NCAA Tournament: The Sweet 16 matchups are set — and many of the bluebloods are missing

March Madness is heading to the Sweet 16 without a handful of top teams. Two No. 1 seeds — Kansas and Purdue — No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 4 seed Virginia are all gone. And gone with them are millions of busted brackets.

It has been tough sledding for the bluebloods too: Besides Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Indiana are all heading home. UCLA’s drive for a 12th national title remains alive.

Here’s what to know with the regional semifinals up next in the NCAA Tournament.

Fairleigh Dickinson's Joe Munden Jr. (1) and Sean Moore (11) celebrate beating Purdue 63-58 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio (Paul Sancya/AP)

The top four seeds in the tournament were given to Alabama, Houston, Kansas and Purdue. Each had its share of headaches to set up what is proving to be a chaotic tournament. The Boilermakers were the first to fall, ousted in a first-round stunner, and the Jayhawks followed the next day.

East: The Boilermakers got a top seed for the fourth time, but Purdue was dumped by Fairleigh Dickinson in a near-historic upset. And the No. 2 seed, Marquette, is also gone. Up next: No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic versus No. 4 seed Tennessee and No. 3 seed Kansas State versus No. 7 seed Michigan State, whose coach, Tom Izzo, is heading to his 15th regional.

South: Alabama, led by coach Nate Oats in a challenging season, got a top seed for the first time behind SEC player of the year Brandon Miller, who has armed security on hand after being the subject of threats. Up next: No. 1 seed Alabama versus No. 5 seed San Diego State and No. 6 seed Creighton versus No. 15 seed Princeton, which is in rare territory.

Midwest: Houston got a top seed and won its opener before a rugged victory over Auburn even with All-American Marcus Sasser hobbled by a groin injury. Up next: No. 1 seed Houston versus No. 5 seed Miami and No. 2 seed Texas versus No. 3 seed Xavier.

West: Kansas, the top-seeded defending national champion that was without coach Bill Self in the tournament after a heart procedure, blew an eight-point halftime lead and lost to Arkansas. Up next: No. 2 seed UCLA versus No. 3 seed Gonzaga and No. 4 seed UConn versus No. 8 seed Arkansas.

Princeton guard Blake Peters (24) screams after making a 3-pointer against Missouri on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. (José Luis Villegas/AP)

The unforgettable plays are piling up.

Princeton used a late run to earn its first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years by ousting No. 2 seed Arizona and then answered any skeptics by rolling Missouri to lock in its first Sweet 16 spot in 56 years.

Furman celebrated its first appearance since 1980 with a win over No. 4 seed Virginia on a deep 3-pointer by JP Pegues with 2.4 seconds left. Then came No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson’s win over Purdue as the 22½-point underdog stifled 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey to advance and join UMBC in the record books.

All that happened before the Razorbacks and shirtless coach Eric Musselman celebrated their win over the Jayhawks.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo watches from the bench as his team plays Marquette on Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (Michael Conroy/AP)

No. 3 seed Kansas State (25-9) vs. No. 7 seed Michigan State (21-12)

6:30 p.m. ET Thursday, TBS

Tom Izzo is taking Michigan State to the Sweet 16 for the 15th time and first in four years after a 69-60 victory against No. 2 seed Marquette. The victory was the 16th for Izzo in the tournament against a higher seed, breaking the record he shared with recently retired Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. At Madison Square Garden, the Spartans will face a Kansas State team that was picked to finish last in the Big 12 with a remade roster and a first-year coach in Jerome Tang. The Wildcats outlasted Kentucky 75-69 behind 27 points by Markquis Nowell.

No. 4 seed Connecticut (27-8) vs. No. 8 seed Arkansas (22-13)

7:15 p.m. ET Thursday, CBS

The Huskies are returning to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years and hoping to avoid being the next victim of Arkansas, which ousted defending champion Kansas. UConn outclassed Saint Mary’s 70-55 behind 24 points by Adama Sanogo and timely 3-point shooting.

No. 1 seed Alabama (31-5) vs. No. 5 seed San Diego State (29-6)

6:30 p.m. ET Friday, TBS

The Aztecs are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004 and have won 11 of their last 13. Balanced scoring carried them to a second-round victory against Furman, and they’ll need more of the same against the Crimson Tide, who handily dispatched Maryland in the second round. All-America freshman Brandon Miller, who is nursing an injury, had 19 after going scoreless in the first round.

No. 2 seed Texas (28-8) vs. No. 3 seed Xavier (27-9)

9:45 p.m. ET Friday, CBS

The Musketeers are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 and will face a Longhorns team that hasn’t been there in 15 years. Xavier put on a clinic in unselfishness in the first half of its 84-73 victory against Pittsburgh, totaling 17 assists on 19 made field goals. The Longhorns made just one 3-pointer in 13 tries in their 71-66 victory against Penn State, but Dylan Disu had a season-high 28-point performance.

Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired — here is a schedule — on either CBS, TBS, TNT or truTV and their digital platforms. CBS, which also has a handy schedule that includes announcing teams, will handle the Final Four and national title game.

The NCAA is streaming games via its March Madness Live option, and CBS games are being streamed on Paramount+. Fans of longtime play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz should soak up every moment: It’s his final NCAA Tournament.

Who’s going to win the national championship? The betting favorites to reach the Final Four are (in order, as of March 19): Alabama, Houston, UConn, UCLA, Gonzaga and Texas, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sweet 16 weekend will see games in New York (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas City, Mo. (Midwest), and Louisville, Ky. (South).

Where is the Final Four? In Houston on April 1, with the championship game on April 3. Basketball aficionados, take note: The women’s NCAA Tournament will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive from Houston.

Can’t get enough March Madness? Well, there is talk about expanding the tournament despite a host of challenges. Enjoy the 68-team version for now!