After a rather lackluster Round of 64, the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament did not disappoint. Among the best storylines, the defending national champion Villanova Wildcats were bested by an experienced Wisconsin team, and America’s favorite team to hate, the Duke Blue Devils, were upended by scrappy South Carolina en route to an early exit. Now, as just sixteen teams remain, will the upsets continue, or will all things return to the norm?

Best Matchup: #2 Kentucky vs. #3 UCLA

After needing some late-game heroics to defeat Wichita State, Kentucky is primed for a rematch of an early season matchup with the UCLA Bruins, a game in which UCLA won, 97-92. The game featured high-profile players on both sides and provided the viewers with an exciting game. Ultimately, Lonzo Ball and company were too much for the Wildcats. But, with both team’s seasons on the line, Kentucky is out for revenge. While I do think UCLA will emerge victorious, Kentucky does have a good shot to win the game, if they can limit Lonzo Ball. Much easier said then done. Even on nights when he is not the leading scorer, Ball wins games for UCLA with his rebounding and passing, recording an impressive ten double-doubles this season. Ultimately, I think that UCLA will edge out another victory thanks to Ball and fellow star freshman TJ Leaf.

Upset Watch: #3 Oregon vs #7 Michigan

Michigan made their first two games interesting, beating Oklahoma State 92-91 in the first round, then holding off Louisville for a 73-69 victory in the second round. While the games were close, Michigan proved that they belong amongst the “big boys” of the tournament. Senior point guard Derrick Walton, Jr. is averaging 18 points per game in the tournament, while powerful big-man D.J. Wilson has totaled 7 blocked shots in two games. All this spells trouble for Oregon after they lost star center Chris Boucher for the season with a torn ACL. Without Boucher, the Ducks lose an elite shot blocker and interior defender, and will now have to continue to rely on Jordan Bell, who is shorter than both of Michigan’s starting forwards. While Oregon does have an elite scoring option in Dillon Brooks, Michigan senior Zak Irvin, who averaged a steal per game in the regular season, and the rest of the backcourt that limited Louisville to 25% shooting on three-point attempts will be out in full force.

Three Players to Watch: 

Caleb Swanigan, Forward, Purdue

Caleb Swanigan, the Big Tens’ leading rebounder in the regular season, is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Swanigan was the only Big Ten player to average a double-double on the season, with 18.5 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game. In two NCAA torunament games, Swanigan has scored 16 points and pulled down 14 rebounds against Vermont, and scored 20 points while also adding 12 rebounds against Iowa State. A nightmare for opponents at 6’9″ 250 pounds, Swanigan should be able to dominate the boards once again as Landen Lucas will need help covering both Swanigan and fellow frontcourt members Vince Edwards (6’8″) and Isaac Haas (7’2″). Purdue’s size gives them a matchup advantage against almost any team in the country, making them strong contenders to reach the Final Four.

Devin Robinson, Forward, Florida

Devin Robinson had an unspectacular regular season, averaging 11.4 points per game, while pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game. Come tournament time, Robinson has exploded, totaling 24 points in the first round and 14 in a second round beatdown of Virginia. Robinson has also corralled 18 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field. The athletic Robinson can give teams fits with his blend of outside scoring and high-flying ability. In addition, Robinson can also bang around on the inside, as evidenced by his rebound totals through two games in the tournament. In a tough, hard-nosed game against Wisconsin, Robinson could become the difference maker for the Gators as they look to advance to their first Elite Eight since 2014, when their season ultimately ended with a Final Four loss to eventual champion UCONN.

Sindarius Thornwell, Guard, South Carolina

Sindarius Thornwell, who led the SEC in scoring in the regular season, has not seen a drop in production in the tournament. Thornwell scored 29 points and added 11 rebounds to register a double-double in a first round victory over Marquette, then followed that performance with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists as the Gamecocks upset Duke. Thornwell and South Carolina played suffocating defense against the Blue Devils, forcing 18 turnovers in the game, including 16 in the first 25 minutes. That same defensive effort will be needed in order to upset the 3-seeded Baylor Bears and star forward Jonathan Motley.