March Madness 2024: Top Storylines and Expert Picks for Friday’s Men’s Bracket
March Madness 2024: Top Storylines and Expert Picks for Friday’s Men’s Bracket0 of 2
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It was four days without men’s NCAA Tournament action, but the madness returned on Thursday with a high-octane slate of Sweet 16 games and will continue on Friday with more of the same.
We have two No. 1 seeds on deck Friday in Purdue (vs. No. 5 Gonzaga) and Houston (vs. No. 4 Duke). In fact, at the beginning of this round, all four No. 1 seeds were still alive; however, on Thursday night, No. 1 UNC fell to No. 4 Alabama.
Also taking the court today are No. 11 NC State and No. 2 Marquette as well as No. 3 Creighton and No. 2 Tennessee. Action will begin in Dallas for the South Regional and then continue with the Midwest Regional in Detroit later in the evening.
Let’s get into some of the biggest storylines surrounding these teams as we close out the Sweet 16 ahead of Saturday’s Elite 8 action.
Friday’s Top Storylines1 of 2
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North Carolina’s State Cinderella Story
It’s been a charmed season for NC State. The Wolfpack stunned top-seeded North Carolina to win the ACC championship 84-76, becoming the first double-digit seed to win the ACC Tournament trophy.
In the first round, the Pack took on No. 6 Texas Tech and again survived, indeed, thrived, going 80-67 and with junior forward Ben Middlebrooks contributing 21 points off the bench, a career high.
No. 11 NC State is the lowest seed left in the tournament. Can they keep the magic alive against No. 1 Marquette?
Can Gonzaga Avenge Its November Maui Invitational Loss to Purdue?
The Bulldogs and the Boilermakers take the court in Detroit for a rematch four months after meeting in the Maui Invitational.
Gonzaga could not find a way to contain Zach Edey in that 73-63 loss. The senior center scored a game-high 25 points, 15 in the first half.
Since then, the Bulldogs have improved their offensive efficiency, winning 11 of their last 12. But Nolan Hickman will need to do more than the 11 points and three steals he tallied in Honolulu. Senior forward Anton Watson has come on during the tournament, with 21 points and six rebounds against Kansas in the second round, and could prove key to the Zags’ chances.
Increased ball pressure on the Boilermakers to force turnovers could also swing the game in the Bulldogs’ favor.
Can Duke’s Surging Defense Best Houston’s?
Houston has advanced to the Sweet 16 in so small part because of its defense, which is the best in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency metrics. The Cougars also rank third in forced turnovers.
But as the tournament has progressed, the Blue Devils’ defnsive play has taken center stage. Duke held Vermont to a season-low 47 points in the first round. It was the same story for James Madison, which fell to Duke 93-55 in the Round of 32.
In those matchups, Duke’s opponents managed only nine 3-pointers and shot just 38.2 percent from the field.
Will this game turn into a defensive slugfest? Can Houston’s stingy defense stymie Duke? We’ll find out Friday evening.
Picks For Friday Games2 of 2
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No. 11 NC State @ No. 2 Marquette (7:09 p.m. ET, CBS): Marquette -6.5
Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer: NC State
Matt Marquart, PicksWise: Marquette
Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic: Marquette
No. 5 Gonzaga @ No. 1 Purdue (7:39 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV): Purdue -5.5
David Fletcher, Sporting News: Purdue
Austin Mock, The Athletic: Purdue
Andy Katz, NCAA.com: Purdue
No. 4 Duke @ No. 1 Houston (9:39 p.m. ET, CBS): Houston -4
Alex Abrami, Burlington Free Press: Duke
Sloan Piva, Sporting News: Duke
Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic: Duke
No. 3 Creighton @ No. 2 Tennessee (10:09 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV): Tennessee -3
Austin Mock, The Athletic: Tennessee
Mike Wilson, Tennessean: Tennessee
Gary Parrish, CBS: Tennessee
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