March Madness Rankings: Power Ranking Each of the Sweet 16 Teams

March Madness Rankings: Power Ranking Each of the Sweet 16 Teams

Everyone thinks they know everything until they watch the first four days of the NCAA Tournament. Yes, even me.

The NCAA Tournament has been filled with ridiculous upsets, insane matchups, and some interesting foul calls. That's college basketball for you!

After re-watching every team twice in the NCAA Tournament, I'm not more confident about where each team belongs in my new power rankings.

So let's give it a shot. Here are my new power rankings for every Sweet 16 team in the NCAA Tournament.

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Sweet 16 March Madness Power Rankings

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama was the best team in the NCAA this season. The Crimson Tide is still the best team in college basketball in the Sweet 16.

Alabama has won both NCAA Tournament games by 20+ points. And that includes a massive win over Maryland. Those No. 1 seed games against the 8-9 team are never easy.

The Crimson Tide made it look easy in the second half.

2. UConn Huskies

I don't know what Head Coach Dan Hurley says to the Huskies at halftime. But whatever he says or does, is working. The Huskies have looked like the best team in the nation in the second half, with dominating performances over Iona and Saint Mary's in their first two games of the Tournament.

This team is going places. They're also lucky they won't have to face Kansas. That helps.

3. Houston Cougars

Houston's defense will always help keep them in games. Its matchup against Miami will be intriguing.

When the Hurricanes are on their A-game offensively, they're almost impossible to stop. But I still think Houston's defense will be good enough to force some tough shots and win that game against Miami. They've done enough to be in the top three of the NCAA Tournament power rankings.

4. Texas Longhorns

Texas could set up a matchup against Houston in the Elite Eight. That will be the best game of the Elite Eight if it goes down.

The Longhorns rallied to beat a very good Penn State team. It wasn't their best showing, but I love the experience on this Texas team and think they'll be a tough out throughout the Tournament.

They could even win it all, in my opinion.

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5. Tennessee Volunteers

I was down on Tennessee due to Zakai Zeigler's injury. But I was wrong. This Tennessee defense is just too good. The Vols will take on Florida Atlantic in the Sweet 16. That should be another win for Tennessee.

Its defense against Duke was just so impressive. And Tennessee hit a high volume of shots, which is unlike them.

6. Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State knocked off Kentucky in the Round of 32 despite being dominated on the glass. This team has a great vibe about them. That win over Kentucky was massive. When everyone doubted them, the Wildcats came to play.

Some even had Kansas State out in the first round. Not me. This team is playing some great ball right now.

7. UCLA Bruins

UCLA's scare against Northwestern has me rethinking UCLA. After watching the other Pac-12 teams struggle, I'm worried for UCLA. But they'll take on a Gonzaga team in the Sweet 16 that had to escape TCU in their matchup.

I still think UCLA will make it into the Elite Eight. But then a matchup against UConn would dampen things.

8. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Unfortunately, Gonzaga has to match up against Gonzaga. It's a poor matchup for them in the Sweet 16, but that's how it goes sometimes.

The Bulldogs have started slow in both games in the NCAA Tournament. If they keep doing that, they won't be able to come back in games against the better competition.

9. Xavier Musketeers

I don't like Xavier's chances of beating Texas. This team couldn't make shots against Kennesaw State when wide open. The Musketeers did much better agaisnt Pittsburgh offenisvely.

But Texas will keep Xavier off-balanced and force some tough shots. Xavier's road in the Tournament will likely come to a close.

10. Creighton Bluejays

Creighton's win over Baylor was superb. But I think everyone agreed that Baylor's defense wasn't going to be good enough for the Bears to go anywhere this year. Creighton will now get Princeton.

They'll beat Princeton and then make the Elite Eight. That's when they'll jump my rankings... to eighth because beating Princeton won't be nearly as impressive as the other teams will accomplish.

11. San Diego State Aztecs

The Aztecs looked good against Furman on Saturday. But I can't rank them higher until they beat a Power-Five team in this Tournament.

If they beat Alabama, I'll change my mind.

12. Michigan State Spartans

Any time you've got Coach Tom Izzo on your side, there's a chance.

I wasn't high on Marquette. If you were, you missed all the metrics showing that Marquette was a fraudulent team. The Golden Eagles don't defend well enough, and Michigan State took advantage, despite missing a ton of threes.

Michigan State got a major win. But I'm not ready to go nuts about it. Beat Kansas State first.

13. Miami Hurricanes

Miami won convincingly against Indiana and escaped Drake in the first round. They've been battle-tested early.

Which is why I'm concerned for them against Houston. Being a bit tired against Houston is never a good thing. Miami's offense won't be the same as Houston's defense, either.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas earned a massive win against Kansas. Ricky Council IV and Davonte Davis had big games scoring. But those were the only two guys who scored more than 10 points. Nick Smith had 0!

I'm not buying them to beat UConn.

15. Florida Atlantic Owls

This offense has scored droughts against FDU. Imagine what it'll be like against Tennessee.

16. Princeton Tigers

Princeton's been fun. If anything, I think they have a slim chance of actually making the Elite Eight. They're taking on a 6-seed, after all. But Creighton looks too good on paper.