March Madness: Breaking down the NCAA Tournament bracket
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 01: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts following a blocked shot during the second half of the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton
Three weeks, 68 teams, boundless drama. It is that time again of year again.
To help you get ready for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, here are some early thoughts on the bracket as you contemplate the madness to come.
The 1 seeds
Auburn
Auburn (28-5) lost three of its last four games entering the NCAAs, all to ranked teams, but by then had established such an impressive body of work in the tough SEC that it was chosen as the No. 1 overall seed.
The Tigers are led by Johni Broome, a 6-10 senior forward, one of five players who average double-digit points. Four of the five are seniors, so Auburn does not lack for experience. That goes, too, for coach Bruce Pearl.
Chad Baker-Mazara averages 12.6 points, second on the team to Broome’s 18.9. Baker-Mazara is a 25-year-old forward at his fourth college.
Duke
There is no bigger story entering the NCAAs than the health of Duke star Cooper Flagg. With the versatile 6-9 freshman, the Blue Devils could be the team to beat. But if the ankle injury he suffered in an ACC Tournament quarterfinal leaves him limited, Duke could be compromised.
Then again, the Blue Devils (31-3) won the ACC Tournament without Flagg for the semifinals and final, so they are far from a one-man team.
Guards Kon Knueppel (14.4-point average) and Tyrese Proctor (12.0) picked up the scoring slack in the ACC tourney and might have to again in the NCAAs.
Houston
Houston (30-4) has lost only one game since November, good enough to earn a third consecutive No. 1 seed.
Two years ago, with the Final Four scheduled for Houston, the Cougars lost a regional semifinal to Miami. They lost in the Sweet 16 again in 2024, when Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead went out early in a loss to Duke.
Coach Kelvin Sampson has another tough, balanced, defensive-minded, offensive-rebounding-centric team this season, paced by four players who score in double figures, including L.J. Cryer (15.2), Emanuel Sharp (12.6) and Milos Uzan (11.6).
Florida
As champions of the nation’s toughest conference, Florida (30-4) deserved its spot as the SEC’s second No. 1 seed. The Gators won 12 of their last 13 games and go into the NCAAs on a roll.
Florida has four scorers who average double figures, topped by one of the best guards in the nation in senior Walter Clayton Jr., who averages 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
The Gators, who last were a No. 1 seed in 2014, were 5-2 against Top 10 foes. If the bracket holds form, they will meet St. John’s in the West Regional final.
The sleepers
St. John’s
OK, so maybe a No. 2 seed is stretching the definition of “sleeper.” But no matter how loud a statement St. John’s made in the Big East Tournament, much of the nation still is not sure about the Red Storm. Why? Because of suspect three-point and free-throw shooting. St. John’s answer to that was 14 consecutive made field-goal attempts in the Big East final.
Vanderbilt
It was a mild surprise that Vanderbilt secured a No. 10 seed when many expected the Commodores to land in the First Four. But they got caught in the wave of SEC fever and here they are, with a path to the Sweet 16 that would feature a potential second-round matchup against fellow SEC team Alabama. Hey, why not? Vandy already has beaten Tennessee and Kentucky this season.
UC San Diego
It always is dangerous to buy into pre-tournament underdog darlings, because usually the actual tournament underdog darling comes out of nowhere. But we are ready to fall for No. 12 seed UC-San Diego anyway, a team with a 15-game winning streak and plenty of weapons. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, a 6-6 senior guard, averages 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
First-round upset watch
No. 11 Drake over No. 6 Missouri
In the NCAA Tournament, as in life, slow and steady often wins the race. So look out for Drake, which leads Division I in allowing 58.4 points per game. It has not allowed any opponent more than 61 points in its past eight games. Missouri, meanwhile, scores an average of 84.5. Something has to give!
No. 13 Yale over No. 4 Texas A&M
Facing tough Ivy League teams always is a no-win situation for power conference opponents, for whom losing to an Ivy is a bad look. You can be sure Texas A&M was not thrilled to see that name pop up as its first-round opponent. Yale, a tough, versatile team, dominated the Ivies all season. Senior guard Bez Mbeng was one of three Yalies named first-team Ivy League.
No. 13 High Point over No. 4 Purdue
High Point erased a 15-point deficit to win the Big South final over Winthrop for its 14th consecutive victory and first NCAA Tournament berth. This is a big step up in competition from Winthrop, of course. But the Panthers have weapons, and they have the advantage of being happy to be there with nothing to lose.
Storylines
Big Bubble
This year’s conference tournaments produced fewer bid-stealers than usual, and far fewer than last year. The final two candidates for that spoiler role, George Mason and Alabama-Birmingham, lost on Sunday. Had UAB beaten Memphis in the AAC final, North Carolina would have been out of the field. (Many think Carolina should have been out regardless.)
SEC rules
The SEC’s 14 NCAA bids soared past the previous record of 11 for one conference that the Big East set in 2011. The sheer numbers presented huge logistical issues for the selection committee, which had to move teams around to cut down on early round, intraconference matchups. But there was only so much it could do.
UConn goes for a three-peat
Yes, Connecticut is a modest No. 8 seed and could easily be bounced in the first round by Oklahoma, with Florida looming in the second round. But until someone takes away the Huskies’ crown, they still are the two-time defending champions and have a chance to become the first team since UCLA from 1967-73 to win three or more titles in a row.
Classic coaching battle?
If St. John’s survives its first-round matchup against Omaha, we will be treated to a battle of coaching heavyweights in the second round. It could be Kansas’ Bill Self against Rick Pitino, but what America really wants is a showdown between old rivals Pitino and Arkansas’ John Calipari. Coincidentally, both currently are starring in behind-the-scenes documentary series on Vice TV.
Players to watch
Johni Broome, Auburn
The 6-10 senior leads Auburn in points (18.9 per game), rebounds (10.6), steals (3.1) and blocks (2.3). He and Duke’s Cooper Flagg have been part of season-long debate about national Player of the Year. The Naismith Award will be announced the day before the national championship game. With Auburn and Duke on opposite sides of the bracket, Broome and Flagg could meet on the court the next night.
Cooper Flagg, Duke
The 6-9 freshman and presumed No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft leads the Blue Devils in points (18.9 per game), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.1), steals (1.5) and blocks (1.3). That’s five different categories, if you’re scoring at home. The big question now is the status of his injured ankle. Duke says he will be good to go.
Braden Smith, Purdue
The Big Ten Player of the Year is a 6-foot guard who averages 16.1 points, 8.7 assists — second in the nation — and 4.6 rebounds. Purdue faces a potentially tough first-round team in upstart High Point. Having a do-it-all guard helps to avoid such tournament potholes.
Kam Jones, Marquette
Jones flashed what he can do early in a Big East semifinal against St. John’s, scoring 10 of the Golden Eagles’ points in a row before the Red Storm shut him down. He averages 19.3 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds and could give New Mexico fits. At least New Mexico coach Richard Pitino can use his St. John’s sources to get a good scouting report.
Final Four picks
St. John’s over Auburn
Duke over Tennessee
National championship game:
Duke over St. John’s
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
