GREENSBORO, N.C. — You and others might wonder how the Sweet 16 became so "sweet."
Each year, during the regional semifinals and finals, the NCAA starts talking about all the teams that get to "dance" in the Sweet 16. Well... what exactly is it, and where did it originate?
How did the Sweet 16 get its name?
It might not be shocking to hear that CBS commentators made it up. Some believe the name came up in the late 1980s after the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams, according to the NCAA's website. However, the term "Sweet 16" was frequently used in state high school basketball tournaments.
The NCAA said an Iowa newspaper from March 1936 described a high school basketball tournament as the "Sweet 16," coining the term.
How did the Elite Eight get its name?
The "Elite Eight" also came from a high school basketball tournament, specifically from Illinois, according to the NCAA.
The phrase came about in 1956 when the Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship field was cut from 16 teams to eight.
The term "March Madness" was also coined in Illinois, according to the Illinois High School Association.
Who made it to the Sweet 16 in 2023?
Midwest
- No. 5 Miami (FL)
- No. 1 Houston
- No. 2 Texas
- No. 3 Xavier
West
- No. 4 UConn
- No. 6 Arkansas
- No. 3 Gonzaga
- No. 2 UCLA
East
- No. 9 FAU
- No. 4 Tennessee
- No. 3 Kansas St.
- No. 7 Michigan St.
South
- No. 5 San Diego St.
- No. 1 Alabama
- No. 6 Creighton
- No. 15 Princeton
"Sweet 16" 2024 schedule:
On Thursday, UNC plays Alabama at approximately 9:39 p.m. ET or right after the game beforehand. Then, on Friday, NC State plays Marquette at 7:09 p.m. ET, followed by Duke vs. Houston at 9:39 p.m. ET.
Here's a look at where you can find all the March Madness games for the round of the Sweet Sixteen:
Thursday, March 28 (Sweet 16)
Friday, March 29 (Sweet 16)
