My bracket for 2025:
South
First Round
1 Auburn vs 16 Alabama State/St Francis PA
Winner: 1 Auburn
8 Louisville vs 9 Creighton
Winner: 9 Creighton
5 Michigan vs 12 UC San Diego
Winner: 5 Michigan
4 Texas A&M vs 13 Yale
Winner: 4 Texas A&M
3 Iowa State vs 14 Lipscomb
Winner: 3 Iowa State
7 Marquette vs 10 New Mexico
Winner: 10 New Mexico
2 Michigan State vs 15 Bryant
Winner: 2 Michigan State
Round of 32
1 Auburn vs 9 Creighton
This game intrigues me for one reason. Ryan Kalkbrenner. Auburn struggles with rebounding and rim defense, and Kalkbrenner will certainly push the Tigers, but overall I think Auburn is too good to let one player beat them.
Winner: 1 Auburn
4 Texas A&M vs 5 Michigan
Both of these teams are really good. I feel like Michigan playing a little better right now though after winning the Big Ten Tournament. I could go either way, but I’ll side with the Wolverines.
Winner: 5 Michigan
3 Iowa State vs 6 Ole Miss
Iowa State has been dealing with injuries for a while, and Ole Miss has been a little underrated all year in my opinion as they have had some impressive wins, and have an underrated HC. I’ll take Ole Miss.
Winner: 6 Ole Miss
2 Michigan State vs 10 New Mexico
This will probably be the most lopsided R32 matchup in the South. New Mexico is good for a mid-major, but they don’t stand a chance against Izzo and the Spartans.
Winner: 2 Michigan State
Sweet 16
1 Auburn vs 5 Michigan
This is where stuff gets tough. On one hand, I think Auburn is the better team, but on the other, I know that not every 1 seed can make the Elite 8. I think Michigan is the best 5 seed, so this seems like the perfect oppurtunity to pick against the 1 seed, especially when Auburn has played poorly as of late.
Winner: 5 Michigan
2 Michigan State vs 6 Ole Miss
Ole Miss has beaten teams of MSU’s calliber again, and I think they’ll be able to do it again with their balanced overall squad. Their stremgth of schedule will pay dividends here.
Winner: 6 Ole Miss
Elite 8
5 Michigan vs 6 Ole Miss
Both of these teams are very good all around, but I’m leaning Michigan here. I think they are a little better, and, just looking at historical data, you just never see more than 2 teams from one conference make the Final 4, and there are better teams than Ole Miss that I would just rather include.
Winner: 5 Michigan
East
1st Round
1 Duke vs 16 American/Mount Saint Mary’s
Winner: 1 Duke
8 Mississippi State vs 9 Baylor
Winner: 8 Mississippi State
5 Oregon vs 12 Liberty
Winner: 5 Oregon
4 Arizona vs 13 Akron
Winner: 4 Arizona
6 BYU vs 11 VCU
Winner: 6 BYU
3 Wisonsin vs 14 Montana
Winner: 3 Wisconsin
7 St Mary’s vs 10 Vanderbilt
Winner: 10 Vanderbilt
2 Alabama vs 15 Robert Morris
Winner: 2 Alabama
Round of 32
1 Duke vs 8 Mississippi State
MSST is obviously capable of beating top tier teams, but that has been a rare as Duke has destroyed teams routinely of MSST’s caliber.
Winner: 1 Duke
4 Arizona vs 5 Oregon
Both of these teams have been challenged and have potential for deep tourney runs. I think Arizona will get the win here though because of their star power.
Winner: 4 Arizona
3 Wisconsin vs 6 BYU
Wisconsin is severely overrated. I honesty think both of these teams could have worked as 5 seeds. BYU’s offense has the potential to just beat teams single handedly with their plethora of shooters, and this is where their previous tourney woes come to an end.
Winner: 6 BYU
2 Alabama vs 10 Vanderbilt
Alabama destroyed Vandy in the regular season, and I expect them to do it again with Grant Nelson’s return hopefully.
Winner: 2 Alabama
Sweet 16
1 Duke vs 4 Arizona
I’m getting the feeling that Duke’s run is gonna end early this year. Arizona will be the best team they have faced in months, and Copper Flagg probably won’t be 100%. Remember, last time Duke had a player like Flagg (Zion Williamson) they also exited in the Sweet 16. Arizona’s stars will play well enough for them to get the upset.
Winner: 4 Arizona
2 Alabama vs 6 BYU
These two teams both play at a fast pace and score A LOT of points. Alabama always seems to have the most trouble when they play a team that can keep pace with them. Even with that being said, I’m rolling with the tide on this one because the Bama big men will find another gear this March much like how they beat Auburn to end the regular season.
Elite 8
2 Alabama vs 4 Arizona
Arizona’s inconsistency will catch up to them. Alabama’s scoring will be too much to keep up with, and Bama will make the Final 4 for the second season in a row.
Midwest
Round 1
1 Houston vs 16 SIU Edwardsville
Winner: 1 Houston
8 Gonzaga vs 9 Georgia
Winner: 8 Gonzaga
5 Clemson vs 12 McNeese
Winner: 5 Clemson
4 Purdue vs 13 High Point
Winner: 13 High Point
6 Illinois vs 11 Texas/Xavier
Winner: 11 Texas/Xavier
3 Kentucky vs 14 Troy
Winner: 3 Kentucky
7 UCLA vs 10 Utah State
Winner: 7 UCLA
2 Tennessee vs 15 Wofford
WInner: 2 Tennessee
Round of 32
1 Houston vs 8 Gonzaga
The Zags are a really good tourney team, but Houston is a nother animal, and they will be too much.
Winner: 1 Houston
5 Clemson vs 13 High Point
High Point’s luck will run out, and Clemson will advance to the second weekend once again.
Winner: 5 Clemson
3 Kentucky vs 11 Texas/Xavier
Whether it is Texas or Xavier, they should be able to put up a good fight, but Kentucky’s offense will be too much.
Winner: 3 Kentucky
2 Tennessee vs 7 UCLA
Tennessee is no doubt a better team, but this is where the analytics come in. More often than not, only 2 or 3 2 seeds make it to the Sweet 16. UCLA just so happens to be my favorite 7 seed. I’ll take the Bruins to get the upset purely looking at the analytics.
Winner: 7 UCLA
Sweet 16
1 Houston vs 5 Clemson
I think Clemson was a little over seeded, and Houston is definitely a top 3 team in the tournament. I’ll take the Cougars easy.
Winner: 1 Houston
3 Kentucky vs 7 UCLA
UCLA is a really good team, and obviously they will have shown that by beating Tennessee, but I don’t think they’ll have it in them to get two upsets again.
Winner: 3 Kentucky
Elite 8
1 Houston vs 3 Kentucky
Houston is an amazing team this year. They have always had a good defense, but this year their offense has picked up some slack, and they may just have what it takes to win it all. I’m goin with the Cougs.
Winner: 1 Houston
West
Round 1
1 Florida vs 16 Norfolk State
Winner: 1 Florida
8 UConn vs 9 Oklahoma
Winner: 8 UConn
5 Memphis vs 12 Colorado State
Winner: 12 Colorado State
4 Maryland vs 13 Grand Canyon
Winner: 13 Grand Canyon
6 Missouri vs 11 Drake
Winner: 11 Drake
3 Texas Tech vs 14 NC Willington
Winner: 3 Texas Tech
7 Kansas vs 10 Arkansas
Winner: 10 Arkansas
2 St John’s vs 15 Omaha
Winner: 2 St John’s
Round of 32
1 Florida vs 8 UConn
UConn is a dangerus 8 seed. They have a lot of talent, a good coach, and a history of winning. Maybe I would have picked them to advance if they wer going against a different 1 seed. Florida is the best team in basketball this year, and they are too good across the board to lose to an 8 seed.
Winner: 1 Florida
12 Colorado State vs 13 Grand Canyon
This is a battle of probbaly the best 12 seed versus the best 13 seed, but historically 12 seeds have done ver well in these matchups. I’ll go with the Rams.
Winner: 12 Colorado State
3 Texas Tech vs 11 Drake
I thought TTU was under seeded this year. Drake had a good run, but it ends here.
Winner: 3 Texas Tech
2 St John’s vs 10 Arkansas
This will be a battle of two of the best coaches of all time. but St John’s has so much more consistency, and plays much better defense than the battle-tested Hogs.
Winner: 2 St John’s
Sweet 16
1 Florida vs 12 Colorado State
I don’t know the statistics behind it, but I doubt 12 seeds do very well in a spot like this. Give me the Gators.
Winner: 1 Florida
2 St John’s vs 3 Texas Tech
If it were up to me, the seeding of these two teams would be swapped. Both of them have championship potential, but TTU plays much better offense, and has been tested by a harder schedule.
Winner: 3 Texas Tech
Elite 8
1 Florida vs 3 Texas Tech
This is the best 1 seed versus the best 3 seed. Two great offenses in the two best conferences. I have to give this one to Florid a though. They have proven they can consistently beat the best, and they have an All-American level player in Walter Clayton Jr
Winnner: 1 Florida
Final 4
1 Florida vs 5 Michigan
As I said before, Florida is the best team. Michigan is a really good 5 seed, but they don’t have the same depth or high end talent that Florida has. I’m taking Florida.
Winner: 1 Florida
1 Houston vs 2 Alabama
Houston is probably a more complete team… but Alabama has owned Houston for the last few years now, including earlier this season. Something about Alabama’s style just really gives Houston problems. Roll Tide.
Winner: 2 Alabama
Championship
1 Florida vs 2 Alabama
After seeing these two teams play twice prior, I can’t help but pick Florida to win again. This time I’d imagine Alabam would put up a better fight, but Florida knows the formula to beat Alabama. They get back on defense to prevent transition buckets, and they take their time to find the open shot. Unfortunately, Bama will come up short again.
Winner: 1 Florida
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