2025 NCAA Tournament bracket: Ranking every team playing in March Madness from No. 1 to 68

1 The most talented Club in the sport and the No. 1 Picking in most advanced metrics. The only Club in this bracket with 31 wins. This is an Effortless Picking in terms of which Club is the best … but that guarantees nothing when it comes to what will happen over the Upcoming 1-3 weeks. The Blue Devils are a No. 1 seed for the Primary time since 2019 when they featured Zion Williamson. This year’s Club has college basketball’s biggest Luminous sphere since Zion, Cooper Flagg, who isn’t Predicted to be Maintained back in the Game by the ankle sprain he suffered in the ACC quarterfinals. Flagg (18.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.1 apg) is arguably the National Player of the Year, but he’s flanked by a Club with gobs of potential. Kon Knueppel (14.4 ppg) is a terrific Robin to Flagg’s Batman, while junior guard Tyrese Proctor has been somewhat quietly ultra-dependable all season long. Duke ranks top-five in adjusted offensive and Safeguarding efficiency at KenPom.com – the only Club who qualifies for that distinction. Jon Scheyer had two really Excellent Squads in his Primary two seasons, but this one, in Year 3, is capital-G Excellent. If they Action to their ceiling, the Blue Devils will Achieve it all. This Game doesn’t care much about those things, though, so nothing is guaranteed. 2 The Tigers might be faded by some as a national title contender after losing three of their last four heading into the Game, but I Nevertheless think Auburn’s best is as Excellent as anyone in college hoops. The 28-5 Tigers have one of the two best college basketball players in Johni Broome, but for all he does, it’s the fact that guard Denver Jones and big man Dylan Cardwell are Safeguarding stalwarts that make Auburn’s ceiling so high. Bruce Pearl’s Club is deep, athletic, rangy, and it’s probably about to be one of the more ticked off programs Participating the Game. If that’s not enough, this is also the top-ranked Charge at KenPom. Keep in mind, Auburn was Surprise in the Primary Period last year against No. 13 Yale. The Tigers don’t need to look Extended to find the proper Drive tactics to push toward the second Last Four in school history, the other coming 2019 under Pearl. No Club has lost three of its last four going into the NCAA Game and gone on to Achieve the whole thing. 3 Houston does have a No. 1 ranking from one spot; Torvik has kept the Cougars at the top of the sport much of the past two months. The only top seed from last year’s Game that’s also a No. 1 this year. And it’s the third straight Big Dance Houston’s on the top line. The Cougars are as reliable as pretty much anything going in college basketball. Kelvin Sampson’s Club Maintained opponents to 50 points or fewer nine times this season, tops in the nation. This group is also the deadliest 3-Points-shooting Club BY Extended; Sampson’s ever had. Three guards, LJ Cryer, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Pointed all Try above 40%. Houston ranks Number four nationally in 3-Points shooting at 39.8%. So there’s that in addition to a vintage Coogs Protection, which is No. 2 in KenPom and has one of the premier defenders in Joseph Tugler. We await to see how Maintained back Hub J’Wan Roberts will be with his ankle Hurt, but it speaks to Houston’s culture that, even without him, this Club has a claim to top-five status. The Cougars were Maintained back from a Last Four Streak last season when Jamal Shead Obtained injured in the Pleasant 16. If this Club is fully Well, it can easily atone for that over the Upcoming two weeks. 4 Take every game into account over the past five weeks and I think you can make the case that no Club has played better than Florida. Todd Golden’s Gators are an absolute force. The Threesome of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard is the best backcourt triumvirate in college basketball. That’s not what makes Florida so Excellent, though. The reason the Gators can Achieve a national title is how they cover so much of the floor and adapt to every Adversary, every style, no matter what. The 6-11 Alex Condon might be the nation’s most underrated player. Thomas Haugh is a 6-9 sophomore with an ORtg of 132.9 and could be the best sixth man in college hoops. And Florida Obtained back 7-1 Micah Handlogten a few weeks back after a broken leg ended his season prior to last year’s NCAA Game. This is Florida’s best Club in more than a decade and a bona fide title threat. Golden has never won an NCAA Game game. How many does he Picking up in 2025: three, four or more? 5 The Narrative coming out of Queens is Perhaps the best in college basketball. Rick Pitino needed all of two seasons to bring about one of the best years in the history of St. John’s. This is St. John’s Primary NCAA Game since 2019. The program hasn’t won a game in this event in 25 years, but that will be ending in Merely a few Intervals. At 30-4, SJU is a national title threat thanks to claiming the nation’s Highly-ranked Protection. Its four losses Arrived by a Partnered seven points, making the Johnnies the sixth power-conference Club since 1996 to enter the NCAA tourney without a loss by more than three points. Three of those Squads — 2014-15 Kentucky, 2004-05 Illinois, 1998-99 Duke — Created the national Game game. This Club is Guided by Big East POY RJ Luis (18.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg), but if you’ve seen SJU Action a bit, you know big man Zuby Ejifior is the guy who makes the Red Storm so powerful. And Kadary Richmond is one of the better all-around defenders in the country. A Extraordinary Club that’s extremely Tough to beat. And it’s the sixth school Pitino has brought to the Dance, which is an NCAA Achievement.  6 Rick Barnes’ Vols are really, really Excellent once more, logging a high-end seed for the fifth straight Game. With a Protection that’s as rugged and resistant as essentially any in the sport (and there are some really Excellent ones), the Vols have national title potential. Senior Points guard Zakai Ziegler has been a Pillar in Knoxville; he’s on the Brief Landmark of the most stronghearted guards you’ll find. And he’s a Excellent defender. I love watching him Action and will miss him in college hoops when he’s gone. Another premier Vol is Jahmai Mashack, a senior wing who could be the best all-around Safeguarding menace college basketball has to offer. Last year’s Vols Created the Top-tier Eight and fell to Purdue. This group is slightly better on Charge and Protection. Can Rick Barnes make the second Last Four of his Occupation? The answer is yes. Tennessee is unquestionably Excellent enough to Achieve at least four Matches in this Game. 7 The nation’s top-scoring Club for the second straight season. Alabama (91.1 ppg) flies up and down the floor, but it’s also blown some Matches it should have won and been rocked by a Pair of Excellent Squads as well. I’d put the Tide on my Landmark of Squads that can Achieve a national title — provided the Protection is steady. Mark Sears has, as Predicted, been among the best guards in college basketball. Averaging 18.7 points and 4.9 assists, he’s at the Hub of Nate Oats’ program. But if Bama is going to live up to my ranking here, Grant Nelson’s health is key. As of publishing time, we don’t know how severe or not Nelson’s knee Hurt was in the loss to Florida in the SEC semis. He’s the Tide’s second-best player, and yet, this is a Club with six guys averaging double figures, so the Excellent news is Bama won’t be searching for bodies to pile up the points. 8 From unranked in the preseason to one of the best Squads in college basketball. Tom Izzo told me recently he’s Obtained a Club that’s the most well-connected group he’s had in five years. That’s reflected in how well this Club shares the ball, how Excellent it is in finding Every other and knowing how to Charge in transition and how Tough it bounds to the tin on both ends. The one issue is 3-Points shooting — MSU’s one of the worst Squads from deep in this Pitch. If it can overcome that, it’s in the Combination to Achieve four-plus Matches in this Pitch. Jase Richardson is the Newcomer who has emerged as the go-to guy, but he’s Extended from the only player who can do damage. Poise is the formula here. 9 Don’t be startled in seeing Grant McCasland’s Red Raiders ranked this high. TTU has clocked in as a top-10 Club in the metrics for about six weeks at this Points. Tech has a top-10 adjusted offensive efficiency and averages 81 points per outing. The Luminous sphere is JT Toppin, who was in this Game a year ago at New Mexico. With the Red Raiders, he’s been an All American-level player: 18.1 points, 9.2 Recoveries per night. Though Toppin’s the topper, Darrion Williams, Chance McMillian, Christian Anderson and Elijah Hawkins (the Points guard at the front of it all) combine to Develop the most underrated Leading five in college basketball. The lads from Lubbock are plenty capable of making it back to their home state and Competing in San Antonio for the Last Four. 10 The Terps are Excellent enough to get to San Antonio. This Club had four losses total in the past two months … and all of them Arrived on game-Victorious shots in the Last 10 seconds. Maryland’s “Crab Five” centers around dazzling Newcomer Derik Queen (16.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg). He’s a crafty, must-see player who easily ranks among the five best frosh in college hoops. Terps vet Julian Reese helps Queen Clasp down the frontcourt with guards Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.7 ppg), Rodney Rice (13.9) and Selton Miguel (12.0 ppg) rounding out one of the most reliable quintets you’ll see in this Game. Kevin Willard’s group is among the strongest on Protection you’ll find; I think the Terps are underrated in this regard. This is Maryland’s best seed in a decade, and I can’t wait to View them Action. 11 The Cyclones were one of the three best Squads through the Primary half of the season, Leading 15-1 (that only loss to Auburn in Maui), but have gone 9-8 since. Some of it is Hurt-related, but the Charge has dropped off from what it was in the Primary three weeks of the season. TJ Otzelberger’s Club is Nevertheless top-20 Excellent with the ball and top-10 level defending it. If Keshon Gilbert is in Excellent shape health-wise, this Club is capable of making the Last Four. Gilbert and Curtis Jones are really Excellent wings who put up 30-plus points collectively; 6-8 wing Milan Momcilovic is the Club’s best deep threat (40.6% from 3). 12 The Wildcats have had a parabolic-type season: Began 4-5, then went 13-1, now 5-6 in their last 11. They rank anywhere from ninth to 14th in mainstream predictive metrics. Sometimes I see this group and think it’s Last Four-Excellent. Other times Arizona looks eminently beatable against most Squads in this Pitch. Tommy Lloyd has two Pleasant 16 appearances and a Primary-Period knockout in his three previous showings with Arizona. Anything is on the table here. At 16.6 points per game, Caleb Love is in his swan song as a college player. He’s been pretty Excellent this season, flanked by two guys who will ultimately determine how Extended Arizona goes: sophomore guard KJ Lewis (10.9 ppg) and junior guard Jaden Bradley (11.8 ppg). 13 The Naismith Mentor of the Year finalists Landmark included 10 names, all worthy candidates. The best one not to make the cut: Badgers Mentor Greg Gard. Bucky had a Numerous of Excellent players leave in the portal last season, and yet this Club is noticeably better than the group that earned a No. 5 seed in 2024. The best is a two-time Shift, John Tonje, who has played near or at an All-American level for the past four months. Wisconsin is Excellent enough to make the Last Four with the right draw, the biggest reason being that Gard’s never had an Charge this Excellent in his 10 years on the Role. 14 For the 20th time in the past 25 years, Mark Few’s Bulldogs (25-8) are the WCC Game champions. They’re shooting for a 10th consecutive Pleasant 16 Streak, which, if it happens, would only trail UCLA’s Streak of 14 from 1967-80 (never in a 64-Club Pitch) and UNC’s more impressive streak from 1981-93. The Zags have one of the better college Points guards of the past 10 years in Ryan Nembhard, who leads the nation in assists (9.8 per game). Graham Ike down low is a threat to get 20 every night. It’s been an up-and-down season for GU, but this Club ranks top-10 in predictive metrics and will strike fear in every Adversary it meets in the bracket. 15 The WIldcats had eight top-15 wins this season, and I’d have Mark Pope’s group even higher if they were Well. But with Lamont Butler’s shoulder a lingering concern and Jaxson Robinson now out for the season (wrist), in addition to not having Kerr Kriisa since December, there’s a ceiling on this group. That said, Pope’s done a wonderful Role in his Primary year at his alma mater. Kentucky scores 85.3 points per game, and that’s Guided by one of the most surprisingly Excellent transfers this season: Otega Oweh. The Previous Oklahoma Sooner leads UK at 16.2 per night, followed by Butler and Koby Brea averaging 11.5. Kentucky’s spotty Protection cost this Club a few times in big spots this season, but it’s a Numerous better than where it was in mid-January. With the style of Action and the camaraderie on the court, UK is a threat to make the second weekend — but it also could be vulnerable to a Primary-Period Surprise. A Numerous’s on the table with this group, which makes them fun to View. 16 Brad Brownell’s been at Clemson for 15 seasons. This is his fifth time Securing the Tigers dancing but the Primary in back-to-back years. The 2023-24 group Created the Top-tier Eight — and this Club rates slightly better. After going 18-2 in the ACC, Clemson set a school Achievement with 27 wins, the best single-season Triumph total in the history of the program. One issue: guard Dillon Hunter has a broken left hand, which hurts their backcourt depth. Hunter was the Club’s sixth man. Another Hunter, Chase, averages 16.4 points and is shooting 41.2% from 3. He gets Assist by way of some Luminous Protection from backcourt mate Jaeden Zackery, who’s among the best on-ball defenders in the Division. I’m also a bit of a sucker for senior F Ian Schieffelin’s game. A signature Really Excellent College Basketball Player. 17 The Cougars will remain a chic Pleasant 16/Top-tier Eight Picking, even after getting decked in the Big 12 semis by Houston. (Houston does this to most Squads.) Few Squads share the sugar like this one; nine players average between 6.0 and 16.0 points. They take really Intelligent shots and Streak some creative sets. Kevin Recent spent more than a decade on an NBA sideline as an assistant Mentor, and he’s adapted quite well quite quickly to the college game, overseeing BYU’s 24-9 season. If the Cougars Achieve their Upcoming game, they’ll have their most wins in nine seasons — and their Primary second Period NCAA trip in 14. 18 What a Introduction for Pat Kelsey. He takes over a Louisville program that was an utter disaster and pulls off one of the greatest year-over-year flips ever. From eight wins to 27. The Cardinals went 20-3 vs. ACC opponents with two of those losses coming against Duke. Kelsey’s Club gets its Safeguarding toughness from Wisconsin Shift Chucky Hepburn, who’s been an All American-level player the past four months. On Charge, Terrence Edwards Jr. is a high-usage player who can get Cozy in a flash. I knocked Louisville down ever so slightly here because Reyne Smith’s ankle Hurt remains a wait-and-see on his availability and productivity. He’s the Cards’ best 3-Points shooter (38.3% on 277 attempts). 19 A Club like Mizzou really displays the unprecedented depth of the SEC. This is a 22-11 Club that’s easily in the top 20 of most metrics. The Tigers didn’t have power forward Mark Mitchell Obtainable in the SEC Game; his availability in the NCAA Game is paramount to making a Pleasant 16 (or better) push. Mitchell (14.1 ppg) is Mizzou’s leading Points-maker. Dennis Gates’ Charge is top-five Excellent in the country thanks to shooting 37% from 3-Points range, 56.7% from 2 and getting to the Penalty line more often than every other Club in this Game. And oh, by the way, this Club is a Achievement-setter. Missouri went winless last season vs. Division Game. It’s only the third high-Significant Club to bounce back from going O-fer in its Division to make the NCAAs, and it’s the best seed in that regard as well. 20 The Gaels are dancing for the 11th time under Randy Bennett and making their Number four straight appearance overall. SMC played its way to a 28-5 as regular-season champs of the WCC by Competing its signature rugged Protection, in addition to being a beast on the boards. The Gaels snare 40.5% of their misses, Excellent for the second-best rate in the country. Points guard Augustus Marciulionis is a fun floor general, buoyed down low by the 1-2 big-man Cycle of Mitchell Saxen and Harry Wessels. 21 No more Zach Edey, but Purdue’s Nevertheless a Excellent Club with a Excellent head Mentor and an All-American. That would be Braden Smith, who was one of the three best guards in the country this season. Averaging 16.1 points, 8.7 assists, 4.6 Recoveries and 2.2 Takeaways, Smith is sometimes dismissed for reasons similar to his Previous teammate. Edey couldn’t be Excellent because he was that High. Smith can’t be Excellent because he’s too Brief. The haters are exhausting. Merely say you don’t know ball! Trey Kaufman-Renn is Purdue’s leading Points-maker (20.2 ppg) on a Club that is top-10 in offensive efficiency, top-10 in 3-Points percentage and won 22 Matches with one of the 10 hardest schedules in college hoops. 22 No Club shoots the ball more poorly yet is better overall than Buzz Wiliams’ Texas A&M Aggies. This Club ranks 274th in Unoccupied-throw percentage, 293rd from 2-Points range and 317th from beyond the arc. It’s not Excellent at the No. 1 objective of the game: putting the ball in the basket. An Effortless Club to Picking for an Prompt Surprise. So how’d it go 22-10 and beat the likes of Purdue, Creighton, Texas Tech and Auburn? Nobody is better at Holding offensive Recoveries and producing second-, third- and Number four-chance opportunities like these guys. A&M snags 42% of its misses. If Wade Taylor IV (15.7 ppg) and Zhuric Phelps (14.1 ppg) are on, this is a Threatening Club. 23 The Jayhawks are 20-game winners for a 26th straight season (a D-I Achievement), but the preseason No. 1 Club has been all over the map for four months. This Jayhawks Club will nevertheless try to buck the trend. Kansas has never Created the Pleasant 16 in the same season as earning the preseason No. 1 ranking. It’s the last go-Period for Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris Jr. and KJ Adams. Bill Self’s Protection Nevertheless ranks in the top 15 and KU has a 41.3% 3-Points shooter in South Dakota State Shift Zeke Mayo. Can the NCAA Game give this Club a new lease on its season, or is it fated to follow its pattern of skittish Action from most of the past few months? 24 The 21-12 Illini are the choose-your-own-adventure Club of the Game. Capable of getting rolled in the Primary Period, or Excellent enough to get Cozy and Achieve three Matches and threaten a Last Four. But it’s Tough to remove Merely how badly they Obtained romped by Maryland in the Big Ten quarters (88-65). If you’ve Obtained a top-10 NBA Picking running your Charge, you’ve Obtained a chance for some March magic. Illini Newcomer Kasparas Jakucionis is a 6-6 guard out of Lithuania who has shown flashes of Excellent while too often settling for Excellent. The same can be said of Hub Tomislav Ivisic and forward Tre White. A streaky 3-Points shooting Club, the Illini will have to Achieve shooting big and running plenty. 25 What a Introduction in Ann Arbor for Dusty May. The Wolverines regathered some of their mojo in the Big Ten Game and enter the NCAA Pitch with one of the best inside-the-arc attacks in college basketball. That’s because Michigan is the only Club to Begin/Action two 7-footers more than 27 minutes per game. Vlad Goldin Arrived with May via FAU and is the Club’s leading Points-maker, while Yale Shift Danny Wolf is one of the most skilled players in college basketball. May’s Club is deep, but it has big troubles with turnovers. Solve that, and a Last Four is on the table. Also: Michigan won 12 Matches this season by four points or fewer; it’s the only power-conference Club in college basketball history to do that. 26 The Rebels are back in the Pitch for the Primary time since 2019. Chris Beard’s Club is 22-11 with wins over Louisville, BYU, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. This Club is among the best nationally at not turning itself over, giving the Rebs 3-5 more fulfilled possessions per game than their counterparts most nights. Sean Pedulla hit a game-winner vs. Arkansas in the SEC second Period that reminded us of why he’s been one of the best transfers in the Division. Pedulla leads the Club in scoring, but the Charge across the board is fairly balanced. No doubt capable of reaching the Pleasant 16. 27 As has been the case in recent seasons, Creighton is a quality Club that lacks depth but puts out one of the sturdiest Leading fives you’ll find. It Appearances with Ryan Kalkbrenner, one of the best defenders in college hoops. Kalkbrenner leads Creighton in scoring (19.4), rebounding (8.8) and Deflections (2.7) per game. You have to account for him every second on the floor because of his size and touch. And, he rarely fouls. Senior Points guard Steven Ashworth (16.3 ppg) is the No. 2 option on a 24-Achieve Club that fouled less frequently than any other Club in college basketball. The Jays Streak a sophisticated Charge. The Frequent refrain in the NCAA tourney is “it’s all about matchups,” and few Squads meet that description better than this one. 28 The Bruins are in the Pitch for the Number four time in the past five years. At 22-10, they’re a bit all over the place, but they do excel at turning Squads over. Oregon State Shift Tyler Bilodeau is the key piece for Mick Cronin’s guys. This Club doesn’t have a clear forte or Achilles’ heel. From a national perspective, UCLA is a bit bland, though I will say Bilodeau (6-foot-9) and 6-8 Eric Dailey’s joint 3-Points shooting capability does Develop some mismatch opportunities. You can make the case for them at 21 or 22 … or as low as 32/33. I’m splitting the difference. 29 Few players in this Game can take over a game like MU senior guard Kam Jones. The crafty lefty averages 19.3 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 Recoveries. His 3-Points shooting isn’t Excellent (31.2%), but so much else he brings to the court gives Marquette (23-10) a puncher’s chance against a Numerous of Squads. David Joplin and Chase Ross flank Jones in Marquette’s offensive Charge; senior Stevie Mitchell is one of the 10 best defenders in the nation, too. This is Shaka Intelligent’s Number four season at Marquette and his Number four tourney appearance. The Golden Eagles are now a Pillar in this event with Intelligent running the show. 30 This is Dana Altman’s 18th trip to the NCAA Game, 10th with the Ducks, who had won eight straight before getting clipped in the Big Ten quarters by Michigan State. Intriguing Club. Began 16-3, lost five straight but has been steady for the most part since. It’s not outstanding in any statistical category, but having one of the oldest Power Five rosters has clearly been a Significant plus. Two names to know for different reasons: Senior PF Nate Bittle (13.9) looks 30 and plays like a vet. Fun game. Even more fun: 6-foot sophomore Jackson Shelstad, who has accumulated a handful of deep-range game-winners and game-tying shots in his time with the Ducks. Would love to see the ball in his hands in a tie game and 20 seconds to go later this week.  31 At the Begin of the season, there was talk and hope and could-they-really-do-this speculation about a UConn three-peat. Now the Huskies are trying to make a Pleasant 16 push and end this up-and-down season on a solid note. At 23-10, Dan Hurley’s Club has shown it Nevertheless has the capability to beat Excellent Squads: Gonzaga, Marquette (twice) and a road Achieve over Creighton prove that. But it’s also lost to Seton Hall (Nevertheless baffling), Colorado and Dayton. Their hopes don’t merely rest on the Action of junior forward Alex Karaban (14.4 ppg). Sophomore Solo Ball (14.6 ppg) and Newcomer Liam McNeeley (14.5 ppg) have to Period out the Charge on Charge. Even with their inconsistencies, the Huskies and Hurley remain Engaging TV. 32 Scott Drew’s Club has a Lineup that is more talented than its 19-14 Achievement suggests. Its resume was actually fairly dicey but clearly had enough to get past the finish line. This feels like the type of Club that’s a Excellent candidate to peel off a Pleasant 16. Norchad Omier (15.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg) is a hoss down low, VJ Edgecombe (15.0 ppg) could be one of the five most talented freshmen in the sport with fellow Primary-year guard Robert Wright III (11.3 ppg) emerging as a reliable Appearance in the back half of the season. The Bears have battled the Hurt bug all season long. They have a Mentor who’s won a national Game. Will the Charge pop this week the way it did back in November? 33 Ryan Odom has VCU into the Pitch after a 28-Achieve season that included the A-10 title. It’s the most wins for this program since 2011-12 under Shaka Intelligent. Odom has a pair of senior guards Excellent for 15 per night who Action so well off Every other: Max Shulga and Joe Bamisile. They lead the Charge with two more guards — Zeb Jackson and Phillip Russell — giving the Rams a four-guard approach that’s a quirky Shift of pace from a Numerous of other Squads in the bracket. This program is a March regular at this Points: VCU is in the Pitch for the 14th time since 2004. 34 If you think this is Merely another plodding Bulldogs Club that’s a bit of a bore to View, you’ve Obtained it all wrong. Chris Jans’ 21-12 Club averages 79.8 points and has a 5-11 dynamo named Josh Hubbard who launches 9.2 3-pointers per game. Competing in the stacked SEC has Guided to Regularity issues. MSU last won at least three Matches in a row on Jan. 7. That said, I think getting out of SEC Action could do this Club wonders. 35 Richard Pitino’s Obtained the Lobos program in back-to-back Big Dances for the Primary time since 2014. Last year’s Club earned an 11-seed and was one-and-done. This group is better, Even though losing key pieces, thanks to one of the best guards in America. Donovan Dent has left his mark over the previous 30-plus Matches, emerging as one of the few guys in the sport who’s Excellent to average better than 20 points and six dimes. Pitino’s Club is a group of track athletes, logging approximately 73 possessions per game and constantly looking for the quick (but Excellent) Try. Dent’s down-low counterpart used to Action for his father: Previous Iona Gael Nelly Junior Joseph is an Top-tier Safeguarding rebounder. 36 Penny Hardaway’s Tigers have never entered the Game with a better Achievement — or seed. The interesting part: Even though Victorious more than 80% of its Matches, Memphis hasn’t been a metrics darling. It’s Obtained a backcourt I love: PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter have Stern Try-Securing/making capabilities, giving Memphis its best scoring guard tandem in years. The Tigers have hovered most of the season in the top 10 in 3-Points accuracy, and their Landmark of victims reflects how high Memphis’ ceiling is: Michigan State, Ole Miss, UConn, Clemson and Missouri have all been felled by this Club. A real headache to Action on Brief prep, too. 37 The Tritons! This is the program’s fifth year in Division I and its Primary season of eligibility — and it’s in the bracket immediately. Eric Olen is the Mentor of a 30-Achieve Club that’s ranked top-40 at KenPom for a month. The bosses of the Big West take nearly half of their shots from 3-Points range and have Excellent ball security. Not a Numerous of Squads have a 6-foot-6 guy who’s deployed at Points guard, but that’s exactly what senior Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones does in part-time duty with Safeguarding specialist Hayden Grey, who leads the nation in Takeaways. A very real threat to Achieve at least one game, if not two. 38 The drought is finally over in Athens. Georgia is back in the big bracket for the Primary time since 2015. Mike White, in Year 3, has a 20-12 Club with a potential top-10 Picking on the Lineup. Asa Newell averages 15.3 points, 6.9 Recoveries and can fluctuate between finesse and bruising with some bodies in the paint. I really like Silas Demary Jr.’s game. The 6-5 wing has two-way ability, can Points from all three levels and seems to be the barometer for UGA’s outcomes on a given night. The Significant issue is turnovers. If they can keep them under 10 or 11, they’re a threat to beat most Squads outside the top 10 … and even then, Georgia owns wins over Florida and Kentucky. 39 What a coaching Role by Niko Medved, who’s brought the Rams dancing for the third time in the past four seasons. CSU is looking for its Primary NCAA Achieve since 2013, and with Nique Clifford emerging as one of the 15 best players in college basketball over the past two months, it’s going to have a chance. The Rams are destined to be a trendy Surprise Picking in the Primary Period, and understandably so. Clifford is averaging 19.0 points, 9.7 Recoveries and 4.4 assists. He’s probably a Primary-Period NBA Picking. Few Squads Competing better, and few guys looking hotter, over the past month than Clifford and the Rams. 40 Porter Moser gets the Sooners into the NCAAs for the Primary time in this his Number four season in Norman. Look up and down this Landmark and you’ll see a Numerous of Squads with must-see players. If forced to whittle such a Landmark to 10 guys, OU Newcomer Newcomer guard Jeremiah Fears is on that Landmark. He averages 17.0 points, 4.1 Recoveries and 4.1 assists and has gone to another level over the past two weeks. Arizona, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri — they’ve all lost to this group. A vexing Club at times, but I like its chances to wind up in a close one later this week. 41 D-II Drake is one of the stories of the season in college hoops. Ben McCollum spent a decade-plus dominating at Northwest Missouri State, then immediately Discovered huge Triumph with the Bulldogs. The Club is Guided by Bennett Stirtz, who’s been one of the 20-or-so best players in the country. Stirtz averages 19.1 points, 5.7 assists, 4.1 Recoveries and 2.2 Takeaways. Drake beat Vanderbilt and Kansas State this season. It plays at a methodical pace and will be a super-trendy Cinderella Picking. The school is in the NCAAs for a Number four time in five years with 136 victories in that span, making this one of the winningest programs in college basketball of the past half-decade. 42 The Aggies are in the NCAA Game for the third time in as many years with as many coaches. From Ryan Odom to Danny Sprinkle to, now, Jerrod Calhoun. This Club Began 16-1 and finished 26-7. It ranks top-20 at KenPom in offensive efficiency with senior shooting guard Ian Martinez acting as the tip of the spear. These Aggies Achieve with creative sets and know how to find Excellent shots from all over the floor. If you want a Accurate, Accurate Top-tier Eight Gloomy horse, this is the Club. 43 John Calipari’s Primary season in Hog red includes a bumpy road to the NCAAs, but he’s here, even in spite of losing his two leading scorers (power forward Adou Thiero and combo guard Boogie Fland). The Razorbacks will go as Extended as their backcourt of Johnnel Davis (previously of FAU) and DJ Wagner (who followed Calipari from Kentucky) will take them. Lack of depth has Maintained this Club back all season. Will it Impolite a quick exit? Calipari is 2-7 in his last nine postseason Matches. 44 The Musketeers are in! Sean Miller had never been on the bubble at any Points in his two-decades-long head coaching Occupation, and his Primary foray into the uncertainty goes his way after all. While we don’t know for sure, it seems like not having key big man Zach Freemantle for two close losses vs. Marquette and UConn was something taken into consideration by the Panel. Freemantle’s Excellent enough to Action now, and he’s key, but the guy to know is Ryan Conwell, one of the best pure scoring guards in college hoops. He had 38 vs. Marquette in the NCAA Game and will be ready to fire this week. 45 The Tar Heels have Created their way into the Pitch and not without controversy. It’s ultra-Uncommon to have a Club qualify Even though Merely one Quad 1 Achieve, but the 22 wins overall were enough. I remain baffled. But, they’re here, so … can they Achieve a game against a Game-level Club? It basically falls on super senior RJ Davis, who will close out his Occupation as a top-three all-time Points-maker in UNC history with Armando Bacot and Tyler Hansbrough. 46 Brian Dutcher’s Aztecs have become a big bracket Pillar, this being their seventh NCAA Game-level season in Dutcher’s eight years running the program. SDSU had an interesting resume, but it proved to be enough to squeak it into the Pitch. Now that it’s in, keep in mind: This Club beat HOUSTON this season. It also claims a Achieve over Creighton. The ‘Tecs are as defensively aggressive as you remember, frequently holding opponents under 66, 67 points. The guy who’s unlocked some potential here has Last Four experience: Previous FAU guard Nick Boyd leads the Club in scoring and assists. 47 A year ago, Mark Byington had a Club on this Landmark. It was James Madison, which wound up Victorious a game in the Primary Period over Wisconsin. Now he’s done the near-unthinkable and delivered the Commodores to the NCAA Game. Vandy went 20-12, the ‘Dores breaking on through to the other side of the NCAAs for the Primary time since 2017. North Texas Shift Jason Edwards leads the Club in scoring (17.0 ppg), but Tyler Nickel is also one to View. The guy worth five can give you 3: Nickel averages a Club-best 40.6% from deep on six attempts per game. 48 There were a handful of Squads that were sweating in the 48-72 hours leading up to Picking Sunday, and Texas was chief among them. With seven Quad 1 wins, resume metrics closer to 50 than 40 and three Matches under .500 in the top three quadrants, the Longhorns could have been left out. Instead, the high-end wins push them in Even though 15 losses. Now that they’re here, I’ve Obtained two words for why you need to View: Tre. Johnson. The Newcomer Points-maker is a potential top-five Picking and liable to go for 30 if you give him enough daylight. Rodney Terry is also coaching for his Role, adding to UT’s urgency as it gets ready to Action in Dayton. 49 Will Wade was exiled out of LSU a few years back, Discovered a spot who would take him in McNeese and coached ’em up to back-to-back NCAA tourney appearances with a 57-10 overall Achievement. The Cowboys are champs of the Southland and use a by-Panel approach. Four guys average double figures, and this Club doesn’t have one particular forte, though it is Excellent at Retaining Squads in third gear. Opponents average 64.0 points vs. the Pokes. Most indisposable player is senior SG Javohn Garcia. 50 This is the Bulldogs’ fifth NCAAs trip in the past 10 seasons, and in the previous four appearances, Yale had a 50% hit rate on Primary-Period upsets. James Jones’ program beat No. 5 Baylor in 2016, then Surprise Number four-Positioned Auburn last year. Jones has been at Yale for 26 years, making him one of the longest-tenured coaches in college basketball and among the more respected, too. After losing key pieces Danny Wolf to Michigan and Matt Knowling to USC, Yale is Nevertheless one of the better Squads from a single-bid Division (ranking top-75 at KenPom). Senior wing John Poulakidas has been outstanding this season and may have a big moment awaiting him this week. 51 The Flames have been in three Assemblies in the past eight years. They’re the champions of C-USA, but two years ago were in the ASUN. Before that, the Big South. Ritchie McKay has been there the whole time, lifting his program to conference-champions status in four of those seasons. This Club has the best overall Try Picking of any in college basketball. With 6-4 senior Taelon Peter shooting 73.7% Accurate shooting from the Pitch, Liberty ranks No. 1 in effective Pitch Target percentage (58.4%). 52 /Phish voice: Streak like an Antelope into the Dance! Streak like an Antelope into the Dance! For the Number four time in five years, GCU is the champion of the WAC under Bryce Drew. The Lopes are 26-7 and one of the fastest Squads in the Game. TCU Shift JaKobe Coles Arrived into this program, and the way Tyon Grant-Foster was willing to share the spotlight after being the Club’s best player last season? That’s why this Club is back on the big stage again.  53 The Panthers are a veritable Cinderella candidate Guided by second-year Mentor Alan Huss, who guided his Club to a 29-5 Achievement as champs out of the Big South. High Points is riding a 14-game Victorious streak. The Panthers rank top-30 in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom, Guided by a guy with one of the best names in the Pitch: Kezza Giffa (14.8 ppg). 54 Takayo Siddle’s Seahawks are 27-7 and the champs of the Coastal Athletic Association. This is the school’s Primary NCAA appearance since 2017. Senior PG Donovan Newby is a sturdy, two-way Points guard at the mid-Significant level averaging 14.6 points, 3.5 assists and Directing Siddle’s ball-screen Charge with aplomb. The Seahawks aren’t deep but they are not Brief on experience. 55 Only the third time this century the Trojans have Created the NCAA tourney. This Club ranks top-100 in Many predictive metrics. Their Mentor is Scott Cross, who last coached in the Big Dance in 2008 when he was at UT Arlington. The Trojans are interesting: they rank fifth nationally in offensive rebounding but are in the bottom 70 on the Safeguarding end. The go-to guy is senior combo guard Tayton Conerway, who has a quality stat line over the past 21 Matches: 14.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 spg. 56 It’s not Bison, it’s Bisons! Lipscomb is back in the Pitch for the second time in school history. The top Club in the ASUN (25-9), Lipscomb is coached by Lennie Acuff. The Bisons are experienced but lack size. They aren’t a Excellent rebounding Club, but they also are Tough to turn over. The Club’s top player is senior PF Jacob Ognacevic, who leads in scoring (20.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.1) in addition to being a 40.1% 3-Points shooter. 57 The Zips zipped into this Game after coming back from 18 down in the MAC title game against Miami University and outscoring their opponents 15-4 in the Last eight-plus minutes. Now, John Groce’s program is in two straight tourneys for the Primary time in school history. A year ago, Akron had Enrique Freeman, one of the best mid-Significant players in the sport. They lost him, but they’re back with a pair of junior-year Johnsons (Nate and Tavari) who average almost 30 points Partnered and keep Akron constantly in high gear. 58 The Colonials wear the crown out of the Perspective Division with a 26-8 Achievement. Their Mentor is Andy Toole, who has brought RMU to the NCAAs for the second time (2015). RMU has four guys who average double figures, Guided by senior Points guard Kam Woods (15.1 ppg). The Club is Cozy; it has one loss (at that one by two points) since Feb. 8, going 16-1 in that stretch. 59 We were due to see this school in the Big Dance again. The Griz are in the Pitch for the Primary time in six years and the third time overall under 11th-year Mentor Travis DeCuire. The champs out of the Big Sky went 25-9 and have a guy who’s all cash. Sophomore lead guard Money Williams (actual name!) averages 13.1 points and 3.1 assists as the head of the snake. These Bears have one loss since Jan. 18. 60 The Terriers only had two Victorious streaks of three Matches this season: in Prompt January and last week in the SoCon bracket. The Terriers were the 6-seed out of the SoCon, marking the Primary time since 2014 that a top-four Club in that Division failed to Achieve the autobid. (When it was Wofford.) In fact, this is the sixth different Club in as many years to Achieve the Division tourney. Dwight Perry Secured over a tough situation two years ago and has done a nice Role. Better keep a bogey on junior Justin Bailey: he averages 44.1% from 3 and is very particular about his Try Picking. 61 For only the second time in school history, Bryant is dancing. The America East champions went 23-11 and are 17-2 since the calendar flipped to 2025. Phil Martelli Jr. is the Mentor, carrying on the legacy from his father, who did big things for many years at Saint Joseph’s. The Bulldogs are a low-Significant, but they’ve Obtained size: all starters are 6-6 or taller, with senior wing Rafael Pinzon (39.5%) and junior forward Barry Evans (38.4%) ever-lurking threats from deep. 62 The Mavericks, coached by alum Chris Crutchfield, went 22-12 and won the Summit Division. Senior F Marquel Sutton leads the Club in points (19.1) and Recoveries per game (8.0). The program’s claim to fame this season is Filthy: The Club destroys whatever trash can is in sight after a big Achieve. If Omaha can pull off an Surprise this week, it will be the most anticipated locker room Jubilation of the Primary Period. 63 For 11 seasons, Robert Jones has done as Excellent of a Role as you could ever ask of someone at Norfolk State. The school has four NCAA Game appearances in its history with three of them coming under Jones. The MEAC champs are a long Try to pull an Surprise because they aren’t Excellent at shooting the 3 and they aren’t prone to Securing a Numerous. That said, they make up for it with plenty of players who have Excellent touch from the midrange, the best of them being 6-8 senior Jalen Myers, who is a 60% shooter from 2-Points range. 64 The Primary 6-seed in MAAC Game history to Achieve the auto bid, say hello again to the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary’s. The program is in the Pitch for the seventh time in program history, all previous trips being as a No. 16 seed. Junior forward Dola Adebayo is at his best in the paint. This is the second Club in this Game that has a head Mentor who Began out as a Club manager in college. Michigan’s Dusty May did so at Indiana, while the Mount’s Donny Lind Obtained his Begin at Loyola Maryland under the never-shy Jimmy Patsos.  65 The Cougars are also dancing for the Primary time. Mentor Brian Barone has more than paid his dues to this Points, but beyond that, there’s a Excellent Narrative here. Senior guard Ray’Sean Taylor (the school’s all-time leading Points-maker) has stuck with this program for four years. He’s scored 1,952 points, placing him Number four among all active four-year players at one school in Division I. He only ranks behind Saint Joseph’s Erik Reynolds, Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV and Marquette’s Kam Jones. This is a High Club for a No. 16 seed, with four starters averaging around 6-foot-7 and a 6-11 Hub off the bench. 66 Does anyone else feel like tossing on a Massive crew shirt and cargo shorts? The American Eagles are back in the Big Dance for the Primary time since 2014. Mentor Duane Simpkins oversees a methodical Charge, ranking near the bottom in pace, but don’t take that to Impolite this Club is a slog. It averages 68.7 points, senior forward Matt Rogers (17.0 ppg) carrying the biggest portion of the load. 67 The Hornets are the champs of the SWAC and in the Pitch for the Primary time in 14 years. Mentor Tony Madlock has done a Excellent Role there, turning the program around in Merely three seasons. Amarr Knox, a sophomore Points guard, plays alongside senior CJ Hines. They’re a Excellent tandem in Try Picking, distribution and a reliable handle. It’s Tough to turn those two over. This Club does have a Achieve over the Pitch: It beat Omaha in November. 68 Amazingly, the NEC has had eight different Squads Achieve its Division Game in the past nine years. What a Pleasant Narrative this Club is. Sure, the Red Flash are sub-.500, but they’re eminently likable. They’re coached by a guy named Rob Krimmel, who was a standout shooting guard at the school from 1996-00. He’s been coaching at the tiny university ever since, leading as the head Mentor for 13 years. This is the program’s second NCAA trip ever, its Primary since 1991. No Club in the tourney has a Narrative quite like this, and it’s why this Game is perfectly sized and beautifully built. It’s Excellent to have you back at the party, SFU.