MEMPHIS, Tennessee — MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Eight teams entered the Bluff City, and now four remain for the second round of March Madness.
In a clash between the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12, No. 6 seed Clemson will face off against No. 3 seed Baylor. Meanwhile, Sunday's most intriguing matchup features a rematch from earlier this season, with No. 1 seed Houston taking on No. 9 seed Texas A&M.
The Aggies are set to challenge arguably the nation's top team in Houston. Despite a previous loss to the Cougars this year, Aggies guard Jace Carter believes his team is now more tenacious.
"We embrace the fact that we're not the best players, shooters, or the most talented, but we have a strong desire to win and play with relentless effort," said Carter.
While Texas A&M enters the game in red-hot form, Houston boasts the best scoring defense in the NCAA.
"If we can disrupt their dribble and slow them down a bit, I believe we can contain them," said Houston guard Mylike Milson.
In the other matchup tomorrow, the creative and high-scoring Baylor team faces off against a gritty Clemson squad.
The Tigers, with a record of 20-11, faced late-season struggles, losing three of their final four games, including a 21-point defeat to Boston College in the ACC Tournament. However, they silenced critics by dismantling 11th seed New Mexico in the first round on Friday.
While Clemson may not be on many dark horse radars, when PJ Hall and Chase Hunter are in sync, the Tigers prove to be one of the most efficient teams in the tournament.
Conversely, the 24-10 Bears are known for their high-scoring offense and proficiency in three-point shooting. While scoring isn't a concern for Baylor, they may face challenges with Clemson's physicality.
"We're up against very big guards and physical bigs, so we'll emphasize fronting the post and maintaining physicality throughout the game," said Baylor guard Jayden Nunn. "Our focus will be on boxing them out and keeping them out of the game."
Baylor and Clemson are scheduled to tip off tomorrow at 5:10 p.m., while the Aggies and Cougars will follow with a tip-off at 7:40 p.m.
