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Joe Lunardi Predicts Double-Digit Seed's NCAA Tournament Run to End in Sweet 16

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 8:53 PM ET

This year's NCAA Tournament didn't see many upsets through the first round. In fact, dating back to 1985, this is only the sixth time that all top-four seeds survived the round of 64. The other instances came in 1994, 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2017.

The chalk continued mostly through the round of 32, with just one double-digit seed reaching the Sweet 16.

That team was the No. 10 seed Arkansas Razorbacks out of the West Region, which took down No. 7 seed Kansas before pulling off an upset over No. 2 seed St. John's.

Now, the Razorbacks (22-13) are set to face the No. 3 seed Texas Tech Red Raiders (27-8) on Thursday night. But according to ESPN college basketball analyst Joe Lunardi, their Tournament run is about to come to an end.

He predicts Texas Tech, a 5.5-point favorite (ESPN BET), will beat Arkansas 75-65 to advance to the Elite Eight.

Arkansas will have its hands full against a Texas Tech squad that boasts the nation’s fifth-ranked offense in efficiency (KenPom ). The Red Raiders are led by consensus second-team All-American forward JT Toppin, who averages 18.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The good news for the Razorbacks is that junior forward Adou Thiero will be available. Thiero has been sidelined with a knee injury since Feb. 22 and averages 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

"We need his toughness and his athleticism," Arkansas head coach John Calipari said.

Tip-off at the Chase Center in San Francisco is scheduled for 10:09 p.m. ET on TBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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