- The term “Sweet 16” was first used in a high school basketball tournament in Illinois in the 1930s.
- Today, the Sweet 16 is the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
- The first Sweet 16 was in 1951, when the tournament expanded to 16 teams, but the current iteration dates from 1985, when the tournament expanded to 64 teams.
Betting on college basketball odds when the NCAA Tournament begins can be quite entertaining as surprise teams emerge and attempt to advance to the Sweet 16 or perhaps even further.
One notable example was No. 15 Princeton in 2023, who made it to the Sweet 16 before losing to Creighton. They were in danger in the first half of the Round of 64 against Arizona, down 41-40, but if you bet their live odds, you would’ve done well as they went on to win 59-55.
Below, I’ll examine why the third round of the NCAA Tournament is known as the Sweet 16, when the first one was, and more.
Why Do They Call it Sweet 16 in March Madness?
The term “Sweet 16” describes the round in which 16 teams remain in the NCAA Tournament. However, the name’s origin dates back to state high school basketball tournaments.
The earliest known mention came in Illinois in the 1930s, where teams competed in the “Sweet Sixteen.”
What Is the Sweet 16 NCAA Basketball?
In the NCAA Tournament, the Sweet 16 refers to the third round, played after the Round of 64 and Round of 32.
The winner of this game moves on to the Elite Eight.
When Was the First Sweet 16 in NCAA Basketball?
The first “Sweet 16” came in 1951 when the tournament expanded to 16 teams.
As for the modern-day Sweet 16, it came when the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
