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2025 Men’s NCAA Tournament Bracket: Full Breakdown & Key Matchups
Mar
The field is set for the 2025 Men’s NCAA Tournament, and the bracket is out. All over the country, fans are preparing for March Madness, when 68 teams will vie for a national championship. It’s that time of year again — college basketball’s best and brightest await the reveal of their tournament fate.
Key Dates and Schedule
The path from Selection Sunday to the Final Four concludes in the national championship game in San Antonio, Texas. Here’s a guide to the schedule:
- Selection Sunday: March 16, 2025
- First Four: March 18-19 (Dayton, Ohio)
- First Round: March 20-21
- Second Round: March 22-23
- Sweet 16: March 27-28
- Elite Eight: March 29-30
- Final Four: April 5 (Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas)
- National Championship: April 7 (Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas)
Top Seeds in Each Region
As expected, the No. 1 seeds feature some of the top programs in college basketball:
- East Region: Duke
- West Region: Auburn
- Midwest Region: Houston
- South Region: Florida
All three of these teams were dominant in their respective conferences and will be favorites to spur deep in the tournament. But March Madness is mercurial, and low-seeded teams have a track record of scoring jaw-dropping upsets.
Must-Watch First-Round Matchups
The first round is always full of exciting games, and this year is no exception. Here are some must-see matchups:
(5) Memphis vs (12) Colorado State — 5 vs. 12 matchups are prone to upsets, and while Colorado State is a very tough team and a strong defensive team.
The balanced mesh of the two teams should provide for a highly competitive matchup, each with respective history of runs deep into the tournament.
(8) Arizona vs. (9) Michigan State – A couple of primetime programs that could go either way.
Cinderella Teams to Watch
But each year there are programs that surprise fans with deep runs in the tournament. Here are some possible Cinderella teams for 2025:
- (13) Vermont – With an elite three-point shooting lineup, Vermont could upset a higher-seeded team.
- (11) North Carolina – Despite a lower seed, UNC has the talent to compete with top programs.
- (12) UAB – Known for fast-paced play, UAB has the potential to shake up the bracket.
Who Will Win the 2025 NCAA Championship?
Every team plays the same game, and while the best such as Duke, Houston, and Auburn will surely prevail you never know what could happen come March Madness. Fans need to watch out for low seed teams that could shock everyone and make it to the Final Four.
With games beginning shortly, basketball fans are in for a few thrilling weeks of college hoops. So buckle up, folks, and get ready for the upsets, buzzer-beaters and unforgettable moments of the 2025 NCAA Tournament!
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