It’s secure to say the 2025 NCAA Event has been probably the most predictable version of the Large Dance in latest reminiscence. A few years, March Insanity is a time of discovery. A month when a faculty or participant that the majority of America has by no means heard of can grow to be the discuss of the nation. This yr, nonetheless, March appears like a affirmation of what we noticed within the common season.
The intrigue on this bracket doesn’t come from the potential for upsets. It comes from the truth that we’re monitoring to see the very best group of Elite Eight and Closing 4 groups since at the very least 2002. It was identified earlier than the event that this bracket featured 4 of the six highest-rated groups within the 23-year historical past of KenPom’s rankings. And guess what? All 4 groups of these are nonetheless alive they usually’re all snug favorites to advance previous the Candy 16.
Finest groups in Adjusted Effectivity Ranking per KenPom heading into March Insanity since 2002:
1. 2025 DUKE – 38.162. 2015 Kentucky- 37.433. 2021 Gonzaga – 36.624. 2025 FLORIDA – 36.165. 2025 HOUSTON – 35.446. 2025 AUBURN – 35.05
This event is the very best we’ve ever seen
— Dalton Kates (@Dalton_Kates) March 17, 2025
SEC Stays The Strongest Convention We’ve Ever Seen
After a couple of losses and a few uncharacteristically shut calls within the Spherical of 64, the SEC skeptics got here out in full power. I’m glad the self-proclaimed specialists bought their licks in once they might as a result of they most likely received’t have the ability to for the remainder of the event. The SEC bought a document seven groups within the Candy 16. From the No. 1 general seed Auburn to No. 10 seed Arkansas, who’s the final double-digit seed remaining on the bracket in John Calipari’s maiden voyage in Fayetteville.
Auburn re-established itself after a shaky first-round win by outclassing Ryan Kalkbrenner and Creighton, a crew that frankly seemed poised for a possible upset in that sport after demolishing Louisville within the first spherical. Florida additionally proved it’s mettle, surviving a brutally powerful sport towards UConn because of Walter Clayton Jr.’s tough-as-nails efficiency down the stretch. Tennessee remains to be a title contender itself, however the Vols should get by convention foe Kentucky. A Kentucky crew that swept them within the common season
To not point out No. 6 seed Ole Miss, who has quietly been probably the most spectacular crew on this event up to now. The Rebels led by as many as 22 factors of their Spherical of 64 victory over No. 11 seed North Carolina and by as many as 26 factors of their Spherical of 32 victory over No. 3 seed Iowa State. Ole Miss is a slight underdog towards Michigan State within the Candy 16, however don’t be stunned if it continues to crash this get together. Chris Beard has been down this street, in any case.
The Large 10 Is Nonetheless The Large 10
Whereas the SEC has largely confirmed what we already knew up to now, the Large 10 has form of shocked us. I’d argue that the Large 10’s tear in the course of the first weekend was much more spectacular than the SEC getting seven groups into the Candy 16. The convention began the event 10-0, successful all of its Spherical of 64 matchups and its first two Spherical of 32 matchups earlier than No. 3 seed Wisconsin fell to No. 6 BYU on Saturday night time.
Hell, two of the most well-liked upset picks within the first spherical have been UCSD over Michigan and Excessive Level over Purdue. Not solely did the Large 10 favourite survive each of these matchups, they received their Spherical of 32 video games additionally. The convention can be accountable for the very best drama within the event so far, because of Derik Queen’s show-stopping buzzer-beater to beat Colorado State within the Spherical of 32. It was a powerful displaying by the Large 10 this month. Even when the SEC clogs up the RSVP listing for San Antonio.
It’s Going To Take A Wagon To Cease Duke
2001 Duke. 2012 Kentucky. 2024 UConn. Some groups are simply destined to tear their means via the season and the NCAA Event with little regard for the drama or the “insanity” that all of us crave. I’m about prepared to incorporate 2025 Duke on that mantle of dominance, becoming a member of these 4 groups and a handful of different lights-out teams within the sport’s historical past.
You understand how I discussed earlier that this bracket has 4 of the six highest groups within the 23-year historical past of the KenPom rankings? This Duke crew is primary. Ranked above 2014 Kentucky and 2021 Gonzaga, two groups who entered Closing 4 with unbeaten information. Not solely that, Duke’s present 39.00 internet effectivity ranking would rank as the very best within the historical past of the rankings in the event that they have been to maintain it.
Duke has the No.1 adjusted offensive effectivity ranking within the nation and the Blue Devils rank fourth nationally by permitting simply 61.7 factors per sport. Duke is led by a generational prospect in Cooper Flagg and a rising coach in Jon Scheyer, who’s rapidly cementing himself as a premier chief within the sport. This feels just like the begin to Duke’s subsequent chapter of dominance.
