March Madness 2026: Highlights and lowlights from Sweet 16 Friday

March 28, 2026

(1) Duke 80, (5) St. John’s 75 (East)

This game, aside from a thrilling finish, delivered everything you could hope for from a Sweet 16 matchup.

Thanks to a remarkable performance from injured guard Caleb Foster (more on that later), Duke overcame a 10-point deficit to deliver a second career Sweet 16 defeat to St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino. Interestingly, the Blue Devils have managed to come back from double-digit deficits six times this season, winning each of those encounters.

Isaiah Evans led Duke with 25 points, while Cameron Boozer contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds, marking his third successive double-double and the 22nd of the season.

This victory pushed Duke’s winning streak to 14 games, making it the longest in the nation right now.

St. John’s had an opportunity to equalize in the final seconds, but Dylan Darling, who scored a buzzer-beater against Kansas last week, couldn’t conjure up more March magic.

The Red Storm consistently found ways to score when faced with pivotal possessions late in the game. However, their inability to make necessary stops proved costly.

“It was our defense that faltered at the end,” Pitino commented. “We were mostly in the right places, but they just overpowered us under the basket. They do that to many teams, which is why they’re the top-ranked team in the country. We simply couldn’t defend against their aggressive drives.”

Duke’s track record is notable; they’ve defeated St. John’s in all five of their national championship seasons, and they now stand three wins away from extending that unusual streak.

Dusty May’s team didn’t seem fazed by Alabama’s best shots.

The Crimson Tide started strong with good outside shooting in the first half, putting pressure on the Wolverines and holding a two-point lead going into the break.

Okay, they weren’t flawless, but they were definitely on fire.

The University of Michigan rebounded in true championship style. They slowed down the game after halftime, picked up the pace offensively, and let their standout forwards shine.

Jaksel Lendeborg took charge early in the second half, turning a two-point deficit into an eight-point lead. The Big Ten Player of the Year notched up 23 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.

“Jax was incredibly competitive today; I think he’s undoubtedly the best player in the country,” Michigan guard Roddy Gale remarked. “When he plays like that, we become the best team.”

Michigan secured a 90-77 win, achieving a school record of 34 victories in a single season. This milestone also made them the second Wolverines team to score 90 or more points in the first three NCAA Tournament games— a feat previously only accomplished by the 1988-89 team, which went on to win the program’s only national championship.

It seems rather harsh given the situation with Joshua Jefferson (more on that shortly), but the Cyclones ultimately fell by 14 points to the No. 2 and No. 6 seeds on Friday night. There really were no other options.

Iowa State struggled to ignite their offense without their All-American and faced significant challenges against a dominant Tennessee team, who out-rebounded them 43-22. The Vols snagged 16 offensive rebounds, resulting in 14 second-chance points. Meanwhile, ISU’s poor 5-of-23 performance from three-point range didn’t help their cause at all.

Jefferson’s injury left many fans pondering the “what ifs,” as they hoped for a deeper run in the tournament, their first trip to the district finals since 2000.

In a remarkable show of courage, Foster made his return to the court just 20 days after surgery to fix a broken foot, delivering one of the most courageous performances seen in NCAA Tournament history.

Originally thought to only make a comeback in the Final Four, Foster scored 11 points in a remarkable 19 minutes this postseason, helping his team progress past St. John’s and into the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year.

Postgame, the head coach seemed almost at a loss for words.

“I’m still somewhat shocked by what transpired,” Scheyer said in the press conference afterward. “What this player did is remarkable; he didn’t have to play tonight. Most players wouldn’t return in such a situation. His determination was unbelievable, and there isn’t any analysis or stats that can measure his heart.”

What he to did do was score vital points in the second half for a Duke team that needed that spark to conquer Pitino’s Sweet 16 challenges.

Backcourt teammate Caden Boozer noted the importance of Foster’s return, stating, “I’d rate it a 12 out of 10.” He added, “The fact that he had surgery and returned so swiftly, playing with such confidence, that’s just amazing.”

Interesting enough, Scheyer mentioned after the game that it was Foster’s first time playing—any type of 5-on-5 basketball—since his injury.

Guts indeed shine in March; but it’s hard to argue Foster’s performance on Friday wasn’t about as gutsy as it gets.

2. UConn’s second weekend advantage.

If UW can get past the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, they’re tough to beat. I mean, that’s held true since 2009!

Friday’s 67-63 win over Michigan State marked UW’s impressive winning streak in Sweet 16 games and further, now at 17. The last time they lost during this phase of the tournament? That was back in 2009 in the Final Four against, you guessed it, the same Spartans—83-72.

Currently, head coach Danny Hurley holds a perfect record of 9-0 in tournament play since the second weekend, although upcoming matches will surely test that streak against Duke on Sunday.

3. Kilian Toure’s behind-the-back pass

Admittedly, there weren’t many offensive highlights for Iowa State on Friday, but Kylian Toure managed to nail at least one moment.

Despite this flash of brilliance, the Cyclones could not sustain the momentum, ultimately losing to Tennessee by 14 points.

1. Joshua Jefferson Injury

Playing without their All-American finally caught up with Iowa State on Friday.

Following Jefferson’s ankle injury in their first-round victory, the Cyclones had no answer against Tennessee’s relentless pressure defense. The numbers weren’t pretty: just 22.3% shooting from three-point range and 39% overall from the field.

Understandably, Jefferson was emotionally impacted after the loss.

Sadly, injuries to key players have become a notable theme in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Alongside Iowa State, other teams like Texas Tech (JT Toppin), UCLA (Tyler Bilodeau), Louisville (Mikell Brown Jr.), and NC State (Caleb Wilson) all faced challenges without their stars, leaving fans wondering about their future trajectories in the sport.

2. Houston Mallett doesn’t want to take off his jersey at the end.

“I’d do anything to win,” Mallett expressed earlier in the tournament, later describing his time with the Tide as “the best years of my life” after Friday’s loss to Michigan.

In today’s evolving college basketball landscape, there’s still room for player devotion. Most of these kids still care deeply, and that’s been evident over the past couple of weeks.

3. Iowa State in the Sweet 16

No matter the circumstances, Iowa State fell short by 14 points to Tennessee, leaving them with a dismal 1-7 record in the district semifinal game. That’s the worst record among programs that have made seven Sweet 16 appearances.

Since their blowout win against UCLA back in 2000, ISU has now lost five consecutive Sweet 16 games, all credited to matchups post-2014.

Yaxel Rendeborg, Michigan

The first-team All-American put forth an impressive effort on Friday, with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, inching Michigan closer to the Final Four.

Philon nearly kept Alabama in the hunt, posting 35 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, leading the team in all categories.

Reid Jr. continued his incredible March run, scoring 20 points, grabbing five rebounds, assisting four times, and securing a steal in the UW-Michigan State matchup. This performance positioned him among NCAA tournament legends, scoring at least 55 points and 45 rebounds en route to the Elite Eight.

Slim Evans was fierce for the Blue Devils, hitting 10 of 15 shots (including 4 three-pointers) to lead all scorers with 25 points in the game.

The freshman star also contributed 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal, helping the Volantes reach their third consecutive regional final.

2. Carson Cooper, Michigan

3. Taris Reed Jr., University of California

1. Old school meets new school

1. “This team was one of the most unique I’ve seen in 52 years. There wasn’t ever a single altercation among the players, neither in the summer nor during the regular season. I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed any conflict. They were simply the greatest kids, determined to win at all costs. I doubt I’ll ever see such a team again with this mentality. They’re just wonderful people, and it breaks my heart right now.” —St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino

2. “There are no statistics or analyses that can truly measure this man’s heart.” —Duke head coach John Scheyer on Caleb Foster’s determination despite injury

3. “I’m focused on winning a national championship. That’s it. I feel good. Retirement talk? Why even think about it? What else would I do?” —Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, when asked about his future plans.