The Sweet 16 is set to begin Thursday.
Yahoo ranks their top 16 teams and USA Today has their Sweet 16 team rankings.
How do we rank the Sweet 16 teams?
- Duke – The most talented team in the field is playing the best of anyone in the field.
- Florida – The Gators are deep, big, and really good. UConn was a major test, they answered.
- Houston – This is Kelvin Sampson’s best offensive team to go along with always tough defense.
- Tennessee – Tennessee hasn’t been pushed in the NCAAs. They have wins over Florida, Alabama, and Auburn.
- Alabama – Alabama barely plays defense, but they are so athletic and so fearless from 3 that it usually doesn’t matter.
- Auburn – I don’t like the way Auburn is playing, but if they return to Nov/Dec form, they are right there with Duke.
- Kentucky – Kentucky is a real wildcard. They’ve already beaten Tennessee twice.
- Michigan State – The Spartans ability to shoot holds them back, and Ole Miss is a very dangerous opponent.
- Texas Tech – Texas Tech has quietly taken care of business, but Arkansas is on a roll.
- Arizona – Did you know Caleb Love played against Duke when he was at UNC? They will need more than Caleb.
- BYU – The game with Alabama will be some kind of shootout.
- Michigan – Michigan is one of the poorer 3 point shooting teams left in the field. That’s not good against Auburn.
- Ole Miss – Ole Miss isn’t the biggest team, but don’t underestimate them.
- Arkansas – Arkansas was very impressive beating St. Johns. Texas Tech had better be ready.
- Maryland – The Terps needed a last-second shot to beat Colorado State. I’d be floored if they knocked off Florida.
- Purdue – Purdue hasn’t played a seed higher than 12. They took advantage, but Houston is a different animal.
