The first two rounds of the NCAA tournament are in the books, and while the opening slate of games lacked a buzzer-beater, there were still plenty of upsets and compelling storylines.
With the Sweet 16 matchups now set, there is no shortage of tantalizing showdowns to look forward to.
Here are the eight Sweet 16 matchups ranked:
8. Baylor vs. South Carolina
This isn't the sexiest matchup of the Sweet 16 by any stretch, but both teams come into the contest with impressive wins in the Round of 32. Baylor held off a surging USC squad in the second half, while South Carolina pulled off the shocker of the tournament, upsetting Duke.
SEC Player of the Year Sindarius Thornwell dropped 24 against the Blue Devils and 29 against Marquette, so he alone will be a reason to tune into this one.
7. Wisconsin vs. Florida
Don't expect these two teams to light up the scoreboard, but if you're a fan of defense this is the game for you. The Badgers rank ninth in the country by conceding a measly 61.5 points per game this season and the Gators are coming off a victory over Virginia where they held the Cavaliers to 39 points.
6. Oregon vs. Michigan
Is Michigan the team of destiny in this tournament? It's starting to feel that way.
The Wolverines have been on an incredible run since a scary incident that saw their plane skid off the runway earlier this month. John Beilein's team won the Big Ten tournament and has now outlasted Oklahoma State and stunned Louisville. Can it keep the run alive against a shorthanded Oregon squad?
5. Xavier vs. Arizona
It's hard to imagine No. 11 Xavier being in this position a month ago. The Musketeers stumbled into the tournament by losing seven of their final 10 games, but have righted the ship in a big way. A 25-point win over Florida State in the last round has propelled them into a Sweet 16 matchup with one of the favorites in Arizona.
If the Wildcats hope to avoid the upset, they'll have to slow down Xavier from beyond the arc. The Musketeers shot a ridiculous 64.7 percent from 3-point range against the Seminoles.
4. Butler vs. North Carolina
North Carolina will have its hands full against Butler after barely surviving Arkansas. The Tar Heels appeared out of sorts when the Razorbacks crowded them on the defensive end, so expect the Bulldogs' defense, which is giving up less than 70 points per game, to do just that.
Roy Williams and Co. will be hoping Joel Berry's ankle is closer to 100 percent if they expect to avoid an upset. The guard is just 3-for-21 from the field in the tournament thus far, and if that doesn't improve, expect another ACC team to go down.
3. West Virginia vs. Gonzaga
There might not be a more frustrating team to play against than West Virginia, and No. 1 Gonzaga is going to find that out very quickly on Thursday.
The Mountaineers rank in the top 20 in the country in both scoring and assists, while conceding only 66 points per game thanks to a relentless press defense that frustrates opponents to no end. Gonzaga was fortunate not to let a second-round game slip away to Northwestern, but the Bulldogs won't be as lucky if they play the same way against West Virginia.
2. Purdue vs. Kansas
This could be the most intense matchup of the Sweet 16, with the Jayhawks getting a virtual home game in Kansas City. Kansas is the deeper and more well-rounded team, but Purdue forward Caleb Swanigan has overcome greater odds before.
The Boilermakers big man is a double-double machine, and does it all for Matt Painter's team. Swanigan will likely need to be firing on all cylinders in this one to take out the juggernaut Jayhawks.
1. Kentucky vs. UCLA
In a highly anticipated rematch from earlier this season, Kentucky will look to avenge a December home loss to UCLA.
John Calipari's crew seems to be rounding into form at the right time, but will it be enough to stop one of the best players in the country in Lonzo Ball? The Bruins star dropped 18 points to go along with nine assists and seven rebounds in a second-round win over Cincinnati.
If Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox can match Ball's production, this could be a game for the ages.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
