Sweet enough: Two Big 12 teams, funky East part of the 16

No. 1 Kentucky (36-0) vs. No. 5 West Virginia (25-9)

MVP path: Kentucky is loaded with talent and has gotten contributions from multiple players so far. Karl Anthony-Towns set the tone with 21 points and three blocks against Hampton in the first round; Aaron Harrison made big plays and scored 13 against a scrappy Cincinnati team Saturday, and Trey Lyles scored 11 points to go with 11 rebounds. West Virginia’s Devin Williams scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Buffalo in the Mountaineers’ first win of this year’s tournament, and he had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds Sunday against Maryland.

Deciding factor: Can West Virginia compete with Kentucky’s depth? Kentucky struggled at times against the Bearcats and still pulled away late for a 13-point win. The Mountaineers will try to use their full-court, pressure defense to try to keep the game close and play with heart late to have a chance. West Virginia will have to put Kentucky on its heels early. If the Mountaineers allow the Wildcats to find a rhythm, the game will be over early.

Perfect Wildcats: Kentucky, which is in the Sweet 16 for the 41st time in program history, is still on track for the first perfect season since Indiana ran the table in 1976.

Climbing the mountain: The Mountaineers are facing the nearly-impossible task of trying to knock off the best team in the country. But West Virginia has played the whole season with gritty resolve. The Mountaineers, who are in the Sweet 16 for a ninth time in program history and the first since 2010, lead the nation in steals with an average of 10.9 a game

Upset alert? Don’t bet on it. This game could stay close early, but Kentucky won’t get caught looking ahead at this point. The Mountaineers might make it interesting, but the Wildcats would have to play one of their worst games of the season for West Virginia to have a shot.

No. 3 Notre Dame (31-5) vs. No. 7 Wichita State (30-4)

MVP path: Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant scored 17 points against Northeastern to open the tournament and then poured in 16, including a twisting overtime layup, to seal a win against Butler on Saturday. Wichita State’s offense runs through Fred VanVleet, who had 27 points Friday against Indiana and then led his team to a huge win against rival Kansas with 17 points, six assists, six rebounds, four steals and a block on Sunday.

Deciding factor: This might be one of the best Sweet 16 matchups out there. Notre Dame can shoot the ball as well as anyone in the nation and has multiple scoring threats. Wichita State can lock down on defense and showed it isn’t intimidated by larger opponents by knocking off Kansas. The Shockers will need to keep Notre Dame off balance and out of rhythm early.

Lucky Irish: The last time Notre Dame reached the Sweet 16 ended with a loss to Arizona in 2003. But the Irish are currently on a roll with seven straight wins, including a run through the ACC Tournament.

Shocking so far: Wichita State is in the Sweet 16 for the third time since 2006. The Shockers lost to Louisville in a Final Four matchup in 2013 and lost to George Mason in the Sweet 16 in 2006. The Shockers will be riding a wave of emotion after defeating rival Kansas, a matchup that Wichita State hadn’t won since 1987. The two hadn’t played since 1993, and the Jayhawks jumped out to an early lead. But Wichita State showed poise and fought back to take a lead by halftime, an advantage the Shockers never gave back.

Upset alert?: This one is a toss-up. Just enjoy.

No. 1 Wisconsin (33-3) vs. No. 4 North Carolina (26-11)

MVP path: It begins and ends with Frank Kaminsky for Wisconsin. The Badgers run their offense through the towering senior, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds against Coastal Carolina and 16 points and seven rebounds against Oregon. Expect Frank the Tank to be the focal point for the Badgers again against North Carolina. Marcus Paige scored 12 points and dished out six assists, as North Carolina squeaked past Harvard and then exploded for 22 points, six rebounds and five steals, and the Tar Heels topped a tough Arkansas team to reach the Sweet 16.

Deciding factor: Can North Carolina slow down Kaninsky? The Tar Heels couldn’t corral Arkansas’ Bobby Portis, the SEC player of the year who scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a second-round loss. Kaminsky will be even more of a challenge. If the Tar Heels can keep Kaminsky from taking over, they will have a chance.

Badgers success: The Badgers are in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year and the eighth all time. Wisconsin is trying to get back to the Final Four, where the Badgers lost to Kentucky last season.

Tarheel toughness: North Carolina is making its 31st Sweet 16 appearance and first since 2012, and the Tar Heels have proven they have mettle late in tight games. With the win against the Razorbacks, coach Roy Williams tied North Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith for second all-time with 65 career NCAA Tournament wins behind only Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (82). Smith died earlier this year.

Upset alert?: North Carolina is talented and tested. But Wisconsin has a veteran leader in Kaminsky and remembers that upset loss to Kentucky in the Final Four last season. Expect the Badgers to take care of business.

No. 2 Arizona (33-3) vs. No. 6 Xavier (23-13)

MVP path: Arizona senior guard T. J. McConnell does everything for the Wildcats. Against Texas Southern, he scored 12 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and four steals in just 27 minutes. Then, in 39 minutes against Ohio State, he sparked Arizona early and finished with 19 points, six rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Xavier senior center Matt Stainbrook has been the anchor for his team with 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists against Ole Miss and nine points and six rebounds against Georgia State.

Deciding factor: Xavier can’t let Arizona get off to a fast start. During the Wildcats’ 13-game winning streak, Arizona has won all but two games by double-digit points. The Musketeers won’t be able to catch up if they fall behind, but if they can hang tough, Arizona isn’t used to playing in tight games late. Arizona will make that tough. The Wildcats shoot a high percentage (.489), rebound well, and can tighten down on defense (allowing just 59 points a game).

Power Cats: Arizona has won 13 straight games and trounced its first two NCAA Tournament opponents by a combined 36 points. The Wildcats, who are in the Sweet 16 for the 18th time in program history and the third year in a row, are playing like a No. 1 seed and peaking at the right time of the year.

X factors: Xavier is in the Sweet 16 for the seventh time, but six of those appearances have come since 2004, the most recent in 2012. But the Musketeers have made it to the Elite Eight just twice — in 2004 and 2008 — and have never made the Final Four.

Upset alert? With the way Arizona is clicking, don’t count on it. Xavier is strong enough in the post and efficient passing the ball to set up open 3-pointers, but the Wildcats have found another gear since their last loss to Arizona State back on Feb. 7.

No. 4 Louisville (26-8) vs. No. 8 North Carolina State (22-13)

MVP path: The Wolfpack wouldn’t still be playing without BeeJay Anya, who scored his team’s final two baskets in a thrilling comeback from 16 points behind to beat LSU in the first game, but it’s Abdul-Malik Abu (13 points, four rebounds against LSU and 13 points, 12 rebounds against Villanova) who has led the way with his toughness in the paint and relentless pursuit on the offensive glass. Montrezl Harrell hold Louisville together with his tenacity and hustle in the post and ability to make the big plays. But guard Wayne Blackshear has also been big for the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament. He scored 19 points to go with seven rebounds against UC-Irvine and finished with 10 points against Northern Iowa.

Deciding factor: Louisville won’t blow a huge lead as LSU did to the Wolfpack on Thursday. The Cardinals are tested and well-coached. North Carolina State will need to stay aggressive in the lane and crash the offensive glass as it has in the first two games. Louisville must match North Carolina State’s intensity from the start.

Soaring Cardinals: Louisville is making its 27th Sweet 16 appearance and is trying to get back to the national championship game, which Louisville won two years ago.

Wolfpack destiny: Who has had a more entertaining and thrilling tournament so far than North Carolina State? The Wolfpack, which is in its 11th Sweet 16 in program history and first since 2012, pulled out a furious comeback from 16 down against LSU and then knocked off No. 1 Villanova, shutting down some of the best guards in the country with an attacking defense.

Upset alert?: After beating the No. 1 team in the East bracket, North Carolina State should be primed to take on anyone, including a tough Louisville squad. But the East is wide open, and Louisville has more experience playing in big games, which should give the Cardinals a big advantage.

No. 3 Oklahoma (24-10) vs. No. 7 Michigan State (25-11)

MVP path: Oklahoma’s leading scorer Buddy Hield has come up big for the Sooners so far. Hield scored 15 points against both Albany and Dayton, and he had a crucial block on a fast break late to help the Sooners hold off the Flyers. For Michigan State, it’s been all about the guards so far. Denzel Valentine dropped in 16 points to go with six rebounds, six assists, and three steals against Georgia, and Travis Trice put in 23 points, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, against Virginia.

Deciding factor: Both Michigan State and Oklahoma know how to get up for big games after playing extremely tough conference schedules. Both have been solid so far. And both have experienced coaches. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is 44-16 in the NCAA Tournament, and with Oklahoma’s victory against Albany, coach Lon Kruger became the first ever to lead five different schools to an NCAA Tournament win. The teams are evenly matched and could turn in a tourney classic.

Sooner pressure: With West Virginia playing Kentucky, Oklahoma, making its ninth Sweet 16 appearance, is likely the lone Big 12 team with a chance to make the Elite Eight. The conference had a terrible showing in the opening round and followed up with two more letdowns in the round of 32. But if the Sooners get past the Spartans, they will still be able to fight for a positive perception.

Mighty Spartan: No one wants to see Michigan State in its bracket. The Spartans have a knack for playing their best basketball in March. And Michigan State knows how to lock down on defense — the Spartans held No. 2 Virginia to 11 points below its season average. Michigan State is in the Sweet 16 for the 19th time, and the seventh time since 2008.

Upset alert?: Oklahoma should be worried. Michigan State can clamp down on defense and knows how to pull out wins. The Spartans may have been under-seeded, but the East bracket is wide open. Izzo and Kruger will both have their teams ready.

No. 1 Duke (31-4) vs. No. 5 Utah (26-8)

MVP path: Duke sensation Jahlil Okafor has continued his history run. Okafor became the first freshman ever to win player of the year in the ACC, and he has a combined 47 points through the first two games of the NCAA Tournament. His footwork and ability to get to the rim from any post position make him a matchup nightmare for any team. Utah relied on its towering freshman Jakob Poeltl, a 7-footer from Austria, against Stephen F. Austin. He finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Against Georgetown, junior guard Brandon Taylor finished with 14 points and five assists, while Poeltl sat much of the game in foul trouble.

Deciding factor: Utah actually has the size and guard play that could make life tough for Duke. But it’s the Blue Devils’ quickness that makes them so tough to guard. Utah allows just 56.9 points a game, No. 11 in the nation, but it hasn’t had to play many teams with Duke’s talent level. The Blue Devils will need to feed Okafor in the post early to set up their tremendous guards, led by Tyus Jones, later in the game.

Avoiding an upset: The Blue Devils are in the Sweet 16 for the 28th time in program history, but Duke has been susceptible to upsets in the past.

Versatile Utes: Make it 16 Sweet 16 appearances for Utah, which is playing on the second weekend for the first time since 2005. Utah has three players who average double-digit scoring – senior guard Delon Wright (14.7), Taylor (10.5), and junior forward Jordan Loveridge (10.2).

Upset alert? The Blue Devils shouldn’t lose to Utah. But that’s exactly why Duke fans should be nervous. Duke has a history of underperforming — see first-round upset losses to Mercer (2014) and Lehigh (2012).

No. 2 Gonzaga (34-2) vs. No. 11 UCLA (22-13)

MVP path: Gonzaga’s Kyle Wiltjer is doing what he has all year — making shots. He scored 23 points to go with eight rebounds against North Dakota State and had 24 points with seven rebounds against Iowa. The Bulldogs have the best field-goal percentage in the country (.524), and Wiltjer leads the way. His shooting ability, and Gonzaga’s precision in setting screens makes it tough for any defenses to guard him. And Wiltjer is also deadly when trailing on fast breaks. For UCLA, Bryce Alford scored 27 points, as the Bruins upset SMU in the first round. He then had 22 points and five assists, and UCLA cruised past UAB to reach the Sweet 16.

Deciding factor: Gonzaga has a sharp-shooting squad and a height advantage on the Bruins. ULCA’s starting forwards are both 6-foot-9. Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski is 7-foot-1, and Wiltjer is 6-foot-10 and will stretch the UCLA defense. The Bruins will need to secure defensive rebounds to have a chance.

Gonzaga’s redemption: For five straight years, the Bulldogs exited the NCAA Tournament with a disappointing second-round loss. Not this year. Gonzaga was never in danger against UAB and ran away with a big win to reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in program history.

Final fairy tale: UCLA is the lone remaining double-digit seed. But the Bruins are no Cinderella. UCLA is making its 40th appearance in the Sweet 16 and second in a row with coach Steve Alford.

Upset alert? Just because Gonzaga avoided the second-round boot doesn’t mean the Bulldogs can’t be upset. UCLA has nothing to lose after winning two games in which it was the lower seed. But this year’s Gonzaga squad has a grit and determination that seemed lacking in past years. Gonzaga should be on its way to the Elite Eight.

This story was originally published March 22, 2015 at 11:11 PM with the headline "Sweet enough: Two Big 12 teams, funky East part of the 16."