2010 Post-Sweet 16 NEM update
Here are the update combined net efficiency margin (NEM) ratings for the teams that played in the Sweet 16. Results for all teams through the first two rounds can be found here.
Teams are ranked by combined NEM for all games played. Larger numbers are better for total and offensive NEM, and smaller numbers are better for defensive NEM. Shaded teams are still alive going into the Elite 8.
| Seed | Region | Team | Games | Total | Off | Def |
| 1 | E | Kentucky | 3 | 145.9 | 70.8 | -75.0 |
| 1 | S | Duke | 3 | 135.5 | 64.0 | -71.5 |
| 2 | E | West Virginia | 3 | 118.4 | 36.8 | -81.7 |
| 3 | S | Baylor | 3 | 112.2 | 50.4 | -61.8 |
| 1 | W | Syracuse | 3 | 105.5 | 59.8 | -45.7 |
| 12 | E | Cornell | 3 | 104.5 | 84.9 | -19.5 |
| 2 | W | Kansas St. | 3 | 104.4 | 73.1 | -31.3 |
| 5 | W | Butler | 3 | 102.0 | 39.0 | -63.0 |
| 6 | MW | Tennessee | 3 | 87.7 | 52.4 | -35.3 |
| 6 | W | Xavier | 3 | 86.9 | 45.8 | -41.1 |
| 2 | MW | Ohio St. | 3 | 77.0 | 46.5 | -30.5 |
| 5 | MW | Michigan St. | 3 | 73.7 | 45.2 | -28.5 |
| 11 | E | Washington | 3 | 72.5 | 32.8 | -39.7 |
| 4 | S | Purdue | 3 | 66.7 | 1.1 | -65.6 |
| 9 | MW | Northern Iowa | 3 | 60.8 | 48.3 | -12.4 |
| 10 | S | St. Mary's | 3 | 52.2 | 47.6 | -4.5 |
It's clear here how much stronger the right side (East and South) of the bracket is than the left (Midwest and West). The top four remaining teams in total tournament NEM performance (Kentucky, Duke, West Virginia and Baylor) are in the East and South and sport an average 42.7 NEM per game. The other four teams are in the Midwest and West are averaging 30.6 per game, or roughly 12 points per 100 possessions fewer. That means that what will undoubtedly be the second national semifinal next Saturday could end up being the de facto championship game.