This is March.
Between now and Selection Sunday, each day I’ll give a “BRACKET BREAKDOWN” with my 68 projected teams for the 2025 NCAA Tournament along with my Top 16 seeds as well as emerging trends.
The team who is currently in first place in their respective conference will be listed as that league’s “automatic qualifier” while the team that’s clinched an automatic qualifier will have a * next to its name.
The Current Field
Atlantic Sun (1)
Lipscomb (AQ) *clinched AQ
America East (1)
Bryant (AQ)
American Athletic Conference (1)
Memphis (AQ)
Atlantic 10 (1)
VCU (AQ)
ACC (3)
Duke (AQ), Clemson, Louisville
Big 12 (8)
Houston (AQ), Kansas, Iowa State, Arizona, Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech, BYU
Big East (5)
St. John’s (AQ), Marquette, UConn, Creighton, Xavier
Big Sky (1)
Northern Colorado (AQ)
Big South (1)
High Point (AQ) *clinched AQ
Big Ten (9)
Michigan State (AQ), UCLA, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland, Oregon, Indiana
Big West (1)
UC San Diego (AQ)
CAA (1)
UNCW (AQ) *clinched AQ
Conference-USA (1)
Liberty (AQ)
Horizon League (1)
Robert Morris (AQ) *clinched AQ
Ivy League (1)
Yale (AQ)
MAAC (1)
Quinnipiac (AQ)
MAC (1)
Akron (AQ)
MEAC (1)
Norfolk State (AQ)
Missouri Valley (1)
Drake (AQ) *clinched AQ
Mountain West (3)
New Mexico (AQ), Utah State, San Diego State
NEC (1)
St. Francis PA (AQ) *clinched AQ
OVC (1)
SIU Edwardsville (AQ) *clinched AQ
Patriot League (1)
American (AQ) *clinched AQ
SEC (14)
Auburn (AQ), Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas
Southern (1)
Wofford (AQ) *clinched AQ
Southland (1)
McNeese (AQ)
SWAC (1)
Southern (AQ)
Summit (1)
Omaha (AQ) *clinched AQ
Sun Belt (1)
Troy (AQ) *clinched AQ
WCC (2)
Gonzaga (AQ) *clinched AQ, Saint Mary’s
WAC (1)
Utah Valley (AQ)
Last Four In
Indiana, Xavier, Texas, San Diego State
First Four Out
Boise State, North Carolina, Colorado State, Ohio State
Top 16 Seeds
1: Auburn, Duke, Houston, Florida
2: Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan State, Texas Tech
3: Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Iowa State, St. John’s
4: Purdue, Kentucky, Oregon, Maryland
Five Things To Know
- Is North Carolina’s game today against Duke a WIN and IN type scenario for the Tar Heels? It’s pretty close, but it’s far from a sure thing. Remember: Hubert Davis’ team still only owns one Quad 1 victory this season.
- Texas Tech replaced Texas A&M as the fourth number two seed in the bracket projection above after the Aggies lost to Texas on Thursday in the SEC Tournament.
- Xavier’s losses in December against UConn and Marquette came without Zach Freemantle (17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds) in the lineup. That should be a big point of emphasis when the Musketeers are evaluated for the NCAA Tournament.
- Kansas’ 12 losses this season are the most that it’s ever had under Bill Self.
- Six teams that won regular season titles have already been eliminated from their respective conference tournaments.
