UConn (28-9), the Big East Tournament champion, got here with little trouble, crushing Bucknell in the second round and then beating Cincinnati 69-58 in the Round of 32. Kemba Walker scored 33 points in that game against the Bearcats to lead the Huskies into the Sweet 16 for the second time in the past three seasons. Walker moved past Donny Marshall and into first place for the most points scored in a single season in school history. The Huskies have now won seven straight games but they are just one of two Big East teams – out of a record 11 NCAA Tournament teams from that conference – in the Sweet 16.

San Diego State (34-2) is the Mountain West Tournament champion and still has yet to lose to any team other than BYU. The Aztecs opened the tournament with a fairly easy 18-point win over Northern Colorado. But then in the Round of 32, it took two overtimes for SDSU to overcome Temple. Star Kawhi Leonard struggled in that game but Billy White had his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. San Diego State has now won seven straight and 14 of its past 15 games overall. The Aztecs, who should have a huge advantage in crowd support with its campus not far away, hadn’t won an NCAA Tournament game before this year.

SDSU’s excellent frontcourt should hold its own against the Huskies, but how will the backcourt fare against Walker and Co.? Remember that BYU’s Jimmer Fredette lit up the Aztecs in the two SDSU losses.

Madness would not be betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog!