Men's March Madness Sweet 16 Preview: Purdue, Gonzaga pit star Canadians head-to-head

This year's edition of March Madness is showcasing who the best teams in the sport have been and why they're so highly rated. Yes, it's been chalky, but with all eight of the No. 1 and 2 seeds still alive and only one team lower than a six seed, every matchup from this point forward should be an absolute heavyweight duel.

Everyone wants to watch double-digit seed teams in the Elite 8 until it's actually time to watch double-digit seed teams in the Elite 8.

Instead, with favourites coming out on top through the first two rounds, the footing should be more level in the Sweet 16, with two 1-4 and 2-3 matchups really setting the tone.

Here's a deeper look at the four games left on the docket and a storyline to watch for in each one.

(2) Marquette vs. (11) N.C. State - Friday, March 29, 7:09 p.m. ET

Marquette Golden Eagles
Record: 27-9
How they got here: Beat (15) Western Kentucky and (10) Colorado
Key Player: Tyler Kolek

N.C. State Wolfpack
Record: 24-14
How they got here: Beat (6) Texas Tech and (14) Oakland
Key Player: D.J. Burns

What to watch for: Is N.C. State the last hope for a Cinderella run?

In what's been a chalky tournament, N.C. State has given the Cinderella-hopeful crowd something to cheer for.

After running the table in the ACC Tournament with five wins in five days, they crashed the dance, immediately dominated Texas Tech and then beat another Cinderella hopeful in Oakland.

Big man D.J. Burns has been unstoppable, averaging 16.6 points on 67.5 per cent true shooting over the last seven games. His pairing with DJ Horne, who's serving up a steady helping of 40 per cent from deep on 6.5 attempts a game this season has given them a solid dynamic duo.

However, they'll have to take on a Marquette team desperate to get back to the Elite 8 for the first time in 11 years and lead guard Tyler Kolek, whose table-setting ability and basketball IQ could carve up N.C. State's 75th-ranked defence per KenPom.

(1) Houston vs. (4) Duke - Friday, March 29, 9:39 p.m. ET

Houston Cougars
Record: 32-4
How they got here: Beat (16) Longwood and (9) Texas A&M
Key Player: Jamal Shead

Duke Blue Devils
Record: 26-8
How they got here: Beat (13) Vermont and (12) James Madison
Key Player: Kyle Filipowski

What to watch for: How will Duke fare in their first real challenge?

It's been a breezy tournament so far for the Blue Devils as they made quick work of Vermont and James Madison, beating them by 17 and 38 points respectively (hey, what's up, hello). However, in Houston, they're running into a buzzsaw.

The Cougars' defence has been stellar all year, ranking second in adjusted efficiency per KenPom as their aggressive, blitzing style has forced the 12th-most turnovers (15.9) and the worst opposing field-goal percentage in college basketball (37.8 per cent).

Star guard Jamal Shead has been stellar on both ends, running the offence and scoring when it matters most, highlighted by a 21-point, 10-assist performance in the second-round overtime win against Texas A&M.

Should Duke want to advance to the Elite 8, freshman Jared McCain may have to rekindle the fire he had in the 30-point, eight 3-pointer performance against James Madison and big man Kyle Filipowski will have to attack a Houston team without the size to match up with him.

(1) Purdue vs. (5) Gonzaga - Friday, March 29, 7:39 p.m. ET

Purdue Boilermakers
Record: 31-4
How they got here: Beat (16) Grambling State and (8) Utah State
Key Player: Zach Edey

Gonzaga Bulldogs
Record: 27-7
How they got here: Beat (12) McNeese State and (4) Kansas
Key Player: Ryan Nembhard

What to watch for: Star Canadians go head-to-head

This Sweet 16 matchup between powerhouses is a must-watch for fans of Canadian basketball as the two most renowned Northern hoopers in college ball go head-to-head.

Reigning Naismith Trophy winner Zach Edey has been the most dominant singular force in college basketball this season and is well on his way to a second-consecutive clean sweep of the individual awards after averaging a ridiculous 24.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks on 62.3 per cent from the field this season. Standing at an unparalleled 7-foot-4, the Toronto native should look down (literally) on anyone Gonzaga throws at him, whose tallest players are at least five inches shorter than him.

Ryan Nembhard, meanwhile, transferred to the West Coast program in the off-season, following in the footsteps of older brother Andrew. As the lead guard for the Bulldogs, the third-year guard has set the table for the seventh-best offence in the country and the eighth-most efficient three-point shooting team.

(2) Tennessee vs. (3) Creighton - Friday, March 29, 10:09 p.m. ET

Tennessee Volunteers
Record: 26-8
How they got here: Beat (15) Saint Peter's and (7) Texas
Key Player: Dalton Knecht

Creighton Blue Jays
Record: 25-9
How they got here: Beat (14) Akron and (11) Oregon
Key Player: Baylor Scheierman

What to watch for: Will war of attrition weigh on Creighton?

Creighton played what might be the game of the tournament so far in the second round against the Oregon Ducks, eventually winning 86-73 in a double-overtime thriller. Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander played from whistle to whistle and big man Ryan Kalkbrenner sat for only one minute.

That trio has been stellar, averaging 53.4 points combined this season, but they'll need that sort of conviction once again when they run into the third-best defence in the country in Tennessee.

The Volunteers come into this game with an 89.9 adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom and allow the third-best opposing field goal percentage in the country at 38.6 per cent.

However, they struggled offensively against Texas in the second round, shooting a paltry 3-for-25 from deep, their worst mark of the season, and Naismith Trophy finalist Dalton Knecht was a brutal 5-for-18 from the field. Don't expect Creighton to let them get away with this sort of performance in the Sweet 16.