The 2023 Boys' Sweet 16 Tournament bracket is set

In just 10 days, a new state champion will be crowned on the Rupp Arena floor.

Following Tuesday night’s regional tournament action, which saw 10 more teams across the Commonwealth lock up a spot in the bracket, the 2023 UK Healthcare Boy’s Sweet 16 Tournament bracket has officially been set. The 16-team field features six programs among KSR’s Top 25 statewide rankings, including the top-ranked Warren Central Dragons and the defending champion George Rogers Clark Cardinals. Those two met in the title game a season ago (GRC won 61-58) and could theoretically meet again if things fall their way.

The bracket is loaded with top-end talent too, highlighted by Kentucky class of 2023 signee Reed Sheppard, who will suit up for the No. 12 North Laurel Jaguars. Class of 2024 four-star shooting guard Travis Perry, who is just 21 points away from breaking the Kentucky high school all-time scoring record, will look to lead the No. 5 Lyon County Lyons to glory while four-star sophomore Jasper Johnson and unranked Woodford County hope to keep making noise as an underdog.

Below is the first-round schedule for the Sweet 16. You can purchase tickets through the link here.

Wednesday, March 15

11:00 AM | Jeffersontown (17-12) vs. Woodford County (20-12)
1:30 PM | Elizabethtown (23-9) vs. McCracken County (29-5)
6:00 PM | No. 1 Warren Central (32-1) vs. Pulaski County (27-6)
8:30 PM | Owensboro (19-10) vs. Ashland Blazer (22-11)

Thursday, March 16

11:00 AM | No. 14 Male (25-10) vs. Breathitt County (18-9)
1:30 PM | No. 5 Lyon County (30-5) vs. Newport (28-6)
6:00 PM | No. 4 Frederick Douglass (31-2) vs. Martin County (24-10)
8:30 PM | No. 6 George Rogers Clark (27-5) vs. No. 12 North Laurel (25-10)

Looking at the top half of the bracket, No. 1 Warren Central will have a good path to return to the championship game. The Dragons face 12th Region champs, Pulaski County, which finished the season 27-6. Warren Central has lost just once this season, a shocking 60-43 upset by Madison Central, which came all the way back in late Dec. The Dragons will take a 23-game win streak into Rupp.

Owensboro and Ashland will go head-to-head after winning their respective regional tournaments by 22 points each. Johnson and Woodford County will take on 6th Region champs Jeffersontown, which enters with the worst overall record among the Sweet 16 field at 17-12, to kick off the entire tournament. Elizabethtown (5th Region) and McCracken County (1st Region) round out the top half of the field.

Of the six ranked teams to make the Sweet 16, five of them will start in the bottom half of the bracket. No. 6 George Rogers Clark taking on No. 12 North Laurel in the opening round will be the must-watch matchup of the first two days. Sheppard and North Laurel made it to the Sweet 16 a season ago but fell to Pikeville in the first round. Taking on the defending champions this time around isn’t an ideal scenario, but the Jaguars would have to win one of these games at some point throughout the tournament — might as well get it out of the way early. GRC certainly isn’t going to be an easy out, though, and will likely be the favorite heading into the matchup.

North Laurel and GRC — the only matchup between ranked teams in the opening round — will close out first-round action with an 8:30 p.m. tipoff on Thursday, March 16.

Elsewhere, Perry and No. 5 Lyon County will take on the 9th Region champs, Newport, which sports a 28-6 overall record and will ride a 12-game winning streak into the state tournament. The winner of that matchup will take on the winner of GRC-North Laurel, setting up a potential second-round showdown between Sheppard and Perry that would surely fill Rupp Arena to the brim.

Also in the bottom half of the bracket, No. 14 Male will play unranked Breathitt County, which won the 14th Region on Monday after taking down Perry County Central 62-46. Male had to use two overtime periods to get past Trinity in the 7th Region finals on Tuesday night.

No. 4 Frederick Douglass had a tough path in the 11th Region, having to beat Madison Central and No. 2 Lexington Catholic just to reach the Sweet 16. The Broncos will take on the unranked 15th Region winners, Martin County, which entered the postseason on an eight-game losing skid but has since won five straight in the 57th District and the 15th Region to make it to Rupp Arena. It’s been 40 years since Martin County has played in the Sweet 16.

It all starts next week in Lexington, KY.