NCAA Tournament 2012: Updated Final Four Odds for Every Tournament Team

College basketball's yearly game of March Madness musical chairs has left 64 of the original 68 entrants without a seat at the table.

Louisville, Ohio State, Kentucky and Kansas have advanced to the Final Four, setting up a pair of fantastic matchups between college basketball blue bloods in New Orleans next weekend.

We've got a full breakdown of how all the losers bowed out and, conversely, how the Cardinals, the Buckeyes, the Wildcats and the Jayhawks earned their way to the Big Easy. 

Read on to find out!

Follow @J0shMart1n 

Colorado State

It didn't take long for Colorado State to meet its fate in the NCAA tournament. The 11th-seeded Rams were run out of the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville by sixth-seeded Murray State, 58-41, in front of a highly partisan crowd in Louisville.

As a result, CSU finishes the season with an overall record of 20-12 and, as expected, without a ticket to New Orleans...unless the Rams decide to watch from the stands.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: NONE

Southern Mississippi

Larry Eustachy's triumphant return to the NCAA tournament was over just hours after it began, as Southern Miss bowed out to Kansas State, 70-64. The ninth-seeded Golden Eagles exit with a record of 25-9.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Zilch

Davidson

Davidson didn't last long in its first trip back to the Big Dance since Stephen Curry last suited up for Bob McKillop. The 13th-seeded Wildcats came up short against fourth-seeded Louisville, 69-62, cementing their 2011-12 record at 25-8.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Squadoosh

Montana

So much for Montana's run as a Cinderella sleeper.

The 13th-seeded Grizzlies saw their 14-game winning streak brought to a swift end by fourth-seeded Wisconsin, which ran Bo Ryan's swing offense to perfection in a 73-49 blowout.

As such, Wayne Tinkle's club will head back to Missoula with a 25-7 mark on the year and Big Sky regular-season and tournament titles of which to be proud.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Too Far Gone

BYU

Apparently, whatever mojo BYU had coming into the NCAA tournament it used up on a 25-point comeback against Iona in its "First Four" win in Dayton on Tuesday.

At least, that would seem to be the case after seeing the 14th-seeded Cougars get crushed by third-seeded Marquette in Louisville on Thursday, 88-68.

And so, Dave Rose and company will head back to Provo and ponder what more could've been made of their 26-9 season.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Same as Yours or Mine

Kansas State

The Wildcats have seen their last of the 2012 NCAA tournament, as they were ousted by the No. 1 seed Syracuse Orange in a 75-59 onslaught in the East region.

In the early parts of the first half, the Wildcats temporarily held a lead, but it appears that the absence of Fab Melo wasn't enough to keep the Orange from reaching the Sweet 16.

The tournament hasn't been too kind to the Big 12, but at least K-State can rub their third round appearance in the Missouri Tigers' faces next season as the two meet up in some heated post-Big 12 play.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Good as Michael Beasley Being Named NBA MVP

North Carolina-Asheville

I'm just going to keep it real, folks: UNC-Asheville got hosed by the referees in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

The 16th-seeded Bulldogs gave a short-handed Syracuse squad all it could handle but were held back by a series of bad calls on the way to a 72-65 defeat.

And so Asheville, at 24-10, will head back home with the bittersweet satisfaction of knowing that it came close to being (and probably should've been) the first bottom seed to advance to the Round of 32 in the history of the NCAA tournament.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Nixed by Zebras

Long Beach State

Long Beach State's superb season came to a disappointingly early end in Portland on Thursday. The 12th-seeded 49ers were knocked out of the Big Dance by fifth-seeded New Mexico 75-68, despite a 17-point, six-assist effort from star guard Casper Ware.

They'll return to "The Beach" with their heads held high, thanks to a 25-9 record and both Big West titles.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Beached 

Harvard

Perhaps Linsanity would have saved 12th-seeded Harvard against fifth-seeded Vanderbilt. The Crimson staged a heady comeback from 18 points down with less than eight minutes to play but ultimately fell short in a 79-70 defeat.

Still, not a bad showing for the 26-5 Ivy League champions in the Battle of the Brain Trusts.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Same as Me Going to Harvard

Western Kentucky

The Hilltoppers gave it their all but simply couldn't hang with in-state "rival" Kentucky, in what turned out to be an 81-66 loss that wasn't nearly as close as the final score would suggest.

Nonetheless, nobody can take away what Western Kentucky was able to accomplish by winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament and playing its way into the 64-team field despite sporting a losing record.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Stuck in the Bluegrass

Wichita State

Can you really call it an upset when a team like Wichita State loses to a club that reached the Final Four last year?

The fifth-seeded Shockers' defeat at the hands of 12th-seeded VCU hardly came as a shock, though it's a disappointment nonetheless for the Missouri Valley Conference squad, which will return to Kansas with a 62-59 loss to show for its 27-6 season.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: In the Wheat Fields Somewhere

West Virginia

I'm not sure where exactly West Virginia was on Thursday, though the 10th-seeded Mountaineers couldn't have been in Pittsburgh.

How else do you explain WVU's 77-54 loss to seventh-seeded Gonzaga?

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Buried in an Appalachian Coal Mine

South Dakota State

South Dakota State gave a supremely talented Baylor team all it could handle but fell just short in a 68-60 decision on Thursday.

The 14th-seeded Jackrabbits have nothing to be ashamed of, even after their 27-8 record and Summit League tournament title netted them little more than a moral victory against a Big 12 power.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Nada

Connecticut

The Connecticut Huskies are defending champions no more.

The ninth seed in the South region met its match—and then some—against eighth-seeded Iowa State, despite collecting 41 points between Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier.

Now, UConn faces an uncertain future, one that isn't likely to include Lamb, Andre Drummond or head coach Jim Calhoun.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Stuck in Storrs-age

New Mexico State

So long to New Mexico State. The 13th-seeded Aggies were no match for fourth-seeded Indiana on Thursday in a 79-66 loss.

Wendell McKines chipped in a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds, though UNM will still have to settle for a fine 26-10 finish and an early bow-out to an IU program that's back on the rise.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: What Odds?

Loyola (MD)

Loyola Maryland did well to make March Madness for just the second time in school history—and promptly absorb a pummeling from Ohio State.

The 15th-seeded Greyhounds can hang their hats on strong showings from Erik Etherly (19 points) and Dylon Cormier (14 points), though they'll still be headed back to Baltimore with a 24-9 record, a MAAC tournament title...and that's about it.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Somewhere on The Wire

UNLV

A stirring comeback nearly propelled sixth-seeded UNLV to victory against 11th-seeded Colorado, but the team ultimately came up short, 68-64.

It's a disappointing end for the Runnin' Rebels, to be sure, though at least now they'll have some extra time to hit the strip and live it up, Sin City style.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Worse Than Any Casino Game

Texas

Texas got off to an embarrassingly slow start against Cincinnati on Friday, and the Longhorns never really recovered. They played pretty well in the second half, but the Bearcats knocked them off by the final of 65-59.

So for the second time in the last three years, Texas has failed to advance past the Round of 64. Not exactly a surprise given the general mediocrity of this Longhorns team.

Texas fans can now look forward to watching Texas' mediocre football team.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Equal to Those of Garrett Gilbert Wearing Burnt Orange Again

San Diego State

As expected, the Aztecs were thoroughly owned by 11th-seeded North Carolina State. The Wolfpack got up early, and took care of business in the second half en route to a 79-65 win.

San Diego State shot just 37.7 percent from the floor against NC State, while the Wolfpack shot a staggering 57.4 percent from the floor. Gaps like that typically lead to bad days for the teams on the short end.

We all saw this coming. San Diego State was over-seeded to begin with, and now the Aztecs are out. Those poor suckers have no choice but to retreat back to San Diego.

Wait...that actually sounds awesome.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Equal to Those of There Being Bad Weather in San Diego

Alabama

Alabama had Creighton dead to rights with roughly eight minutes to go in Friday's game, but the Bluejays mounted a comeback.

Down 50-43, Creighton went on a 14-0 run to but the Crimson Tide down 57-50 with less than three minutes to go, and the Tide were unable to make up the difference. 

Trevor Releford had a chance to make a three at the buzzer, but it was blocked. Alabama lost by the final of 58-57.

Welp, there goes Alabama. The Tide's first tournament appearance since 2006 is over as soon as it began.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Worse Than LSU's Chances of Crossing Midfield Against Alabama's Defense

Virginia

Virginia was down at halftime against Florida on Friday, but the game was still within reach. The Cavaliers were looking to pull off a second-half comeback.

It was not to be. The Gators dominated the second half, and went on to win by the final of 71-45.

Virginia did a good job of limiting Florida's three-point shooting, but it forgot to watch the Gators inside the arc. Florida was 4-of-23 outside the arc, and 24-of-30 inside the arc.

Yikes. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: About As Bad As They Were Before Virginia Lost

St. Bonaventure

As expected, the Bonnies nearly upset Florida State.

Wait, that's not what was expected. It was expected that the ACC champs would roll over the Bonnies with ease.

They didn't. The Seminoles barely escaped with their lives, winning by the final of 66-63. St. Bonaventure played very well, but in the end the Bonnies just fell short by a couple of shots. Their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000 is over.

Next time, the Bonnies should remember that it takes a three to make up a three-point deficit. Maybe they'll have better luck.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Bad As the Nickname "Bonnies"

Vanderbilt

The Commodores are going home after fighting an epic battle with the Wisconsin Badgers.

They stuck around all game, and almost made a run for it in the end, but the Big Ten squad proved to be too strong for Vanderbilt.

At least they were able to take home the SEC hardware this season.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Good of as Their Future Conference Foes Missouri

Belmont

If you want to advance in the NCAA Tournament, you can't let your opponent shoot better than 60 percent from the field.

That's the lesson Belmont learned on Friday against Georgetown, which beat the Bruins by the final of 74-59.

The Hoyas shot 61.2 percent from the floor, to be exact, getting a game-high 21 points from Jason Clark. Belmont was simply overmatched, and it has now lost in the Round of 64 in all four of its Big Dance appearances.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Worse Than They Were Before

Vermont

The Catamounts lost to top-seeded North Carolina in the Round of 64 on Friday, 77-58.

This should come as a surprise to nobody. Well, except maybe those who thought John Henson's wrist injury would cost the Tar Heels that badly.

Henson didn't play against Vermont, but his teammates had no trouble picking up the slack. The Catamounts really didn't stand a chance, and they didn't help themselves by shooting 3-of-17 from distance.

If history is any indication, it won't be long before Vermont gets another shot at upsetting a top-seeded team.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Population-of-Vermont-to-1

Missouri

The Tigers got got by Norfolk State.

Missouri played a fine game offensively against the Spartans, scoring 84 points and shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. The Spartans just happened to play a better game offensively, shooting 54.2 percent from the floor on their way to a final score of 86-84.

Missouri had a chance to win the game late, but destiny was clearly on Norfolk State's side.

So against all odds, the dynamite went boom, and Missouri's championship hopes went up in smoke.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: A Lot Worse Than They Were Yesterday

Gonzaga

The Bulldogs made a great game out of it, but the Ohio State Buckeyes proved to be too strong in the end for Gonzaga in what was a close 73-66 battle.

The game was back and forth with the Buckeyes ahead 39-37 at the half, and they continued to keep that lead intact once the second half got under way.

The Bulldogs kept getting closer and closer, but every time the Buckeyes would just pull away. The 'Zags fought with some of the best, but today they just couldn't triumph over the might Buckeyes.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Good as John Stockton Finally Getting a Ring

Memphis

Memphis fell victim to the wrath of the Billikens on Friday night, losing to Saint Louis by the final of 61-54.

It's an outcome a lot of people didn't see coming given the wealth of talent Memphis has on its roster, but the simple truth is that the Tigers were not sharp. Memphis had a hard time knocking down shots, particularly from three. The Tigers were 2-of-15 from beyond the arc.

Chris Crawford, in particular, had a rough game. He made just one of his eight field goal attempts, and was 0-of-5 from distance. 

Memphis has now lost in the Round of 64 two years in a row.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Equal to Those of Derrick Rose Walking Through That Door

Duke

Duke haters rejoice! The Blue Devils have been ousted!

The Blue Devils never let things get out of hand, but it was clear early on that they were playing a Lehigh team that simply wanted it more than they did. Ultimately, they took it, winning 75-70.

Throughout the season, we saw Duke crash and burn when it wasn't hitting from three. That was the case against Lehigh, as Duke was just 6-of-26 from distance. Andre Dawkins, Quinn Cook and Seth Curry combined to go 3-of-16 from downtown.

Duke never really stood a chance of going to the Final Four, but bowing out in the Round of 64 is unacceptable for this proud program.

All the more reason for the haters to rejoice.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: All-the-Duke-Hate-in-the-World-to-1

Michigan

Quick, somebody find a Michigan man! The Wolverines lost something!

The fourth-seeded Wolverines lost to the 13th-seeded Ohio Bobcats on Friday night by the final of 65-60. It was a defeat few saw coming, and it came largely because Ohio put the clamps on Michigan's star guards.

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway, Jr. did not have good games. They combined to go 10-of-29 from the floor, including 4-of-15 from distance. As a team, Michigan shot just 40.7 percent, compared to 51.2 percent for Ohio.

Before this season, Michigan had been bounced in the Round of 32 in three straight tournament appearances. The Wolverines apparently felt like getting things over with this time around.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Equal to Those of Michigan Re-Hiring Rich Rodriguez

Saint Mary's

Well, that didn't go so well.

Saint Mary's entered the tournament as a sneaky-good sleeper team, but the Gaels fell short against the 10th-seeded Purdue Boilermakers, 72-69.

The Gaels came back in the second half after trailing by seven at halftime, but they let the game slip away late. They had the lead with 45 seconds to go, but key fouls by Stephen Holt gave Purdue the free throws it needed to win. 

It would have been nice to see Saint Mary's make another run through the tourney, but oh well.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: In Need of Resurrection 

LIU Brooklyn

The Blackbirds couldn't make it past No.1 Michigan State, and there's no shame in that.

LIU Brooklyn simply couldn't contain Draymond Green, who had a triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. As a whole, Michigan State shot nearly 60 percent from the field.

The Blackbirds came into the game looking to put their high-scoring offense to work, and credit where credit is due it's not like they had a bad game offensively. But heck, it's hard to win a game when you get beat on the boards 42 to 19.

The Blackbirds will still be looking for their first NCAA Tournament win next season. Hopefully, they won't run into a team as good as Michigan State.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: A-Million-Blackbirds-Flying-to-1

Colorado

Well, that is it for the Pac-12. The Colorado Buffaloes were ousted by the Baylor Bears, as the team collapsed in the final moments of the game to lose 80-63.

The Buffaloes were actually in it with about five minutes left in the game, but the Bears went off to take the lead far and wide.

The Pac-12 champs made the most of their situation, but the field proved to be too strong for the No. 11 seed.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Good as Any Pac-12 Team

Temple

The first half of Temple's tilt against South Florida was about as ugly as ugly gets. Neither team could score, yet the Owls scored a little more to head into the half with a 19-15 lead.

The Bulls exploded in the second half, scoring 43 points. Alas, the Owls stayed cold, and the game quickly got away from them.

Temple has now been bounced in the Round of 64 in four of its last five tourney appearances.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Nobody Gives a Hoot

Iowa State

The Cyclones fought, and they fought, but it just wasn't enough. The Kentucky Wildcats proved to the nation yet again why they were the No. 1 team in this tournament, and did so my taking down Iowa State 87-71.

It was a good fight by Iowa State, but many saw this being the outcome from the start.

Royce White impressed yet again with 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. That still wasn't enough though, as the mighty Wildcats pounced on their victim.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Good as Last Year

Murray State

Isaiah Canaan and Murray State are done in the NCAA tournament, as the Racers fell to the No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles in what was a back-and-forth battle in the third round.

The Racers fell 62-53 to bow out of the tournament, and perhaps it was just their inexperience that got the best of them.

The team was in it the entire game, but they couldn't hang on as Marquette ran away with the game in the final minutes of the game.

It was a good effort, but it looks like this won't be a promising finish for what the Racers had started.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: As Good As Danica Patrick Winning a NASCAR Race

VCU

Cinderella won't have a date with the VCU Rams for the rest of this tourney, as last year's feel-good story fell at the hands of the Indiana Hoosiers in the third round of the tournament.

The Rams were looking like they were able to take the field by storm yet again, but in the end, the Hoosiers stood strong and took down the Rams in the final seconds of this great game.

Coach Shaka Smarts' future is likely on the line, as he may be one of the most coveted coaches this coming offseason.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: No Chance-No Chance

Notre Dame

Notre Dame couldn't keep Xavier down in the second half, and it was victimized by some questionable calls late in the game. In the end, it was a 67-63 loss for the Irish.

The Irish simply couldn't contain Tu Holloway. He scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, and he gave the Musketeers a lead with a key shot with 21 seconds to go.

The Irish were better than they usually are on offense, shooting 50 percent from the field, but it just wasn't enough.

Notre Dame has failed to make it out of the Round of 64 in two of the last three years.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Equal to Gunner Kiel Recommitting to LSU

New Mexico

The Lobos fought a tough uphill battle to try and take down the Big East champion Louisville Cardinals, but in the end they just couldn't finish them off.

New Mexico kept it close all game long, and even when the lead started to grow, they kept in it till the final buzzer.

Drew Gordon sank a rare three to cut the lead to just three, but that wasn't enough as just three seconds remained on the clock.

It was a great fight to the finish, but in the end it was the Cardinals heading to the Sweet 16 in a 59-56 battle.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Ain't Gonna Happen

Detroit

Detroit did what it was supposed to do against Kansas, and that's lose.

Hey, one of the 15 seeds had to lose, right?

The Titans haven't won a tournament game since 1999, when they beat a UCLA team that featured the once-great and now-fat Baron Davis.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Equal to Wrath of the Titans Being a Good Movie

Georgetown

It was only a matter of time before third-seed Georgetown met its March Madness maker.

And 11th-seed North Carolina State was all too happy to oblige.

The Wolfpack poked the Hoyas out of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, thereby sending John Thompson III's team home before the second weekend of play for the third year in a row. The Hoyas seemed all too happy to settle for jump shots against NC State's stifling defense—a boon to Hollis Thompson (23 points) but a complete bust for the foul-plagued Henry Sims (four points).

Even so, G'Town came within a desperation three by Jason Clark of tying the game at the buzzer.

Of course, that shot fell short, as did the Hoyas, who will head back to DC with the bittersweet sensation of knowing that they overachieved considerably this season but still failed to reach the Sweet 16. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Hoya Sax'd

Saint Louis

The Billikens bade farewell to the 2012 NCAA Tournament on Saturday, suffering a 65-61 loss to top-seed Michigan State.

Rick Majerus had his team in close contention throughout, though the Billikens couldn't quite overcome yet another brilliant performance by Spartans star Draymond Green.

As such, SLU will head back to the Gateway City, pleased to have earned its third NCAA Tournament victory in school history but somewhat disappointed to have come so close to a spot in the Sweet 16.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Billiken'd

Creighton

The Bluejay went the way of the Billiken and the Hoya on Sunday.

That is to say, extinct from the NCAA Tournament.

Eighth-seed Creighton did all it could to hang tough with top-seed North Carolina, but couldn't quite overcome the Tar Heels' overwhelming talent in what turned out to be an 87-73 defeat.

Indeed, the Bluejays' subpar play on defense came back to bite them, as they allowed one of the nation's top attacks to convert 50.8 percent of its shots, including half of its 16 three-point attempts.

Of course, it didn't help that UNC's front line dominated Creighton's on the boards, 43-34, though Doug McDermott (20 points, nine rebounds) did his best to keep the 'Jays in the game.

And so, the Bluejays will fly north for the spring, home to Omaha, where they'll nest and rest on a 29-6 record and a solid showing in the Big Dance.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Down Bluejay Way

Norfolk State

The clock struck midnight on Sunday and, by the looks of it, probably clipped Norfolk State right on the noggin along the way.

The 15th-seed Spartans followed up their stunning decision over second-seed Missouri with a flat-footed performance against seventh-seed Florida in an 84-50 defeat. Norfolk finished the day (and their tournament) shooting just 27.3 percent from the field while allowing a speedy Florida team to convert 52.8 percent of its attempts.

Not that the Spartans should hang their heads on their way back to Virginia. After all, they managed to win a game in their first-ever trip to the Big Dance, over a perceived national title contender, no less.

Then again, Norfolk State can't be all that happy with a 34-point slip out of Cinderella's crystalline footwear. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: That's all, folks.

South Florida

So, it turns out, South Florida's scoring struggles were problematic enough to boot the 12th-seed Bulls out of the NCAA Tournament.

Well, those and a stellar effort by 13th-seed Ohio, to which USF fell on Sunday by a score of 62-56. The Bulls managed to outshoot and outrebound the Bobcats, but struggled from behind the three-point line (2-of-15) and attempted as many free throws as South Florida converted.

Still, not a bad showing for Stan Heath's squad, which won two games—a 65-54 victory over Cal in the "First Four" included—their first in school history. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Not So Bullish

Lehigh

Goodbye, Lehigh. It was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?

The 15th-seed Mountain Hawks couldn't quite overcome a poor shooting night (32.8 percent from the field) against 10th-seed Xavier, not to mention spectacular performances by Musketeers stars Tu Holloway and Kenny Frease, in a 70-58 defeat.

The loss was Lehigh's first by a double-digit margin this season, despite a 20-point outing by Mackie McKnight.

Still, even the sting of defeat can't quite drown out the pride and glory of Lehigh's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory—a 75-70 stunner over second-seed Duke—that had UNC fans in Greensboro cheering for the Mountain Hawks on Sunday.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Not So Le-High

Purdue

Purdue's luck ran just short against second-seed Kansas on Sunday in a 63-60 defeat. The 10th-seed Boilermakers ran out to a surprising double-digit lead behind a 26-point outburst by Robbie Hummel, 22 of which he poured in during the first half.

A heartbreaker for Hummel, to be sure, considering he's given five years of his life—and both of his knees—to Boilermakers basketball.

Still, not a bad way for Hummel to bring his Boilermaker career to a close, even if the ultimate result was an "L" for Matt Painter's squad.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Hard Boiled

Florida State

Remember when this was supposed to be Florida State's year? When Leonard Hamilton was supposed to conclude his 10th season in Tallahassee with a trip to the Final Four?

Yeah, the Seminoles don't, either, at least not after succumbing to sixth-seed Cincinnati in a 62-56 defeat—the second result of exactly that score in a game won by an underdog Ohio team over one from Florida on Sunday.

Looks like the 'Noles will simply have to settle for an ACC Tournament title, two wins apiece over Duke and North Carolina, and but one victory in the Big Dance, just one year after advancing to the Sweet 16. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Tomahawk Chopped

Wisconsin

The Badgers proved to be stronger than people expected, as they ousted the Vanderbilt Commodores in a tight 60-57 victory.

Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, Jared Berggren, Jordan Taylor and Ben Brust were all in double digits, which helped carry the team into the Sweet 16 where they will take on a very strong Syracuse squad.

The Badgers still have much to prove, but their odds just got better after how well they handled the late push by the Commodores.

UPDATE:

The Badgers were unconscious from three-point range and gave the 'Cuse all they could handle, but with the game on the line, they died by the three.

With a chance to win the game Jordan Taylor airballed a deep three and that was all she wrote for yet another overachieving Bo Ryan club.

As always, Wisconsin has shown us that despite having less than stellar talent, you can win multiple games in the NCAA tournament with strong defense and a disciplined offense.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: 'Cused

Michigan State

Draymond Green couldn't quite muster up a third career Big-Dance triple double, though he was brilliant nonetheless in top-seed Michigan State's 65-61 win over ninth-seed St. Louis. The Big Ten Player of the Year finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals for the Spartans, who were also supported in victory by Keith Appling's game-high 19 points.

Don't forget about Sparty's defense, though, which limited the Billikens to 35.3 percent shooting from the floor.

That sort of effort will likely prove crucial in Phoenix on Thursday, when MSU meets fourth-seed Louisville in the Sweet 16. Expect to see a never-ending slew of shots of Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino looking particularly exasperated on the sidelines during this one.

Update:

The Spartans picked a bad time to shoot 28 percent from the floor. 

Brick-after-brick made Draymond Green's final game as a Spartan a very ugly one. The Cardinals neutralized Michigan State on the glass and forced them to win it from the perimeter.

Izzo and Co. should be proud of themselves for getting a No. 1 seed, but have to be wondering what the heck happened in the Sweet Sixteen. A very unIzzo-like performance.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Pitnio'ed

Cincinnati

It's off to the Sweet 16 for Cincinnati after a thrilling 62-56 victory over Florida State, its first NCAA Tournament win over a higher-seeded team in school history.

The Bearcats four-pronged backcourt made the big plays when it needed to down the stretch, thereby earning a program's first Sweet 16 berth since 2001, when Bob Huggins was still stalking the sidelines in the Queen City.

Next up, Cincy will take on second-seed Ohio State in Boston in the only the second meeting between these two Buckeye State institutions in nearly half a century. The last time the Bearcats faced a local rival, they...well, just ask Xavier what happened. 

Update:

The physicality of the 'Cats kept them in the game against Ohio State for 30 minutes, but that's when their lack of talent offensively really became clear. 

Yancy Gates had an of night and the team was uncharacteristically careless with the ball, committing 18 turnovers.

This was by far the best coaching job Mick Cronin has ever done at the program, but his team still goes home with a bitter taste in their mouths wondering what could have been. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Mick'ed

Marquette

It wasn't an easy win for the Golden Eagles, but in the end they handled Isaiah Canaan and the Murray State Racers to reach the Sweet 16.

Marquette could be a secret favorite to surprise the field this year, but they will be waiting to see who they will have to get by next.

They will be waiting on the results of Florida and Norfolk State, two teams which could give them a serious challenge.

If Norfolk State walks over Florida after they defeated Missouri, well, the Golden Eagles should maybe be worried for a possible upset on the horizon.

Update:

The Eagles shooting woes ended up being what ultimately killed a promising season.

The Golden Eagles shot an abysmal 30 percent from the floor in their 10-point loss to the Gators. Both Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom shot a horrific 33 percent from the field. It was brick city USA.

The stars of the team didn’t come through and that’s why Buzz Williams’ crew is toast in the tournament. 

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Buzzed

Ohio

Ohio parlayed a stunning victory over Michigan into a slightly less surprising but nonetheless important 62-56 decision over South Florida.

The 13th-seed Bobcats were boosted by the 40-point combination of Walter Offutt and DJ Cooper, the latter of whom added six rebounds, seven assists and two steals to the cause. Ohio shot just under 40 percent from the field as a team, but did well from two areas in particular—behind the three-point line (9-of-18) and at the free-throw line (19-of-25).

For their efforts, the 'Cats will head to St. Louis for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1964, wherein they'll find a vulnerable, Kendall Marshall-less North Carolina squad that may well be OU's third upset victim in as many opportunities this month.

UPDATE

The Bobcats nearly upset No. 1 seed North Carolina in Friday's Sweet 16 match but were unable to sink a free throw with under a minute left which would have won the game. Ohio was dominated in overtime 10-2 by North Carolina as their Cinderella run came to an end.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: The dream is over

Indiana

It wasn't pretty, and they sure weren't in demand for most of the game, but the Indiana Hoosiers made their way past the VCU Rams to ruin a Cinderella story in the making.

The Hoosiers came out of this one with a 63-61 win, in which the team came from behind to take the lead from the Rams and earn themselves a berth into this year's Sweet 16.

The bigger challenge for the Hoosiers lies ahead, as they will have to take on the Iowa State Cyclones or the No. 1 seeded Kentucky Wildcats.

The Hoosiers took down the Wildcats in the early goings of the year, and it doesn't seem as if they would let them get past this time around.

UPDATE

The Hoosiers couldn't stop the offensive firepower of Kentucky in the Sweet 16, losing 102-90 on Friday night.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Wait 'til next year

Xavier

Sunday's matchup with 15th-seed Lehigh turned out to be a two-man show for Xavier, and a rather entertaining one.

For Musketeers fans, at least.

10th-seed XU came away with a 70-58 win behind 21 points from Tu Holloway and a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds from Kenny Frease. As a whole, the Musketeers limited the Mountain Hawks to just 32.8 percent shooting from the floor and came away with a 39-33 rebounding edge.

As a result, Xavier will head to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years, where a date with third-seed Baylor in Atlanta awaits. 

UPDATE

Baylor defeat Xavier on Friday night on the strength of their front court. Forwards Quincy Acy and Perry Jones III were too much for the Musketeers to handle.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Not gonna happen

North Carolina State

North Carolina State is a sleeper no more.

The 11th-seed Wolfpack knocked off third-seed Georgetown on Saturday, 66-63, to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005.

And in Mark Gottfried's first season on the bench, no less.

The 'Pack did a masterful job of disrupting G'Town's Princeton offense, obstructing cuts and protecting the rim while forcing the Hoyas to settle for jump shots.

NC State's case for St. Louis was bolstered by four players scoring in double figures, including three who totaled 14 points apiece—CJ Leslie, CJ Williams and Richard Howell.

Now, the Wolfpack will head to the Gateway City, where they'll likely take on the winner of Kansas—Purdue for the right to move on to the Elite Eight. 

UPDATE

The Wolfpack lost a heart breaker to No. 2 seed Kansas on Friday night. North Carolina wasn't able to hit a potential game-tying three-pointer on their final possession of the game.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Won't happen

Florida

Seventh-seed Florida hit its collective stride from behind the three-point line against 15th-seed Norfolk State to rather devastating effect.

How devastating? Try an 84-50 victory over a seemingly awe-struck Cinderella. The Gators dominated the Spartans from start to finish, building up a 28-point halftime lead that they extended by another six behind double-digit scoring efforts from five players and clear advantages in shooting (52.8 percent to 27.3 percent) and rebounding (40 to 30).

Florida came out firing on all cylinders against the overwhelmed underdog, and will need to continue to play that way if the Gators are going to top third-seed Marquette in Phoenix on Thursday. Both teams rely on a fast-paced, pressing small-ball style to succeed, though the Golden Eagles would appear to have slightly superior personnel.

Still, don't count out Florida's stock of talent or the ability of Billy Donovan to put it all together in a run to New Orleans.

Update:

The hottest team in the tournament is looking mighty dangerous heading into the Elite Eight.

Bradley Beal shot a blistering 8-of-10 from the field in route to 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. They were better than Marquette in virtually every statistical category, and have now won their three tournament games by a combined score of 70 points.

Nobody wants to play the Gators right now. They’ll be the favorites against Louisville. 

Update:

The Gators were well on their way to New Orleans after draining 8-of-11 from behind the arc in the first half. They busted Louisville's vicious matchup zone and took an eight point lead into halftime.

Unfortunately for Florida, they completely collapsed in the final ten minutes. Rick Pitino coached circles around Billy Donovan and Florida's guards made a few crippling mistakes.

Florida outplayed Louisville for 32 minutes, but they blew it in the end. This will be a tough pill to swallow for the Gators and their fans.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: The same as Billy Donovan's career wins vs. Rick Pitino: Zero.

Syracuse

The Orange continue to survive without their man in the middle Fab Melo, as they dominated the Kansas State Wildcats.

Many foresaw Syracuse dropping the ball sooner than later, but they have defied the odds staying strong above their opposition.

They dominated the Wildcats in a 75-59 win, a performance in which 'Cuse scored 50 points in the second half to the Wildcats' 35.

Next up is Wisconsin, who could give 'Cuse their first real scare since UNC-Asheville almost sent them packing in round two.

Update:

The 'Cuse certainly didn't play their best game of the season, but it's all about surviving and advancing in this tournament.

The 2-3 zone looked just fine without Fab Melo as they allowed almost nothing in the paint against Wisconsin. Dion Waiters' draft stock is rising by the game. 

If they can keep this up, there is no doubt the Orange will be in New Orleans with a shot at cutting down the nets. 

Update:

The absence of Fab Melo finally caught up to the Orange, who couldn't handle Jared Sullinger in the paint. The Buckeyes big man went for 19 points and seven rebounds to carry his team to the Final Four.

Both teams struggled with foul trouble, but Ohio State handled the adversity better. With point guard Aaron Craft on the bench, Lenzelle Smith Jr. stepped up, knocking down three treyballs on his way to 18 points.

Syracuse had a great year, and they may have won the title with Melo in the lineup. Unfortunately, they'll never know what could have been.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: None.

Baylor

The Baylor Bears are giving the South Region a real run for their money, as they took over their third round matchup with the Colorado Buffaloes to make a convincing statement heading into the Sweet 16.

The two teams were locked up with about five minutes left in the game, but the Bears found their stroke and went off to take the game with a final score of 80-63.

The Bears will be waiting for the winner of the Lehigh and Xavier game, which shouldn't be much problem from what we can see.

It is the Hoosiers or Kentucky Wildcats that will damper this team's odds of reaching the Final Four.

UPDATE

Baylor defeated Xavier in Friday's Sweet 16 matchup but have to face the No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

UPDATE

Baylor's bid for a trip to New Orleans went bust on Sunday on account of bad defense, Perry Jones III's bruised hip and, well, Kentucky's on-court dominance in an 82-70 shortfall.

PJ3 and Quincy Acy combined for 39 points and 16 rebounds but couldn't quite keep the Bears from succumbing to UK's smothering defense and a poor effort on the other end that saw the Wildcats convert on 53.3 percent of their shot attempts.

As such, the season will end shy of the Big Easy for Scott Drew's squad, which figures to look entirely different next season with Acy's graduation and PJ3's potential departure to the NBA.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Waco'd

North Carolina

Top-seed North Carolina took a big step toward the Final Four in Sunday, defeating eighth-seed Creighton, 87-73, but took several giant steps back from winning the national championship upon learning that point guard Kendall Marshall broke his non-shooting wrist along the way.

Marshall had a magnificent game for the Tar Heels before suffering the injury, pouring in 18 points along with 11 assists and four rebounds. 

Bad news aside, all five of UNC's starters scored in double figures, including a 13-point, 10-rebound, four-block performance by John Henson, who'd returned from some wrist troubles of his own.

The Heels still have enough talent, without Marshall, to slide past either 12th-seed South Florida or 13th-seed Ohio in the Sweet 16, though they'll be hard-pressed to push past second-seed Kansas in Kansas City and onto the Final Four.

Of course, that would've been difficult even with a healthy Marshall on hand.

UPDATE

North Carolina was nearly upset by No. 13 seed Ohio but they played some strong defense to advance to the Elite Eight. Starting point guard Kendall Marshall did not play for the Tar Heels because of a wrist injury.

UPDATE

Kendall Marshall's absence proved to be too much to bear for North Carolina, which struggled to move the ball on offense and contain Kansas' guards defensively in what turned out to be an 80-67 defeat. The top-seed Tar Heels were red-hot in the first half, but managed just 20 points after emerging from the locker room against the Jayhawks' smothering defense.

And so, the preseason favorite to win the national championship heads back to Chapel Hill without a ticket to New Orleans to show for their stellar efforts this season.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: There Goes Carolina

Kansas

Second-seed Kansas survived a scintillating 26-point performance by Purdue's Robbie Hummel to advance to the Sweet 16 in St. Louis by way of a 63-60 victory.

Elijah Johnson paced the Jayhawks with 18 points, alongside a sturdy double-double from Big 12 Player of the Year Thomas Robinson.

Those two, in particular, saved KU from a poor shooting night, which saw the Jayhawks convert just 33.9 percent of their attempts.

Chalk it up to second-seed jitters, perhaps?

Whatever the case may be, Bill Self's squad can now claim the clearest path to New Orleans of just about any of the 16 teams remaining in the field. The Jayhawks will face 11th-seed North Carolina State in the Midwest Regional Semifinal before (potentially) taking on a shorthanded North Carolina club for the right to advance to the Final Four. 

UPDATE

Kansas escaped with a 60-57 victory over North Carolina State in Friday's Sweet 16 matchup. Some poor execution by the Wolfpack allowed the Jayhawks to advance to the Elite Eight, where they will play No. 1 seed North Carolina.

UPDATE

It's on to New Orleans for Kansas, which earned its 14th trip to the Final Four in school history with an 80-67 win over North Carolina in St. Louis on Sunday. The second-seed Jayhawks using a 12-0 run over the final 3:55 of the game to put away the top-seed Tar Heels, who were clearly hampered without the services of sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall.

With Marshall gone, Tyshawn Taylor (22 points, six rebounds, five assists, five steals) had nearly free reign to wreak havoc all over the court. All the while, Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey were efficient on offense and troublesome on defense, where they flustered Carolina's All-American front court of Tyler Zeller and John Henson.

For their efforts, the Jayhawks, champions of the Midwest Region, will move on to face East Region champ Ohio State in one of two National Semifinals on Saturday.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: Chalk

Kentucky

The Wildcats had no trouble in handling Iowa State in the third round of the tournament, ousting the Cyclones in an 87-71 victory.

The went off in the second half scoring 49 points, but the fact that they let up 44 to Iowa State in the half is quite discouraging.

Still, they looked like the better team. That type of drop in play though won't fly against their stronger opponents going forward, especially a Indiana team that beat them in the early goings of the season.

Marquis Teague took control of this one, scoring 24 of the team's points. He also had seven assist and four rebounds. Star freshman Anthony Davis dominated as well, scoring 15 points while grabbing 12 boards. He added five assists to that line, making yet another impressive performance on the season.

The team is looking as strong as ever, but they can't afford to trip up in the Sweet 16.

UPDATE

Kentucky defeated Indiana 102-90 in an exciting Sweet 16 matchup despite freshman star Anthony Davis only scoring nine points because of foul trouble.

UPDATE

Kentucky survived a scare to Anthony Davis' knee to beat Baylor, 82-70, and advance to the Final Four out of the South Region. Davis finished the day with 18 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks and two steals after knocking knees with Baylor's Perry Jones III, who had a solid showing of his own (17 points, eight rebounds, two assists).

UK's defense proved to be the difference, as the Wildcats held the Bears to 39.3 percent shooting from the field. Baylor's Quincy Acy led all scorers with 22 points (along with eight rebounds), though he, PJ3 and Quincy Miller were no match for Davis, Terrence Jones (12 points, nine rebounds, six assists) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (19 points, five rebounds).

For their efforts, the 'Cats will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New Orleans, where they'll be matched up with Bluegrass State rival Louisville in a game with more cross-cutting storylines than the final season of Lost.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: The 'Cats are back.

Follow @J0shMart1n

Louisville

The Louisville Cardinals fought off the pestering New Mexico Lobos in a 59-56 battle to the death, but their efforts earn them a trip to the Sweet 16.

Star Russ Smith led the team in scoring with 17 points, while Big East tournament star Peyton Siva failed to impress with just six.

He did however score two decisive free-throws that decided the game for the Cardinals, and ultimately put them in position to win the game.

They will be awaiting the results of the Michigan State and St. Louis game, where they will likely hope to get the Bilikins.

The Spartans have looked tough all season long, and they entered the tourney with an impressive showing in this year's Big Ten tournament.

The Cardinals have continued to win, so at this point that is all they can hope to continue to do. 

Update:

This team is dangerous.

The Cardinals defense was razor-sharp against the Spartans and enter the Elite Eight as the hottest team in the tournament. 

Peyton Siva is playing top notch at the point and the emergence of Chane Behanan against Michigan State was a huge factor. 

Rick Pitino is now 10-0 all-time in the Sweet Sixteen. Incredible. 

Update:

Louisville absolutely stole a win from Florida thanks to some great coaching and a few crucial offensive performances.

After Florida's stellar outside shooting busted their zone, Rick Pitino flexed his coaching muscles. Louisville switched up their defense and held the Gators to 0-for-9 shooting on threes in the second half.

Offensively, the Cardinals rode Chane Behanan and Russ Smith. Smith finished with 19 points and Behanan dropped 17, including the go-ahead bucket with just over one minute left.

Odds of Reaching the Final Four: The Cardinals are in.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes walked away with another victory in this year's tournament with their round three win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Ohio State took the game with a final score of 73-66, as they took clear advantage of the Bulldogs in the second half to outscore them 34-29 to finish the game.

Both Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas dropped 18 points, while Aaron Craft had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

The Buckeyes will either get Florida State or Cincinnati next, but for now people have to be liking their odds. 

Update:

The Buckeyes struggled to put the Bearcats away, but led by 26 points from DeShaun Thomas the Buckeyes sent their Ohio rivals home. '

The team shot a blistering 48 percent from three-point land and played shutdown defense in the final 10 minutes. Ohio State can win the whole tournament if they keep it up. 

This team is peaking at the perfect time and should be the favorite against Syracuse in what will be an epic Elite Eight showdown. 

Update:

Ohio State rode Jared Sullinger to the Final Four. The big man relentlessly attacked the Syracuse zone, finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds.

They also got big contributions from Deshaun Thomas, William Buford and Lenzelle Smith Jr. With the balanced scoring effort, the Buckeyes proved that they can survive a bad game from Aaron Craft.

If Ohio State plays this well in the Final Four, they may end up cutting down the nets.

Odds of Reaching Final Four: Thad Matta's crew is in.