the No. 2 seeds. Two No. 3 seeds were eliminated — Kentucky in the first round and Baylor in the second — as well as two No. 4 seeds — Kansas in the second round and Auburn in the first.

Now let's pick the games:

No. 6 Clemson vs. No. 2 Arizona

6:09 p.m. on Thursday, CBS Clemson has been a shock. I had the Tigers going down in the first round and not only did they prove me wrong there but then they knocked off a Baylor squad that I thought pretty highly of coming into this tournament.

I also had Arizona falling in Round of 32 to seventh-seeded Dayton. The Wildcats outlasted the Flyers to make it here.

At this point of the tournament, if a team has made it this far, I've learned over the years not to doubt it. I believe Arizona is the better team but I won't count Clemson out.

I like Clemson to keep dancing, 71-69.

No. 5 SDSU vs. No. 1 UConn

6:39 p.m. on Thursday, TBS/truTV Here's another big mistake I made in my bracket. I had the Aztecs of San Diego State falling in the first round. Now they're in the Sweet 16.

Connecticut is one of my championship teams. I think the Huskies continue playing well and roll to a win here.

UConn, 80-66.

No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 North Carolina

8:39 p.m. on Thursday, CBS Again, an upset I picked incorrectly. I thought Alabama would lose in the opening round and I was wrong.

I had North Carolina making it here but losing to Saint Mary's — which lost in the first round.

Based on performances, I like UNC better coming into the game and liked it better coming into the tournament. I think the Crimson Tide are vulnerable.

Tar Heels, 80-70.

No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Iowa State

9:09 p.m. on Thursday, TBS/truTV Hey, it's a Sweet 16 matchup I predicted correctly. Let me celebrate, I didn't do this often.

I'm sticking with my original pick of the Cyclones to move into the Elite Eight. Keep an eye on both of these defenses.

ISU, 69-65.

No. 11 NC State vs. No. 2 Marquette

6:09 p.m. on Friday, CBS I think Marquette is really a team that can win it all. NC State is really riding two hot games, but I'm not sure it can continue against a strong Big East opponent like the Golden Eagles.

Marquette, 80-75.

No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 1 Purdue

6:39 p.m. on Friday, TBS/truTV This one will be fun. You have the likely recipient of the Naismith Player of the Year award in Zach Edey versus one of the richest basketball programs in the last 15 years. The Bulldogs are making their ninth straight Sweet 16 and are in their 25th straight NCAA tournament.

Purdue has reached the Sweet 16 twice in the last three seasons but has failed to go beyond that mark. This game will come down to the wire.

Boilermakers, 68-67.

No. 4 Duke vs. No. 1 Houston

8:39 p.m. on Friday, CBS

I picked Houston to go all the way and win it all. I haven't seen anything to make me think the Cougars aren't still capable of that.

Duke was excellent in Round 2, though. This will be a good game.

Houston, 70-67.

No. 3 Creighton vs. No. 2 Tennessee

9:09 p.m. on Friday, TBS/truTV

I had Tennessee going down last weekend against Texas and the Longhorns gave the Volunteers all they could handle.

I think Creighton takes care of this one.

Bluejays, 74-70.