NCAA March Madness 2024: Why is the third round called the ‘Sweet 16′?

The Sweet 16 is the commonly used name for the regional semifinal round of the NCAA tournament. Teams that make it to the Sweet 16 previously won in the second round, or the round of 32, and the winners of Sweet 16 matchups move on to the Elite Eight.

What is the Sweet 16?

To make it is a dream for most teams, but to win once there is something completely different. We’re discussing the third round of March Madness, the Sweet 16. The highly competitive round of the NCAA tournament, the Sweet 16, follows the Round of 32 and produces two teams in each region, with the final goal of arriving at the Elite 8. Needless to say, the five-day break between the two rounds results in intense anticipation as the country prepares to see the field narrowed even further.

How did the Sweet 16 get its name?

Though not certain, it’s believed that CBS commentators originally started using the term in the late 1980s after the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams. Prior to that, the term ‘Sweet 16′ was frequently used when referring to state high school basketball tournaments. Interestingly, the phrase using both “16″ and “Sixteen” was trademarked by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association in 1988, according to reports. Used as the handle for their annual championship tournament, the move actually resulted in a clash with the NCAA. In the end, however, the KHSAA chose to negotiate with the collegiate organization rather than enter into litigation and with that we now have the NCAA’s Sweet 16.

Who is in the Sweet 16 this year?

UConn, North Carolina, Gonzaga, and Duke have all made it to the Sweet 16 once again, proving to be familiar mugs in the tournament. In contrast, NC State, Marquette, and Illinois are making their long-awaited return to the second weekend of the competition. It has been a while since Illinois made it to the Sweet 16—their last appearance was in 2005, the same year the program appeared in the national title game.