Sweet 16 Preview: East Region

Story posted March 23, 2023 in CommRadio, Sports by Julianna Steinmetz

After an intense first weekend of play in the NCAA tournament, only four teams remain in each region to enter the sweet 16. 

In the East region, the four teams still dancing are Florida Atlantic, Tennessee, Kansas State and Michigan State. 

No. 4 Tennessee vs No. 9 Florida Atlantic

This matchup between the Volunteers and the Owls might be one of the most exciting of the Sweet 16. 

Tennessee has managed to hold its opponents to 57.8 points per game while averaging 71.8 points per game itself. 

Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic has held its opponents to 65.1 points per game and averaging 78.8 points per game. 

The Volunteers appeared to struggle against the 13-seed Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. The Volunteers almost allowed an 18-point lead to get away from them, but they managed a 58-55 victory. 

Despite any shakiness in the first round, they came back to face the Duke Blue Devils and handled them. 

As for Florida Atlantic, it also came down to the wire in its first tournament game against Memphis. Nicholas Boyd scored with only 2.5 seconds left to carry the Owls into the second round where they would face Fairleigh Dickinson. 

Fairleigh Dickinson put up a strong fight against Florida Atlantic, but the Owls won to advance to the sweet 16. 
Florida Atlantic hopes to continue its own Cinderella story meanwhile Tennessee seeks to go to its second elite eight ever and possibly first final four. 

No. 3 Kansas State vs No. 7 Michigan State

In his first season as Kansas State head coach, Jerome Tang led the Wildcats to their first tournament appearance since 2018. 

Kansas State has fought hard with strong defensive efforts in its first two games this tournament.

Keyontae Johnson leads the team in both points (17.5) and rebounds (seven) per game. In addition to Johnson, Markquis Nowell averages 7.8 assists per game and 2.4 steals per game. 

To get to the sweet 16, Kansas State defeated Montana State as well as Kentucky. 

Despite finishing fourth in the Big Ten, Michigan State is the only team from the conference that is still dancing. 
After a 72-62 victory over USC in the first round, Michigan State found itself battling two-seed Marquette to earn its spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. 

On Sunday, senior Guard Tyson Walker led his fellow Spartans and coach, Tom Izzo, into the sweet 16. Walker brought his team 23 points on Sunday, compared to his average of 14.8 points per game.

The Spartans have been a cohesive unit all season and have only been stronger so far in the tournament. 

We can expect to see Walker, alongside Joey Hauser and A.J. Hoggard continue to prove themselves this Thursday against Kansas State. 

Tom Izzo and his Spartans are excited to play in Madison Square Garden and prove that they can face a team with the strength of Kansas State.

This game will be the eighth time these two teams meet and the first since 1996 when Michigan State defeated Kansas State 75-43.

Julianna Steinmetz is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email jfs6759@psu.edu.