(7) Nevada (11) Loyola

Nevada is one of the nation’s top offensive teams, averaging 83 points. Twins Caleb and Cody Martin combine for 32.7 per game. The Wolf Pack rallied to defeat Texas in overtime in the first round and then staged a remarkable comeback from 22 down to beat Cincinnati. Defensiveminded Loyola also has lived on the edge, getting Donte Ingram’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to top Miami and Clayton Custer’s jumper in the final seconds to defeat Tennessee. (26-10) vs. (24-11) A battle of Wildcats. Kentucky once had a 6-7 conference record but has won nine of 10, including the SEC tournament and Davidson and Buffalo in the NCAA tournament. Kentucky is 6-0 in the Sweet 16 under John Calipari. Kansas State is making its second Sweet 16 appearance since 1988. These Wildcats dominated Creighton in the first round and drew No. 16 seed UMBC in the second. Dean Wade, K-State’s leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, missed those games with a stress fracture in his left foot but likely will play against Kentucky. Freshman Jordan Poole bailed out the Wolverines with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to top Houston. Forward Moe Wagner didn’t fare well in the openinggame victory over Montana but pitched in 12 points against the Cougars. The Aggies were terrific in dismantling North Carolina in the second round. Texas A&M’s athleticism, especially up front, made a difference. Point guard T.J. Starks scored a teamhigh 21 points and controlled the action. (32-4) vs. (22-11) The Bulldogs lost a lot of talent from last year’s national runner-up team, but here they are, playing on the tournament’s second weekend again. Five players average in double figures, led by forward Johnathan Williams III’s 13.6. Florida State point guard Terance Mann injured his groin in the first round against Missouri and didn’t expect to play against Xavier. But he came off the bench and contributed some big buckets in the upset. The Seminoles haven’t reached the Elite Eight since 1993.