NEW YORK – With the first and second rounds in the books, the NCAA Tournament rolls on this week with Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight matchups taking place across four regionals in the United States.

As for the East Regional, four programs – No. 3-seeded Kansas State, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 9 Florida Atlantic – will all compete at Madison Square Garden in New York City with hopes of making a run to the Final Four in Houston.

Before Kansas State and Michigan State tipoff on Thursday night in the first regional semifinal, let's take a closer look at the complete four-team East Regional field.

RECORD: 25-9

NET RANKING: No. 24

KENPOM RANKING: No. 21

BEST WIN: vs. No. 2 Kansas, 83-82, on Jan. 17

WORST LOSS: at Texas Tech, 71-63, on Feb. 11

Despite being picked to finish last in the Big 12 Conference, Kansas State has put together a remarkable season in Jerome Tang's first year.

Although the Wildcats dropped an 80-67 decision to TCU in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament, they bounced back by winning their first and second-round NCAA Tournament games against No. 14-seeded Montana State and No. 6 Kentucky. Now, Kansas State is set for an intriguing matchup vs. No. 7 Michigan State with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.

Kansas State is led by forward Keyontae Johnson, who averages 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and guard Markquis Nowell – who is registering 17.1 points and 7.8 assists each outing. In the Wildcats' victory over Kentucky, Nowell put up 27 points and nine assists.

RECORD: 25-10

NET RANKING: No. 4

KENPOM RANKING: No. 6

BEST WIN: vs. No. 1 Alabama, 68-59, on Feb. 15

WORST LOSS: vs. Colorado, 78-66, on Nov. 13

It's been an up-and-down season for Tennessee, but despite everything the Vols have been through, they've made it to the Sweet 16 and have a legitimate chance to extend their season into the Elite Eight if they can get by a talented Florida Atlantic team on Thursday.

After winning four straight games from Jan. 17 to 28, which included a marquee victory over No. 10 Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena, the Vols then dropped five of their next seven. Rick Barnes' club was then eliminated by Missouri in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

Credit to Tennessee – it has bounced back, and in a big way. Even playing without starting point guard Zakai Zeigler, the Vols have defeated No. 13-seeded Louisiana and No. 5 Duke to get to this point.

Santiago Vescovi is leading Tennessee with 12.7 points per game, while Olivier Nkamhoua is averaging 11.0 and Josiah-Jordan James is putting up 10.0.

RECORD: 21-12

NET RANKING: No. 33

KENPOM RANKING: No. 24

BEST WIN: vs. No. 2-seeded Marquette, 69-60, on March 19

WORST LOSS: at Notre Dame, 70-52, on Nov. 30

The 2022-23 season hasn't been Michigan State's strongest by any means, but never doubt Tom Izzo in March. It's as simple as that. One of the best coaches in college basketball history, Izzo – and his Spartans – know how to survive and advance during March Madness. That's exactly why they're playing in a Sweet 16 on Thursday.

Looking at the Spartans' campaign, they put together a seven-game winning streak from Dec. 7 to Jan. 10, but then dropped back-to-back contests to Illinois and Purdue. MSU responded with a victory over Rutgers, but then lost three of its next five. Despite all of that – and even being beaten by Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament – Izzo's squad has never given up.

Led by the trio of Tyson Walker (14.8 points per game), Joey Hauser (14.3) and A.J. Hoggard (12.5), Michigan State defeated No. 10-seeded USC in the first round and upset No. 2 Marquette in the second to advance to the New York Regional. The Spartans will be a tough outing for Kansas State – no doubt about it.

RECORD: 33-3

NET RANKING: No. 13

KENPOM RANKING: No. 22

BEST WIN: vs. No. 8-seeded Memphis, 66-65, on March 17

WORST LOSS: at Ole Miss, 80-67, on Nov. 11

Florida Atlantic has been the top mid-major team in the country all season long – and that's not up for debate. The Owls – led by coach Dusty May – went to Gainesville and picked up a road win over Florida and then rolled through Conference USA play to claim both the league's regular season and tournament championships. A well-deserved No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, FAU is now in the Sweet 16 for the first time ever. How about that?

FAU made it to New York City after beating No. 8-seeded Memphis and No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson, respectively, in the first and second rounds. Now, the Owls are set for a matchup with No. 4-seeded Tennessee with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. FAU has met Tennessee just one other time – an 81-62 loss in Knoxville back on Dec. 16, 2015.

May's starting five features no seniors, but a ton of talent. Johnell Davis – who put up 29 points and 12 rebounds against FDU – leads the way with 13.5 points per game, while Alijah Martin averages 13.1. Big man Vladislav Goldin – a 7-foot-1 sophomore – averages 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds each outing.

FAU won't be any easy outing for Tennessee – by any means.

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