What we've learned about Sweet 16

What we've learned about Sweet 16
Jeff Goodman / FOXSports.com

After the first week of play, let's take a look at what we've learned thus far about each of the 16 teams still dancing.

Florida: We already knew the Gators weren't invincible by any means, but we saw it first-hand after a competitive first-half against Jackson State and a close call vs. Purdue in the second round. Look for Taurean Green to face more constant defensive pressure after he had difficulty with the Boilermakers' game plan to pick him up 94 feet away from the basket.

North Carolina: Tyler Hansbrough without the mask is much better than Psycho T with the mask. In fact, the new Hansbrough may be better now than before Gerald Henderson broke his nose. He played against Michigan State as if he were on a mission. That's scary for USC and its big man, Taj Gibson.

Kansas: The Jayhawks can win in the first round — and beyond. Bill Self's team had lost two straight in the opening round, but this group has developed some toughness and just has too much talent to be knocked off early.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes can beat good teams without Greg Oden on the floor, but not elite ones. Thad Matta's team has tough-minded guys who can battle back. Ron Lewis made the big shot and we already know that Mike Conley Jr., is about as poised as a freshman can be. We also learned that the next dinner's on Matta when he and Xavier coach Sean Miller get together.

Memphis: We don't know much more about John Calipari's group than we did a week, a month or even three months ago. They beat up on a North Texas team and outran Nevada. Now we do know that Memphis can actually shoot free throws. Calipari has limited their foul shooting in practice and it's worked — at least temporarily. The Tigers shot a sizzling 76.5 percent from the line against the Wolf Pack — more than 15 percent higher than their season average.

Georgetown: The Hoyas guards may be better than people thought at the start of the season. Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp have been overlooked with guys like Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green and Dajuan Summers up front, but Wallace and Sapp have stepped up their play down the stretch and that's what has made them a legitimate Final Four threat.

UCLA:If you find a way to contain Arron Afflalo, you have a chance to knock off Ben Howland's team. I'm guessing Jamie Dixon — who used to work for Howland at Pittsburgh — realizes this and will rotate guys on the UCLA star. The Bruins went with five guys for most of the game and could be susceptible to foul trouble.

Texas A&M: Foul Joseph Jones with the game on the line. The Aggies big man missed a pair of free throws down the stretch that could have cost Billy Gillispie's team against Louisville.

Pittsburgh: Jamie Dixon's team has as much depth as just about anyone. People always talk about North Carolina going 10 or 12 deep, but the Panthers can go nine or 10 deep without losing much at all.

Oregon: Ernie Kent deserves a contract extension out in Eugene. Once thought to be on the verge of being fired, he has led the Ducks to a special season with a combination of veterans and some young kids. The biggest key is 5-foot-6 freshman Tajuan Porter, who can shoot as well as anyone that size that has come around.

Southern Illinois: The Salukis can still win without one of their key pieces because of their defense. Matt Shaw, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 boards, went down with an ankle injury in the first round, didn't log a single minute against Virginia Tech and Chris Lowery's team was still able to advance with ease.

USC: Daniel Hackett made the right move to graduate high school early. The freshman and son of former Syracuse star Rudy Hackett finished up this past summer in order to help the Trojans this year. He scored 17 points in the win over Kevin Durant and the Longhorns on Sunday.

Tennessee: Bruce Pearl isn't just a lunatic. The guy can coach, too. This was clear when he had Wisconsin-Milwaukee winning NCAA tournament games, but now the Vols head man is doing it down in Knoxville. Tennessee also proved it can win if Chris Lofton has an off-game as the Vols did against Virginia.

Butler: The early season run against major conference teams was no fluke. The Bulldogs latest victim was Maryland. These guys aren't easily intimidated, but they will have some problems if they aren't able to get to the free throw line more than six times — which is what they went in the win against Maryland.

Vanderbilt: It was not an accident that Derrick Byars won the SEC Player of the Year. Byars, a Virginia transfer, had been spectacular the entire season and has teamed with Shan Foster to form a potent 1-2 punch.

UNLV: Lon Kruger is one smart man. Not only has he proven he can win just about anywhere in college, but taking advantage of the transfer rule to bring his son Kevin aboard might have been one of the best decisions he's ever made. The younger Kruger has struggled in two tourney games, but he caught fire when the team needed it most in a win over Wisconsin.