10 hot takes about the NCAA men's tournament entering the Sweet 16

The opening weekend of the NCAA men's tournament is officially in the books. While there may not have been as many upsets as some had hoped for, there should be a number of exciting, high-quality matchups in the Sweet 16, and beyond, as a result.

With that in mind, here are 10 hot takes for the Sweet 16 based on the results of the NCAA men's tournament's first two rounds.

Expect a more tightly contested contest in Purdue's rematch with Gonzaga

The Boilermakers routed their first two opponents of the NCAA Tournament by a combined margin of 67 points, setting up another meeting against Gonzaga, a team they beat 73-63 in the Maui Invitational quarterfinals. 

While we won't go as far as to say Gonzaga will upset Purdue, the upcoming clash should be more competitive, especially if the Bulldogs play like they did in the second half of Saturday's win over Kansas.

After all, Gonzaga has the size to challenge Purdue center Zach Edey, and it has switched up its starting five since the last encounter with the Boilermakers. Additionally, the Bulldogs are a much more improved three-point shooting team than they previously were, which should provide some optimism since they missed their final 16 three-point attempts against Purdue in Maui. 

With a healthy Tyler Kolek, the sky's the limit for Marquette

It wouldn't be shocking if No. 2 Marquette snaps No. 11 NC State's improbable seven-game winning streak on Friday. However, the Golden Eagles are a different team with a healthy Kolek, and it might be time to start thinking of them as legitimate championship contenders.

You couldn't tell that Kolek missed six games with an oblique injury entering the NCAA Tournament based on how Marquette's first two games played out. In Sunday's win over Colorado, Kolek tallied 21 points, five rebounds and 11 assists, becoming the first player since Jason Kidd (1993) to record at least 10 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in consecutive games in a single NCAA Tournament, per ESPN. 

Elite guard play has proven to be a difference-maker in March, and Marquette is well-equipped to extend its run behind its crafty floor general. 

UConn center Donovan Clingan is the most important player in the NCAA Tournament  

For the second straight year, the 7-foot-2, 280-pounder will be an X-factor to the Huskies' title hopes, and it appears he's hitting his stride at the right time. During Sunday's 75-58 drubbing of Northwestern, Clingan showed that he's fully recovered from his midseason foot injury, finishing with 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. 

As long as Clingan continues to play to his potential as the nation's best rim protector, there's little reason to doubt that the Huskies will be upset anytime soon. 

Iowa State’s defense won’t be able to slow down Illinois’ offense  

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the Sweet 16 pits the Cyclones' imposing defense against the Fighting Illini's aggressive and fast-paced offense. According to KenPom, Iowa State ranks second in adjusted defense (87.9), while Illinois leads the nation in adjusted offense (126.8).

While Iowa State is unquestionably far more talented than Duquesne, the fact that Illinois scored 89 points against the Dukes should raise some concerns. Across its previous nine contests before facing Illinois, Duquesne held its opponents to 68.4 points per game. 

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr., the nation's third-leading scorer, is already off to a scorching start to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 28 points per game. If Shannon's stellar scoring output continues, the Cyclones' unexpectedly dominant season could come to an abrupt conclusion.

The Big East is proving that the criticism the committee received was warranted ...

The committee's decision to give the Big East only three bids sparked controversy on Selection Sunday, as Seton Hall, St. John's and Providence all had cases for being selected. Based on the tournament's opening weekend results, the public's anger toward the committee was seemingly justified, and it's fair to say that at least one of those aforementioned Big East teams deserved to be invited.

After posting a 12-4 record in last season's NCAA Tournament the Big East is off to a 6-0 start this time around. Sure, the three Big East teams selected this season are No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds, respectively, but that shouldn't undermine their success. 

Look at the SEC, for example, which has already seen five of its teams fall to lower-seeded opponents. 

... but the ACC will further demonstrate that it's the best conference in college basketball  

The ACC has been criticized for being a relatively weaker conference than in years past. Despite this, four of its five tournament representatives are headed to the Sweet 16, which is all the more remarkable considering that NC State and Clemson are two of those teams and how both got to this point. 

The Wolfpack have their work cut out for them against Marquette, though don't be surprised if the ACC has more teams advancing to the Elite Eight than the Big East. 

Duke HC Jon Scheyer showing why he was the rightful successor to Coach K

Scheyer has done an impressive job recruiting since replacing Mike Krzyzewski. However, last season's disappointing second-round NCAA Tournament exit and Duke's first one-and-done showing in the ACC Tournament since 2013 caused concern about whether Scheyer has what it takes to win big games.

Even so, through two NCAA Tournament games, the Blue Devils look like one of the most balanced teams in the country and are showcasing a level of physicality that will come in handy when facing Houston. It's unlikely Scheyer will ever rival Krzyzewski's legacy, but a win over the Cougars would serve as a powerful statement that Duke truly is his program now.

Duke's Jared McCain needs just one more strong performance to be lottery-bound

Staying with the Blue Devils, star point guard and TikTok sensation Jared McCain could solidify himself as an NBA lottery pick with a strong shooting effort against Houston, which ranks first in adjusted defense, per KenPom. 

In Sunday's 93-55 win over James Madison, the projected first-rounder scored 30 points, 22 of which came in the first half, while shooting 10 of 15 from the field and eight of 11 from beyond the arc. Overall, McCain is averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists across his first two NCAA Tournament games.

Tennessee will punch its ticket to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history

Neither the Volunteers nor the Creighton Bluejays shot the ball well in their respective second-round games against relatively weak defenses, making it impossible to predict how their upcoming meeting will unfold. 

Nevertheless, it's difficult to imagine Tennessee's All-American guard Dalton Knecht shooting five of 18 from the floor when facing a Creighton defense that has been inconsistent through two tournament games like he did against Texas.

Although this could ultimately turn out to be another thrilling contest, having a star like Knecht and a defense as formidable as Tennessee's gives the Vols a massive edge. 

The Blue Jays will have to make the most of their open shots, something they failed to do several times against Oregon on Saturday. If they don't and Tennessee, the third-highest-rated team in adjusted defense by KenPom's metrics, play to its usual standards, there won't be many. 

An Arizona-North Carolina Elite Eight matchup would be the most compelling storyline to come out of the Sweet 16

From an entertainment perspective, it would be fitting for Arizona guard Caleb Love to face his former team for a spot in the Final Four. 

Love helped guide UNC to the national title game in 2022 but struggled mightily last season and didn't fit well with backcourt mate RJ Davis. As a result, the Tar Heels became the first preseason No. 1 team to miss the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded in 1985, and after facing backlash from fans, Love opted to transfer.

The breakup has undoubtedly benefited both sides, considering Love was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year this season, and Davis took home ACC Player of the Year honors. 

If compelling narratives are your thing, a matchup between Arizona and North Carolina should top your list of rooting interests for the Sweet 16 slate. That is, of course, unless you're an Alabama or Clemson fan.