St Peters vs Purdue
The best story of the 2022 NCAA Tournament thus far is Saint Peter’s, and the Peacocks’ journey continues on Friday as the 15-seed takes on No. 3 Purdue in the Sweet 16. Saint Peter’s was 0-3 in the NCAA Tournament before this season and, ironically, the last loss came against the Boilermakers back in the first round in 2011 in the 3 vs. 14 game. Now, the Peacocks are just the third No. 15 seed to ever reach the Sweet 16. Purdue has a rich Tournament history and has made the Sweet 16 in three of its previous four appearances. There is nothing more to talk about in this game even if they fail to cover, we back the St Peters team.
Prediction: St Peters +13
Providence vs Kansas
After topping one Big East team to reach the Sweet 16, Kansas looks to do it once again. The Midwest’s No. 1 seed takes on Providence on Friday evening in Chicago, with the Friars putting together a very impressive season so far. Providence’s defense has been the key to that success, although it will be put to one of its biggest tests of the season when they tip-off against Kansas.
This NCAA Tournament has already lost one No. 1 seed, defending national champion Baylor, and Gonzaga was given a solid challenge in its last game as well. Kansas (30-6) could very well be in for a slow-paced battle with Providence (27-5) that could make things interesting with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.
Prediction: Providence +7
UCLA vs North Carolina
Two of the game’s true blue-blood programs, UCLA and UNC have combined for 17 national championships and 39 Final Fours. Those who made the Bruins and Tar Heels so iconic, you need only say a single name and any basketball fan will immediately know who you mean: Wooden, Kareem, Walton; Dean, Worthy, Jordan.
For these two giants of the sport to meet in the NCAA Tournament is special, and Heels guard Leaky Black summed it up best at North Carolina’s media availability on Thursday: “Two big-time programs meeting in the Sweet 16 on this stage. It will be a fun game.”
North Carolina (26-9) advanced to the Sweet 16 in Hubert Davis’ first season as head coach thanks to a first-round blowout of Marquette, then a white-knuckled overtime win over reigning national champion Baylor.
UCLA (27-7) heads into Philadelphia looking for its second trip to the Final Four in as many years but first needed a late-game rally to get past Akron. After escaping a scare from the MAC champion Zips, the Bruins played a dominant game this past Saturday against Saint Mary’s.
Prediction: UCLA -2.5
Iowa State vs Miami
Two unlikely teams have a chance to secure an Elite Eight trip on Friday.
The 11th-seeded Iowa State Cyclones will meet the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes in a Midwest Region semifinal at the United Center in Chicago.
Iowa State (22-12) knocked off No. 6 LSU and followed that up with a bigger upset, defeating No. 3 Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Both of the Cyclones’ NCAA Tournament wins have been by five points.
Miami (25-10) also is making the most of its first tournament appearance since 2018. The Hurricanes held on to beat No. 7 USC last Friday and then dominated No. 2 Auburn (79-61) to advance to the Sweet 16.
This is Miami’s fourth Sweet 16 appearance, but the Canes have never advanced to the Elite Eight. Iowa State’s last time in the Elite Eight came back in 2000.
Prediction: Under 132