NCAA Elite 8 is Set After a Wild Sweet 16

The 2014 Sweet 16 could not have had a better round of games than what was shown tonight. None of the four games this evening finished by a greater spread than five points. The night started off with two great games featuring UConn vs. Iowa State and Michigan vs. Tennessee, and ended with two great battles between Kentucky vs. Louisville and Michigan State vs. Virginia.

UConn was able to oust a tough Iowa State team by a score of 81-76, led by a 27 point effort by DeAndre Daniels. Free throws were the ultimate undoing for the Cyclones, as they only hit 6 out of 15 while UConn stroked 20 out of their 22 free throw attempts.

While that game was heating up, Tennessee and Michigan were battling it out in Indianapolis. Michigan tried their best to throw away the game, but with a fortuitous charging call on Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes, Michigan left as the victors, 73-71. Jordan McRae led the Volunteers with 24 points and 6 boards, while Jordan Morgan led the Wolverines with 15 points and 7 rebounds.

The Battle of the Bluegrass Schools lived up to all the hype that is always placed on a Kentucky vs. Louisville match-up. Louisville started off hot, going up 18-7 in the first 10 minutes of the game. But the Wildcats battled back and fought their way to a 74-69 victory. Julius Randle continued making his case as the best player in college basketball, going for a big time double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Capping off the night was a defensive battle in Madison Square Garden, as neither Michigan State nor #1 seed Virginia gave the other an inch of breathing room. Brandon Dawson was absolutely spectacular in the Spartans 61-59 victory, going off for 24 points and 10 rebounds.

The Elite 8 match-ups will feature #1 Florida vs. #11 Dayton, #4 Michigan State vs. #7 UConn, #1 Arizona vs. #2 Wisconsin, and #2 Michigan vs. #8 Kentucky.