(3) Connecticut Huskies vs. (2) San Diego State Aztecs
THE STORY: No. 2 seed San Diego State’s two losses this season came against Brigham Young and Jimmer Fredette, who lit up the Aztecs for 68 points on 47 percent shooting in those games. Now San Diego State, which had never won an NCAA tournament game until this month, must deal with No. 3 seed Connecticut’s star Kemba Walker in the West Regional semifinals on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. Walker, a 6-foot-1 junior, is almost as prolific as Fredette. He is averaging 23.5 points, coming off a 33-point outburst against Cincinnati and also setting up teammates (17 assists in two tournament games). Walker has lifted UConn to its 16th appearance in the Sweet 16. The Aztecs counter with one of the nation’s top frontcourts in Kawhi Leonard (15.6 points, 10.6 rebounds), Malcolm Thomas (11.4, 8.1) and Billy White (10.1 points). And their coach, Steve Fisher, has been here before - he guided Michigan to the national title 22 years ago.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, CBS. ODDS: San Diego State -1
PREDICTION: San Diego State 70, UConn 68. With the game in Anaheim, the Aztecs should have a big homecourt advantage. The crowd and San Diego State’s balance - five players average nine or more points - will be just enough to overcome another 30-point night from Walker, and get the Aztecs into the Elite Eight.
(3) BYU Cougars vs. (2) Florida Gators
THE STORY: Florida got a close look at Jimmer Fredette’s magic in last year’s NCAA tournament and hopes to have a different result when the Gators face Brigham Young in the Southeast Regional semifinals in New Orleans on Thursday. Fredette scored 37 points as BYU notched a 99-92 double-overtime first-round victory over Florida last season in what represented a disappointing early exit for the Gators. Third-seeded BYU is playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981 mainly because of Fredette, the high-scoring guard who is up for Naismith National Player of the Year honors. Second-seeded Florida is making its seventh Sweet 16 appearance, but its first since winning the 2007 national championship.
TV: 7:27 p.m. ET, TBS. ODDS: Florida -2.5
PREDICTION: Florida 86, BYU 77. The Gators have the inside game to take advantage of Davies’ absence and slow down Fredette just enough to avenge last year’s loss.
(5) Arizona Wildcats vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils
THE STORY: Defending champion Duke, in the Sweet 16 for the 12th time in 14 years, meets Arizona in the West Regional semifinals on Thursday in a rematch of their national title game from a decade ago. The Blue Devils won that one 82-72, and they’re favored again to oust a Wildcats squad that pulled out two nailbiters to get here. Duke blew out Hampton in its opener before surviving by two against Michigan. Each team features its conference's player of the year - Duke senior guard Nolan Smith (20.9 points, 5.3 assists) and Arizona sophomore forward Derrick Williams (19.2 points, 8.2 rebounds). The Blue Devils have a big edge in tournament experience, but the Wildcats should have more fan support playing in Anaheim, Calif. Williams, who hails from nearby La Mirada, Calif., said he can’t wait to get home and play in front of a huge contingent of family and friends.
TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS. ODDS: Duke -8
PREDICTION: Duke 77, Arizona 72. Miller is building a powerhouse in the desert, but the Wildcats aren’t quite ready to take down an established one such as Duke. Arizona struggled to defend penetration against the Longhorns, so look for Smith to take over and lead the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight.
(8) Butler Bulldogs vs. (4) Wisconsin Badgers
THE STORY: The Butler magic is on the loose again and the eighth-seeded Bulldogs seek a return to the Elite Eight when they face fourth-seeded Wisconsin in the Southeast Regional in New Orleans on Thursday. The Bulldogs wreaked havoc on the bracket a year ago by crashing the championship game and have notched dramatic last-second victories over Old Dominion and Pittsburgh in their first two games this season. Wisconsin also survived its second game against Kansas State with spectacular play late in the contest. The Badgers are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008 and making their fourth Sweet 16 appearance under coach Bo Ryan. The Badgers aren’t flashy but they rarely make mistakes. Butler has won 11 consecutive games and is 7-1 in its last eight NCAA tournament games with the lone loss being to Duke in last season’s NCAA title game.
TV: 9:57 p.m. ET, TBS. ODDS: Wisconsin -4
PREDICTION: Butler 53, Wisconsin 51. A tight game goes down to the wire with Butler squeaking out a last-second win for the third straight time despite typical Wisconsin defensive precision and effort.
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