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Best of Thursday's NCAA tournament: Action from the Sweet 16

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The best bets for Thursday's Sweet 16 action (2:14)

Matt Youmans, Stanford Steve, Chris Fallica and Doug Kezirian make their picks for Thursday's NCAA tournament matchups. (2:14)

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The first weekend is finished, folks, and we're back in action with the Sweet 16. We compiled the best sights and sounds of Thursday evening, but if you missed anything from the round of 32 or the aftermath of the weekend, here's what you need to know:

+ ESPN.com's Sweet 16 roundtable

+ Here's how to take down No. 1 seeds

+ Really, don't sweat Duke's 3-point-shooting woes

+ Every Sweet 16 team, ranked by tradition

+ Phil Cofer finds solace after father's death with FSU and coach Leonard Hamilton

News roundup:

+ Kentucky's PJ Washington still uncertain about status

+ UNC's Nassir Little, battling flu, is game-time decision

+ Nate Oats bounces from Buffalo, heading to Alabama

+ Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska in talks about head-coaching vacancy

+ Virginia Tech's Ty Outlaw will play despite marijuana possession charge


Thursday's results

No. 1 Virginia 53, No. 12 Oregon 49

With that, the tournament's last underdog is ousted. Oregon kept it close but stumbled defensively in the final minute. Cavaliers star De'Andre Hunter exploited that and scored three of Virginia's final four points to maintain a two-possession lead the Ducks couldn't close. Virginia advances to its seventh Elite Eight and second under Tony Bennett.

  • Tournament Challenge update: Just 13.1 percent of people predicted that No. 1 Virginia would face No. 3 Purdue in the Elite Eight. Of those brackets, 67.7 percent have the Cavaliers moving on to the Final Four.

No. 3 Texas Tech 63, No. 2 Michigan 44

The Red Raiders allowed 16 points in the first half and were not going to go easy on the Wolverines. Michigan's 44 points matched the fewest points ever scored by a 2-seed. Michigan went 1-of-19 from behind the 3-point line (5.3 percent), making its only 3-pointer on that 19th attempt with 22 seconds to go. Texas Tech isn't messing around this postseason: The Red Raiders topped Michigan by 19 in Thursday's Sweet 16 matchup after beating Buffalo by 20 in last week's round of 32 game.

  • Stat blast: Texas Tech hopes to advance to its first Final Four on Saturday. The Red Raiders officially have 12 wins in their NCAA Tournament history, six of which have come the past two seasons, including both of their Elite Eight appearances.

Fun fact: Virginia-Oregon and TTU-Michigan combined for 209 total points ... just 16 more points than Purdue and Tennessee's overtime matchup.

No. 3 Purdue 99, No. 2 Tennessee 94

The Carsen Edwards show rolled on, as Purdue's junior guard scored 29 points, including two clutch free throws to force overtime. The Boilermakers withstood a Tennessee rally at the end of regulation and held on for the win in OT. Edwards was assisted by Ryan Cline, who scored 27 points and shot 7-of-10 from behind the arc.

No. 1 Gonzaga 72, No. 4 Florida State 58

It was "sweet" revenge for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga fended off a late charge by the Seminoles to advance to the Elite Eight one year after the Seminoles ousted the Bulldogs in the Sweet 16. Brandon Clarke became the first player since Jeff Withey in 2013 with at least 15 points and five blocks in consecutive NCAA tournament games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Gonzaga was 7-of-16 on contested 3-pointers, including 5-of-11 in the first half. In last year's Sweet 16 loss to Florida State, Gonzaga was just 1-of-13 on contested 3s. Zach Norvell Jr. made four of six contested 3s for Gonzaga, erasing the memory of his 0-of-4 on such shots last year.

  • Tournament challenge update: Gonzaga was picked to make the Elite Eight in 64.3 percent of brackets and the Final Four in 42.4 percent.


Thursday things

Duke has company at the top

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

Volunteers legend Tony White, battling cancer, sends his support

Love him or hate him ...

No distance too far

Moretti finished with 15 points (5-of-7 from the field, 3-of-4 from beyond the arc) and four assists.