After an incredible first two rounds of the March Madness tournament, we’ve witnessed everything from pure joy to absolute devastation thanks to last-second miracles that had all of us jumping out of our seats. Now that the dust has settled, next up is the Sweet 16, which features some familiar and not-so-familiar faces this year.
This year’s rendition of the Sweet 16 is once again led by Kentucky who has 10 more appearances than the next closest squad and 43 appearances overall. Kansas, Duke, and Syracuse are all dancing their way to the field of 16 this year, while the team that’s provided us with a pair of upsets on incredible last-second shots, Loyola Chicago, will be making only its fourth trip to the Sweet 16.
Not to be outdone by the Ramblers is Nevada, who punched just their second ticket ever to the Sweet 16 after beating Texas in overtime and then completing one of the most astounding comebacks in tournament history when it managed to erase a 20-point-plus deficit to upset Cincinnati.
25 Teams with the Most Sweet 16 Appearances Ever
From Kentucky to North Carolina State, here are 25 schools who have appeared in the Sweet 16 the most.
| Team | Appearances | Last Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 43 | 2018 |
| North Carolina | 33 | 2017 |
| UCLA | 33 | 2017 |
| Kansas | 31 | 2018 |
| Duke | 30 | 2018 |
| Louisville | 28 | 2015 |
| Syracuse | 23 | 2018 |
| Indiana | 22 | 2016 |
| Arizona | 20 | 2015 |
| Michigan State | 19 | 2015 |
| Notre Dame | 17 | 2016 |
| Connecticut | 17 | 2014 |
| Kansas State | 17 | 2018 |
| Villanova | 16 | 2016 |
| Marquette | 16 | 2013 |
| Utah | 16 | 2015 |
| Michigan | 15 | 2018 |
| Ohio State | 14 | 2013 |
| Maryland | 14 | 2002 |
| Cincinnati | 13 | 1996 |
| San Francisco | 12 | 1974 |
| Arkansas | 11 | 1996 |
| Georgetown | 11 | 2007 |
| Illinois | 11 | 2005 |
| Purdue | 11 | 2018 |
| West Virginia | 11 | 2018 |
| Oklahoma State | 11 | 2005 |
| North Carolina State | 11 | 2015 |
