Since the tournament expanded in 1994, a No. 1 seed has won the title 23 times. Meanwhile, No. 2 seeds have won the championship four times and No. 3 seeds three times -- with the most recent being LSU in 2023, a program that is once again a No. 3 seed this year and competing in its third consecutive Sweet 16.

Nothing like a conference rivalry matchup to instantly turn up the heat in the Sweet 16. Duke and UNC split their two games this season, each winning at home. The Tar Heels’ victory was a low-scoring overtime affair, 53-46, as only two of the 20 total players reached double figures.