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The Sweet 16 is a highly anticipated stage of the NCAA's annual college basketball tournament, also known as March Madness. The Sweet 16 games for men's basketball typically start on a Thursday, with four games taking place, followed by another four games the next day. The women's basketball Sweet 16 games usually commence on the Friday, with games split between different locations. The Sweet 16 round is known for delivering some of the most thrilling moments of March Madness, with powerhouse programs and underdog teams alike vying for a place in the Elite Eight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024, 2025 |
| Month | March |
| Dates | 27th-28th (men's), 28th-29th |
| Days of the Week | Thursday, Friday |
| Number of Games | 8 |
| Number of Games per Day | 4 |
| Men's Teams | Alabama, BYU, Florida, Maryland, Duke, Arizona, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Auburn, Michigan, Houston, Purdue, Kentucky |
| Women's Networks | ABC, ESPN |
| Men's Networks | CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Paramount+, Max, TBS, truTV |
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What You'll Learn
- Men's and women's Sweet 16 games air on different channels
- The Sweet 16 is when the tournament truly heats up
- The Sweet 16 is the next phase of the NCAA's illustrious college basketball tournament
- The Sweet 16 is when teams are two wins away from the Final Four
- The Sweet 16 is when the field is trimmed down to 16
Men's and women's Sweet 16 games air on different channels
The Sweet 16 games for men's basketball started on Thursday, March 27, 2025, with four games taking place each day over the following two days. The women's basketball Sweet 16 games started a day later on Friday, March 28, 2025.
To watch the men's Sweet 16 matchups, tune in to CBS Sports and TNT Sports platforms, including Paramount+ and Max. For the women's tournament, you'll need to switch over to ABC and ESPN. Most of these networks are available on popular TV providers like DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity.
If you're a fan of both men's and women's college basketball, you'll need to keep track of the different channels airing the games. The men's games will be aired on CBS, TBS/truTV, and TNT, while the women's games will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
- No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU (7:09 p.m. ET on CBS)
- No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland (7:39 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV)
- No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona (9:39 p.m. ET on CBS)
- No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas (10:09 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV)
- No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (7:09 p.m. ET on CBS)
- No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky (7:39 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV)
- No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 5 Michigan (9:39 p.m. ET on CBS)
- No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Purdue (10:09 p.m.)
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The Sweet 16 is when the tournament truly heats up
The Sweet 16 round usually occurs towards the end of March, a few days after the initial rounds of the tournament. In 2025, the men's and women's Sweet 16 games will be held on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28, respectively, with four games taking place each day. The games will be aired across different networks, allowing fans to tune in and catch all the action.
This round often delivers some of the most memorable moments of the tournament. It is a time when powerhouse teams solidify their dominance, while underdogs sometimes emerge to pull off surprising upsets. The competition becomes fiercer as the stakes get higher, and every game becomes crucial in determining which teams will advance further.
In the men's tournament, all four No. 1 seeds have made it through to the Sweet 16 in recent years, showcasing the talent and determination of the top-ranked teams. However, there is always the potential for upsets, as seen in the women's tournament, where lower-ranked teams have overcome higher-seeded opponents to secure their spot in the Sweet 16.
The Sweet 16 is a pivotal moment in the tournament, as the pressure mounts and the teams fight with determination to stay in the running for the championship. It is a true test of skill, strategy, and resilience, and the excitement it generates makes it a highly anticipated part of the NCAA basketball tournament.
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The Sweet 16 is the next phase of the NCAA's illustrious college basketball tournament
The Sweet 16 always delivers some of the most thrilling moments of March Madness, with powerhouse programs and underdog upsets alike. This year's tournament has seen all four No. 1 seeds—Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston—advance, with Arkansas being the only double-digit seed to make it through after stunning victories.
The men's Sweet 16 matchups include some highly anticipated games. No. 2 Alabama will face No. 6 BYU, while No. 1 Florida takes on No. 4 Maryland. The matchup between No. 1 Duke and No. 4 Arizona is also one to watch, with Duke's Cooper Flagg, a finalist for the Naismith Trophy, leading his team to dominate in the tournament's opening weekend. Another notable game is between No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 10 Arkansas, coached by the iconic Hall of Famer whose team is looking to continue their winning streak.
The Sweet 16 is a highly anticipated round of the NCAA Tournament, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcomes of these high-pressure games. With only two wins separating the teams from the Final Four, the stakes are higher than ever. Be sure to tune in to catch all the action and see which teams will advance to the Elite Eight and beyond!
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The Sweet 16 is when teams are two wins away from the Final Four
The Sweet 16 is an important milestone in the Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness. At this stage, 16 teams remain, and they are just two wins away from the Final Four. This round always delivers some of the most thrilling moments of the tournament, with powerhouse programs making statements and underdogs pulling off shocking upsets.
In 2025, the Men's Sweet 16 games began on Thursday, March 27, and the Women's Sweet 16 games started on Friday, March 28. The men's games were divided between Atlanta, Indianapolis, Newark, and San Francisco, while the women's games were split between Birmingham and Spokane. The men's tournament featured all four No.1 seeds, with Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston making it through. Arkansas was the only double-digit seed to make it to the Sweet 16, setting up a thrilling tournament with high stakes.
The Sweet 16 round is a crucial step towards the Final Four, and the teams that advance from this stage will be one step closer to achieving that goal. The games at this stage are always highly anticipated and exciting, with eight games played in total, four on Thursday and four on Friday. This sets the stage for a thrilling weekend of high-pressure college basketball, with teams battling it out for a chance to continue their tournament journey.
The Sweet 16 is a significant hurdle for the teams, as they need to win their respective games to advance to the Elite Eight, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday. The pressure and intensity of the tournament increase at this stage, as the teams are now just one win away from the prestigious Final Four. The Sweet 16 is a true test of the teams' skills, strategy, and determination, as they fight for their chance to shine in the latter stages of the tournament.
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The Sweet 16 is when the field is trimmed down to 16
The Sweet 16 is typically played on a Thursday and Friday, with eight games being played each day. This means that there are four games for fans to watch on each day, making for an action-packed couple of days of basketball. The games are played across different cities, with the 2025 men's basketball Sweet 16 games being played in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Newark, and San Francisco, and the women's basketball Sweet 16 games being played in Birmingham and Spokane.
The Sweet 16 is a single-elimination round, with the winners of each game moving on to the next round, and the losers being eliminated from the tournament. This creates a high-pressure environment, as one loss can mean the end of a team's season. This pressure is further amplified by the fact that the winners of the Sweet 16 games are only two wins away from the Final Four, and a chance to compete for the national championship.
The Sweet 16 is also known for being a round where upsets can occur, with lower-seeded teams pulling off surprising victories over higher-seeded opponents. This adds to the excitement and unpredictability of the tournament, as anything can happen once the field has been trimmed down to 16 teams.
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Frequently asked questions
The 2024 NCAA basketball Sweet 16 started on Thursday, March 28, and continued on Friday, March 29.
The men's Sweet 16 games started on Thursday, March 27, 2025, and the women's games started on Friday, March 28, 2025.
The men's games will be played in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Newark, and San Francisco, while the women's games will be played in Birmingham and Spokane.
The men's games aired on CBS Sports and TNT Sports platforms, including Paramount+ and Max. The women's games aired on ABC and ESPN.
The Elite Eight round starts on Saturday, March 29 and continues on Sunday, March 30.
