NCAA Tournament South Region Preview: Bracket Breakdown and Key Matchups

The highly anticipated NCAA Tournament bracket has been officially unveiled, with the South Region featuring some exciting matchups and intriguing storylines. Headlined by the top seed, Auburn, this region promises plenty of drama as teams battle it out for a chance to make a deep run. Let’s break down the South Region, highlighting the key teams, players, and matchups to watch.

Auburn: The South Region’s Top Seed

Auburn, led by SEC Player of the Year Janai Broom, enters the tournament as the #1 overall seed in the South Region. With 16 Quad 1 wins this season, the Tigers are poised for another strong run after securing their second-ever #1 seed. They will begin their tournament journey by scouting the first-four matchup between Alabama State, the Southwest Atlantic Champions, and St. Francis, who are making their first tournament appearance since 1991.

Auburn’s path to success relies on the versatility and experience of Broom, who will play a key role in leading his team through the early rounds. Their first-round matchup promises to be a relatively straightforward affair, but the Tigers will need to stay sharp as the competition intensifies in subsequent rounds.

Louisville’s Surprising Return to the Dance

Moving down the bracket, we find Louisville as the #8 seed, returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Under the leadership of Pat Kelsey, Louisville’s resurgence has been remarkable, improving by 19 wins compared to last season. The team, which was originally picked to finish ninth in the ACC, faces Creighton in their opening game, with the Blue Jays being led by standout player Ryan C. Brenner, who is averaging over 19 points per game and has been named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year for four consecutive seasons.

Louisville’s return to the tournament is a testament to Kelsey’s coaching prowess, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into the tournament, hoping to pull off an upset against the strong Creighton squad.

San Diego State: The Nation’s Longest Winning Streak

Another intriguing team in this region is San Diego State, the #5 seed, who will face Michigan in their opening matchup. San Diego State enters the tournament riding the nation’s longest winning streak, with 15 consecutive victories. Their balanced offense and defense, which excels in both scoring and forcing turnovers, make them a dangerous opponent for anyone in the bracket. The Tritons, making their first-ever tournament appearance in their inaugural year of tournament eligibility, will look to extend their historic run and make a deep run in the South Region.

Texas A&M: Making History

One of the most exciting stories this season is Texas A&M, who achieved their first-ever win over a #1 seed when they defeated Auburn earlier this year. With a dominating presence on the boards, leading the nation in offensive rebounding, the Aggies are primed for another strong performance. They will face the Ivy League champions, Yale, in a matchup that promises to be physical and hard-fought. This is the second consecutive tournament appearance for Yale, and they’ll be looking to build on their momentum as a tough, disciplined team.

Iowa State: The Injury-Revamped Squad

Iowa State enters the tournament as the #3 seed, with a strong 17-2 start to the season. Despite some injury challenges, the Cyclones are hoping to get key players back on the court, including Tam Lipy and Kesan Gilbert. Their first-round opponent is Lipham Bison, who are making their second-ever tournament appearance. Iowa State will be favored, but they will need to be cautious against a potential upset from a hungry, underdog team.

North Carolina: A Controversial Inclusion

Perhaps the most talked-about team in the South Region is North Carolina, which many felt had a questionable spot in the tournament after a 1-2 Quad 1 record. However, the Tar Heels managed to secure a spot thanks to their strong non-conference schedule, which ranked 5th nationally. This has led to much debate about their inclusion in the tournament, making it one of the key talking points heading into March Madness. North Carolina will need to prove they belong with a strong performance in the opening rounds.

Marquette and New Mexico: Two High-Flying Teams

In one of the most intriguing matchups of the region, Marquette, the #7 seed, will face New Mexico. Led by Mountain West Player of the Year Donovan Dent, New Mexico has been a revelation this season, with Richard Patino earning Conference Coach of the Year honors. This game features two of the best point guards in the country, and with both teams known for their up-tempo style of play, it promises to be an exciting showdown.

Michigan State: A Veteran Team Ready for a Deep Run

Rounding out the South Region’s top teams is Michigan State, the #2 seed. Under the guidance of legendary coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State has secured its 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, extending its own record. They’ll face Bryant, the America East champions, who are making their tournament debut. While Michigan State has had a strong season, they are still hungry after a disappointing performance in the Big Ten finals. Expect the Spartans to come out strong and prove their worth as a legitimate title contender.

Upset Alerts and Predictions

As we analyze the South Region bracket, it’s clear that this region is full of potential upsets. San Diego State, making their first-ever appearance, could make a deep run, especially given their outstanding defense and long winning streak. Yale is also primed to pull off an upset against Texas A&M, and Louisville, as the #8 seed, has the potential to surprise Creighton.

One thing is for sure – the South Region is packed with excitement, and March Madness is sure to deliver plenty of drama.

The South Region of the NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable regions in the field. With top-tier teams like Auburn, Michigan State, and Iowa State, alongside exciting underdogs like San Diego State and Louisville, this region promises to deliver some thrilling action. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly awaiting the opening games, and it’s sure to be a March Madness to remember.

Keep an eye on the South Region, as it’s sure to produce plenty of surprises and unforgettable moments!

2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Insights from the Selection Committee Chairs

As March Madness approaches, the excitement surrounding the NCAA Tournament intensifies. The 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed, and the Selection Committee has provided valuable insights into the selection and bracketing process. Bubba Cunningham, Chair of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Committee, and Keith Gil, Vice Chair, joined the discussion to break down the challenges they faced in finalizing the tournament field.

The Challenges of Selection: How the Committee Made Tough Decisions

The task of selecting and seeding 68 teams for the NCAA Tournament is never easy, and this year was no exception. Bubba Cunningham explained that one of the biggest challenges was making the final cut, as there were numerous strong conference champions and bubble teams to consider. The committee faced an especially difficult decision with so many teams deserving a spot but ultimately had to follow a fair process.

Cunningham shared, "It’s always the hardest part of any bracketing or selection – making a cut somewhere. Fortunately, this year we had many outstanding conference champions and opportunities to consider teams on the bubble." The addition of new metrics, such as the Torvic and WOB rankings, provided the committee with a broader set of tools to evaluate teams’ performances.

North Carolina’s Inclusion: Addressing the Conflict of Interest Concerns

A natural question arose regarding North Carolina’s inclusion in the bracket, given that Bubba Cunningham serves as the athletic director for the university. While Cunningham recused himself from discussions and voting on North Carolina’s selection, Keith Gil, the Vice Chair, provided clarity on how the process unfolded.

Gil explained, “As the vice chair, I managed the discussions about North Carolina. Our policies require that the athletic director of any school recuse themselves from discussions and leave the room during that time. They are not allowed to vote on the selection of their own team."

North Carolina’s inclusion came down to a contingency vote, with Memphis and UAB vying for the last spot. Ultimately, Memphis won, securing a spot for North Carolina in the tournament.

Bracket Challenges for the SEC: Managing 14 Teams in the Field

The SEC (Southeastern Conference) posed another unique challenge for the selection committee. With a record 14 SEC teams making it to the tournament, the committee had to ensure that teams from the same conference were spaced out as much as possible in the bracket to avoid early matchups.

Keith Gil explained, “When you have 14 teams from one league, it’s a real challenge to make sure everyone is placed properly. We didn’t move anyone off their seed line, but we did have to rework the bracket to minimize the conflict between teams from the same conference in the early rounds.”

Despite the difficulty, the committee made adjustments without altering the seedings, ensuring that no more than four teams from the SEC were placed in the same region.

Metrics and Tough Decisions for the Last Teams in the Field

As always, some tough calls had to be made for teams on the bubble. The addition of new metrics like Torvic and WOB gave the committee more data points to evaluate teams' performances, but the selection process still came down to difficult decisions.

Bubba Cunningham shared that the committee had extensive discussions about teams like West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio State, and Boise State. Unfortunately, West Virginia was left out of the tournament, despite an impressive season. “The availability of key players, like Tucker De, played a role in our discussions,” said Cunningham.

Despite these tough decisions, the committee was able to include more bubble teams this year, with fewer upsets and more teams getting a chance at the tournament compared to the previous year.

Conclusion: A Well-Researched and Fair Process

Both Cunningham and Gil emphasized the importance of transparency, fairness, and thoroughness in the selection process. While the committee acknowledges that there will always be tough decisions, they strive to ensure that each team’s performance, metrics, and overall body of work are carefully evaluated.

Keith Gil summed it up well, stating, “This process is incredibly complex, but we follow the procedures in place to ensure a fair and balanced selection process.”

As the 2025 NCAA Tournament approaches, the excitement is palpable, and the challenges faced by the selection committee show just how competitive and unpredictable March Madness truly is. With top-tier teams and compelling storylines, this year’s tournament promises to be one for the history books.

Fans can expect plenty of surprises as the bracket unfolds, and the journey to the Final Four begins.

2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: East Region Insights

As the excitement builds for March Madness, the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket has been revealed, and the East Region is shaping up to be one of the most competitive sections of the field. With top teams like Duke, Alabama, and Arizona leading the way, basketball fans are in for a thrilling tournament. Let's break down the key matchups, standout teams, and players to watch in the East Region.

Top Seed: Duke Blue Devils

Duke earned the number one seed in the East Region, marking another dominant season for the program. The Blue Devils are the first ACC team in history to lead the conference in both scoring offense and defense, showcasing their balanced play on both ends of the court. Although they’ve had to contend with the absence of superstar Cooper Flagg, he is expected to return for the tournament, providing a significant boost to an already talented squad.

Their first matchup will feature the winner of the First Four game between Patriot League champion American and Mount St. Mary’s, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champions. This presents a great opportunity for Duke to build momentum early in the tournament.

High-Stakes Matchups

The East Region features several intriguing first-round matchups, beginning with a 9 vs. 8 seed clash between Mississippi State and Baylor. Mississippi State, led by Josh Hubbard, boasts their highest-scoring team since 1991. Baylor, the 2021 National Champions, will look to make another deep tournament run with VJ Edcom leading the charge.

Another exciting game is the 5 vs. 12 matchup between Oregon and Liberty. Oregon comes in as the 5-seed after impressive non-conference wins over teams like Alabama and Texas A&M, while Liberty, the Conference USA champions, is undefeated when scoring over 70 points, making them a tough opponent for the Ducks.

In the 4 vs. 13 game, Arizona, a team that made it to the Big 12 title game in their first season in the conference, will face off against Akron. Akron made a statement in the MAC title game, erasing an 18-point deficit to secure a dramatic victory. Arizona, under coach Tommy Lloyd, will look to build on their momentum as a 4-seed.

Potential Cinderella Stories: BYU and VCU

The 6-seed BYU Cougars have looked impressive at times, especially under the guidance of Kevin Young, who took over for Mark Pope and led the team to several double-digit victories. They’ll face off against the 11-seed VCU Rams, who are fresh off a win in the A10 Championship. VCU, led by Max Schuler, is known for their stingy defense, which will make this a fascinating matchup between their defense-first approach and BYU's high-powered offense.

Top Scoring Teams: Alabama and Wisconsin

Alabama, the 2-seed in the East Region, is perhaps the most dangerous offensive team in the country, routinely scoring over 90 points in a game. Under Nate Oats, Alabama is poised to make another deep run after reaching the Final Four last year. They’ll face Robert Morris, who is making their first appearance in 10 years as the Horizon League champions. Grant Nelson’s health will be a key factor in this matchup, as his performance could determine how far Alabama goes.

At the 3-seed spot, Wisconsin is led by their highest-scoring team since the 1970-71 season. After falling to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game, Wisconsin is eager to make a statement in the tournament. They’ll face the 14-seed Montana Grizzlies, who come in as Big Sky champions and are riding a hot streak with 14 wins in their last 15 games.

Under-the-Radar Teams: St. Mary's and Vanderbilt

The 7-seed St. Mary's enters the tournament with the top scoring defense in the country and the number one rebound margin. They’ll face the 10-seed Vanderbilt, who earned respect with strong wins over Tennessee and Kentucky during the regular season. Mark Buyington has made an immediate impact in his first season, and the Commodores will look to make a run in the tournament as a solid mid-major team.

Notable Region Standout: Offensive Firepower

If you’re a fan of high-scoring games, the East Region promises plenty of excitement. With teams like Duke, Alabama, Arizona, and BYU, this region is loaded with offensive firepower. BYU, in particular, is an underdog that could make a deep run, potentially reaching the Elite Eight if they can outlast some of the region's toughest opponents.

Key Takeaways

Duke is the top team to watch in the East Region, with strong offense and defense.
Mississippi State and Baylor will battle in what promises to be an intense 8 vs. 9 matchup.
Liberty and Oregon provide an intriguing 5 vs. 12 game that could lead to a surprise upset.
BYU and VCU are both poised to make a run, with BYU being a potential Cinderella story.
Alabama and Wisconsin bring their offensive prowess to the table, but will face tough challenges from Robert Morris and Montana.

As the bracket unfolds, March Madness is sure to deliver plenty of thrilling moments, and the East Region will undoubtedly be one of the most competitive parts of the tournament. Keep an eye on the top teams, but don’t be surprised if some underdogs make their way through to the later rounds.

March Madness 2025: Download Your Printable NCAA Tournament Bracket