Michigan State advanced to the Final Four for the fifth time under head coach Tom Izzo following a 64-52 victory over No.1 seed Louisville. In this low scoring game played in front of roughly 72,000, the Spartans' Goran Suton and the Cardinals' Earl Clark each posted a respectable 19 points. However, Michigan State's defense dominated the Cardinals' by holding them to only 38.3 percent from the field.

Scoring an astonishing 103 points, Louisville paved their way to the Elite Eight after an impressive blowout over Arizona. Earl Clark led Louisville's explosive offense with 19 points and nine rebounds. The Cardinals' offense shot 57.6 percent from the field, while their defense held Arizona to only 64 points in this lopsided victory.

The Tar Heels broke from a tie halfway through the second and never looked back on their way to claiming their 17th Final Four berth. Despite Louisville's impressive 53% shooting from the floor, North Carolina's defense limited the Cardinals point total enough to secure an 83-73 win and a chance to take on Kansas in the next round. National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough further validated his title with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Louisville led the entire way throughout their 79-60 win over Tennessee. Earl Clark's 17 points and 12 rebounds helped earn the Cardinals a matchup against North Carolina in the Elite Eight. The win also moved the Cardinals' one game closer to giving coach Rick Patino's his sixth trip to the Final Four.

After beating Louisville 72-57, Illinois tied the NCAA single season record with 37 wins. Roger Powell Jr. and Luther Head scored 20 points apiece and led the Fighting Illini to the their best season in over a century. Illinois, the number one ranked team in the country since December, went on to face North Carolina in a close National Championship game.

After trailing by 20 points, Louisvile staged a miraculous second half comeback to defeat West Virginia 93-85. With :29 left in regulation, Larry O'Bannon's layup pushed the game into OT and give Louisville a chance to reach the Final Four. There was no need for another comeback in OT, as the Cardinals scored first and never looked back. Larry O'Bannon's 24 points and Taquan Dean's 23 was bested only by the Mountaineers' Kevin Pittsnogle's 25.

The No.4 seed Louisville Cardinals took down No.1 seed Washington in a 93-79 victory. Francisco Garcia's 23 points and Ellis Myles' 13 boards helped seal the win and carry the Cardinals off to the Elite Eight where they staged a miraculous comeback to beat West Virginia in overtime.