NCAA Tournament results: Big Ten adds more teams into the Sweet 16

Big Ten Conference locks up more Sweet 16 spots on Sunday

Dana Becker | Mar 24, 2025

Maryland's Derik Queen sank the first buzzer-beater of the NCAA Tournament, leading the Terps past Colorado State. / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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The Big Ten Conference started off like gangbusters in the NCAA Tournament, winning the first 10 games league teams were involved in.

Since, they have been in a bit of a slide, as the competition has heated up and we have narrowed the field down to the Sweet 16.

Illinois was the first to fall on Sunday, as the Illini were unable to handle the size of Kentucky, losing 84-75. Kylan Boswell led the way for Illinois with 23 points, as they were always in the game before the Wildcats put it away.

We got our first buzzer-beater of the tournament, as Derik Queen sinks a runner as time expires, sending Maryland to the next round over Colorado State, 72-71. The Terps trailed much of the game, but Queen came through clutch at the most opportune time.

Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo got by New Mexico, 71-63. Jaden Akins scored 16 as the Spartans outscored the Lobos in the second half, 42-32. Oregon fell to old Pac-12 rival Arzona in a battle to the end, 87-83.

Saturday saw Purdue and Michigan earn spots in the Sweet 16 while Wisconsin and UCLA both lost.

Here are headlines and complete results from day four of the NCAA Tournament:

(Please refresh for the latest updates)

Down go the champs of two straight years

For the first time since 2022, Connecticut will not be cutting down the nets, as the two-time defending national champion Huskies were eliminated by Florida, 77-75.

The game was a classic battle of powerhouse programs, as Walter Clayton Jr. knocked down the critical bucket to lift the Gators to the Sweet 16.