2015 printable NCAA bracket: The Sweet 16 is set
And then there were 16.
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
The 2015 NCAA Tournament has been divided down to its final 16 teams. The opening four days of the tournament saw one No. 1 seed, two No. 2 seeds and a pair of No. 3 seeds cut. No. 11 UCLA is the lowest-seeded team still alive in the field. Follow all the action with our printable bracket.
The tournament still runs through its top overall seed, the Kentucky Wildcats. When John Calipari's team knocked off Cincinnati on Saturday in a physical game, Kentucky became the first team in college basketball history to reach 36-0. To get to the Final Four, the Wildcats will need to navigate the frantic, pressing defense of West Virginia, then take out the winner of Wichita State vs. Notre Dame.
SB Nation presents: Can West Virginia take down Kentucky?
The Shockers won arguably the most entertaining game of the Round of 32 by defeating in-state foe Kansas. It sets up a matchup with Notre Dame, which outlasted Butler to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in 12 years. It should be an up-tempo game between two teams dominated by stellar guard play.
In the West region, all eyes will be on a potential Elite Eight game between top-seeded Wisconsin and No. 2 Arizona. The Badgers will face North Carolina, which won a hard-fought game over Arkansas to reach the tournament's second weekend. The game should be defined by the frontcourt battle, as Frank Kaminsky and Nigel Hayes take on a group of talented UNC big men led by Kennedy Meeks. In the other game, Matt Stainbrook and Xavier get their shot at Arizona's blue-chip roster.
The top two seeds are out in the East after NC State toppled Villanova and Michigan State shot down Virginia. In Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino, the region features two of the best tournament coaches in the country.
SB Nation presents: The East is up for grabs following some big upsets
Everyone is expecting a Duke vs. Gonzaga showdown in the Elite Eight, but Utah could spoil the fun. The Utes have the size in the middle to match up with Jahlil Okafor, and are led by star guard Delon Wright.
The tournament resumes on Thursday after everyone takes a few days to catch their breath. It might seem like an eternity after the wall-to-wall basketball of the first four days, but the break will be appreciated by players and coaches alike. One week from today, the Final Four will be set and the world of college basketball will descend on Indianapolis. It’s been a great tournament already, and it’s only getting better.
See More:
