The Elite Eight is here. While upsets could still cause a bit of havoc, we've ranked the remaining eight teams vying for the 2016 NCAA Basketball Championship. Seed doesn't determine everything here, and there are some differences between seed and where a team ranks. With that in mind, here are the Power Rankings for the Elite Eight teams.
8. Syracuse Orange
The Orange were a bubble team entering the tournament and many believed they didn't deserve a bid. And yet, here the Orange are in the Elite Eight Syracuse knocked off Dayton in the Round of 64, took down Middle Tennessee in the Round of 32 and snuck past Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. They haven't really beaten anyone of note thus far based on seeding, and the rest of the field looks stronger than Cuse. Then again, this is March and the Orange have already proven many wrong. Virginia will be a very tough game.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
That Notre Dame is even in the Elite Eight is a surprise. The Irish came from behind against Michigan in the Round of 64, used a tip-in just before the buzzer to beat Stephen F. Austin and rallied late to beat Wisconsin. Will the luck of the Irish run out in the Elite Eight against North Carolina? ND has beaten UNC this season, but also suffered a 30-point loss the last time the two squads played played.
6. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks got quite the scare from St. Joe's in the Round of 32, but had no problems in the Round of 64. The Ducks beat up on Duke, which helped cause Coach K to make a comment to Dillon Brooks and then lie about it. Oregon is the lowest ranked No. 1 seed, because a pair of two seeds are playing incredible, but there isn't much difference between the Ducks and the teams ahead of them.
5. Oklahoma Sooners
VCU gave OU a fight in the Round of 32, but Buddy Hield did Buddy Hield things in the win. The Sooners beat A&M fairly easily, but Oregon will be a much tougher game. That matchup should be one of the best ones of the Elite Eight. Download the Chat Sports App for live stats and scores from all the Elite Eight games.
4. Virginia Cavaliers
UVA has taken care of business with Hampton, Butler and Iowa State so far. Syracuse is up next and the Cavs should be able to win that one. A Final Four run is looking like a real possibility for UVA.
3. Villanova Wildcats
The level of basketball Villanova is playing is nothing short of spectacular. They've defeated UNC Asheville, Iowa and even Miami (FL) easily. They're playing great, but also have to face a Kansas team that's been on fire in the end of January. Something's got to give in that game. The Wildcats are ahead of two No. 1 seeds, but that's a comment on Nova's play, not UVA's or Oregon's.
2. Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks haven't lost since late January and are still playing well. KU had little problem with Austin Peay and UConn, and Maryland going cold in the second half basically handed the Jayhawks a win. Kansas has a tough game coming up against a hot Villanova team, which should be a great game.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
UNC beat FGCU and Providence by a combined 35 points, but UNC was up by just five at the half of those games combined. That gave some cause for concern, but the Tar Heels proceeded to drop 101 points on Indiana in a 101-86 win. UNC is looking great, and that win over IU boosts them to the No. 1 spot, for now.