Cards, Ducks, Gators and the Sweet Sixteen

Midwest Region Semi-final

No. 12 seed Oregon Ducks (28-8) vs. No. 1 seed Louisville Cardinals (31-5)

Indianapolis, Ind. – Lucas Oil Stadium (41,000)

Both the Cardinals and Ducks won their first two games of the tournament handily. Louisville’s average margin of victory in its first two tournament games was 28.5, while the Ducks beat No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Saint Louis by an average of 15 points per game. Oregon is in the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007, while Louisville is making its second-straight appearance (the Cardinals advanced to the National Semifinals a year ago). The Ducks are 2-1 all-time against the Cardinals but the two programs haven’t met since Nov. 24, 2001, when Oregon trounced Louisville, 90-63, in Portland, Ore. Louisville’s lone win over Oregon came over a half century ago. On Dec. 20, 1954, the Cardinals beat the Ducks, 101-72, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

The 2012-13 Oregon Ducks began the year 18-2 and climbed to No. 10 in the nation after a 81-76 triumph over Washington on Jan. 26. But after the win over the Huskies, Oregon went just 5-6 over the final month and a half of the regular season and closed out the year with two consecutive losses on the road to Colorado and Utah. Oregon missed out on a share of the Pac-12 regular season championship thanks to its two losses to Colorado and Utah to finish the regular season and entered the Pac-12 Tournament as the No. 3 seed.

Louisville has advanced to its 19th NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, its fourth in the last six years. Only four teams have been to more Sweet 16 appearances than Louisville’s 19 since the NCAA began Sweet 16 records in 1975 (North Carolina 25, Kentucky 24, Duke 23 and Kansas 20). Louisville has been to at least the Sweet 16 in five of the last nine years and has reached the Elite Eight three of the last five years. Louisville’s NCAA Sweet 16 teams: 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980,1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997,2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013. The Cardinals have reached the NCAA Elite Eight on 12occasions, including three of the last five years (1959, 1972,1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012).The Cards have an 8-4 record in regional championship games

In winning its last 12 games — Louisville’s longest winning streak since winning 13 straight late in the 2008-09 season — the Cardinals have limited their opponents to 37.8 percent shooting from the field and 54.7 points per game, forced an average of 18.8 turnovers and collected an average of 11.3 steals. Over the last 12, the Cardinals have shot 73.7 percent from the free throw line and have a +17.8 scoring margin. Individually in that 12-game stretch, Russ Smith is the scoring leader, averaging 18.7 points per game, Gorgui Dieng has nearly averaged a double-double (11.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg),and Peyton Siva has averaged 9.2 points, 5.7 assists and 2.7 steals. Luke Hancock has hit 20-of-40 threes in that stretch (.500).

Oregon notes

Louisville notes

 

South Region Semi-final

No. 4 Michigan Wolverines (28-7, 12-6 Big Ten) vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (31-5, 14-4 Big 12)

Arlington, Texas  Cowboys Stadium (42,614)

Kansas defeated No. 16 seed Western Kentucky 64-57 on March 22 and North Carolina 70-58 on March 24 in Kansas City, Mo., to advance to the Sweet 16. Michigan defeated South Dakota State 71-56 on March 21 and VCU 78-53 on March 23 in Auburn Hills, Mich., to advance. In defeating Western Kentucky, Kansas won the school’s 2,100th game and became the first school in NCAA history to have won at least 30 games for the fourth straight season (note: Memphis won 30 for four-straight seasons from 2006-09 but later vacated the 2008 season).

Kansas 10th-year head coach Bill Self won his 300th game while at KU in the win versus North Carolina. Kansas is in its 42nd NCAA Tournament appearance, as well as its 24th-consecutive trip to the tournament, the longest active streak in the nation. KU is a number one seed for the 11th time since seeding began in 1979. The Jayhawks were a one seed in 1986-92-95-97-98-2002-07-08-10-11 and this season, with the last five under head coach Bill Self. This is the third-straight season the Jayhawks have advanced to the Sweet 16 and seventh time under 10-year head coach Bill Self. Historically, KU will be playing its 30th game in the round of 16  in NCAA Tournament history. Including 2013, KU, which is ranked No. 3 in the latest Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls, has won nine-straight Big 12 regular-season championships dating back to 2005 and six conference postseason championships under Self.

Michigan has advanced to its first Sweet 16 in 19 years. The Wolverines advance for the first time since

1994. Michigan and Kansas have met twice during John Beilein’s tenure. The Wolverines are 0-2 following a 75-64 loss at Kansas (Dec. 19, 2009) and a 67-60 overtime setback at U-M (Jan. 9, 2011). Those two meetings also represent the only two meetings between John Beilein and Bill Self as head coaches. Four Wolverines have experience against Kansas as Matt Vogrich, Jordan Morgan, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jon Horford all played against the Jayhawks. Vogrich has played in both games while the rest played in the second meeting. In the overtime loss, Hardaway scored a team-high 19 points with seven rebounds while Morgan scored seven points to go along with his four rebounds.

Michigan notes

Kansas notes

 

Midwest Region Semi-final

NO. 3 MICHIGAN STATE (27-8, 13-5) VS.  NO. 2 DUKE (29-5, 14-4)

Indianapolis, Ind. – Lucas Oil Stadium

Duke defeated No. 7 seed Creighton 66-50 in the NCAA third round to advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the last five years and 21st time under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Duke is 12-8 in the NCAA Regional Sem-ifinal  under Krzyzewski and 18-8 all-time. Duke received the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region and is playing in its 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament. Duke is 25-8 when playing as a No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Blue Devils are 12-3 when playing in the Midwest Region. Duke is 4-2 against No. 3 seeds in the NCAA Tournament and has won four of the last five games against No. 3 seeds.

The Blue Devils recorded their 2,000th win last Sunday in the 66-50 victory over Creighton. Duke is 2,000-839 all-time, putting the program alongside Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina as the only teams to reach the 2,000-win plateau. Duke is one win shy of reaching the 30-win plateau for the 13th time in school history, all of which have come under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K has more 30-win seasons than any coach in NCAA history. The Blue Devils are 8-1 on neutral courts this season. Duke has defeated No. 3 Kentucky, No. 2 Louisville, Minnesota, VCU, Davidson and No. 22 Creighton on neutral courts this season. Duke’s lone neutral site loss this season came against Maryland in the ACC Tournament.

This is MSU’s 13th trip to the Sweet 16 since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, including the 11th under Tom Izzo. Michigan State is 7-5 in Sweet 16 games since 1985, having won seven of its last nine. All-time, MSU is 11-5 in the regional semi-finals. Tom Izzo is 7-3 in the Sweet 16.

Thirteen of Michigan State’s last 17 games have been against NCAA Tournament teams, with the Spartans posting an 8-5 mark in those 13 games. MSU is 6-6 this season against teams that were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 at the time of the contest. The Spartans have played 16 of their 35 games against teams that have been ranked at some point this season, posting an 8-8 mark. In fact, MSU has played 12 games against teams that have been ranked in the Top 10 at some point this season, going 5-7.

Michigan State notes

Duke notes

 

South Region Semi-final

No. 15 FGCU (26-10) vs. No. 3 Florida (28-7)

Arlington, Texas | Cowboys Stadium (42,614)

The first No. 15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, FGCU will take on in-state foe No. 3 seed Florida on Friday night in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium at 10:07 p.m. ET on TBS. The meeting will mark the first time that two teams from the same state will meet in the Sweet Sixteen, while the Eagles are the first team since the 1987 Gators to win their first two NCAA Tournament games. FGCU’s seven-game win streak is the fourth-longest in the nation, while it has won 14 of its last 16 games.

The Florida Gators advanced to the NCAA regional semi- finals for the third consecutive season with a 78-64 win over Minnesota, led by a 25-point effort by Mike Rosario. UF is one of four programs to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the past three seasons, joining Kansas, Marquette and  Ohio State. It marks the first time in program history the Gators have made that round three straight years. UF won its Round of 64 game over Northwestern State, 79-47, on Friday. Kenny Boynton scored his 2,000th career point in the NCAA Tournament opener. UF is in its 13th NCAA Tournament under head coach Billy Donovan, who holds a 30-10 record in the event. His .750 winning percentage ranks third among active coaches. UF has reached at least the Elite Eight in four of the past seven seasons.

Florida notes

FGCU notes