Quite simply, this is not the year of the Cinderella squad. The silver lining: The second-weekend matchups are loaded.

Favorites went undefeated with a perfect 8-0 record in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1985, per Evan Abrams of Action Network. Teams favored by at least seven points in the 2025 tournament are also 26-1 overall, with the only loss being No. 5 Clemson's first-round defeat at the hands of No. 12 McNeese State.

A season steeped with promise ended in early heartbreak for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who suffered a 71-62 upset loss to TCU on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Houston, Michigan State and Auburn came up clutch, while Tennessee was a bully from the start in Sweet 16 action Friday night.

Westtown product Kaylene Smikle helped the Terrapins come close to dethroning the reigning champions. But MiLaysia Fulwiley's 23 points led the Gamecocks as they escaped late with a 71-67 win.

Since N.C. State and LSU met in the Bahamas in November, the Wolfpack and Tigers have combined to win 44 of 52 games and have evolved considerably.

Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 40 points, rescuing UConn from its doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight Sweet 16 game against Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout Saturday.

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