NCAA Bracket 2015: Updated Schedule and Predictions for Sweet 16

The 2015 NCAA tournament field has been narrowed down to the Sweet 16 after the conclusion of Sunday's action.

There are a few surprises among the remaining March Madness teams, but there are plenty of the usual suspects as well. Kentucky is the top overall seed and has had no problem in its first two games. The same is true for Duke, which appears to be the favorite to meet the Wildcats in the national final.

But a lot of basketball is still to be played after this initial wave of action in the Big Dance. Below is an updated schedule, along with predictions for every game and Sweet 16 analysis. 

Thursday, March 26	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Friday, March 27	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Wichita State	7:15 p.m.	CBS	Wichita State
No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 North Carolina	7:47 p.m.	TBS	Wisconsin
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 5 West Virginia	9:45 p.m.	CBS	Kentucky
No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 6 Xavier	10:17 p.m.	TBS	Arizona
No. 2 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 UCLA	7:15 p.m.	CBS	Gonzaga
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 8 NC State	7:37 p.m.	TBS	Louisville
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 Utah	9:45 p.m.	CBS	Duke
No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Michigan State	10:07 p.m.	TBS	Oklahoma

Sweet 16 Analysis

So maybe there are some vulnerable spots in Kentucky's seemingly impenetrable armor. Just don't expect any weaknesses to cost the Wildcats a trip to the regional final.

Kentucky's next opponent is West Virginia, which intimidated Maryland in the round of 32 and ultimately moved on thanks to superior defense and a strong full-court press. Except the Mountaineers can't rattle the Wildcats like they did to the Terrapins.

The paradigm West Virginia will project leading up to the game will reflect something like what Juwan Staten said after the Maryland win, via Fox Sports Ohio's Zac Jackson:

But ESPN's Jeff Goodman hits the nail on the head in referencing the critical areas where the Mountaineers fall short to make any legitimate upset bid:

So the perfect record should keep rolling for Kentucky as it rolls through the Midwest, and there shouldn't really be any upsets to speak of in the Sweet 16 overall.

The only obvious candidate among the lower seeds to move on is Wichita State.

Even after an emotional intrastate win over Kansas in the third round, there is still plenty of motivation to spur the Shockers along. They have a chance for a rematch with Kentucky in the Elite Eight after seeing their undefeated season ruined by the Wildcats in last year's third round.

Notre Dame showed it is vulnerable after a close overtime call against Butler in its previous contest.

ESPN Stats & Info alludes to the depth the Fighting Irish's conference boasts, though:

So even if the Fighting Irish get bounced from the Big Dance, their fans can at least take solace in the fact that they hail from a tremendous collection of college basketball's elite and managed to make it this far.

Duke is the crown jewel of the ACC and is fortunate to have a game between now and a potential matchup with a red-hot Gonzaga offense in the South's regional final.

Freshman swingman Justise Winslow stuffed the stat sheet against San Diego State's stout defense with 13 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.

Between Winslow, big man Jahlil Okafor and guards Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook, the Blue Devils have enough star power to beat anyone. If Kentucky has difficulty grinding past West Virginia, look for Duke to be the most impressive squad otherwise.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski saw his team bounced in the round of 64 in two of the past three years. This Blue Devils bunch is keen on a resurgence, emerging thus far as the likeliest candidate to face Kentucky in the national championship game and give the Wildcats a run for their money.