NCAA Tournament: Sweet Sixteen Power Rankings

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Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) goes up for a shot as Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) guards during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams 1 and 2

Sweet Sixteen Appearance: 30th (First since 2012)

Head Coach: Bill Self, 70-30 (14th Season)

Top Players: G Frank Mason III: 20.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.2 apg (Big 12 Player of the Year); G Josh Jackson: 16.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.6 spg (Big 12 Freshman of the Year); G Devonte’ Graham: 13.3 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.6 spg (Second Team Big 12).

How they got here: Kansas opened the first round by beating 16-seed UC Davis 100-62. They followed that up with a 90-70 victory over 9-seed Michigan State in the second round.

Best Case Scenario: Kansas continues its conquest of the Big Ten by beating Purdue and Michigan in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, respectively. Once in Phoenix, they run into familiar foe in North Carolina and former coach Roy Williams.

As has been the trend when these two teams meet in the NCAA tournament, Kansas gets the best of Ol’ Roy once again. They end up facing Wisconsin in the National Championship, their fourth Big Ten opponent of the tourney. They beat the Badgers and give Bill Self a second title.

Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) dunks the ball in the closing second of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Sweet Sixteen Appearance: 33rd (First since 2016)

Head Coach: Roy Williams, 394-115 (14th Season)

Top Players: F Justin Jackson: 18.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg (ACC Player of the Year); G Joel Berry II: 14.4 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1.4 spg (ACC Second Team); F Isaiah Hicks: 12.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg (ACC Tournament First Team).

How they got here: North Carolina opened the first round by beating 16-seed Texas Southern 103-64. They followed that up with a 72-65 victory over 8-seed Arkansas in the second round.

Best Case Scenario: UNC is on a mission after coming up short last season. Joel Berry II hits seven threes and Justin Jackson goes for 40 as UNC cruises past Butler in the Sweet 16.

In the Elite 8, UNC gets revenge against Kentucky as Theo Pinson shuts down Malik Monk. The Tar Heels then run through Oregon in the Final Four.

They meet Florida in championship. They get the ball down low early and often and Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks combine for 50 points and 30 rebounds as the Tar Heels win championship number-six and Roy gets title number-three.

Well, that does it for the Sweet 16. Two more rounds of games and the surviving teams will be booking their tickets to Arizona and the Final Four. If UNC plays defense like they did to end the Arkansas game for a full 40 minutes, they could easily be one of those teams.

So enjoy the week. Basketball is only a few days away.

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