The 2025 NCAA Tournament officially tips off on Thursday, March 20, 2025, with Creighton and Louisville meeting in an 8-9 showdown in Lexington, Kentucky. The No. 1 overall seed Auburn Tigers will be the first members of the SEC to compete when they take on Alabama State at 1:50 p.m. CT. As for the Alabama Crimson Tide, their March Madness run will begin on Friday against Robert Morris at 11:40 a.m. CT.
After qualifying for the program's first-ever Final Four a season ago, the expectations are through the roof this year despite a slow finish to the season, as Alabama finished the regular season with a 5-5 record, including an SEC Tournament loss to Florida.
If that sounds familiar, it's because that's exactly how the Crimson Tide entered last year's tournament. Four of the Tide's five losses this year came at the hands of either No. 1 or 2 seeds: Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida twice. The fifth loss was against a No. 6 seed, Missouri. With that sort of challenging schedule toward the end, the start of the tournament should feel like a chance for the Tide to catch their breath, with a seemingly clear path to the Elite 8.
Before the SEC Tournament loss, Alabama was playing strong basketball, with noteworthy back-to-back wins against Kentucky and Auburn after narrowly losing to Florida and on the road against Tennessee. While the loss to Florida was disheartening, many fans and analysts don’t believe it raises significant concerns for their chances, particularly as the Gators currently look like the best team in the country. With some added time off and one of the deepest rosters in America, many are optimistic that Alabama will make a deep tournament run this time around.
Meanwhile, former Auburn basketball star Charles Barkley has stirred up excitement with his predictions for the NCAA Tournament. In his bracket released on Thursday, Barkley has chosen the University of Florida as the team to win the national championship on April 7, 2025. He has the Gators projected to win the West Region and face his own alma mater, Auburn, also a No. 1 seed, in the Final Four.
This setup promises a thrilling SEC showdown to determine who will advance to the national title game. Florida claimed the SEC Tournament title last week, while Auburn secured the SEC regular-season championship. If Barkley’s predictions hold, it could serve as a pivotal matchup between the two powerhouse programs.
Adding to the intrigue, Barkley has made some surprise picks in other regions of the bracket. He forecasts No. 4 seed Arizona to overcome Duke in the Sweet 16 to capture the East Region. Over in the Midwest Region, he predicts an upset where No. 8 seed Gonzaga will take down Tennessee in the Elite Eight to progress to the Final Four.
In his final prediction, Barkley anticipates Gonzaga reaching the national title game but ultimately falling to Florida, showcasing a bold confidence in the Gators' abilities.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor who now provides coverage of Alabama, noted that Barkley's insights have drawn significant attention among fans, many of whom are eager to see if the legendary player’s predictions come true. The countdown to Selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament continues, as anticipation grows over which teams will make deep runs and ultimately compete for the championship.
As March Madness unfolds, both Alabama and Florida have emerged as strong contenders, and the eyes of the basketball world will be on the SEC athletes displaying their talents on the national stage.
With the tournament officially in motion and bracket predictions stirring the conversations, fans are eagerly looking forward to thrilling matchups and unforeseen outcomes.
