Haters are their motivators

The GIST: After a long two days without March Madness action, the first half of the men’s Sweet 16 came in like a wrecking ball last night, with stunning individual performances and all-around SEC dominance.

• By the time we’re back in your inbox on Monday, the Final Four will already be set as Elite Eight play tips off tomorrow and Sunday. Buckle up, baby.

No. 3 Texas Tech posts second-largest comeback in Sweet 16 history: On the brink of elimination against famed HC John Calipari’s No. 10 Arkansas squad, the Red Raiders stormed back from a 16-point deficit to force overtime (OT) before ultimately winning the back-and-forth thriller — the first OT game of the tourney — 85–83. Pure Madness. 

No. 2 seed Alabama shoots the lights out: No. 6 BYU’s offense was humming, but they were still blown out by the Crimson Tide, who racked up an astounding 25 three-pointers on 51 attempts — both NCAA Tournament records — to crush the Cougs 113–88. Alabama’s Player of the Year candidate, veteran guard Mark Sears, was particularly stellar with 10 treys himself.

No. 1 seeds pull away for narrow wins: It seemed that two potential upsets were brewing, but Florida and Duke hit the gas to separate themselves from their No. 4 seed opponents. The Gators chomped Maryland 87–71 even as star big man Alex Condon was sidelined with a rolled ankle for much of the night, while Duke outlasted Arizona 100–93 behind 30 points from freshman star Cooper Flagg.

Up next: Your weekend plans (aka the Elite Eight) will be set after tonight’s four remaining Sweet 16 matchups. Don’t have multiple screens? Prioritize No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky at 7:39 p.m. ET. This all–SEC matchup comes with some extra intrigue: Other than No. 1 Florida, Kentucky’s the only team to beat the Vols twice this season.

• Then at 9:39 p.m. ET, a confident No. 5 Michigan meets No. 1 Auburn. The Wolverines have momentum and, more importantly, are motivated by the chance of an Elite Eight matchup vs. sworn enemy No. 2 Michigan State. The only thing more rallying than glory? Hatred.

The GIST: Half of the women’s Final Four will be locked in by the next time we talk, but first we have to whittle these Sweet 16 squads down to an elite group of eight. Every one of this weekend’s games packs a serious punch, but No. 2 vs. No. 3 seed matchups are always extra spicy. Pour a glass of milk, the Madness awaits.

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 UNC — Today at 2:30 p.m. ET: Batman and Joker. Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Blue Devils and Tar Heels. Deep-seated rivalries just hit different. Duke’s edge in this ACC showdown is their stalwart defense, a staple ever since HC Kara Lawson took the reins.

• UNC’s success, meanwhile, could hinge on grad student Alyssa Ustby, who was a force in the Tar Heels’ 53–46 regular-season win over Duke in January but didn’t play in February’s 68–53 rematch loss.

No. 2 NC State vs. No. 3 LSU — Today at 7:30 p.m. ET: When the Tigers topped the Wolfpack 82–65 in November, LSU outrebounded NC State by 20, and the Tigers’ big three — sophomore Mikaylah Williams, junior Flau’Jae Johnson, and senior Aneesah Morrow — stuffed the stat sheet, dropping 60 points combined.

• That means Wolfpack senior Madison Hayes, who leads NC State in rebounds and three-point shooting, will need a big night if the dogs are going to best the cats in this one.

No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Notre Dame — Tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET: This game is chock-full of starpower, but the health of one Fighting Irish superstar could make or break ND’s championship hopes. Senior Olivia Miles tweaked her ankle in the first round and has managed only 10 points since — how effective can she be against even tougher competition?

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Oklahoma — Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. ET: UConn senior Paige Bueckers, grad student Azzi Fudd, and freshman Sarah Strong contributed to 66 of the Huskies’ 91 points in the second round. Oklahoma will be tasked with trying to slow down perhaps the best trio in college basketball — and taking care of the ball.

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