Duke, Michigan Rally to Sweet 16 as Madness Delivers Upsets and Milestones

No. 1 seeds Duke and Michigan dodged early scares to reach the Sweet 16, with Duke’s Cam Boozer erupting for 19 points and 11 rebounds in the second half and Patrick Ngongba’s return fueling the late push, while Michigan cruised past Saint Louis 95-72. Eight teams advanced to the next round as the tournament mixed domination with drama: Texas became the sixth First Four team to reach the Sweet 16 by beating Gonzaga, Houston rolled past Texas A&M, and Arkansas held off High Point 94-88 behind strong guard play. Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. set an NCAA Tournament assists record in a 77-69 win over Louisville, VCU’s comeback bid fell short against Illinois, and Vanderbilt’s heartbreak came on a last-second half-court try as Nebraska advanced. Louisville’s early exit adds to a tough offseason narrative as the sport moves toward the next weekend.