Who is elite?
That’s what’s at stake as the 2025 NCAA Tournament resumes on Friday, when the eight Sweet 16 entrants in Regional 1 (Spokane) and Regional 2 (Birmingham) will vie for four of the spots in the Elite Eight.
The action begins in Birmingham, with No. 3-seed North Carolina meeting No. 2-seed Duke at 2:30 p.m. ET and No. 4-seed Maryland challenging No. 1-seed South Carolina at 5 p.m. ET before shifting to Spokane, where No. 3-seed LSU takes on No. 2-seed NC State at 7:30 p.m. ET and No. 5-seed Ole Miss will face No. 1-seed UCLA at 10 p.m. ET. All four games will be broadcast on ESPN.
Here’s a closer look at Friday’s four Sweet 16 contests:
No. 2-seed Duke vs. No. 3-seed North Carolina (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The Sweet 16 begins will a Triangle Trifecta, as in-state rivals Duke and North Carolina will meet for a third time this season, but the first-time ever in the NCAA Tournament, with the winner not only claiming bragging rights but a spot in the Elite Eight.
The teams’…
