Updated March Madness 2017 Bracket: Kentucky advances to Elite Eight

After the Kentucky Wildcats take down the UCLA Bruins, a look at the updated 2017 NCAA Tournament bracket

The Sweet 16 is delivering. After three contests that came down to the last shot on Thursday, we’ve had runs that lead to chalk – and the best possible Elite Eight matchups – on Friday. North Carolina is through to the Elite Eight, and South Carolina joins them behind its stifling of Baylor earlier in the night.

But the most anticipated matchup of the evening was Kentucky-UCLA. After they delivered a classic in December, with UCLA coming out on top 97-92, this potential Sweet 16 matchup was circled on every true college basketball fan’s calendar. The bracket delivered, and we got Round 2 of this blue-blooded showdown.

The second time round went much better for Kentucky. With guards De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk slicing through the wayward UCLA defense at will in the second half, Kentucky ran away from the Bruins and ended up winning comfortably, by a score of 86-75. De’Aaron Fox scored a career – and all-tournament – high of 39 points, with nearly all of them coming at the basket or the free throw line. UCLA’s defense couldn’t handle his speed at the point of attack, and he picked them apart.

Kentucky moves on to face down North Carolina, as they continue to get absolutely no breaks in their tournament run. The Tar Heels comfortably handled their business earlier in the night, with Joel Berry getting back on track to put away the Butler Bulldogs. Now, three quarters of the Elite Eight is set, with just the Florida-Wisconsin matchup pending before we’re fully locked in.

RELATED: Updated 2017 NCAA Tournament Bracket

Following Kentucky’s revenge tour, here’s a look at the updated 2017 NCAA Tournament bracket:

The Elite Eight is shaping up to be a great – and possibly SEC-laden – one. The best part of March Madness is here, and we’ll be keeping you updated through here on FanSided. Stay tuned.