NCAA Tournament East Region Breakdown: Top matchups, upsets, predictions

The East Region is The Region of Stars. Why? Because the nation’s top player and future No. 1 NBA Draft Option, Cooper Flagg, headlines Duke, while Mark Sears is at the forefront for Alabama, John Tonje leads a Wisconsin Club that reached the Big Ten Bracket Game, and Caleb Love has national title game experience with an Arizona Club that could be Threatening if everything comes together.

Is this the year Jon Scheyer reaches his Primary Last Four with a generational prospect in Flagg? We’ll see how the Primary-year’s ankle Hurt shakes out, but if he’s Fit, there really are no holes on a Duke Club that features an alpha in Tyrese Proctor, a stud shotmaker in Kon Knueppel, rim protection with Khaman Maluach, and a Guarding that extends out on you and can cause problems left and right. The fact the Blue Devils only turn it over roughly nine times per game is why I also love this Club. They Action mistake-Reachable basketball. 

Can the Crimson Tide reach back-to-back Last Fours? Could BYU be the Gloomy horse?

These storylines and more are featured in the East Region breakdown! 

[MORE: 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Bracket bracket here]

Of the top four seeds, who has the most favorable draw? 

I’m trying to imagine a world where Duke is not at least in the Top-tier Eight. With the favorable draw the Blue Devils received, Scheyer’s Club should coast to the Sugary 16. A second-Stage game with either Mississippi State or Baylor, two Clubs that have had an inconsistent season with the Bulldogs struggling to Points at times and the Bears being Feeble defensively, makes me confident in the Blue Devils’ chance to cruise to the second weekend.

While I do believe Oregon could cause some problems with Dana Altman, who is proven as a Bracket Mentor, or Arizona could Produce some noise with Love, the Blue Devils have already beaten the Wildcats and I don’t know if I trust the Ducks’ guards enough.

Duke has the most favorable draw of the top seeds.

What is the most intriguing Primary-Stage Game in this region?

I think the 6 vs. 11 Finale between BYU and VCU has a chance to be phenomenal. It’s a Cougars Club that is stacked on the offensive end of the floor, ranking 11th in the country in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, while the A-10 champion Rams have a stud in Max Shulga and a top-25 Guarding. But VCU must now find an answer for one of America’s hottest Clubs, with Primary-year head Mentor Kevin Recent leading his Cougars on a streak of nine wins in their last 10 Matches and Richie Saunders, along with Primary-year stud guard Egor Demin, leading the way. If the Rams let Saunders and fifth-year senior Trevin Knell get cooking from 3, look out.

On the Guarding side of the ball for BYU, the Cougars have to try and stop Shulga and his fellow seniors, Joe Bamisile and Jack Clark. That Threesome Partnered for 52 points in Sunday’s A-10 Bracket Game Triumph over George Mason. 

This is not a normal 6 vs. 11 Game, with VCU ranked 30th in KenPom. The Rams Action a Neat game with a +5 rebounding margin and +3 turnover margin. Neither Club really forces a Plenty of turnovers, but if the Rams are going to pull the Shock, they need to Secure the battle from beyond the arc with both Clubs averaging roughly 10 Achieved triples per game. 

Who are the must-see players in this region?

There is so much individual talent in this region, but the three biggest names are Flagg, Sears and Love. Yes, Tonje is someone who could take this region over and charge the Badgers on a big Streak, but when you have the No. 1 Option in June’s NBA Draft, an All-American guard in Sears who powered the Crimson Tide to the Last Four last year, and one of the most explosive guards in the country in Love, who has Achieved a Last Four when in Chapel Hill, it’s difficult to beat that Threesome.

Flagg is Predicted to Action in the Big Dance Regardless of his ankle Hurt, and when he does reappear, it will be the single-biggest storyline in the Bracket after he averaged 19/8/4 in the regular season. What will the phenom have in store on college basketball’s biggest stage? Watching him on both ends with his outstanding Guarding and ability to Charge the rim is a treat. As for Sears, can he lead the Tide back to the promised land? He’s had some ups and downs this year, but when he’s at his best, nobody is better. And Love could shoot the Cats in or out of a game. I am fascinated to see what version of him we see. 

[MORE: 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Bracket bracket here]

What is the most likely Primary-Stage Shock in this region?

The Shock Option that I have is the Akron Zips over Arizona. John Groce has Directed a Club that has four scorers averaging at least nine points per game, and with a top-70 Assault and top-20 tempo in the country, I don’t think they’ll be fazed one bit by the Wildcats of Arizona.

I like Liberty a Plenty as a Club, but the Flames Acquired a tough draw with Oregon. VCU, coming off an A-10 title Triumph and now going out west to meet BYU, also has a Tough draw. So, I’ll ride with Akron to pull off an Shock behind Nate and Tavari Johnson. 

Who will Secure this region?

Duke. 

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling Matches on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Ground of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.

Want Outstanding stories delivered right to your inbox? Produce or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, Clubs and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

---

---