Three rounds in the books and on to the sweet sixteen.  Here are some quick observations:

- The Big East has just two teams remaining. In other words, nine teams from the record-high 11 bids are gone, and the only reason two teams are still in the tournament is because they beat other Big East teams in the third round to get here.  In other words, Big East teams had zero wins against teams outside the Big East in the third round.  If either UConn or Marquette make it to the elite eight, I’d be surprised. Who would have thought before this tournament started that the Big East would not be represented after the sweet sixteen? It’s a legitimate possibility.

- Virginia Commonwealth has played great basketball with three double-digit wins in the first three rounds.  No, it doesn’t mean they deserved to make the tournament.  They still should have been in the NIT.  But they are certainly playing with a chip on their shoulder.  Consider this: they have already defeated a Pac 10 team (USC), a Big East team (Georgetown) and a Big Ten team (Purdue). Next up is an ACC team (Florida State). If they win that, they will likely play a Big 12 team (Kansas).  Win that, and they may run into an SEC team (Florida).  Imagine that.  VCU has the potential to beat a team from each of the six power conferences to reach the championship game.  Now that would be a statement.

- Arizona and San Diego, arguable underdogs in the West region’s semifinal games Thursday, have the benefit of playing in Anaheim, while the favorites, Duke and UConn, have to travel across the country.

- Butler’s shot at a final four is very doable. The Bulldogs are great in the half court style, which is a style both Wisconsin, its next opponent, and Florida, a potential elite eight opponent, play. 

- Butler and Arizona have both won their two tournament games by a combined three points.

- Florida vs BYU is a rematch of last year’s first round double overtime game, won by the Cougars.

- Can the road be paved any better for Kansas? The highest seeded team the Jayhawks will face before the Final Four is #9 Illinois, and #1 Pittsburgh is already out in the bracket adjacent to them.

- A 12 seed has reached the sweet sixteen in eight of the past 10 seasons.