The NCAA Tournament, one of the most anticipated events of the year, kicks off with the 2025 brackets unveiled on March 17, 2025. This year, the tournament will see notable participants both on the men's and women's sides, with top seeds and the drama of selection controversies capturing headlines.
For the men's bracket, the coveted No. 1 seeds are held by Auburn (South Region), Duke (East Region), Houston (Midwest Region), and Florida (West Region). The Southeastern Conference (SEC) made history with 14 of its teams securing spots — the most ever for the conference — followed by the Big Ten with eight teams and the Big 12 featuring seven. This indicates not just the strength of these conferences but the competitive nature of college basketball this season.
Analyst Jeff Eisenberg from Yahoo Sports remarked, "It was clear by Sunday morning..." highlighting the clarity and organization of the selection committee this year. He commended the committee for its decision to award the top seeds and praised the SEC's strong showing. Nonetheless, he noted frustrations, particularly with the selection of North Carolina, which secured the final at-large spot even after having just one victory against Quadrant 1 teams, stating it was questionable against more deserving teams like West Virginia.
On the women's side, the No. 1 seeds are UCLA (Spokane 1), South Carolina (Birmingham 2), Texas (Birmingham 3), and USC (Spokane 4), showcasing the depth of talent across women’s college basketball as noted by tournament officials.
Meanwhile, the 27th annual Postseason WNIT held its own announcement on March 16, 2025, detailing its bracket of 48 teams. This tournament emphasizes the unparalleled competitive nature of women’s basketball, and its director Sarah Sullivan stated, "Our longstanding belief has always been..." asserting the league's commitment to providing quality competition outside traditional tournament structures. Notably, 21 teams coming off 20-plus win seasons will feature prominently this year.
Key matchups and locations will be released on March 17, 2025, with the WNIT starting its first round from March 20 to 22, continuing through several rounds until the championship on April 5, 2025. This tournament not only celebrates excellence but establishes itself as an important platform for teams who may not have reached the NCAA field.
The Postseason NIT also plays its part. The traditional undercard is set to undergo several changes this year. The NIT, experiencing modifications to its selection process, will utilize the new KNIT score — which evaluates multiple performance metrics of teams. The first round is slated for March 18 and 19, 2025, with games being hosted at deserving campuses before culminating at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, for the semifinals and finals.
The NIT committee will select 32 teams, utilizing 16 exempt bids based on performance within their conferences. Regular-season conference champions who meet performance thresholds will gain automatic entry. This year, teams like Bradley achieved their places via strong KNIT scores, solidifying their positions as leaders among non-NCAA qualifiers.
With NCAA tournament slots filled and the rest of the postseason picture slowly coming together, teams such as Rutgers and Indiana have already declared their intent not to participate if invited, emphasizing the shifting dynamics within college basketball. The tournament outputs are quickly becoming clearer, but questions remain about how the newly introduced College Basketball Crown (CBC) will alter postseason strategies. This 16-team tournament is positioned to take place from March 31 to April 6, 2025, offering teams another opportunity for competition.
Indeed, this season’s excitement is palpable, with the stakes high across all three major postseason events, college basketball fans are bracing themselves for what promises to be another memorable March Madness. The anticipation surrounding these tournaments and their impactful narratives proves again why college basketball is the pinnacle of competitive sports this time of year.
Stepping back, if you are ready for the thrill of the tournaments, make sure to mark your calendars for the commencement of these events — as teams vie for glory, March 2025 is set to be unforgettable!