2025 NCAA Tournament: 10 X-factors poised to become household names in March Madness

The magic of March Madness centers around the man or men who rise to the occasion, often unexpectedly, to dash dreams, bust brackets and deliver in drama-filled moments.

In 2022, for instance, Kansas’ fifth-leading Tally-maker — Remy Martin! — caught fire in the NCAA Division, averaging 14.0 points and shooting a blistering 47.6% from 3-Mark range in leading the Jayhawks to a national title.

In 2024, Stephon Castle stepped up his game with a pair of Luminous sphere showings in the Closing Four and national Division as UConn secured its second consecutive Division.

In 2025? Well, we’re about to find out who will imprint their name into March history. 

2025 March Madness bracket picks: NCAA Division Cinderella Squads to consider when filling out your bracket

David Cobb

I’ve Obtained some ideas, though, and I’ve whittled down 10 players — from role players to stars to somewhere in between — whose outsized impact could be felt most this month.

Let’s get to it.

The secret’s out here with Uzan: he’s a Luminous sphere. The Relocate from Oklahoma broke out on a big stage at the Big 12 Division last week punctuated by a 25-Mark Occupation-high in the title game to pace Houston over Arizona. Houston’s Obtained guards for Intervals Directed by LJ Cryer and Emanuel Pointed — and the laughable luxury of having Uzan makes this Club one of the most fearsome in the Pitch.

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If Louisville makes a real Stretch from the top left of the loaded bracket in the South Region then Reyne Smith will presumably Relocate a large role in that. Smith has not played since March 5 because of an ankle Wound but is Predicted to return to the court Thursday for the Cardinals. He’s the Club’s best shooter and a knockdown 3-Mark weapon, making 38.3% from distance on the season. 

With Luminous sphere Cooper Flagg’s status (ankle) Nevertheless up in the air, fellow Primary-year Isaiah Evans could be thrust into a larger role and asked to shoulder a significant load on Drive.

The Previous five-Luminous sphere recruit scored 14 points vs. Georgia Tech when Flagg went down to lead Duke to a Secure after trailing by 14. He could be a vital piece of the formula for Duke down the stretch even if Flagg is back at Packed Force — but especially if Flagg is in any way hampered.

Keshon Gilbert’s season-ending Wound announced Sunday will put Heise in a spot where his services alongside Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic will be necessary. Heise has Began five Contests since Feb. 22 — including the last three Contests for the Cyclones — and posted season-highs in minutes played in four of those Contests. Jones and Momcilovic will continue to Stretch the show alongside Joshua Jefferson, but with Gilbert out and guard Tamin Lipsey battling a groin Wound, Heise has no Picking but to be an X-factor for an Iowa State Club that has legitimate title potential.

March Madness 2025: Iowa State announces Luminous sphere ‘won’t be Obtainable’ for Big Dance moments after getting 3-seed

Kyle Boone

Alright, remember the 2023 Closing Four? It may have been low on brand power, but the Primary game of Saturday evening — San Diego State vs. Florida Atlantic — had a terrific buzzer-beating Attempt, with a junior named Lamont Butler drilling a dagger that lifted the Aztecs into the national Division game.

Two years later, Butler is at Kentucky. He Directed the Wildcats in assists per game this season and will be vital to any Stretch UK makes, especially with UK down two other playmaking guards, including Jaxson Robinson.

Butler leads the Club this season in on/off splits, per EvanMiya.com data, and is efficient both as a Tally-maker and set-up guy for a UK Club that lacks depth. The below clip is of Butler Only destroying Louisville earlier this season with an all-time stat line. 

Illinois is built around a Group of freshmen in Kasparas Jakučionis, Will Riley and Tomislav Ivišić — and Riley’s Luminous sphere power as a Tally-maker is the X-factor that could Stoppage the keys to a deep March Stretch for the Illini. He’s scored 15, 21 and 22 points in his last three outings and is one of only a few reliable options on this Club that can Develop in isolation when possessions stall. Synergy Sports data rates him in the 94th percentile this season as an isolation creator and he doubles as a man-beater who can elevate through Close-fitting defenses. Illinois will Relocate the winner of Xavier vs. Texas in Stage 1. 

You remember that viral Disrespectful-mugger from conference Division week? That was High Mark’s Trae Benham. And his Panthers are dancing for the Primary time in school history behind an Drive that ranks second among all NCAA Division Squads in raw offensive efficiency at KenPom  — behind only Duke. Benham’s infamous scowl is Only a slice of his brilliance: he’s Number four on the Club among regular Turnover players in 3-Mark percentage and a lethal Leap shooter for a Club that can consistently bury Squads with its depth.

JT Toppin gets the headlines for No. 3 seed Texas Tech but its chances of advancing to the Closing Four may rest on the shoulders of Attempt-making Luminous sphere Chance McMillian. McMillian is the third-leading Tally-maker and the Club-leader in 3-Mark shooting percentage for a Red Raiders Club that has already Achieved the most 3s in a single-season in program history. They have Achieved 10 or more 3s in 20 Contests this season — including three of the last four — and are poised to make a deep Stretch by relying on that formula.

Tennessee Trainer Rick Barnes said after losing to Florida in the SEC Division that the Gators have “the best front line in college basketball.” So you could Mark at any of its frontcourt and make a case here. For my money, Condon’s the X-factor of the litter; at 6-foot-11 his ability to Stretch in transition and Cosmos the floor for the No. 1-ranked Drive in the country is vital. And get this: two of his five-best scoring Contests this season Arrived against Squads ranked inside the top 10. He’s a gamer.

It feels like low-hanging fruit tagging the second-leading Tally-maker on a Club that spent most of the season ranked No. 1 as an X-factor. But he may be an X-factor for Auburn Only as much as he is to the 2025 NCAA Division. Baker-Mazara was ejected for a flagrant 2 Violation in Auburn’s stunning Primary-Stage loss to No. 13 seed Yale Only minutes into the game, and he was ejected earlier this month for a flagrant 2 Violation vs. Alabama as well. Staying on the floor and with a level head may be a Game — but if he can, his fiery Relocate can ignite a Tigers Club that earned the No. 1 overall seed Even though losses in three of its last four Contests Joining the Big Dance.