March Madness 2024 Highlights: Biggest Storylines Heading Into Sweet 16

Before getting to the biggest March Madness 2024 highlights and Sweet 16 storylines, be sure to check out BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NCAAB regular season to the NBA playoffs and everything in between.

It feels like March Madness 2024 just started yesterday, but the truth is that we’re already at the halfway point. After an exciting Round of 32 over the weekend, the Sweet 16 is here and begins on Thursday, March 28 as we take one step closer to crowning this year’s national champions.

The Sweet 16 is Set 🏀

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— Betting News (@YourBettingNews) March 25, 2024

The Sweet 16 is consistently filled with storylines and huge matchups, and this year’s NCAA Tournament isn’t any different. There’s a lot to talk about leading up to the next round and, fortunately, you’ve come to the right place to discuss it.

Here’s a look at the biggest March Madness storylines following this year’s Round of 32.

2024 NCAA Tournament Odds Ahead of Sweet 16

The following March Madness odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of 11:21 a.m. ET on Monday, March 25. 

• Connecticut (+215)
• Houston (+500)
• Purdue (+650)
• Arizona (+850)
• North Carolina (+1000)
• Tennessee (+1400)
• Marquette (+1400)
• Iowa State (+2000)
• Creighton (+2500)
• Illinois (+2500)
• Duke (+2500)
• Gonzaga (+2500)
• Alabama (+4000)
• San Diego State (+8000)
• Clemson (+10000)
• NC State (+10000)

Biggest March Madness Round of 32 Highlights & Sweet 16 Storylines

1. Every No. 1 Seed is Still Alive

One reason why college basketball enthusiasts love March Madness is because of the upsets. There’s just nothing like watching a lower-seeded school taking down a No. 1 program in hopes of being named the country’s best team.

Being the No. 1 seed doesn’t necessarily guarantee a deep tournament run. Hell, you only need to look back at the 2023 NCAA Tournament to see that Houston was the only No. 1 seed to reach the Sweet 16. Having said that, though, this year is different.

Following a Round of 32 that lacked any major upsets, all four of this year’s No. 1 seeds — Connecticut, Houston, Purdue, and UNC — have reached the Sweet 16, proving why they were put atop each region in the first place.

The Purdue Boilermakers are one of four No. 1 seeds to reach the Sweet 16 of March Madness 2024. 

It’s the second straight year that UConn has reached the Sweet 16 after winning the entire NCAA Tournament in 2023. Meanwhile, it’s UNC’s second time reaching this stage since 2022 and the sixth time since 2015.

While it’s also Houston’s fifth Sweet 16 appearance in a row, the Cougars advanced to the Elite Eight only twice during that stretch. As for Purdue, the Boilermakers are one of the final 16 teams for the fifth time since 2017, however, 2019 was the only instance where they made it to the next round.

It’s going to be interesting to see if any of the No. 1 seeds are still standing once the Elite Eight arrives. UNC and Houston face the No. 4 seeds Alabama and Duke, respectively, while UConn faces off against No. 5 San Diego State as Purdue takes on No. 5 Gonzaga.

2. 2023 National Championship Game Rematch

March Madness 2023 came to an end as UConn won its first national title in nine years with a 76-59 win over San Diego State. Fast forward nearly one year later and the Huskies are going head-to-head against the Aztecs again, this time in the Sweet 16.

It’s safe to say that SDSU would love some revenge for last April’s loss. The Aztecs couldn’t get anything going in the 2023 National Championship Game, scoring just 59 points on .322/.261/.750 shooting splits while also trailing by 12 points at halftime.

Meanwhile, UConn hardly broke a sweat as Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins, and Tristen Newton combined for 52 of the Huskies’ 76 points.

Can San Diego State get revenge after losing to UConn in the 2023 National Championship Game? 

While you can never rule out an upset, oddsmakers don’t have much faith in the Aztecs. BetOnline is currently listing Connecticut as the 11-point favorite for Thursday’s clash while also listing the Huskies at -600 odds on the moneyline — an implied win probability of 85.7%.

While San Diego State is 7-2 ATS against its last nine Big East opponents, it’s only 2-6 ATS in its last eight games as well as 1-4 ATS in its five previous outings as the underdog.

On the flip side, UConn is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games while also covering the spread against four of its last five MWC foes. Additionally, the Huskies picked up an outright victory in each of the last five games where the odds were in their favor.

In other words, just like last year, it looks like the Aztecs have an uphill battle ahead of them.

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More March Madness Betting

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• March Madness Betting Guide
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• NCAAB Picks Page