Play Now <br> <a href="https://picks.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/bracket" class="">Men's Brackets</a> <br> Play Now <br> <a href="https://picks.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaaw-tournament/bracket" class="">Women's Brackets</a> <br> <a href="/podcasts/the-early-edge-a-daily-sportsline-betting-podcast/" class="">A Daily SportsLine Betting Podcast</a> <br> <a href="/podcasts/fantasy-football-today-podcast/" class="">NFL Draft is coming up!</a> <br><em>This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. </em><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/newsletters/cbs-sports-hq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here</em></a><em>.</em> <br> <br><strong>THE TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE ELITE EIGHT</strong> <br>One of the greatest aspects of March Madness is that heroes come from anywhere. And on Thursday, one came from Devils Lake, North Dakota, (population 7,000-ish) and did not wilt under the bright lights in Los Angeles as millions watching from around the world. <br><strong>Grant Nelson</strong> delivered the game of his life when<strong> (4) Alabama</strong> needed it most, scoring 24 points (and 19 in the second half) in a <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20240328_BAMA@UNC/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">89-87 win</a> over<strong> (1) North Carolina</strong>. <br>Nelson went from relative unknown to hot commodity last offseason when he entered the transfer portal out of <strong>North Dakota State</strong> and highlights of a 6'11" guy who could handle, shoot and dunk emerged. He now joins the long list of March heroes, <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/alabama-grant-nelson-clamp-down-stop-no-1-seed-north-carolina-when-it-mattered-most-to-make-elite-eight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writes Cameron Salerno</a></span>. <br>Alabama is into its first regional final since 2004, and the Crimson Tide will face a program that had an even longer wait:<strong> (6) Clemson</strong> is into the Elite Eight for the first time since 1980 after a <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20240328_CLEM@ARIZ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">77-72 win</a> over <strong>(2) Arizona</strong>.<strong> Chase Hunter</strong> scored a team-high 18 points, and his brother, <strong>Dillon Hunter</strong>, sealed the game late. Cameron <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/clemsons-chase-and-dillon-hunter-hit-clutch-late-buckets-in-upset-of-arizona-to-send-tigers-to-elite-eight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke to both afterward</a></span>. <br>In the East regional, if you thought<strong> (1) UConn</strong> would finally be challenged ... you're still waiting. The No. 1 overall seed overwhelmed <strong>(5) San Diego State</strong>, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20240328_SDGST@UCONN/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">82-52</a>, in a rematch of last year's title game. The Huskies are the first reigning champion to reach the Elite Eight since<strong> Florida</strong> in 2007, who went on to defend said title. UConn is favored to do the same. <br>But can<strong> (3) Illinois</strong> change that? That's <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/uconn-on-record-setting-ncaa-tournament-pace-for-second-straight-year-dangerous-illinois-is-up-next/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the question Matt Norlander tried to answer</a></span><strong> </strong>after the Illini held off<strong> (2) Iowa State</strong>, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20240328_ILL@IOWAST/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">72-69</a>.<strong> Terrence Shannon Jr.</strong> continued his rampage through March with 29 points. His 246 points this month are the most in a single March since <strong>Kemba Walker</strong> (293) and <strong>Jimmer Fredette</strong> (275) in 2011. <br><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/march-madness-2024-live-updates-college-basketball-scores-sweet-16-bracket-ncaa-tournament-coverage/live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here are our takeaways.</a> <br><strong>THE ARIZONA WILDCATS AND THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS</strong> <br>Unfortunately, this is what Arizona does. <br>It wasn't just Love, though. The Wildcats connected on just five of 28 from 3 (18%) and 13 for 26 on layups. They turned 17 offensive rebounds into just 15 second-chance points. They had too many defensive breakdowns to count. <br>A few hours later on the very same court, the No. 1 seed in the West regional said farewell to its season too. And, ironically, another conference player of the year struggled.<strong> RJ Davis</strong> -- who shared the UNC backcourt with Love for three years -- shot just four for 20, including nine misses on nine shots from 3, just like Love. Again, it's not all on him.<strong> Armando Bacot</strong> blew a crucial wide-open dunk, and North Carolina as a team went just 12 of 28 (43%) on layups. The Tar Heels' improved defense allowed its second-most points this season. <br>Missed opportunities, bad guard play and bad defense can end your season in the blink of an eye. Arizona and North Carolina are the latest to find out. <br>Four Sweet 16 games in the books, four to go. <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2024-march-madness-live-stream-ncaa-tournament-tv-schedule-watch-sweet-16-streaming-online-friday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here's the schedule</a></span>: <br>NC State is the lone double-digit seed, and while "ACC Tournament champion" may not fit the traditional Cinderella description, a team that was 17-14 less than three weeks ago and nowhere near the bubble going 7-0 since is indeed a Cinderella, no matter the conference. Kyle Boone explains <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/march-madness-2024-how-nc-state-coach-kevin-keatts-went-from-the-hot-seat-to-a-sweet-16-matchup-vs-marquette/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how Kevin Keatts saved his job</a></span>. <br>Things were never<em> quite</em> that dire for Gonzaga, but<strong> Mark Few</strong>'s bunch also needed a late surge. The Bulldogs were on the bubble as recently as early February. But <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/march-madness-2024-how-gonzaga-saved-its-season-to-set-up-sweet-16-rematch-with-purdue-in-ncaa-tournament/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now they're rolling</a></span>, and David Cobb looked at why. <br>Few is the only coach left in the Midwest regional who has made a Final Four. The other three -- <strong>Matt Painter, Greg McDermott</strong> and <strong>Rick Barnes</strong> -- are <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/march-madness-2024-purdues-matt-painter-among-elite-coaches-in-sweet-16-seeking-final-four-breakthrough/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">looking for a long-awaited breakthrough</a></span> in Detroit this weekend, David notes. <br><span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2024-march-madness-predictions-expert-picks-against-the-spread-for-sweet-16-ncaa-odds-in-fridays-games/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here are our picks for tonight.</a></span> <br>The <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/2024-ncaa-womens-tournament-tv-schedule-sweet-16-tipoff-times-how-to-watch-games-matchups-viewing-info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women's Sweet 16 starts today</a></span> with four games: <br>The best game of the day -- and third-best of the Sweet 16 -- according to <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/ranking-every-womens-sweet-16-matchup-lsu-vs-ucla-among-the-most-compelling-games-yet-in-march-madness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isabel Gonzalez's rankings</a></span> is ... <br>When the<strong> Yankees</strong> acquired<strong> Juan Soto</strong> this offseason, they knew they were getting a generational bat. On Opening Day, Soto showed he can play some defense, too. The star right fielder <span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/watch-juan-soto-saves-yankees-opening-day-with-incredible-throw-to-stop-tying-run-from-scoring-in-ninth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threw out</a></span><strong> Mauricio Dubón</strong> at the plate in the ninth inning which helped to preserve the Yankees' 5-4 win over the <strong>Astros</strong>. He also started the Yankees' rally from a 4-0 deficit with an RBI single and walked twice. Pretty good! <br>He wasn't the only player making a strong first impression on his new team. A pitcher making his team debut landed among the "winners" of R.J. Anderson's <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-opening-day-2024-winners-and-losers-dodgers-juan-soto-lefties-have-standout-day-but-injuries-stack-up/live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Opening Day winners and losers</a>. <br>🏀<strong> (3) Oregon State vs. (2) Notre Dame (W)</strong>, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN<br> 🏀<strong> (4) Indiana vs. (1) South Carolina (W)</strong>, 5 p.m. on ESPN<br> 🏀<strong> Lakers at Pacers</strong>, 7 p.m. on NBA TV<br> 🏀<strong> (11) NC State vs. (2) Marquette (M)</strong>, 7:09 p.m. on CBS<br> 🏀<strong> (3) NC State vs. (2) Stanford (W)</strong>, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN<br> 🏀<strong> (5) Gonzaga vs. (1) Purdue (M)</strong>, 7:39 p.m. on TBS/truTV<br> 🏀<strong> (4) Gonzaga vs. (1) Texas (W)</strong>, 10 p.m. on ESPN<br> 🏀<strong> Mavericks at Kings</strong>, 10 p.m. on NBA TV<br> 🏀<strong> (4) Duke vs. (1) Houston (M)</strong>, 30 min. after NC State-Marquette ends<br> 🏀<strong> (3) Creighton vs. (2) Tennessee (M)</strong>, 30 min. after Gonzaga-Purdue ends <br>🏀<strong> (3) LSU vs. (2) UCLA (W)</strong>, 1 p.m. on ABC<br> 🏀<strong> (5) Colorado vs. (1) Iowa (W)</strong>, 3:30 p.m. on ABC<br> ⚾<strong> Braves at Phillies</strong>, 4:05 p.m. on FS1<br> 🏀<strong> (5) Baylor vs. (1) USC (W)</strong>, 5:30 p.m. on ESPN<br> 🏀<strong> Celtics at Pelicans</strong>, 5 p.m. on NBA TV<br> 🏀<strong> (3) Illinois vs. (1) UConn (M)</strong>, 6:09 p.m. on TBS/truTV<br> ⚾<strong> Yankees at Astros OR Giants at Padres</strong>, 7:15 p.m. on Fox<br> 🏀<strong> Bucks at Hawks</strong>, 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV<br> 🏀<strong> (7) Duke vs. (3) UConn (W)</strong>, 8 p.m. on ESPN<br> 🏀<strong> (6) Clemson vs. (4) Alabama (M)</strong>, 8:39 p.m. on TBS/truTV <br>🏀<strong> We'll be watching the men's</strong> (<span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2024-ncaa-tournament-scores-schedule-march-madness-bracket-final-four-tipoff-times-dates-tv-channels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></span>)<strong> and women's</strong> (<span class="link"><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/2024-ncaa-womens-tournament-tv-schedule-tipoff-times-games-results-scores-for-march-madness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></span>)<strong> Elite Eight.</strong><br> 🏀<strong> Cavaliers at Nuggets</strong>, 3:30 p.m. on NBA TV<br> 🏒<strong> Ducks at Canucks</strong>, 3:30 p.m. on TNT<br> 🏀<strong> Warriors at Spurs</strong>, 7 p.m. on NBA TV<br> ⚾<strong> Cardinals at Dodgers</strong>, 7 p.m. on ESPN <br>© 2004-2024 CBS Interactive. 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