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Re-ranking the Sweet 16 for the NCAA Tournament
Kansas guard Josh Jackson celebrates a basket in the second half of a second-round game against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament on March 19, 2017. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Re-ranking the Sweet 16 for the NCAA Tournament

We started the season with Duke as the No. 1 team and ended it with Villanova as the top squad, and neither school is still around after the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. So who are now the favorites to win the national championship and who are just playing with house money by just getting to the second weekend?

Let's re-rank the teams that comprise the Sweet 16. We will look at the overall strength of the teams as well as the path they have to win the title.

#1 Kansas

The Jayhawks battled Villanova as the favorites to win the entire tournament all year long. They have experience with Frank Mason III and that young star power of Josh Jackson. Playing this weekend in nearby Kansas City gives them a huge advantage to get to the Final Four. However, that rather thin frontcourt must find a way to deal with Purdue's Caleb Swanigan this week. Kansas has that look of a national champion, and with an Elite 8 loss to Villanova last year fresh in their minds, will be looking to make good on a title run.

#2 North Carolina

Did someone say "loss to Villanova last year fresh on their minds"? Certainly North Carolina has the same kind of chip on their shoulder. Some see the Tar Heels' struggle with Arkansas as a weakness instead of a strength. First off, no team dominated an opponent more completely than Carolina did Texas Southern in the first round. This team was dominating Arkansas before the Razorbacks clawed their way into a late lead. We saw a week ago the Heels collapse in a similar situation with Duke, but this time they went on a 12-0 run to rip the game away from Arkansas and advance. That was without Joel Berry doing anything special and with a really poor shooting night overall for the Tar Heels. Fortunately North Carolina is such a good rebounding team they can have bad shooting nights and still find ways to win.

#3 UCLA

UCLA is the smoothest team in the field and looks unstoppable on offense. Lonzo Ball has the look of a guy who can carry this team to a national championship, but issues with their defensive effort could hurt their path to a title. They'll get a Kentucky team next who has all the young athletic talent to stay with the Bruins, and a rising defensive presence that could slow them down. From there, they could get North Carolina who also has an elite offense. Cincinnati stayed with UCLA for about 30 minutes but ran out of gas. Kentucky and/or North Carolina won't.

#4 Arizona

This Arizona team is as complete as they come. They are tough defensively and have two superstars on offense. Allonzo Trier has come back with a vengeance while Lauri Markkanen is a talent like no one else in the country. They are two wins away from essentially playing the Final Four at home. This team is deep, has size, has perimeter shooting and can comfortably play any style. Still, there are times the offense has deserted them at the absolute wrong time.

#5 Gonzaga

The Bulldogs still lack the respect that maybe they deserve. Just one loss all year long, a roster as talented as anyone and a player like Przemek Karnoswki that most teams just don't have. Most people haven't seen this team play much (aside from their second round win over Northwestern) and their conference gets a lot of rolled eyes but the Zags are a legit team that has everything you need to win a title. Right now it is just our belief in them isn't as strong as theirs.

#6 Kentucky

Look, Kentucky is talented and in a few months their trio of elite freshmen will be among the top picks in the NBA Draft. But this is a team that struggled to put away Northern Kentucky then had to fight tooth and nail to dispose of Wichita State. With Kentucky, you just never know. They could put it together to win the entire thing or see their season end against UCLA's great offense. The scary thing is that they are here despite Malik Monk essentially being silent.

#7 Purdue

So much to love with this Purdue team and Caleb Swanigan. This is an old-school team that plays big, moves the ball and plays solid defense. It's also a big team that could give their next opponent, Kansas, some real problems. Remember that this team won the Big Ten regular season title and the Big Ten has showed up very well in this tournament. Swanigan has been outstanding thus far and can do almost anything on the court.

#8 Wisconsin

The Badgers toppled Villanova and the most shocking thing about that is the fact it shouldn't be shocking. Remember, this year's team entered the year with a ton of promise. Sure, the team had some down moments during the year, but this is a very good and experienced team. This is their fourth straight Sweet 16 with two Final Fours mixed in that time frame. They've got guys who are willing to step up in the big moments. With the East Region so wide open, Badgers fans should feel good about their chances to reach the Final Four.

#9 Michigan

Is this a destined team or just a group of guys that have found their stride at just the right time. It really feels like a bit of both. After the scary plane accident, the Wolverines have yet to lose, winning the Big Ten title and advancing to the Sweet 16. I've not been big on momentum teams heading into the tournament (see: Duke) but we've UConn kind of get on a similar run as this Michigan team is on a few years ago. Derrick Walton, Jr. is playing like a guy who can lead a team to an unlikely title. I know people will see this ranking as low, but the Wolverines were nearly bounced twice already. Bring on the Ducks!

#10 Butler

The Bulldogs are a solid offensive and defensive team and will need to desperately control pace against North Carolina if they want to win. They aren't really big but they also don't turn the ball over.  Sure, Winthrop and Middle Tennessee aren't exactly on the level as the Tar Heels, but Butler did beat Villanova twice this year. And Xavier. And Arizona. They are a confident bunch who will advance more because of their heart and head than their athleticism.

#11 Oregon

Of all the teams on this list, the Ducks were probably in the toughest spot in the next round. Oregon needed a furious rally to get past Rhode Island to get here. To advance in a Midwest Region where the Ducks may be the underdog, Oregon needs more big games from Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks if they want to stop a rolling Michigan squad and either Kansas or Purdue. Losing Chris Boucher in the Pac-12 was huge but they're squeaking by.

#12 West Virginia

Their press defense is just so difficult to prepare for and it really made a very well-coached and experienced Notre Dame unit look lost. The thing is, Gonzaga has several days to prep and should be primed to deal with it. While great guards aren't immune to an occasional miscue, it helps to have solid ball-handlers when  dealing with West Virginia. Still, the Mountaineers will ride or die with this pressure defense as it creates extra offensive opportunities. Interesting fact: West Virginia has had four instances this season where they had three game winning streaks end with a loss. They are on a two-game win streak right now.

#13 Baylor

Baylor wasn't exactly setting the world on fire heading into the NCAA tournament. But, lo and behold, the Bears are sitting in the Sweet 16 as the top remaining seed in the East bracket. This team spent most of the season sitting in the top ten and has the chops to win this thing. But they are so hard to get a handle on and could just as well squander their opportunity, like they nearly did against USC.

#14 Florida

Florida is a really good defensive team, but it wasn't just their defense that held Virginia to 39 points. The Cavaliers offense had been pretty bad of late. Wisconsin, their next opponent, is a little more efficient offensively. Still, Florida must be feeling pretty good about themselves as surviving to the Sweet 16 in an East Region that no longer has Villanova or Duke. The Gators, though, will really need KeVaughn Allen to snap out of his slump if they are going to continue to advance.

#15 South Carolina

The Gamecocks are everyone's best friend right now. Beating Duke is like when Craig knocked out Deebo at the end of Friday – the whole neighborhood loves you. We've all been properly introduced to Sindarius Thornwell and Frank Martin has been on everyone's radio or television show. This is the greatest run in South Carolina history after going over 40 years without a tournament win. We all saw them score 65 second half points against Duke but can they do that again? This team wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire prior to the NCAA tournament and were having their fair share of scoring droughts. But, hey, the East Region is wide open so why not the Gamecocks?

#16 Xavier

The Musketeers are totally playing with house money. They are the only double-digit seed remaining and probably own the most impressive upset in the tournament with their annihilation of Florida State. This was a team that limped into the tournament but has more than earned their stay. Now they'll face off against their old coach, Sean Miller, and his mighty Arizona squad in San Jose. The Muskies are capable of anything but this will be a tall order.

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