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March Madness Round of 32: Purdue to Sweet 16, Injuries and Coaching Showdowns Highlight Sunday's slate

Purdue advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 79-69 win over Miami but faces uncertainty with guard CJ Cox's knee injury. Iowa State secured an 82-63 victory over Kentucky without star Joshua Jefferson. In the women's tournament, Minnesota broke a 20-year Sweet 16 drought with a dramatic 65-63 win over Ole Miss. Eight men's games are scheduled for Sunday, featuring key matchups like Kansas-St. John's and Florida-Iowa. The women's Round of 32 continues with potential upsets on the horizon.

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March Madness Round of 32: Purdue to Sweet 16, Injuries and Coaching Showdowns Highlight Sunday's slate

The NCAA men's basketball tournament is nearing completion of its Round of 32, with teams like Purdue and Iowa State already securing Sweet 16 spots, while the women's bracket sees Minnesota ending a long drought. Eight men's games on Sunday will determine the remaining Sweet 16 contenders.

Purdue Advances to Third Straight Sweet 16

  • No. 2 seed Purdue defeated No. 7 seed Miami 79-69 after trailing at halftime.
  • Guard CJ Cox suffered a knee injury in the second half; coach Matt Painter confirmed a hyperextension and his status is day-to-day.
  • This marks Purdue's third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance and the 500th win of Painter's career at his alma mater; they will face No. 11 seed Texas on Thursday.

Iowa State Dominates Without Joshua Jefferson

  • No. 2 seed Iowa State crushed No. 6 seed Kentucky 82-63 despite missing All-American Joshua Jefferson, who injured his ankle in the previous game.
  • Jefferson is expected to be evaluated for Sunday's game; Iowa State will await the winner of Tennessee vs. Virginia.
  • This is Iowa State's first Sweet 16 since 2022.

Top Seeds Florida and Arizona Cruise

  • No. 1 seed Florida overwhelmed Prairie View A&M 114-55 in the first round.
  • No. 1 seed Arizona defeated Long Island University 92-58, setting up a second-round game against Utah State.
  • Both teams are considered Final Four favorites and face relatively easier opponents on Sunday.
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Coaching Clash: Bill Self vs. Rick Pitino

  • No. 4 seed Kansas, led by Hall of Fame coach Bill Self, faces No. 5 seed St. John's, coached by Hall of Famer Rick Pitino.
  • Kansas seeks its first Sweet 16 since 2022; St. John's aims for its first since 1999.
  • Both coaches have multiple national titles and extensive Sweet 16 experience.

Women's Bracket: Minnesota Ends 20-Year Drought

  • No. 4 seed Minnesota edged No. 5 seed Ole Miss 65-63 with a last-second jumper by Amaya Battle.
  • This is Minnesota's first Sweet 16 appearance in over 20 years; they will face the winner of No. 1 seed UCLA vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State.
  • The women's Round of 32 continued with no upsets on Friday, but Sunday's games may see challenges.

Sunday's Men's Schedule

  • No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 5 St. John's at 5:15 p.m. ET on CBS
  • No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 6 Tennessee at 6:10 p.m. ET on TNT
  • No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Iowa at 7:10 p.m. ET on TBS
  • No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 9 Utah State at 7:50 p.m. ET on truTV
  • No. 2 UConn vs. No. 7 UCLA at 8:45 p.m. ET on TNT
  • No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 5 Texas Tech at 9:45 p.m. ET on TBS

Women's Schedule Note

  • The women's Round of 32 games continue, with Minnesota already advanced and other matchups ongoing.
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