2025 NCAA Tournament (March Madness)

[Chuck Everett]

Hey mods, think I can get a sticky over here?

Anyway, I went through the bracket and I'm not seeing a lot of chaos unfortunately, except for the middle of the bracket.

Elite Eight
1 Auburn vs. 2 Michigan State
1 Florida vs. 2 St. John's
1 Duke vs. 2 Alabama
1 Houston vs. 2 Tennessee

Final Four
2 Michigan State vs. 1 Florida
1 Duke vs. 1 Houston

National Championship
1 Florida vs. 1 Duke

Champion: 1 Duke Blue Devils

Potential bracket busters: UC-San Diego, Liberty, Drake and VCU.

[Mamba Mentality]

I haven’t watched a lick of college basketball this year. Who are some of the players worth monitoring in this tourney?

[jmnvcavs]

I just started researching each team. Fun fact about Drake is 3 of 4 of their scorers transferred from d2 northwest missouri state last year, and their top 4 scorers all transferred from d2 last year. Then proceeded to 30~3


Also I live in Reno currently and follow a bit a mountain west basketball. Colorado state and New Mexico are the two to keep an eye on.

[UcanUwill]

When do the games start? Today? I know nothing about NCAA, but I know Marčiulionis/Murauskas and Jakučionis made it, so I will support my local guys here. Not sure if they even favorites in first round, probably not...

Flagg is out for the rest of the season, or did the new info on his injury been released?

[Chuck Everett]

I haven’t watched a lick of college basketball this year. Who are some of the players worth monitoring in this tourney?

Tre Johnson is a lottery pick at guard, playing for Texas in the first four. That game will be Wednesday @9:10pm est on truTV.

On Thursday, the following teams have future pros to be on the lookout for. Not sure if this season or next, but I will list them anyway:

Creighton: Ryan Kalkbrenner, center
Purdue: Trey Kauffman-Renn, big forward
Wisconsin: John Tonje, wing
Houston: Milos Uzan, point guard, and Jojo Tugler, big forward (switchable)
Auburn: Johnni Broome, small ball 5
BYU: Egor Demin, big playmaking wing, lotto
Georgia: Asa Newell, 6'11 forward/small ball 5, lotto
Arkansas: Boogie Fland, point guard, Adiou Theiro (not sure he's playing, he's been injured), Zvonmir Ivisic, center
Michigan: Danny Wolf, playmaking big, and Vlad Goldin, center
Texas Tech: JT Toppin, hybrid forward

Friday:
Baylor: VJ Edgecombe, wing, lotto
Alabama: Grant Nelson, big forward, Jarin Stevenson, hybrid forward, Labaron Philon, guard
Duke: Cooper Flagg, #1 pick, Khamaran Malauch, center - lotto, Kon Knuppel, wing, Tyrese Proctor, point guard, Isaiah Evans, wing
Maryland: Derik Queen, big forward
Florida: Walter Clayton Jr, point guard, Alex Condon, big forward
Kentucky: Koby Brea, wing
Marquette: Kam Jones, guard
New Mexico: Donovan Dent, point guard
Arizona: Carter Bryant, small forward, Henri Veesaar, center
Oklahoma: Jeremy Fears, point guard, lotto
UConn: Liam McNeeley, small forward
Illinois: Tomislav Ivisic, center, Kasparas Jakucionius, point guard, Will Riley, big wing
Colorado State: Nique Clifford, wing

I'm sure someone will come in here and add other names, but that's who I could think of when looking at the first Four and the first round this week. I left out Ian Jackson from North Carolina as well. He plays Tuesday night against San Diego State. The Aztecs have a big in Magoon Gwath, who is an elite shot blocker and Myles Byrd who is a decent wing in a terrible shooting slump.

[Chuck Everett]

When do the games start? Today? I know nothing about NCAA, but I know Marčiulionis/Murauskas and Jakučionis made it, so I will support my local guys here. Not sure if they even favorites in first round, probably not...

Flagg is out for the rest of the season, or did the new info on his injury been released?

Tournament begins on Tuesday at 6:40pm eastern time (USA), so that is probably early Wednesday morning in Lieutva. The First Round starts on Thursday at noon ET.

Flagg is playing in the tournament.

[dhsilv2]

I expect either 4 SEC teams in the final four or 1 team (due to playing just SEC teams) and they lose before the finals. But if I were betting money, I think the SEC just cleans house.

[JujitsuFlip]

You can't go all chalk OP, at least pick one upset.

I have not followed college at all this year but I'll report back with my picks later today. Gotta do some research lol

[Chuck Everett]

You can't go all chalk OP, at least pick one upset.

I have not followed college at all this year but I'll report back with my picks later today. Gotta do some research lol

The committee made a bracket that favors the top teams quite a bit, IMO. Last year, I had UConn winning, but Florida and Auburn were my dark horses and they lost in round 1 (by a combined 4 points). The 15-16 seeds are really terrible this year and some of the matchups for lower seeds just aren't favorable.

1. I'm worried about Houston's lack of offensive production in the paint. Gonzaga could get them, but they are so mediocre this season.
2. I worry about Duke's relative youth, but they have experienced depth. Cakewalk 'til the elite eight.
3. I worry about Florida if Walter Clayton Jr gets in foul trouble. Their backup PG (foreign kid) is pretty bad from what I've seen. Team is huge though, with versatile bigs and a ton of offensive firepower.
4. I worry that Alabama refuses to play defense, but they could give Duke all they want.
5. I worry about St. John's ability to make perimeter shots, but they can D the f up.
6. Can Tennessee score with the pressure on? I don't believe in Rick Barnes come tourney time.
7. Auburn has a very old team, yet the maturity of a five year old. Pearl's a great coach, but I don't like they're mental approach. They could easily lose early, if they get down and start turning on one another. Happened in the SEC tournament.
8. I have no real opinion on Michigan State. I don't really like Big 10 basketball. However, Izzo knows how to win in the tournament, although his nemesis through the years has been North Carolina/Duke.

[azcatz11]

Random thoughts on my end:

- I think BYU is a great sleeper. Athletic team that can shoot 3's. Getting blown out to Houston doesn't bother me. I think they can give Duke a good game...

2. I have Alabama / Auburn losing relatively early. I don't believe in either team. Especially Alabama.

3. I like Michigan St in the final four...and I think they are a great 'darkhorse' to win it all @ +2250. They have 4 guards who can absolutely kill you and also big guys down low

[JujitsuFlip]

Hey mods, think I can get a sticky over here?

Anyway, I went through the bracket and I'm not seeing a lot of chaos unfortunately, except for the middle of the bracket.

Elite Eight
1 Auburn vs. 2 Michigan State
1 Florida vs. 2 St. John's
1 Duke vs. 2 Alabama
1 Houston vs. 2 Tennessee

Final Four
2 Michigan State vs. 1 Florida
1 Duke vs. 1 Houston

National Championship
1 Florida vs. 1 Duke

Champion: 1 Duke Blue Devils

Potential bracket busters: UC-San Diego, Liberty, Drake and VCU.

Elite Eight
1 Auburn vs. 3 Iowa State
1 Florida vs. 2 St. John's (3 Texas Tech, if healthy)
1 Duke vs. 2 Alabama
1 Houston vs. 3 UK

Final Four
1 Auburn vs. 1 Florida
2 Alabama vs. 1 Houston

National Championship
1 Florida vs. 1 Houston

Champion: Florida

I so badly wanted to take UConn over Florida in the round of 32 but if i pick that wrong, I'll lose out on too many points.

Idk the severity of Flagg's ankle injury, so it gives me some pause. Plus this Maliq Brown sounds like he is a good defender and is dealing with a dislocated shoulder.

I know my picks are not right but let the chips fall where they may.

[JustBuzzin]

I'm taking Duke vs the field.

[BigGargamel]

Anyone starting an ESPN Pick Em?

[azcatz11]

I'm taking Duke vs the field.

UNC plays tonight...curious how that game goes...UNC normally beats up on average teams but Xavier is really tough and Miller is a great tourney coach. I think it's a toss up

[JustBuzzin]

I'm taking Duke vs the field.

UNC plays tonight...curious how that game goes...UNC normally beats up on average teams but Xavier is really tough and Miller is a great tourney coach. I think it's a toss up

I think we win tonight. We got a lot of heat for making the tournament. I think they show up with pride tonight. After that I don't have high hopes for this team making a run. Hard to win without a big man presence.

[azcatz11]

I'm taking Duke vs the field.

UNC plays tonight...curious how that game goes...UNC normally beats up on average teams but Xavier is really tough and Miller is a great tourney coach. I think it's a toss up

I think we win tonight. We got a lot of heat for making the tournament. I think they show up with pride tonight. After that I don't have high hopes for this team making a run. Hard to win without a big man presence.

Idk bro. That's my least favorite narrative...I'm Sean Miller ride or die (no offense)

[Dan33185]

Well that was a fun start to March Madness

[JustBuzzin]

Nothing like March Madness!

Hell of a start.

[Clav]

We need another group for ESPN, because I need to defend my title against you all


And I don't even watch NCAA that much so I got lucky, admittedly!

[rockmanslim]

UNC is in the 1st 4? Wtf