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The Athletic has live coverage of the Men’s Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament games

March Madness continues to heat up, with the Sweet 16 delivering a Friday slate of heavyweight showdowns that promise drama, intensity and heart-stopping finishes.

SEC rivals collide as Kentucky and Tennessee meet up with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line. Meanwhile, Purdue and Houston should bring fireworks in a clash of powerhouse programs, with Braden Smith and Milos Uzan ready to go blow-for-blow.

Ole Miss has surprised the nation by getting this far, but the Rebels will need more magic to topple Michigan State and Tom Izzo’s tournament-tested crew. And don’t blink —Auburn and Michigan are set to light up the arena in a battle of athleticism and grit. With every team dreaming of glory, expect the unexpected. Buckle up — this Sweet 16 is about to get savage, and The Athletic has you covered.

No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Michigan State

7:09 p.m. ET on CBS

Offensive rebounds, turnovers and 3-pointers are worth paying attention to in this game.

Ole Miss is the smallest team left in the field and faces a Michigan State squad ranked in the top 20 in offensive rebounding percentage, according to KenPom.

The Spartans are in the top 150 in offensive turnover percentage but rarely turn teams over on defense. They are 245th in defensive turnover percentage and 322nd in steal percentage. This isn’t a major concern; the Spartans are fifth in defense and No. 1 at guarding the 3. They don’t force turnovers, but they sure defend.

This bodes well for the Rebels, though, who rank third in offensive turnover percentage.

Ole Miss isn’t the deepest team, but it has six players who average 10 points per game or more.

When it comes to 3s, Michigan State doesn’t shoot them well (31 percent), but will have an opportunity with how Ole Miss’ defense is set up. The Rebels typically pack the paint and allow the 47th highest 3-point rate in the country. Shots will be available, the Spartans just have to make them.

There are eight high-level guards in this game, with each team having four. Which quartet will make the biggest plays to send its squad to the Elite 8?

No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky

7:39 p.m. ET on TBS

It’s hard to beat a team three times in three months, but Kentucky will look to keep on sweeping Friday night.

For the Volunteers to break the skid, they must contain the 3. Throughout the season, they have been elite in this area, ranking third in the country in defensive 3-point percentage — except against the Wildcats. In two games versus Kentucky this season, the Wildcats have made 50 percent of their 3s.

There is a direct correlation between Kentucky’s win percentage and how it shoots the 3. The Wildcats are 3-6 when they shoot below 30 percent from beyond the arc.

At times, Tennessee can be stagnant on offense, going long stretches without scoring. In two tournament games, the Vols have shot over their season average from 3 and found other ways to score, like attacking the offensive glass and getting to the free-throw line.

Among matchups to watch are Chaz Lanier vs. Otega Oweh, a pair of future NBA players. Also, a healthier Lamont Butler and Zakai Zeigler battle at the point guard spot.

Fun fact: Lanier has made more 3s than Dalton Knecht did last year.

No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 5 Michigan

9:39 p.m. ET on CBS

Who says big men don’t matter anymore in basketball? This game features three of the best bigs in college basketball, two of whom — Johni Broome and Danny Wolf — could be first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.

I’ve said it before: Auburn starts slow. Once they wake up, they make it hard for teams on both ends of the floor with their depth, length and scoring options. The Tigers have six players who averaged 9.3 points or more and rank in the top 55 in almost every statistical category on both ends of the floor.

For Michigan to win this game, it will need Nimari Burnett to step up. He has scored only six points in two tournament games. The Wolverines also need to do what they do best — score in the paint. Michigan is 15th in 2-point percentage and the Tigers foul a lot; they are the second-worst team in the field at defensive free-throw rate.

The Wolverines can’t afford to turn the ball over like they have this season (324th in offensive turnover percentage). If they do, this game will get out of hand quickly.

Their X-factor is Tre Donaldson; when he scores at least 16 points, Michigan is 7-0. He is their best guard and will need to show up for Big Blue to move on to the Elite 8.

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Purdue

10:09 p.m. ET on TBS

One reason I picked Houston to win the national championship back in October is its ability to make shots from all three guard spots. The Cougars are the best 3-point shooting team and the best defensive team in the country.

Something to watch is rebounding margins; Houston is one of the best offensive rebounding teams (11th nationally) and overwhelms teams with second-chance points. Purdue is 18-2 when grabbing 22 defensive rebounds or more but has only done it nine times this season. Houston is 20-1 when allowing fewer than 20 defensive rebounds.

In the past, teams have given the Cougars trouble in the pick-and-roll with short rolls, pops to the 3-point line or quick slips. Trey Kaufman-Renn has only shot 51 3s in his three-year career, but he is almost automatic around the rim with floaters, hooks and layups.

All-American PG Braden Smith hasn’t faced a defense this physical all season, but his toughness and poise can help the Boilermakers try to solve this feisty defense.

One thing to watch is the foul count. Houston is physical and will look to impose its will. If one of Houston’s guards gets into foul trouble, though, the game could shift.

(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)