The Road to the Sweet 16

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 25, 2013

The Road to the Sweet 16

<italics>SI's best shots from the third round of the NCAA Tournament. (Three photographs from each game.)</italics> <bold>Wichita State pulled off the biggest upset of the first week of the tournament, shocking Gonzaga, a one seed. Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker scored 16 points apiece for the Shockers,</bold> <bold>who hit 14 3-pointers.</bold> <bold>Defeated Pitt 77-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Next: vs. La Salle </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>)

Wichita State

<bold>Defeated Pitt 77-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Next: vs. La Salle </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Elias Harris and Gonzaga used a 12-0 run to take a 49-41 lead with 11:53 left, but Wichita State outscored the Zags 35-21 from there. </bold>

Wichita State

<bold>Defeated Pitt 77-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Next: vs. La Salle </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Carl Hall and the Shockers broke through to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006.</bold>

Florida Gulf Coast

<bold>Defeated Georgetown 78-68</bold> <bold>Defeated San Diego State 81-71</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Florida </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>The Eagles, who got 23 points out of guard Bernard Thompson, are the first No. 15 seed to make the Sweet 16.</bold>

Florida Gulf Coast

<bold>Defeated Georgetown 78-68</bold> <bold>Defeated San Diego State 81-71</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Florida </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>The Eagles held San Diego State to 27-of-61 shooting. The 16-year-old Florida school is in just its second season of being eligible for postseason play.</bold>

La Salle

<bold>Defeated Boise State 80-71</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas State 63-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Ole Miss 76-74</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Wichita State </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Tyrone Garland banked home this scooping layup with two seconds left to break a 74-74 tie and send Ole Miss home.</bold>

La Salle

<bold>Defeated Boise State 80-71</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas State 63-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Ole Miss 76-74</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Wichita State </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Tyreek Duren and the Explorers are on the deepest run by a La Salle team in the tournament since the 1955 squad played for the championship. Duren scored 19 against Ole Miss.</bold>

La Salle

<bold>Defeated Boise State 80-71</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas State 63-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Ole Miss 76-74</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Wichita State </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>La Salle looked crisp despite playing in its third game in five days.</bold>

Ohio State

<bold>Defeated Iona 95-70</bold> <bold>Defeated Iowa State 78-75</bold> <bold>Next: Arizona </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>After drawing a controversial charge on defense,</bold> <bold>Aaron Craft hit a 3-pointer with a half-second left for a 78-75 victory over Iowa State, sending the Buckeyes to a school-record fourth straight trip to the round of 16.</bold>

Ohio State

<bold>Defeated Iona 95-70</bold> <bold>Defeated Iowa State 78-75</bold> <bold>Next: Arizona </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Craft (pictured) finished with 18 points while Deshaun Thomas led the Buckeyes with 22 points. </bold>

Ohio State

<bold>Defeated Iona 95-70</bold> <bold>Defeated Iowa State 78-75</bold> <bold>Next: Arizona </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Will Clyburn throws down against the Buckeyes. The Cyclones led the nation in 3-pointers, with nearly 44 percent of their attempts coming from behind the arc. Against Ohio State, they missed eight of their first 12 from behind the arc and finished 12-of-25.</bold>

Indiana

<bold>Defeated James Madison 83-62</bold> <bold>Defeated Temple 58-52</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Syracuse </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Victor Oladipo nailed this three with 13 seconds left to help Indiana put away Temple.</bold>

Indiana

<bold>Defeated James Madison 83-62</bold> <bold>Defeated Temple 58-52</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Syracuse </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Khalif Wyatt (31 points) and Temple had a four-point lead with 2:56 left, but Indiana showed resiliency in fighting back to earn a second consecutive trip to the Sweet 16.</bold>

Indiana

<bold>Defeated James Madison 83-62</bold> <bold>Defeated Temple 58-52</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Syracuse </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Christian Watford had eight rebounds and nine points for Indiana, which almost became the second one-seed to fall. </bold>

Kansas

<bold>Defeated Western Kentucky 64-57</bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina 70-58</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Elijah Johnson and the Jayhawks were down 30-21 at intermission but stormed back to defeat Carolina.</bold>

Kansas

<bold>Defeated Western Kentucky 64-57</bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina 70-58</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Kevin Young (10 points) was one of four Jayhawks to score in double digits. </bold>

Kansas

<bold>Defeated Western Kentucky 64-57</bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina 70-58</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Perry Ellis chipped in three points and two rebounds.</bold>

Miami

<bold>Defeated Pacific 78-49</bold> <bold>Defeated Illinois 63-59</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Marquette </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Shane Larkin hit a go-ahead three-pointer with a minute left to help Miami reach the Sweet 16 for only the second time in school history. </bold>

Miami

<bold>Defeated Pacific 78-49</bold> <bold>Defeated Illinois 63-59</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Marquette </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Miami's victory put three schools from Florida in the Sweet 16 for the first time in tournament history.</bold>

Miami

<bold>Defeated Pacific 78-49</bold> <bold>Defeated Illinois 63-59</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Marquette </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Brandon Paul scored a team-high 18 for the Illini, who argued in vain that a ball knocked out of bounds in the final minute should have been awarded to them instead of Miami.</bold>

Florida

<bold>Defeated Northwestern State 79-47</bold> <bold>Defeated Minnesota 78-64</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Florida Gulf Coast </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Mike Rosario scored 25 points as the Gators made the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.</bold>

Florida

<bold>Defeated Northwestern State 79-47</bold> <bold>Defeated Minnesota 78-64</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Florida Gulf Coast </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Mike Rosario's sixth three-pointer with three minutes left pushed the Gators' lead to 16 and effectively locked up the win.</bold>

Florida

<bold>Defeated Northwestern State 79-47</bold> <bold>Defeated Minnesota 78-64</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Florida Gulf Coast </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Florida shot a blistering 65 percent in the first half and led by 21 by halftime. Andre Hollins (not pictured) scored a team-high 25 points for Minnesota.</bold>

Duke

<bold>Defeated Albany 73-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Creighton 66-50</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan State </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Duke is back in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years and for the 23rd time in school history. Quinn Cook scored seven points and dished out a team-high six assists to help the Blue Devils get there.</bold>

Duke

<bold>Defeated Albany 73-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Creighton 66-50</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan State </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Creighton went cold and never made a serious run in the second half. Grant Gibbs (pictured) scored 10 points while Doug McDermott scored 21 but made only four baskets.</bold>

Duke

<bold>Defeated Albany 73-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Creighton 66-50</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan State </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Mason Plumlee got into foul trouble but scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds before getting his fifth. </bold>

Michigan State

<bold>Defeated Valparaiso 65-54 Defeated Memphis 70-58 Next: vs. Duke </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Branden Dawson and the Spartans outrebounded Memphis 41-25 as they moved on to the regional semifinals for the fifth time in six years and the 11th time in coach Tom Izzo's career.</bold>

Michigan State

<bold>Defeated Valparaiso 65-54</bold> <bold>Defeated Memphis 70-48</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Duke (</bold><bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold><bold>)</bold> <bold>Michigan State limited Memphis to sub-30-percent shooting. </bold>

Michigan State

<bold>Defeated Valparaiso 65-54</bold> <bold>Defeated Memphis 70-48</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Duke </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Derrick Nix scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds against Memphis.</bold>

Michigan

<bold>Defeated San Diego State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Kansas </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Nik Stauskas and the Wolverines committed only 12 turnovers in their rout of VCU as they advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1994.</bold>

Michigan

<bold>Defeated San Diego State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Kansas </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>The 71-point swing by VCU -- from a 46-point win to a 25-point loss against Trey Burke and Michigan -- was the largest in NCAA tournament history, according to STATS. In 1968, Houston beat Texas Christian 103-68 to reach the Final Four, then lost to UCLA 101-69 for a 67-point swing.</bold>

Louisville

<bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado State 82-56 </bold> <bold>Next: Oregon </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Louisville guard Russ Smith had a game-high 27 points and two assists as the tournament's No. 1 overall seed won its 11th straight game. </bold>

Louisville

<bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado State 82-56 </bold> <bold>Next: Oregon </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Chane Behanan and the Cardinals forced Colorado State into a season-high 20 turnovers and limited one of the nation's best rebounding teams to 24 boards.</bold>

Louisville

<bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado State 82-56 </bold> <bold>Next: Oregon </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Peyton Siva scored 10 points and led Louisville with five assists.</bold>

Arizona

<bold>Defeated Belmont 81-64</bold> <bold>Defeated Harvard 74-51</bold> <bold>Next: Ohio State </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Mark Lyons matched his career high with 27 points as Arizona jumped to a 30-9 lead and was never in danger. </bold>

Arizona

<bold>Defeated Belmont 81-64</bold> <bold>Defeated Harvard 74-51</bold> <bold>Next: Ohio State </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Solomon Hill was the only other Wildcat to score in double digits, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.</bold>

Arizona

<bold>Defeated Belmont 81-64</bold> <bold>Defeated Harvard 74-51</bold> <bold>Next: Ohio State </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Christian Webster and his Harvard teammates missed 20 of their first 22 shots.</bold>

Oregon

<bold>Defeated Oklahoma State 68-55</bold> <bold>Defeated St. Louis 74-57</bold> <bold>Next: Louisville </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Oregon is headed to the second weekend for the first time since 2007, when it lost to eventual repeat champion Florida in the regional final.</bold>

Oregon

<bold>Defeated Oklahoma State 68-55</bold> <bold>Defeated St. Louis 74-57</bold> <bold>Next: Louisville </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Oregon's Jake Barnett (30) and E.J. Singler defend against Carlos Emory in a game that Oregon led 35-19 at the half.</bold>

Oregon

<bold>Defeated Oklahoma State 68-55</bold> <bold>Defeated St. Louis 74-57</bold> <bold>Next: Louisville </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Oregon's Arsalan Kazemi had eight points and 16 rebounds against St. Louis. The Iranian-born player has 33 rebounds in the two tournament games.</bold>

Marquette

<bold>Defeated Davidson 59-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Butler 74-72</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Miami </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Butler guard Rotnei Clarke drives against Marquette center Chris Otule in a game that went back and forth and came down to the last shot -- a Butler miss.</bold>

Marquette

<bold>Defeated Davidson 59-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Butler 74-72</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Miami </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Trent Lockett had his largest ouput in 12 games, scoring 13 points for the Golden Eagles, who got a game-high 29 from Vander Blue.</bold>

Marquette

<bold>Defeated Davidson 59-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Butler 74-72</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Miami </bold>(<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Marquette got eight points off the bench from forward Davante Gardner, who hit six of his eight free throws.</bold> <bold>Through the first two games, Marquette hit 38-of-46 from the line.</bold>

Syracuse

<bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated Cal 66-60</bold> <bold>Next: Indiana</bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>Michael Carter-Williams and Syracuse survived a second-half drought of more than 12 minutes without a field goal to get past Cal.</bold>

Syracuse

<bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated Cal 66-60</bold> <bold>Next: Indiana </bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>James Southerland and</bold> <bold>'Cuse made just 39 percent of their shots and missed 15 of 41 free throws.</bold>

Syracuse

<bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated Cal 66-60</bold> <bold>Next: Indiana</bold> (<bold><italics>SI's live bracket</italics></bold>) <bold>The selection committee did Syracuse no favors, making the Orange the only top-four seed sent cross-country for the opening weekend of the tournament. The game against Cal was played about 50 miles from its campus in Berkeley, creating a decided home-court edge for the lower-seeded Bears. Not that it helped.</bold>