The stakes for the national title continue to rise, but unexpected fun comes along for the ride.

The Sweet 16, which featured multiple games decided by possession, highlighted the best (and worst) players. The Elite Eight pitted the powers against each other, with some dominating their path to Indianapolis as Illinois, Arizona, Michigan and UConn advanced to the Final Four.

Here are some non-statistical, personality-based favorites from the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds of the men’s NCAA Tournament.

Elite Eight

Most Unconventional Medical Method: The Soda Can by Cameron Boozer

The athleticism was on full display in the UConn-Duke game, which was intense enough that the Duke star’s eye was bulging out. During the first half of the game, Boozer attacked the basket against UConn’s Eric Rippy, who competed with his hands raised. However, Rebbe’s elbow hit Boozer below his left eye, injuring him.

He grew slowly, and Boozer received unique treatment on the bench. A Duke employee placed a soda can under Boozer’s eye to relieve the swelling.

Most likely to get game ball Coach: Charlie May

Leading big against Tennessee, Michigan coach Dusty May brought on his son, Charlie, with 2:16 remaining in the game. The senior guard spent two seasons at UCF from 2022-24 before transferring to Michigan before the 2024-25 season, his father’s first as the Wolverines’ coach.

Charlie has appeared in just seven games this season and has not made a field goal since Nov. 3. And he made the most of his only shot attempt Sunday, drilling a 3-pointer to send Michigan’s bench — and the crowd — into a frenzy.

Unlimited Gas Tank: Bennett Sturtz

In Duke’s first-round matchup against Siena, the Saints kept five starters on the floor for the entire game and stuck close to the Blue Devils. But that’s no big deal for Iowa State guard Bennett Streetz, who didn’t miss a minute of action in the tournament

Stirtz has logged 160 minutes of playing time, and has not been substituted – and his numbers support coach Ben McCollum’s choice to keep him on the floor. The Liberty, Missouri, native averaged 18.3 points per game in the tournament with just three total turnovers.

City Takeover Award: Iowa-Illinois

In the highly anticipated Elite Eight matchup between the No. 9 and No. 3 seeds (and conference rivals), there were six players from the Kansas City area. Iowa had five on its roster — Sturtz, Taveon Banks, Cam Maniao, Joey Mattione and Isaiah Howard — and Illinois had one — Keaton Wagler.

In high school, Wagler and Howard played for the same popular AAU program under coach Victor Williams and the VWBA Elite program. Williams is known for bringing some of the best hoops talent in Kansas City and the surrounding areas to his gym.

Sweet 16

Bad Luck Charm: “Florida Final Boss”

During Florida’s first-round win over Prairie View A&M, fans couldn’t help but notice a fan with an eye-catching physique.

Known as the “Florida Final Boss” on social media, the Florida fan attended the Gators’ 73-72 upset loss to Iowa in the second round. But his story did not end there.

In Iowa’s Sweet 16 win over Nebraska, the big Florida fan was in attendance — instead wearing a Nebraska jersey with a Gators hat. The final leader’s support wasn’t enough for Nebraska, which fell 77-71 to the Hawkeyes. Is the final boss the bane of March Madness?

Most likely to leave a student behind on a field trip: Nebraska

Headcount is crucial when it’s time to go somewhere fun, including the Elite Eight. But Nebraska left a player behind on one of the game’s most important possessions.

In the final minute of the Huskers’ Sweet 16 matchup against Iowa, the Hawkeyes threw a baseball pass to Alvaro Folgueiras, who was alone at the rim before being fouled and ending up through contact. When the play occurred, Nebraska had only four players on the field.

He plays

0:33

Iowa State makes Nebraska pay with only 4 players on the field trailing and -1

Iowa State hits Nebraska with four players down the field and Alvaro Folgueras leaks for a layup as well as a foul.

While Iowa State punted, Rink Mast was trying to check the game, but the outcome of the play had already been decided.

Tough Love Award: Rick Pitino

Every coach has his own way of motivating players, pushing them and helping them grow. And for the St. John’s coach, he’s been in the game a long time, so he knows what works.

Before the Red Storm’s Sweet 16 game against Duke, reporters asked Pitino how he keeps his team hungry to compete against the best teams in the country.

Pitino’s answer? He joked and told reporters that he had not “fed them in a week” and that they were running on water and fruit juice.



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