NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking all 16 Second Round matchups

By Joey Loose | Mar 18, 2023

Mar 17, 2023; Denver, CO, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) react to a play during the second half against North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first round of the 2023 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael Ciaglo-USA TODAY Sports /

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NCAA Tournament Florida Atlantic Owls guard Alijah Martin Basketball Ncaa Men S Basketball Tournament /

10. 4 Connecticut vs. 5 Saint Mary’s

A surprise team earlier in the season and a ranked team for much of it, Saint Mary’s had gotten incredible play from freshman guard Aidan Mahaney, named co-Player of the Year in the WCC. However, he was completely absent in a 63-51 win over VCU in the first round. The Gaels will need him to show up in a big way on Sunday, especially with the size and talent on this Huskies squad. Mitchell Saxen’s big game against those Rams will need to be replicated if the Gaels want to reach the second weekend.

Minus a rough January, you could call Connecticut one of the nation’s top teams, proving it with their play in Portland earlier in the year and with an 87-63 win against Iona in the first round. Not only did the Huskies get another efficient offensive performance, but the big win allowed them to rest their key players. Adama Sanogo has been the All-Big East player everyone expected, but the rise of freshmen big men Alex Karaban anad Donovan Clingan has keyed Connecticut’s success. Can the Gaels even match up with this Huskies frontcourt?

9. 9 Florida Atlantic vs. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson

We don’t know if this game will be close or what Fairleigh Dickinson will have left in the tank, but it’s hard not to be excited after their awe-inspiring 63-58 defeat of 1-seed Purdue in the first round, just two days after beating Texas Southern in the First Four. The Knights secured just the second-ever win for a 16-seed over a top-seed and showed incredible heart, consistency, and coaching in the win. Can they do what UMBC couldn’t do five years ago and win again?

Florida Atlantic is no basic 9-seed, as the Owls already have 32 wins and are coming off their best of the season, pulling out a 66-65 win over Memphis on a late shot by Nicholas Boyd. Florida Atlantic won their first NCAA Tournament game in program history and will be certain favorites in their second, but how will the Owls respond in this game? They match up well in most aspects against the Knights, but that didn’t stop Fairleigh Dickinson from upending Purdue did it?

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