No. 1 Arizona coasts into Elite Eight with rout of Arkansas; Illinois easily handles Houston in Sweet 16

Final: (3) Illinois 65, (2) Houston 55

After losing in the national title game last year, Houston brought a majority of its production back this season. This was supposed to be the year that Kelvin Sampson returned to the Final Four … until his team ran into Illinois. Now, Houston faces major roster question marks heading into the offseason. Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp are out of eligibility. Kingston Flemings is a projected top 10 pick in the NBA Draft. And Chris Cenac and Joseph Tugler could also declare for the draft. Factoring in that this game was played in Houston, and No. 1 seed Florida was eliminated from the region, this is a missed opportunity for the Cougars.

Final: (3) Illinois 65, (2) Houston 55

No. 3 seed Illinois just recorded arguably the most impressive win of the NCAA Tournament after eliminating No. 2 seed Houston. Illinois is one win away from its first Final Four appearance since 2005. The Fighting Illini dominated in every aspect of the game: rebounding, second-chance points, bench points, points in the paint and field goal percentage. Illinois was the tougher team, and it's why it will be moving on with a date against Big Ten foe Iowa.

FINAL: (1) Arizona 109, (4) Arkansas 88

Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. likely played the final college game of his career against Arizona on Thursday. Acuff, who is a projected top 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, finished with 28 points against the Wildcats. Acuff completed one of the best seasons by a freshman guard in college basketball history. He became the first player in the SEC to average at least 22 points and six rebounds since Pete Maravich did it. Arkansas coach John Calipari has coached his share of star guards, and Acuff should be remembered as one of the best. It might be a few years before we see another freshman guard in college basketball put up similar numbers at the high-major level.

FINAL: (1) Arizona 109, (4) Arkansas 88

On paper, Arizona's physicality and size were a bad matchup for Arkansas. And that's exactly what played out on the court. Arizona recorded a wire-to-wire win over Arkansas to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015 as the program seeks its first Final Four appearance since 2001. The Wildcats' blend of size, strength, and athleticism has the chance to overwhelm opponents. Shooting is Arizona's only "weakness," and it still knocked down 5 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc. Arizona might be the toughest out remaining in the NCAA Tournament field.

FINAL: (1) Arizona 109, (4) Arkansas 88

No. 1 seed Arizona is advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015 after defeating No. 4 seed Arkansas 109-88. This was a wire-to-wire win for the Wildcats and a dominant effort on both ends of the floor. Seven different players scored at least eight points in the win for Arizona.

Per CBS Sports research, Arizona is only the second team since 2000 to score at least points and attempt fewer than 10 3-pointers in an NCAA Tournament. The last team to do that in the NCAA Tournament was Kansas in 2003.

With the win, Arizona is the eighth team to reach the Elite Eight with a freshman as its top-two leading scorers. That would be Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. Burries scored a team-high 23 points against Arkansas.

The Wildcats will face No. 2 seed Purdue on Saturday in the Elite Eight.

Final: Illinois 65, Houston 55

No. 3 seed Illinois dominated defensively while earning its second Elite Eight trip of the past three seasons with a 65-55 win. The Cougars shot just 34.4% from the floor and did not attempt a free throw until the 3:27 mark of the second half. They also registered zero fast-break points. With nothing coming easy, Houston was forced to operate in half-court sets. The Illini's length made that a miserable task. Houston hit some shots down the stretch to make it somewhat interesting, but an 18-point deficit was too much to overcome.

MID 2H: (1) Arizona 78, (4) Arkansas 62

Arkansas has no answers for Arizona. The Wildcats are shooting 29 of 44 (65.9%!!) from the floor. Arizona has onlyt attempted five 3-pointers but made four of them. Arizona has led by as many as 21 points and appears to be on its way to the Elite Eight.

11:52 2H: Illinois 44, Houston 26

With no transition opportunities and no free throws, Houston is left to operate in the half court against a physical, long Illini defense. It is not going well. Illinois' opponents average just 12.5 free-throw attempts per game. No team in college basketball allows fewer free throws. Houston doesn't get to the stripe often. That combination is manifesting itself in this game as the Cougars have yet to attempt a free throw. 

14:20 2H: Illinois 38, Houston 26

Illinois is off and running in the second half with a 14-2 run. The Illini are whipping the ball around the arc and breaking down the Houston defense at will so far after leading just 24-22 at the break. Houston meanwhile is ice cold and has no steady source of offense. This team has been too guard-oriented and jump shot heavy at times this season, and there are no transition opportunities to be found against Illinois.

HALF: (1) Arizona 54, (4) Arkansas 43

It's been all Arizona through the first 20 minutes of action. The No. 1 seed leads No. 4 seed Arkansas 54-43 at halftime of the second game of the Sweet 16 doubleheader from San Jose. Arizona didn't trail in the first half and did so behind a balanced offensive attack. Seven different players scored at least one bucket for the Wildcats in the first half. Arizona outscored Houston/Illinois (at halftime) by itself. The total amount of points scored in the other game during the first half was 46.

The winner of this game faces No. 2 seed Purdue in the Elite Eight on Saturday.

Half: Illinois 24, Houston 22

Kingston Flemings drilled an absolutely massive 3-pointer just before time expired in the first half to give the Cougars some momentum entering the locker room. That make came after Illinois used three fouls that it had to give in an effort to disrupt the Cougars' chances at getting a clean look. To no avail, Flemings knocked one down to bring Houston within two after an ugly first half. Illinois is shooting 34.5% and Houston is at just 27.3% Illinois led 24-16 with three minutes left in the half before a 6-0 spurt from Houston.

EARLY 1H: (1) Arizona 38, (4) Arkansas 27

Arizona's strength and physicality really stand out through the first 16 minutes. The Wildcats have led by as many as 12 points and are in control early vs. Arkansas. Seven different players have scored for Arizona.

5:00 1H: Illinois 18, Houston 14

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson is not happy with his team's inability to keep Illinois off the glass early. The Illini have a 7-4 edge in offensive rebounds during what's been an ugly offensive start. Neither offense is in a rhythm, but the Illini are getting second chances. These squads are a combined 3 of 17 from deep. Quite a difference from the shot-making display between Iowa and Nebraska which preceded this slugfest.

EARLY 1H: (1) Arizona 16, (4) Arkansas 11

Very fun start from San Jose, as No. 1 seed Arizona leads No. 4 seed Arkansas 16-11 early. The Wildcats have made seven of their first 10 shots. Star freshman Brayden Burries has five of those 16 points. For Arkansas, star guard Darius Acuff Jr. has seven of his team's first 11 points.

A year after being a No. 1 seed and getting sent to Indianapolis for a de facto road showdown with No. 4 seed Purdue in the Sweet 16, Houston is on the other, far more desirable, side of this equation this week. The No. 2 seed Cougars will take on No. 3 seed Illinois in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night inside the Toyota Center, which is just three miles away from their campus and smack in the nucleus of the university's support system.

For that good fortune, the Cougars have Rice to thank.

2026 NCAA Tournament: How neighboring rival Rice saved the day by allowing Houston to host Sweet 16

David Cobb

No. 2 seed Purdue is moving on to the Elite Eight after pulling off a dramatic 79-77 win over No. 11 seed Texas on Thursday after star forward Trey Kaufman-Rennconverted a tip-in with 0.7 seconds left. Kaufman-Renn's heroics came moments after Texas star Daylin Swain converted an and-1 to tie the game at 77 with 11 seconds left.

"That's what we drew up," Kaufman-Renn told the CBS Sports broadcast. "We have so much experience with these guys. ... It's our job to make big plays."

Purdue survives upset bid from Texas after star Trey Kaufman-Renn's game-winning tip-in with 0.7 seconds left

Cameron Salerno

This is the ultimate strength-on-strength clash. Illinois uses relentless offensive rebounding to tilt the shot-volume edge in its direction. Similarly, Houston uses a massive turnover delta to lean the shot-volume edge in its direction.

Houston has had 320 more scoring chances than its opponents this year. That ranks eighth-best nationally, per CBB Analytics. Illinois has had 316 more scoring chances than its opponents. That ranks ninth-best.

Something has to give in this one, and the grappling for rebounds will be eerily similar to a UFC fight.

On paper, Illinois has some real schematic edges. Potential lottery pick Keaton Wagler is all of 6-feet-6 and has made strong decisions all year. His height helps him see over the top of traps, which Houston will bring religiously. High-processing big men are also usually required to create good shots against Houston's aggressive defense. Illinois has them in David Mirkovic (16.9 assist rate) and Tomislav Ivisic (11.2 assist rate). Illinois will also have a dangerous shooter on the back side of the floor in Jake Davis or Ben Humrichous, who have both made 50+ treys at a 36% and 41% clip, respectively.

That type of spacing is what has helped Texas Tech give Houston issues. Illinois has the personnel to replicate it.

Illinois has avenues to create good shots, and when it misses, the Illini will hammer the offensive glass, which is the one area where Houston's defense can be vulnerable. 

But Illinois can't win this one if it doesn't guard. Houston's backcourt creates problems for the Illini because they make the tough shots that Brad Underwood tries to coax. Kingston Flemings averages 5.8 points per game on pull-up jumpers. That ranks 25th-best -- out of over 2,100 qualifying players -- in the country. Fellow guard Milos Uzan also owns a feathery floater, and you know Emanuel Sharp is a dynamic 3-point assassin. Houston's depth is much-improved, too. Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty are giving Houston more punch off the bench.

Chris Cenac versus Mirkovic feels like the swing factor. When Houston's five-star freshman forward plays well, the Cougars feel unbeatable. Illinois will do its best to blanket the perimeter, funnel everything inside the paint and live with Cenac jumpers. He has to make open shots, defend Mirkovic without fouling and clean up everything on the defensive backboards.

This has the makings of a whale of a game because both teams pose real problems for each other. This game is effectively a home game for Houston, but Illinois gets the early lean because it has at least seven reliable scorers and takes high-quality shots. Comparatively, far too many Houston games are littered with tough shots and only three truly reliable offensive threats. Houston's role players have to play great to pull this one off.

The pick: Illinois

Keys for Illinois: Bring toughness, strength to every aspect

This Houston team isn't exactly like prior Kelvin Sampson squads, but it's not far off. The Cougars don't hit the offensive glass quite as well as previous iterations, nor do they defend the 3 or the rim at quite as high a level. This isn't meant to be a shot, by the way. In many cases, Houston was a top-five team in these areas and has fallen merely to the top 30 or so.

What Houston still does as well as anyone is bring toughness, physicality and heady guard play. It is absolutely grueling to play this team. The Cougars will force you to work every possession on both ends of the floor, and they will bump you and bother you to no end. They don't give up anything easily.

Illinois has to make sure it attacks this game with the same vigor and intensity. It starts on the glass. In all eight of their losses, the Illini ceded a 25% or higher offensive rebounding rate. Despite ranking first in KenPom's average height metric, Illinois is just 32nd in defensive rebounding rate. Every member has to be keyed into the defensive glass, especially Ivisic brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir.

The toughness factor has to be factored in everywhere. Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan form as tough a backcourt as it gets in college basketball. Can Illinois hold up, especially in the midrange? Can they keep track of Sharp from the outside? There have been a few times this season where Illinois got outworked, out-communicated, and, in turn, outplayed. It can't happen again.

Illinois is an elite offensive rebounding team. But its challenge on Thursday will be keeping Houston off the offensive glass on the other end of the floor. The Cougars are 12-1 when grabbing 12+ offensive rebounds. Illinois is just 3-3 when allowing 13+ offensive rebounds. It's going to be a battle on the boards.

Keys for Arkansas: Force 3s, limit Montiejas Krivas on the boards

There are few worries about Arkansas' offense. The Razorbacks, led by freshman phenom Darius Acuff Jr., can score with anyone. Rather, this will be a tall task, literally and figuratively, for the defense.

For as outstanding as Acuff and Meleek Thomas can be offensively, they can be similarly frustrating defensively. The Razorbacks ranked in the 33rd percentile nationally defending pick-and-roll ball handlers, in the 26th percentile defending transition possessions and in the 13th percentile defending cutters. The team as a whole is liable to miss assignments on the boards, too.

That doesn't bode well, considering Arizona has a top-five offensive rebounding rate. Tobe Awaka is an absolute bulldog down low on the offensive glass, and Motiejus Krivas was terrific in the second round with an 11-point, 14-rebound (nine offensive) double-double against Utah State. When the Wildcats do get on the boards, Arkansas can't allow anything easy. Arizona is a poor free-throw shooting team.

The Razorbacks also need to limit dribble drives, which is much easier said than done. The Wildcats are a decent 3-point shooting team, but they don't want to shoot many of them. They're 363rd in 3-point rate this season. Unless it's Brayden Burries, the Razorbacks might be best served by sagging off and focusing more on preventing drives and cuts.

Arkansas is just 5-4 when Meleek Thomas scores 10 points or fewer. But the Razorbacks are 23-4 when he scores more than 10 points and 10-1 when he reaches 18+ points. It's a foregone conclusion that Darius Acuff Jr. is going to get buckets for the Razorbacks, regardless of what Arizona throws at him defensively. But what kind of support will he get from Thomas? It will be critical that Arizona make life hard on Acuff's leading sidekick.

There are a ton of future NBA players going toe-to-toe in this one. Arizona is absolutely going to get Arkansas' best shot. The Razorbacks got up to play Duke, Michigan State and Houston, so they will be raring to go for this one against potentially the best team in the country.

Schematically, Arizona is built to give Arkansas some problems. Arkansas' transition defense rates are in the 26th percentile nationally. It's not a strength. That's a problem against a Tommy Lloyd outfit that scores over 15 fastbreak points per game, which rates in the 97th percentile nationally, per CBB Analytics. Arkansas' pick-and-roll defense also leaves a ton to be desired (33rd percentile nationally). Arizona counters with a pick-and-roll offense that rates in the 84th percentile. Arkansas is also mediocre on the boards, where Arizona is dominant.

But one team has Darius Acuff Jr., and the other team does not. Acuff has been a brilliant, problem-solving bucket, but this may be his toughest test. Arizona wing Ivan Kharchenkov is a stud perimeter defender, and big man Motiejus Krivas is one of the top shot-blockers in college basketball. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries will also get a shot at slowing Acuff down. Lloyd will throw grown men at him for all 40 minutes. 

It's going to be a war. Acuff is single-handedly good enough to shred even the best Arizona defenders, and this supporting cast can hoop. Meleek Thomas, Billy Richmond, Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin have all dropped 20 in a game. Ewin, specifically, feels like a major X-factor. Arizona will let you get to that short-roll game in pick-and-rolls. Ewin has to play strong, finish through contact and show up on the defensive end. Arkansas needs him desperately, especially if fellow big man Nick Pringle is still bothered by a pesky hamstring injury. 

What lessons did Arkansas learn from the Florida game, where it got obliterated by 38 points? Arizona does a lot of the things that Florida does well, just better. Arkansas has to be scrappier, tougher and up to the fight against this enormous Arizona team that brings its lunch pail to work every day.

The talent is not drastically different, but I'll go with the deeper team for an up-tempo game. Arizona has eight guys it can trust right now. Arkansas is at six.

The pick: Arizona

FINAL: (2) Purdue 79, (11) Texas 77

No. 2 seed Purdue is moving on to the Elite Eight after pulling off a dramatic 79-77 win over No. 11 seed Texas after star Trey Kaufman-Renn converted a tip-in with 0.7 seconds left. The Boilermakers will be making their third Elite Eight appearance since 2019 and will face the winner of No. 1 seed Arizona and No. 4 seed Arkansas on Sunday, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Texas star Daylin Swain converted an And-1 to tie the game at 77 with 11 seconds left before Purdue won the game.

The early pace of this game was fantastic, with just nine total fouls during the opening 20 minutes. After halftime, there was more fouling. Texas' Matas Vokietaitis and Purdue's Oscar Cluff were in foul trouble deep into the second half and had to sit extended stretches because of it.

In total, this game featured 10 ties and 16 lead changes. For Purdue, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, and Kaufman-Renn all finished with over 16 points. A big difference in this game was second-chance points, as Purdue outscored Texas 22-12 in that area.

Texas' tournament run came to an end after winning three games last week to become the only double-digit seed in the second week of the NCAA Tournament. Texas star Tramon Mark finished with 29 points in his final college game.

FINAL: Iowa 77, Nebraska 71 

Iowa trailed for more than 32 minutes of game time and did not have its first lead of the game until there was 2:10 remaining in the second half, yet the Hawkeyes' resiliency keeps them alive in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Ben McCollum's team wins the rubber match against a Nebraska squad that it split the regular season series with, and this rivalry just got a whole new epic chapter to fuel the fire for years to come. Iowa becomes just the eighth No. 9 seed to reach the Elite Eight, and will face the winner of Houston-Illinois on Saturday night. 

2H: Iowa 71, Nebraska 68

Nebraska was leading or tied for 37:51 of game time before Bennett Stirtz's three-pointer gave Iowa a 68-65 lead. Then Sage followed up with another before Nebraska answered to cut the lead to 3. 58.8 seconds remaining to see who advances to the Elite Eight. 

2H: Nebraska 65, Iowa 65 

Given Iowa's pace, it's possible we might only have about 6 or 7 possessions left in this game. Nebraska has led for more than 32 minutes of game time but the Hawkeyes have had answers every time the Cornhuskers try to pull away. Nebraska isn't getting quite as many offensive rebounds as they were earlier in the game, and the Hawkeyes are hitting some big shots from deep (11-for-28 for the night). The good news for both teams is they are entering the final minutes with experience of winning in clutch time in the Round of 32. The bad news is one of them will end up on the losing end. 

LATE 2H: (11) Texas 70, (2) Purdue 70

What a fun game from San Jose to get the day started. Texas is tied with Purdue at 70 with 3:56 remaining. This game has featured nine ties and 15 lead changes.

2H: Nebraska 58, Iowa 55 

These two teams cannot play a normal game. After being absolutely lights-out shooting the basketball in the first half, the bricks have started to stack up a little bit after halftime. The first meeting of the season was a low-scoring grinder, and now it's a high-efficiency shootout. The possessions are low but the scoring is high, and two fan bases who traveled well are each absolutely FURIOUS about the no-calls in a game that has been very physical throughout. You can sense the tension of the moment, facing a chance to go to the Elite Eight, and the small margins of the matchup due to familiarity. Iowa won't go away, but it has never held the lead as Nebraska remains slightly in control. 

MID 2H: (11) Texas 59, (2) Purdue 58

Texas star Tramon Mark is balling. He has a game-high 24 points and is 9 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from the 3-point line. Mark and Jordan Pope (11 points) are the only Texas players in double figures.

EARLY 2H: (11) Texas 49, (2) Purdue 45

Foul trouble could be a big storyline for the final 16 minutes of the game. Purdue's Oscar Cluff and Texas' Matas Vokietaitis have three fouls, and both are currently on the bench. Texas has outscored Purdue 14-6 in the second half so far.