NCAA Tournament Highlights: Teams Advance to Sweet 16 Amid Stunning Upsets

DENVER, Colorado — March 22: The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament heated up this weekend as teams vied for a coveted spot in the Sweet 16. Key matchups unfolded across the country, showcasing intense competition and surprising upsets.

Purdue University showcased its strength in the Midwest Region, defeating McNeese with a solid score of 76-62. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers with 22 points and 15 rebounds. ‘We came out strong and maintained our focus,’ said Purdue head coach Matt Painter. The win marked Purdue’s second consecutive trip to the Sweet 16.

Meanwhile, 10th-seeded Arkansas stunned 7th-seeded St. John’s 75-66, marking John Calipari’s return to the Sweet 16. ‘We executed our game plan effectively,’ Calipari stated. Zuby Ejiofor scored 23 points for St. John’s, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Arkansas.

In a high-scoring affair, Michigan knocked out Texas A&M, 91-79. Roddy Gayle‘s impressive second-half scoring performance led Michigan to victory as they overcame a 10-point deficit. ‘We believed in ourselves, and it paid off,’ Gayle remarked. This victory marks a notable turnaround for the Wolverines after a challenging season.

Texas Tech advanced by defeating Drake 77-64, showcasing a dominant inside game with an impressive 50-20 scoring advantage in the paint. Darrion Williams highlighted the effort with a season-high 28 points, propelling the Red Raiders to a matchup against Arkansas in the next round.

The day concluded with top-seeded Auburn narrowly defeating ninth-seeded Creighton, 82-70, fueled by a strong second-half defense. ‘Defensively, we found our rhythm,’ Auburn coach Bruce Pearl explained. The Tigers will face Michigan in the next round as they strive for a deep tournament run.

As the tournament continued, BYU managed to hold off Wisconsin in a thrilling 91-89 victory, sending the Cougars into their first Sweet 16 since 2011. Richie Saunders led BYU with 25 points, while John Tonje made headlines by scoring 37 points for the Badgers, marking the first player to exceed 30 points in this year’s tournament.

Florida‘s upset of the defending champions UConn was another significant event this weekend. Walter Clayton Jr. topped the Gators with 23 points in a close 77-75 finish. ‘Every game is different, but we just kept believing in ourselves,’ Clayton mentioned after the game.

On Sunday, the action continued as top-seeded Duke cruised past Baylor 89-66, with Tyrese Proctor pouring in a career-high 25 points. ‘Our shot selection was key today,’ Proctor noted, reflecting on the team’s overall performance. Duke’s budding star Cooper Flagg also contributed, adding 18 points and solidifying the Blue Devils’ position as a favorite in the tournament.

Other notable performances included Kentucky‘s victory over Illinois, Alabama‘s win against Saint Mary’s, and Maryland‘s nail-biting last-second win over Colorado State. This year’s NCAA Tournament continues to showcase some of the most talent-filled and competitive basketball seen in years.

Fans can expect to see the tournament unfold with even more upsets and exciting matchups in the upcoming rounds as teams battle for basketball glory in the Sweet 16.