The regional semifinals have arrived. The Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA tournament has tipped off, and by Friday night, four teams will be one step closer to Tampa.
All four No. 1 seeds have advanced this far, and two will take the court Friday as defending champion South Carolina and UCLA, the No. 1 overall seed, seek a spot in the Elite Eight. The Bruins will face Ole Miss, one of three 5-seeds to reach the Sweet 16, in the final game of the night.
We're tracking every game as the march to the Final Four continues. Here's your guide -- complete with analysis from on-site reporters in Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington -- to Friday's games as half of the Elite Eight is set. And be sure to check out ESPN's ranking of the top 25 players still competing in March Madness.
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Friday's schedule
(3) LSU Tigers vs. (2) NC State Wolfpack, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
(5) Ole Miss Rebels vs. (1) UCLA Bruins, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
(3) North Carolina vs.
(2) Duke
Final: Duke 47, North Carolina 38
How Duke won: The Tar Heels struggled to score against the tenacious Blue Devils' defense, shooting 28.3% from the field. UNC's 20 first-half points were tied for the second fewest in a first half in an NCAA tournament game in program history. The 85-point total is the lowest in the Sweet 16 round or later in NCAA tournament history. Offensively, Duke ground out the nine-point victory through a balanced attack. Sophomore guard Oluchi Okananwa had a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Ashlon Jackson was also in double figures with 10 points.
Duke's keys to the Elite Eight: Duke will play the winner of Maryland and South Carolina. Without a doubt, the Blue Devils' ability to control the game on the defensive end will dictate whether they are able to make the program's first Final Four since 2006. On the offensive end, shooting 31% from the field and 20.8% from beyond the arc is unlikely to get the job done, no matter how good of a defensive performance Duke has. In addition to their typical defensive output, the Blue Devils will need to make some shots and have a standout offensive performance. -- Katie Barnes
