40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament, Elite 8

 Sweet 16

Four games in this round.

2005 NORTH CAROLINA v. 1988 OKLAHOMA

1996 KENTUCKY v. 1995 KENTUCKY

2001 ARIZONA v. 1990 UNLV

2008 KANSAS v. 1998 NORTH CAROLINA

2005 NORTH CAROLINA 109   1988 OKLAHOMA 98

-The Winners of the East - the 2005 North Carolina Tar Heels. 22 points/17 rebounds for Sean May. 26 points for Rashad McCants.  20 for Harvey Grant in the loss.

1996 KENTUCKY 112  1995 KENTUCKY 98

-The Winners of the South, the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats.  The older version of Antoine Walker scored 22 to lead the way. The younger version of Mark Pope had a double/double in the loss.  

2001 ARIZONA 110  1990 UNLV 95

-Michael Wright goes 11 for 14, 29 points and 11 rebounds and Arizona wins the West and heads to the Final Four.  17 points/10 assists for Jason Gardner.  David Butler has 19 in the defeat.

1998 NORTH CAROLINA  91   2008 KANSAS 84

-A second Carolina team reaches the final 4. 14 points/12 rebounds for Antawn Jamison; 16 points, 8 rebounds for Vince Carter. Darnell Jackson with 17 in the loss.

And there you have it.  We are set for the last 3 games of the tournament.

1996 KENTUCKY v. 2005 NORTH CAROLINA

1998 NORTH CAROLINA v. 2001 ARIZONA

40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament-Sweet 16

 Midwest

 16 teams remain, 8 games in this round to cut the field on half, all games now on neutral sites.  Here's the remaining field.

EAST

1. 1999 Duke

4. 1988 Oklahoma

2. 2005 North Carolina

14. 2016 Villanova

SOUTH

1. 1996 Kentucky

4. 1992 Duke

14. 1995 Kentucky

15. 1987 Indiana

WEST

2. 2025 Duke

11. 1990 UNLV

5. 2010 Duke

9. 2001 Arizona

MIDWEST

1. 2002 Duke

4. 2008 Kansas

7. 2000 Michigan St

11. 1998 North Carolina

1999 DUKE 

HC Mike Krzyzewski (52)

C Elton Brand (So)

F Shane Battier (So)

F Chris Carrawell (Jr)

G William Avery (So)

G Trajan Langdon (Sr)

1988 OKLAHOMA

HC Billy Tubbs (53)

C Stacey King (Jr)

F Harvey Grant (Sr)

F Dave Sieger (Sr)

G Mookie Blaylock (Jr)

G Ricky Grace (Sr)

1988 OKLAHOMA  108     1999 DUKE  103

-The '88 Sooners reach the Elite 8.  Duke led 53-50 at the half, with 18:09 left, they were up 6. A Stacey King finger roll at 11:52 tied the score at 74. Chris Carrawell's turnaround a minute later put Duke up 5.  At 8:42, 2 Harvey Grant FTs gave the Sooners their first second half lead, 84-83. An Elton Brand putback at 1:49 tied the score after several minutes of lead changes on nearly each possession.  Dave Sieger laid one in at 1:19, then stole the ball on the other end, that possession ended in Terrence Mullins' only two points of the game, and the Sooners led by 4 with 56 seconds to play.  Duke never tied the score again and the Sooners head to the Elite 8.  20 points, 10 boards for Grant.  25 points, 8 assists for Mookie Blaylock. 18 points, 11 rebounds for King.  Elton Brand had 22 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

2005 NORTH CAROLINA (NCAA Champs)

HC Roy Williams (55)

C Sean May (Jr)

F Jawad Williams (Sr)

G Raymond Felton (Jr)

G Rashad McCants (Jr)

G Jackie Manuel (Sr)

2016 VILLANOVA  (NCAA Champs)

HC Jay Wright (55)

F Daniel Ochefu (Sr)

F Kris Jenkins (Jr)

G Jalen Brunson (Fr)

G Josh Hart (Jr)

G Ryan Arcidiacono (Sr)

2005 NORTH CAROLINA 89  2016 VILLANOVA  70

-The Heels bust Nova pretty good and head to the Elite 8; 17 points/13 rebounds for Sean May to lead the way. Josh Hart had 20 in the loss.   We'll see Carolina/Oklahoma in the Elite 8.

1996 KENTUCKY (NCAA Champs)

HC Rick Pitino (44)

F Walter McCarty

F Antoine Walker

F Derek Anderson

G Tony Delk

G Anthony Epps

1992 DUKE (NCAA Champs)

HC Mike Krzyzewski (45)

C Christian Laettner

F Grant Hill

F Brian Davis

G Bobby Hurley

G Thomas Hill

1996 KENTUCKY  118  1992 DUKE  112

Great game in the South. With 18:10 left Duke led by 7. A Jeff Sheppard midrange with a little over 14 to play tied it up.  The game remained a 1-2 point margin until a Brian Davis FT made it 83-80 Duke with 10 minutes left.  When Christian Laettner hit a turnaround with 7 and a half left, Duke was up 96-90. A minute later, Laettner made it a 7 point Duke game.  With 5 minutes left, Duke had a 10 point lead.  Antoine Walker scored the next 4.  Derek Anderson the 4 after that.  At 2:43 a Ron Mercer midrange tied the score at 109.  Mercer stole the ball on the next Duke possession, wound up with two FT and Kentucky had the lead and would not give it back.  32 points and 7 rebounds for Walker, 21 for Mercer.  Laettner had 41 points and 8 boards in the loss.

1995 KENTUCKY 

HC Rick Pitino (43)

C Andre Riddick (Sr)

F Walter McCarty (Jr)

F Rodrick Rhodes (Jr)

G Tony Delk (Jr)

G Jeff Sheppard (So)

1987 INDIANA (NCAA Champs)

HC Bobby Knight (46)

C Dean Garrett

F Daryl Thomas

F Ricky Calloway

G Steve Alford

G Keith Smart

1995 KENTUCKY 101  1987 INDIANA 96

-The '95 UK and '96 UK teams will meet in the Elite 8.  Indiana trailed by as much as 11 in the second half and never got closer than 3.  Walter McCarty had a double/double to lead the balanced Kentucky attack.  25 for Steve Alford in the loss.  

2025 DUKE

HC Jon Scheyer (38)

C Khaman Maluach (Fr)

F Cooper Flagg (Fr)

F Kon Knueppel (Fr)

G Tyrese Proctor (Jr)

G Sion James (Sr)

1990 UNLV (NCAA Champs)

HC Jerry Tarkanian (60)

C David Butler (Sr)

F Larry Johnson (Jr)

F Stacey Augmon (Jr)

G Greg Anthony (Jr)

G Anderson Hunt (So)

1990 UNLV 112  2025 DUKE 101

-Vegas reaches the Elite 8; 21 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks for Larry Johnson, 17 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists for Stacey Augmon, 20 points for David Butler.  Cooper Flagg has 19 pts and 10 boards in the loss.

2010 DUKE (NCAA Champions)

HC Mike Krzyzewski (63)

C Miles Plumlee (So)

F Lance Thomas (Sr)

F Kyle Singler (Jr)

G Jon Scheyer (Sr)

G Nolan Smith (Jr)

2001 ARIZONA

HC Lute Olson (66)

C Loren Woods (Sr)

F Michael Wright (Jr)

F Richard Jefferson (Jr)

G Jason Gardner (So)

G Gilbert Arenas (So)

2001 ARIZONA 84   2010 DUKE 75

-Duke losing game after game here in the Sweet 16; 16 points for Gilbert Arenas leads the way in a balanced performance by the Cats, Nolan Smith had 24 in the loss.

2002 DUKE

HC Mike Krzyzewski (55)

C Carlos Boozer (Jr)

F Mike Dunleavy (Jr)

F Dahntay Jones (Jr)

G Jay Williams (Jr)

G Chris Duhon (So)

2008 KANSAS (NCAA Champions)

HC Bill Self (46)

C Darrel Arthur (So)

F Darnell Jackson (Sr)

F Brandon Rush (Jr)

G Mario Chalmers (Jr)

G Russell Robinson (Sr)

2008 KANSAS 90  2002 DUKE 89

-Duke had 5 of the Sweet 16 and dropped every game.  Duke led 43-36 early in the second half; with 14 minutes to play the lead had ballooned to 12.  With 9 minutes left, Duke led by 13.  At 2:44 Darrell Arthur converted a 3 pt play and Kansas led 83-82.  2 Carlos Boozer FT at 56 seconds to play put Duke up 86-85. It was 86-86 with 14 seconds left when Brandon Rush had a 4 point play, a triple+ a foul that put the game out of reach.  19 for Darnell Jackson.  20 and 10 for Carlos Boozer in the loss.  One game left.

2000 MICHIGAN ST (NCAA Champions)

HC Tom Izzo (45)

F Morris Peterson (Sr)

F Andre Hutson (Jr)

F AJ Granger (Sr)

G Mateen Cleaves (Sr)

G Charlie Bell (Jr)

1998 NORTH CAROLINA 

HC Bill Guthridge (51)

C Makhtar N'Diaye (Sr)

F Antawn Jamison (Jr)

F Vince Carter (Jr)

G Shammond Williams (Sr)

G Ed Cota (So)

1998 NORTH CAROLINA  94  2000 MICHIGAN ST 82

-Carolina joins Kentucky with 2 teams reaching the Elite 8.  Antawn Jamison leads 6 Tar Heels in double figures with 20 points and 12 rebounds.  14 points and 9 assists for Mateen Cleaves in the loss.

And that sets up the Elite 8:

2005 NORTH CAROLINA v. 1988 OKLAHOMA

1996 KENTUCKY v. 1995 KENTUCKY

2001 ARIZONA v. 1990 UNLV

2008 KANSAS v. 1998 NORTH CAROLINA

Each game has 1 NCAA Champion; the '05 Heels won the title, the '88 Sooners lost in the Finals; the '96 Wildcats won the title, the previous year's UK team lost in the regional final.  The Running Rebels won the title, Arizona lost in the Finals, and that '08 Kansas team won the title, while Carolina lost in the final four.  

40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament - Midwest Region

 

One more Final Four team to name, lets play the MW region, with the top overall seed in the field, the 2001 Duke Blue Devils.  

1. 2001 Duke Blue Devils              41-4              National Champions (d. Arizona 82-72)

2. 1992 Indiana Hoosiers              31-8              2nd Big 10 (L Semis Duke 81-78)

3. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats           40-6         SEC Tourney Champ (L NCAA Finals Arizona 84-79)

4. 2008 Kansas Jayhawks             43-3              National Champions (d. Memphis 75-68)

5. 2015 Kentucky Wildcats           42-2              SEC Champs (L. Sems Wisconsin 71-64)

6. 2015 Duke Blue Devils         41-4                National Champions (d. Wisconsin 68-63)

7. 2000 Michigan St Spartans       38-7             National Champions (d. Florida 89-76)

8. 1989 Michigan Wolverines        36-7            National Champions  (d. Seton Hall 80-79)

9. 2013 Louisville Cardinals         41-5             National Champions (d. Michigan 82-76)

10. 1997 Kansas Jayhawks             36-3            Big 12 Champs (L Regional Semi Arizona 85-82)

11. 1998 North Carolina Tar Heels  38-5         ACC Tourney Champs (L Semis Utah 65-59)

12. 2006 Florida Gators                   39-6         National Champions (d. UCLA 73-57)

13. 1991 Duke Blue Devils             38-7            National Champions (d. Kansas 72-65)

14. 2000 Duke Blue Devils              31-6            ACC Champs (L Regional Semi Florida 87-78)

15. 2011 Ohio St Buckeyes              36-4            Big 10 Champs (L Regional Semi Kentucky 62-60)

16. 2022 Kansas Jayhawks              40-6            National Champions (d. UNC 72-69)

16. 2001 Michigan St Spartans       32-6            Big 10 Champs (L Semis Arizona 80-61)

PLAY IN GAME

2022 KANSAS 93  2001 MICHIGAN ST  82

-National Champion Jayhawks have to play their way in - they do, 24 for Ochai Agbaji.  Zach Randolph with 14 in the loss.

ROUND ONE

1. 2001 DUKE 102  16. 2022 KANSAS 74

-Duke's already got the plurality of teams in the Sweet 16 and the top seed in the MW moves to round 2.  23 for both Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy.  26 in the loss for Agbaji.

8. 1989 MICHIGAN 106  9. 2013 LOUISVILLE 101

-OT battle between these National Champions.  Michigan led by 10 with 4:45 left in regulation, led by 6 with 31 seconds left, but two triples from junior guard Russ Smith sent the game to OT.  Louisville led 99-98 with 1:41 left, but got outscored 8-2 down the stretch to get sent home.  29 for Rumeal Robinson, 21 points and 8 boards for Glen Rice.  Double/Double for Gorgui Dieng in the loss.

5. 2015 KENTUCKY  80  12.  2006 FLORIDA 71

-15 pts, 10 boards for Trey Lyles, a double/double for Al Horford in the defeat.

4. 2008 KANSAS 90  13.  1991 DUKE 81

-Not every Duke team survives; sophomore Guard Sherron Collins scores 14, 7 assists, 5 steals. Christian Laettner scores 22 in the loss.

 

11. 1998 NORTH CAROLINA 97   6. 2015 DUKE 96

-Carolina took the lead 64-63 at 13:43 left and never gave it back.  Senior guard Shammond Williams scored 29, 22 points and 14 boards for Antawn Jamison. Jahlil Okafor scores 25 in the loss.

3. 1997 KENTUCKY 111   14. 2000 DUKE  102

-Duke teams drops 3 straight games. 26 for senior forward Derek Anderson, Shane Battier has 27 in the loss.

7. 2000 MICHIGAN ST 98   10. 1997 KANSAS 93

-The National Champs from 2000 head to round 2.  Senior forward Morris Peterson goes for 23 and 9 rebounds.  Double/double for senior guard Mateen Cleaves.  20 for Raef LaFrenz in the loss.

2. 1992 INDIANA  99    15. 2011 OHIO ST  96

-Round one is over; junior guard Calbert Cheaney scores 20 as the Hoosiers edge the Buckeyes; 31 for William Buford in the loss.

ROUND TWO

1. 2001 Duke v. 8. 1989 Michigan

5. 2015 Kentucky v. 4. 2008 Kansas

3. 1997 Kentucky v. 11. 1998 North Carolina

2. 1992 Indiana v. 7. 2000 Michigan St

We're about to finish Round 2 and our Sweet 16 will be set.

1. 2001 DUKE  113  8. 1989 MICHIGAN 109

-Duke places one final team into the Sweet 16. With 16 minutes left Michigan led by 10, less than 2 minutes later the game was tied.  With 11:50 left, Duke was up 6 - that's less than 5 minutes and a 16 point swing.  Michigan tied it up with 2 minutes to play.  With 66 seconds left, the game was tied at 106, Duke then scored the next 7 points and won the game. Shane Battier scores 43 points, has 8 rebounds, it's the new high point game in the tournament.  Glen Rice had 37 in the loss.

4. 2008 KANSAS   78   5. 2015 KENTUCKY 61

-Kansas places a team in the Sweet 16.  Balanced attack for the Jayhawks, senior guard Russell Robinson led with 14 points; Kentucky thoroughly frustrated on the night, just 9 points for Karl Anthony Towns.  

11. 1998 NORTH CAROLINA  82  3. 1997 KENTUCKY 73

-Both Kentucky teams go down in round two, 23 points and 11 boards for Antawn Jamison as the Heels make the Sweet 16.  Ron Mercer had 14 in the loss.  One spot left.

7. 2000 MICHIGAN ST 91  2.  1992 INDIANA 90

-We get a good one to close out round 2. Michigan St led by 7 at the half, 5 minutes later, a Calbert Cheaney 3 tied the score.  At the 10 minute mark, a Matt Nover 5 footer gave the Hoosiers a 6 pt lead.  Mike Chappell hit a midrange with 6 to play to tie the score at 78.  Indiana led by 1 with 2 minutes left, Jason Richardson scored on back to back possessions for the Spartans and they wouldn't give up the lead again. 23 for Charlie Bell, 21 for Morris Peterson. Cheaney had 24 in the loss.

Leaving us with these 4 teams to join the Sweet 16.

1. 2002 DUKE v. 4. 2008 KANSAS

7. 2000 MICHIGAN ST v. 11. 1998 NORTH CAROLINA

40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament - West Region

 South

Half of the Sweet 16 is set, here's the other half of the bracket.

1. 1991 UNLV Rebels               38-2          Big West Champs (L Semis Duke 79-77)

2. 2025 Duke Blue Devils         39-5          ACC Champs (L Semis Houston 70-67)

3. 1993 North Carolina Tar Heels  40-4         National Champions (d. Michigan 77-71)

4. 2019 Gonzaga Bulldogs        36-5         WCC Champs (L Regional Final TTech 75-69)

5. 2010 Duke Blue Devils         41-5          National Champions (d. Baylor 61-59)

6. 1988 Arizona Wildcats         39-4          Pac 10 Champs (L Semis Oklahoma 86-78)

7. 2021 Gonzaga Bulldogs        35-2          WCC Champs (L Finals Baylor 86-70)

8. 2017 North Carolina Tar Heels  39-7   National Champions (d. Gonzaga 71-65)

9. 2001 Arizona Wildcats         33-8          2nd Pac 10 (L Finals Duke 82-72)

10. 1995 UCLA Bruins             38-1          National Champions (d. Arkansas 89-78)

11. 1990 UNLV Rebels              41-5         National Champions (d. Duke 103-73)

12. 2001 Stanford Cardinal      34-5         Pac 10 Champs (L Regional Final Maryland 87-73)

13. 2012 Kentucky Wildcats     44-2          National Champions (d. Kansas 67-59)

14. 2017 Gonzaga Bulldogs       42-3         WCC Champs (L Finals UNC 71-65)

15. 1986 Louisville Cardinals     38-7         National Champions (d. Duke 72-69)

16. 2011 Connecticut Huskies     38-9        National Champions (d. Butler 53-41)

16. 2004 Duke Blue Devils         35-7         ACC Champs (L Semis UConn 79-78)

PLAY IN GAME

2004 DUKE 92  2011 CONNECTICUT 89

Sophomore forward Shelden Williams goes for 20 pts and 11 rebounds and Duke knocks off the 2011 National Champs.  22 points and 7 assists for Kemba Walker in the loss.

ROUND ONE

1. 1991 UNLV 94   16. 2004 DUKE  72

-Easy win for Vegas to open the West.  Junior guard Anderson Hunt leads the way with 25.  21 points and 8 rebounds for senior forward Larry Johnson.  Double/Double for Shelden Williams in the loss. 

9. 2001 ARIZONA 106  8. 2017 NORTH CAROLINA 102

-The first OT game of the tournament.  Sophomore guard Jason Gardner hit a 3 from the top to tie it for the Cats at the end of regulation; with 95 seconds to play in OT, junior forward Richard Jefferson hit a corner 3 that put Arizona up 5, they never looked back.  20 pts, 8 boards, 5 assists from Jefferson. 19 points, 10 assists for Joel Berry in the loss.

 5. 2010 DUKE 107  12.  2001 STANFORD  99

-Junior guard Nolan Smith goes for 30 and the National Champion Blue Devils head to round 2.  25 points, 5 boards, 5 steals for junior forward Kyle Singler.  Casey Jacobsen had 28 in the loss.

 4. 2019 GONZAGA 97  13. 2012 KENTUCKY  87

-The Zags take out the National Champs from Kentucky and head to round 2.  Sophomore guard Zach Norvell has 25 points. 19 points/9 boards for Rui Hachimura.  Michael Kidd Gilchrist goes 18 and 8 in the defeat.

 

11. 1990 UNLV 97   6.  1988 ARIZONA 77

-The '90 National Champs reach round 2; 23 points/10 rebounds for Larry Johnson. 20 points for Sean Elliott in the loss.

14. 2017 GONZAGA  97  3.  1993 NORTH CAROLINA 73

-The two Vegas teams have moved on - and they are joined by the 2 Gonzaga teams.  21 for senior guard Jordan Matthews, Eric Montross with 11 points is the high point scorer for the Heels, they really got locked down.

7. 2021 GONZAGA  94  10.  1995 UCLA 85

-3 Gonzaga teams reach round 2.  23 points for Corey Kispert, 21 for Jalen Suggs.  18 for Ed O'Bannon and the National Champs get bounced.  (I fudged a little, slipping UCLA into the field, I lost one of the recent UConn title teams to the simulation not having it ready)

2. 2025 DUKE 86  15. 1986 LOUISILLE 73

-Cooper Flagg scores 25 and moves the Blue Devils into round 2.  22 for Milt Wagner in the loss.

SECOND ROUND

1. 1991 UNLV v. 9. 2001 Arizona

4. 2019 Gonzaga v. 5. 2010 Duke

11. 1990 UNLV v. 14. 2017 Gonzaga

2. 2025 Duke v. 7. 2021 Gonzaga

2 from Duke, 2 from Vegas and 3 from Gonzaga reach the second round.

9. 2001 ARIZONA 122  1. 1991 UNLV 115

-Arizona won the first OT game in the tourney in rnd 1 and now they win the second OT game to reach the Sweet 16.  51-49 Arizona at the half, neither team had more than a 5 point lead until 6 minutes remained in regulation when Arizona went up 7 with a Michael Wright putback.  3 minutes left, Larry Johnson scored from the block and UNLV trailed by 2.  A minute later H Waldman, a freshman guard, drilled back to back triples, and Vegas led 97-95. Arizona scored the next 5 - but with 22 seconds left Gilbert Arenas missed the second FT to open the door a crack - and at the buzzer, a Larry Johnson 3 sent the game into OT.  But the Cats were too much, sprinting out to a quick lead they'd never give back. Arenas led the way with 31. Wright had 15 points and 12 rebounds.  Johnson gave it all he had, 31 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 4 blocks, but we lose our first number one seed.

5. 2010 DUKE 90  4. 2019 GONZAGA 80

-Duke places its third team into Sweet 16.  Kyle Singler scores 25, Nolan Smith 22.  Rui Hachimura goes for 22 and 8 in the loss.

11. 1990 UNLV 107  14.  2017  GONZAGA 83

-Vegas does find its way into the Sweet 16, Anderson Hunt scored 28, Larry Johnson scored 21 and had 13 boards.  21 for Nigel Williams Goss in the defeat.  

2. 2025 DUKE 112  7. 2021 GONZAGA 104

-All 3 Zags squads fall in round 2 and now 4 Duke teams are safely into the sweet 16.  Cooper Flagg could not be stopped, 38 points, 6 assists and 5 boards.  28 for Jalen Suggs in the loss.

Here's who heads to the Sweet 16 from the West

5. 2010 DUKE  v.  9. 2001 ARIZONA

2. 2025 DUKE v. 11. 1990 UNLV

40 Year NCAA Basketball Tournament - South Region

 East is here.

4 teams survived the East, the top seeded '99 Duke Blue Devils, two National Champions, the '05 North Carolina Tar Heels and the '16 Villanova Wildcats - and the 1988 Oklahoma Sooners.  Who are the 4 teams that will survive the South?

1. 1996 Kentucky Wildcats           40-2           National Champions (d. Syracuse 76-67)

2. 2025 Houston Cougars        40-6          Big 12 Champs (L Finals Florida 65-63)

3. 2025 Auburn Tigers                   36-7          SEC Champs (L Semis Florida 79-73)

4. 1992 Duke Blue Devils              40-2        National Champions (d. Michigan 71-51)

5. 1998 Kentucky Wildcats      41-4              National Champions (d. Utah 78-69) 

6. 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels  40-4         National Champions (d. Mich St 89-72)

7. 1994 Arkansas Razorbacks         39-3        National Champions (d. Duke 76-72)

8. 2019 Duke Blue Devils                35-7     ACC Tourney Champ (L Regional Final Mich St 68-67)

9. 2021 Baylor Bears                     34-2       National Champions (Gonzaga 86-70)

10. 2019 Virginia Cavaliers       41-3                National Champions (d. TTech 85-77)

11. 1986 Duke Blue Devils           42-4              ACC Champs (L. NCAA Finals Louisville 72-69)

12. 2024 Houston Cougars             34-6        Big 12 Champs (L. Duke Regional Semi 54-51)

13. 2002 Maryland Terrapins         38-4          NCAA Champions (d. Indiana 64-52)

14. 1995 Kentucky Wildcats            31-6          SEC Champs (L Regional Final UNC 74-61)

15. 1987 Indiana Hoosiers                36-4          NCAA Champions (d. Syracuse 74-73)

16. 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels  34-8      ACC Champs (L Regional Final Georgetown 96-84)

16. 1991 Kansas Jayhawks               32-9       Big 8 Champs (L NCAA Finals Duke 72-65)

PLAY IN GAME

'07 NORTH CAROLINA 92   '91 KANSAS 79

-Freshman forward Brandan Wright has 22 pts, 2 rebounds and the Tar Heels will face the top seeded '96 Kentucky Wildcats in the next game.  15 points, 5 rebounds for Terry Brown in the loss.

 

 ROUND ONE

1. 1996 KENTUCKY  116   16. 2007 NORTH CAROLINA 90

-22 for Walter McCarty, 21 for Tony Delk, double/doubles for Antoine Walker and Mark Pope and the '96 Cats roll into round 2.  Tyler Hansbrough had 23 in the loss.  

9. 2021 BAYLOR  116   8. 2019 DUKE 101

-The National Champs from Baylor will be heading to Rupp Arena in round 2.  Junior Guard Jared Butler plays all 40 minutes and scores 35, with 8 assists and 5 steals. Both Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague go for 20.  RJ Barrett gets the first tournament triple double in the loss.  

5. 1998 KENTUCKY  88  12. 2024 HOUSTON  76

-Both of these UK title teams advance in the South; senior guard Jeff Sheppard scored 25, junior center Nazr Mohammed had 17 pts and 13 boards.  Jamal Shead had 15 pts and 8 assists in the loss.  

4. 1994 DUKE  113  13. 2002 MARYLAND 109

-Really good one between these two National Champions; 97-95 Duke with 2:22 left, Lonnie Baxter stole a pass, giving the Terps the ball - but they couldn't convert, the teams traded buckets - Duke still up 2 when, with 1:14 left, Bobby Hurley hit a huge 3 from the top.  Again, the teams traded baskets, and with 27 seconds left, Maryland got within 2 on a Juan Dixon 3 pointer.  Duke hit its FTs down the stretch and Maryland never got closer.  27 for Thomas Hill, 26 for Christian Laettner, Hurley had 18 points and a dozen assists.  Dixon had 29 in the loss.

 

6. 2009 NORTH CAROLINA  97   11. 1986 DUKE  94

-Super tight all second half, tied 46-46 at halftime, Freshman Guard Larry Drew hit a corner 3 to bring the Heels within 2 at the 15 minute mark.  Senior forward Tyler Hansbrough scored North Carolina's next 7 points and it was 62-62 with 12:30 left.  Carolina had its biggest lead of the game, 6 points, at the 10 minute mark.  A Jay Bilas dunk tied the score 80-80 with 6:10 to play.  Tommy Amaker tied the game at the foul line at 2:37, Duke was down 4 with under a minute to play after a Danny Green bucket, Dave Henderson scored at 45 seconds, the Heels then came up empty and with 15 seconds to play, an Amaker dunk tied the score at 94.  Carolina didn't call time out - and at the buzzer, Hansbrough hit a contested triple to send the Heels to round two for the tournament's first buzzer beater.  Ty Lawson had 20 points, 11 assists and 5 steals in the win.  28 for Johnny Dawkins in the loss.

14. 1995 KENTUCKY 97  3. 2025 AUBURN 94

-Back to back 97-94 games.  Kentucky had an 11 point lead early in the second half, but at the 13 minute mark, the Tigers led 68-67.  Senior guard Chad Baker Mazara scored 6 points in the next 3 minutes and with 10 to play, Auburn had entirely swung the game and led by 8.  Kentucky junior Rodrick Rhodes scored 6 straight UK points to tie the score at 83 with 6 to play.  Johni Broome put Auburn up 1 with a triple at 4:30, Jared Prickett put Kentucky up 1 with a layup at 2:30 and a minute later tied the score for the Cats with a midrange.  Junior Forward Walter McCarty hit a corner 3 with 22 seconds left and UK went up 94-91, Denver Jones tied the score with a 3 of his own with just 4 seconds remaining in regulation.  Out of the time out - Junior guard Tony Delk hit an off balance buzzer beating 3 and UK moves on. 22 points for Rhodes led the way for UK, 21 points, 14 boards, 6 assists for Broome in the loss.

7. 1994 ARKANSAS 88  10. 2019 VIRGINIA 84

-Arkansas led by as much as 11 in the second half, but with 56 seconds to play, Kyle Guy hit a midrange jumper to tie the score at 81.  On the next possession, Scottie Thurman hit a corner 3 and the Razorbacks never trailed again.  17 points, 6 boards, 4 assists for junior guard Corey Beck.  17 points, 10 assists, 5 boards, 5 steals for Ty Jerome in the loss.  

 

15. 1987 INDIANA 83   2. 2025 HOUSTON 66

-The National Champion Hoosiers go to Houston and cook the Cougars.  20 points, 6 boards, 6 assists for Steve Alford.  A double/double for Dean Garrett. 16 in the loss for LJ Cryer.

SECOND ROUND

1. 1996 Kentucky v. 9. 2021 Baylor 

5. 1998 Kentucky v. 4. 1992 Duke

6. 2009 North Carolina v. 14. 1995 Kentucky

7. 1994 Arkansas v. 15. 1987 Indiana

3 Kentucky teams highlight the second round in the South Region.  4 additional National Champions - Baylor/Duke/Indiana/North Carolina - and the 40 Minutes of Hell Razorbacks. 

1. 1996 KENTUCKY 101  9. 2021 BAYLOR 77

The National Champion Cats barrel their way into the Sweet 16.  20 pts for Antoine Walker, 19 pts, 7 rebounds for Walter McCarty, 19 for MaCio Teague in the defeat.

4. 1992 DUKE 102  5. 1998 KENTUCKY 86

Duke becomes the first school with 2 teams headed to the Sweet 16.  22 and 7 for Christian Laettner, 20 for Bobby Hurley. 19 for Scott Padgett in the loss.  

14. 1995 KENTUCKY 93  6. 2009 NORTH CAROLINA 92

2 UK teams will advance to the sweet 16 from the South; Jared Prickett scored from the block with 4 to play to give UK a 7 pt lead. Carolina scored the next 6 after a Dean Thompson layup, making it 88-87 UK with 2:21 left.  At a minute left it was 90-90, Kentucky ball - Ty Lawson stole a pass, Wayne Ellington hit a midrange and Carolina had the 92-90 lead, 35 seconds to play. Tony Delk hit a corner 3, and its 93-93 UK with 26 seconds to play.  On Carolina's last possession, Tyler Hansbrough missed twice and the '95 Cats advance.  15 points/5 boards/4 assists for Walter McCarty.  Hansbrough had 24 and 8 in the defeat.

15. 1987 INDIANA 105  7. 1994 ARKANSAS 83

Bobby Knight reaches the Sweet 16.  28 points for Steve Alford. Corliss Williamson goes for 16 in the loss.

4 more teams reach the Sweet 16.

1. 1996 KENTUCKY v. 4. 1992 DUKE

14. 1995 KENTUCKY v. 15. 1987 INDIANA