The anticipation for March Madness 2025 is building as Selection Sunday approaches, set for March 16, 2025. This yearly highlight of college basketball will reveal which teams secure spots for the highly coveted NCAA tournaments. With notable performances and last-minute results, fans eagerly await the outcomes of teams like Vanderbilt and St. John’s as the races heat up for their final placements.
Selection Sunday marks the day when college basketball enthusiasts across the nation learn which men’s and women’s NCAA Division I teams have cleared the hurdles for national title contention. This year, 68 teams will compete for glory, showcasing the heart and soul of college basketball through single-elimination matches.
For the men’s tournament, the full schedule is as follows: after Selection Sunday, the First Four games will take place on March 18-19, leading to the First Round on March 20-21, and the tournament continues through to the NCAA championship game on April 7, 2025. Sites for the tournament span multiple states, including Dayton, Ohio, where the First Four will be contested, and culminate at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, where the Final Four and championship will be held.
On the women’s side, the action mirrors the men’s bracket, with Selection Sunday also falling on March 16. The women’s First Four games take place on March 19-20, and the championship is scheduled for April 6, 2025, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. This year, the stakes are high as teams vie not only for trophies but for the pride and passion of their universities.
Recently, Vanderbilt faced Georgia, losing 79-68 as they concluded their regular season. With this result, the Commodores are seeded 12th for the upcoming SEC tournament, ready to compete but seemingly assured of their inclusion in the NCAA tournament, as noted by ESPN's Joe Lunardi, who ranked them as the 9th seed. “Unlike previous seasons, we are near-certain to make the NCAA tournament this time,” remarked sophomore guard Aria Gerson, covering Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean.
Conversely, St. John's basketball team enjoyed jubilation, clinching the Big East regular-season title after their recent triumph over Marquette, 86-84, aided by a game-winning shot from Zuby Ejiofor. “It’s a hell of a win, probably my favorite win of the season by far,” said coach Rick Pitino. Having secured their position for the NCAA tournament, the Red Storm are making waves, highlighted by player RJ Luis Jr.'s heroic tying basket to force overtime.
This victory not only showcased the team’s mental fortitude but also reignited hopes for upcoming games as they look toward potential seeding. Pitino emphasized the importance of mindset: “I said, ‘This is you’re one-and-done. You lose this game, the season’s over.’ That’s the way you’ve got to play it to prepare for March Madness.” With St. John's entering the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019, fans celebrate the resurgence of the program.
The chance for teams to secure their place through conference championships intensifies the excitement. This year stands particularly high stakes for 68 teams as bubble squads are praying for minimal bid thefts—teams securing automatic bids through unexpected conference wins. The ghosts of last season loom large; teams like Oklahoma and Indiana State found themselves on the outside looking in as unexpected champions were crowned.
With automatic bids on the horizon, the NCAA conference championship schedule is charged. Competition kicks off with games like the Ohio Valley Conference set for March 8, leading to championship showdowns across various conferences on March 15. These pivotal matchups will undoubtedly influence imminent selection brackets and position teams for the stroke of Selection Sunday.
From the roar of fans to the tension of last-second buzzer-beaters, March Madness fuels some of college sports' most electrifying moments. The tightly-contested games culminating on Selection Sunday are not just pivotal for winning; they also represent the culmination of grit, determination, and passion from players and fans alike. Every program is aware; it's now or never, and they must deliver their best performances.
Whether past champions or hopeful underdogs, March Madness 2025 promises to deliver thrills and surprises. With teams now on their tournament paths, the entire collegiate basketball community holds its breath. What happens next is anyone's game, but excitement remains at fever pitch as Selection Sunday draws near. With seeding and positioning still uncertain, every game counts as teams chase their dreams of glory.