March Madness Storylines To Watch Heading Into The Sweet 16

After a fun-filled weekend of college basketball, we've got our top-16 teams in college basketball. There were limited upsets, and there is no Cinderella in the Sweet 16. But starting Thursday, we're set up for some really intriguing matchups. Below, I'll discuss some of the best storylines in college basketball as we enter the Sweet 16 of this year's NCAA Tournament.

Get your first month of oddschecker+ right now for just $0.99. Don't miss out on this March Madness deal!

March Madness Storylines

1. Could Cooper Flagg Win The National Championship AND Get Drafted First?

It's been over a decade since a player won the National Championship and was the No. 1 NBA Draft pick. Anthony Davis was the last player to enjoy this feat when his Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA Tournament in 2012.

2. Speaking Of Kentucky...

Did you know that the 2012 Kentucky team is the last SEC team to win the NCAA Tournament? That could certainly change this year, as seven SEC teams remain in the field of 16.

3. John Calipari's Still Got It

For many years, the Kentucky Wildcats struggled to make it past the first weekend before finally letting John Calipari go.

Calipari left for Arkansas and now has his Razorbacks in the Sweet 16. This is all Kentucky fans ever wanted over the last few years.

But for all the credit Calipari got with Kentucky, that 2012 team was his only Championship team...ever.

4. Mark Pope Has Ice In His Veins

The Kentucky Wildcats replaced John Calipari with Mark Pope. After Calipari reached the Sweet 16, Pope and his Wildcats faced a lot of pressure.

Yet, Kentucky wasted no time knocking off Illinois, 84-75.

5. Kevin Young Is Just As Good As Pope!

Mark Pope left BYU to join the Wildcats, which helped Kevin Young earn a job with BYU. Ironically, he's got the Cougars in the Sweet 16.

It's interesting how all that played out. Kevin Young's first season with BYU has been a significant success. Plus, basketball's top recruit, A.J. Dybantsa, is headed to BYU next season.

6. Caleb Love vs. Duke

Caleb Love is currently on the Arizona Wildcats. But he played for North Carolina to start his career. He still has some bad blood with Duke.

That said, he's 4-3 against the Blue Devils and has averaged nearly 21 points and 4.6 assists per game against Duke.

Get your popcorn!

Can Caleb Love and the Arizona Wildcats cover or pull the upset against the Blue Devils? Check the latest Arizona vs. Duke odds

7. Could Duke Win a 6th Title?

The Duke Blue Devils have won five NCAA National Championships, all under Coach K. John Scheyer could be the second coach in Duke history to win a National Championship. He certainly has the team to do it.

8. Can Kelvin Sampson Get Back To The Final Four?

The least talked-about coach is probably Kelvin Sampson. He helped Houston get into the Final Four in 2021 but fell short against the eventual National Champions.

He's made six consecutive Sweet 16s, but his team this year has enough actually to win it all.

There Are Many More Storylines

We could sit here for 24 hours and discuss all the storylines in the NCAA Tournament. Florida and Auburn are elite programs, Alabama has one of the best offenses in the nation, and you can't forget about Michigan State, enjoying a run under Tom Izzo.

We can also discuss Maryland's Crab Five and miracle buzzer-beater to survive Colorado State.

Ultimately, since there are no Cinderellas in the NCAA Tournament, we'll get some really good games down the stretch. Enjoy it!

COLLEGE BASKETBALL ODDS & PICKS

• Looking for March Madness odds? We got you covered!
• Need more March Madness picks? Get them all right here.
• Which longshots could go on a deep run? Check the latest Final Four Odds
• Duke has the best odds to win it all for the first time in a decade. Can anyone stop them? Take a look at the complete National Championship odds