Elite Eight Teams: Louisville, Michigan Among Teams In 2013 NCAA Tournament Regional Finals

The field of 68 teams in the 2013 NCAA Tournament has been winnowed down to the Elite Eight. Sixty of the best college basketball teams in the nation, including the team that entered the tournament atop the AP poll, have been sent home. The eight teams remaining will play in four regional finals on Saturday and Sunday, with the winners advancing to the Final Four in Atlanta.

With wins on Thursday night, Marquette and Syracuse ensured that at least one Big East team would reach the Georgia Dome. Buzz Williams' Golden Eagles will attempt to solve the 2-3 zone defense of the Orange in the opening Elite Eight game on Saturday. The conference rivals tip off at 4:30 p.m. EST in Washington, DC in the East Region.

Another Big East team (for now), Louisville, is the only No. 1 seed to reach the regional finals. Rick Pitino's Cardinals held off the No. 12 Oregon Ducks on Friday night in the Sweet 16. The Cards will face Duke in Indianapolis on Sunday.

Here are the eight teams remaining and the roads they traveled to arrive at the regional finals.

• SOUTH: No. 4 Michigan

  <strong>Second Round:</strong> Tim Hardaway Jr. and Glenn Robinson III scored 21 points each as the Wolverines dropped 13-seeded South Dakota State, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/michigan-south-dakota-nate-wolters_n_2928663.html" target="_blank">71-56</a>. <strong>Third Round: </strong> No. 5 VCU was no match for Michigan. Dominant performances by Mitch McGary and Trey Burke solved the Havoc defense and the Wolverines advanced to the Sweet 16 with a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/michigan-vcu-blowout-ncaa-tournament-mcgary-burke_n_2940306.html" target="_blank">78-53 blowout</a> win. <strong>Sweet 16: </strong>Trey Burke shook off a slow start and rallied No. 4 Michigan past No. 1 Kansas. The sensational sophomore drained a game-tying three-point shot to force overtime and the Wolverines went on to win 87-85.

• MIDWEST: No. 1 Louisville

  <strong>Second Round:</strong> Rick Pitino's Cardinals completely overwhelmed No. 16 North Carolina A&T, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/louisville-north-carolina-at-ncaa-tournament_n_2928680.html" target="_blank">79-48</a>. <strong>Third Round: </strong> Russ Smith scored 27 points as Louisville topped No. 8 Colorado State <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/louisville-sweet-16-colorado-state-ncaa_n_2941352.html" target="_blank">82-56</a>. <strong>Sweet 16: </strong>No. 12 Oregon gave the Cardinals their first test of the tournament. Russ Smith scored 31 points as Louisville held off the Ducks for a 77-69 win.

• EAST: No. 3 Marquette

  <strong>Second Round:</strong> Vander Blue kept the Golden Eagles dancing with a game-winning shot against No. 14 Davidson with just one second left on the clock. Marquette inched by with a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/vander-blue-marquette-davidson_n_2927170.html?utm_hp_ref=sports" target="_blank">59-58 win to advance</a>. <strong>Third Round:</strong> In another thrilling finish, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/marquette-butler-ncaa-tournament-2013_n_2941847.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003" target="_blank">Marquette topped Butler</a> 74-72. Vander Blue played the hero once again, recording 29 points. <strong>Sweet 16: </strong>After a pair of tense games, Marquette enjoyed its most comfortable win of the tournament. The Golden Eagles went ahead 29-16 at hafltime and held on for a 71-61 win over No. 2 Miami.

• WEST: No. 9 Wichita State

  <strong>Second Round:</strong> Carl Hall and Wichita State blew past Pitt in its second round matchup, 73-55. Tekele Cotton and the Shockers' defense held Pitt's leading scorer <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/wichita-state-pitt-ncaa-tournament-second-round_n_2926238.html" target="_blank">Tray Woodall to just two points</a>. Malcolm Armstead scored 22 for Wichita State. <strong>Third Round:</strong> The Shockers <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/wichita-state-win-gonzaga-ncaa_n_2941956.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003" target="_blank">upset No. 1 seed Gonzaga</a>, taking an early lead into the second half and rallying late to secure the win over the Zags, 76-70. <strong>Sweet 16:</strong> In a Cinderella vs. Cinderella matchup, the Shockers overwhelmed No. 13 La Salle. Malcolm Armstead and Carl Hall led the way as Wichita State rolled to a 72-58 win.

• EAST: No. 4 Syracuse

  <strong>Second Round:</strong>?The Orange demolished No. 13 Montana, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/syracuse-montana-ncaa-tournament-81-34_n_2929599.html" target="_blank">81-34</a>, to advance to the third round. <strong>Third Round:</strong> In a game that Syracuse coach <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/24/syracuse-cal-ncaa-scores-2013_n_2942025.html?1364098606&utm_hp_ref=sports" target="_blank">Jim Boeheim described as "ugly,"</a> C.J. Fair scored 18 points as the Orange held off Cal, 66-60. <strong>Sweet 16: </strong>The Orange toppled No. 1 Indiana in the Sweet 16, 61-50. The Hoosiers could not solve Syracuse's 2-3 zone and produced a season-low point total.

• WEST: No. 2 Ohio State

  <strong>Second Round:</strong> Deshaun Thomas and Ohio State crushed Iona in a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/ohio-state-iona-ncaa-scores_n_2937085.html" target="_blank">95-70</a> second round blowout. Sam Thompson scored 20 points and racked up 10 rebounds for the Buckeyes. <strong>Third Round:</strong> Ohio State narrowly escaped an upset by Iowa State. Aaron Craft sank a game-winning 3-point shot with less than a seconds left <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/24/ohio-state-iowa-state-ncaa-scores_n_2945076.html" target="_blank">to propel Ohio State to the Sweet 16</a>. <strong>Sweet 16:</strong> With No. 6 Arizona seemingly determined not to let Aaron Craft hit another game-winning shot, LaQuinton Ross stepped up. His deep three-point shot lifted the Buckeyes to a 73-70 win.

• SOUTH: No. 3 Florida

  <strong>Second Round:</strong> Erik Murphy scored 18 points and Florida routed Northwestern State <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/florida-northwesten-state-ncaa-scores_n_2936954.html" target="_blank">79-47</a>. <strong>Third Round:</strong> Florida built a 21-point lead over Minnesota by halftime and rolled to a 78-64 win. <strong>Sweet 16: </strong>After falling behind Florida Gulf Coast University early, No. 2 Florida went on a 16-0 run to take control of the game before halftime. The Gators cruised to a 62-50 win.

• MIDWEST: No. 2 Duke

  <strong>Second Round: </strong>Despite a solid effort by the Great Danes of Albany, Duke avoided an early upset this year, winning 73-61. <strong>Third Round</strong>: Duke prevailed in a physical matchup with No. 7 Creighton, 66-50. <strong>Sweet 16: </strong>Seth Curry shot the Blue Devils past Michigan State in the Sweet 16. Curry scored 29 as No. 2 Duke won 71-61.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/30/elite-eight-teams-2013-ncaa-tournament_n_2982634.html

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