2025 Males’s NCAA Event Bracket: Newest Projection of the Area of 68

Faculty basketball’s “Feast Week” started this previous Thursday with seven champions of multi-team occasions already topped, however it was the Maui Invitational starting on Monday, quickly to be adopted by the Gamers Period Pageant on Tuesday and the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday, that actually upped the ante.

There ought to be various Elite Eight-caliber battles arising within the subsequent few days.

Naturally, this November nuttiness has us serious about March Insanity, so how a few new projection of the 2025 males’s NCAA event bracket?

Afterward within the 12 months, a lot of the projected bracket evaluation will give attention to issues akin to NET, Wins Above Bubble and all kinds of efficiency-based and results-based metrics. However we can’t even get the primary batch of NET rankings for an additional couple of weeks—normally round Dec. 5—and even these preliminary rankings shall be a bit wonky, per regular.

In the intervening time, these projections are nonetheless largely primarily based on preseason expectations and KenPom rankings, although there may be lots that has modified in these first three weeks of motion.

Equally, the 31 projected auto bids will finally be primarily based completely on convention document. There have not been any convention video games but, although, so we’re merely rolling with the highest-rated workforce on KenPom as every league’s projected champ.

With that out of the best way, let’s begin with the total bracket earlier than some temporary commentary on the present state of the bubble and the highest seed line. Following that, we now have a full conference-by-conference rundown, highlighting a number of the greatest modifications from one week ago.

East Area (Newark)

Lexington, KY
1. Tennessee vs. 16. Norfolk State
8. Pittsburgh vs. 9. Oregon

Milwaukee, WI
4. Cincinnati vs. 13. Yale
5. Ohio State vs. 12. Liberty

Windfall, RI
3. Connecticut vs. 14. UMass Lowell
6. BYU vs. 11. Drake

Raleigh, NC
2. Duke vs. 15. Lipscomb
7. Florida vs. 10. Dayton

Midwest Area (Indianapolis)

Wichita, KS
1. Kansas vs. 16. Little Rock
8. Creighton vs. 9. Saint Mary’s

Denver, CO
4. Purdue vs. 13. Arkansas State
5. Texas vs. 12. Grand Canyon

Raleigh, NC
3. Alabama vs. 14. Furman
6. Baylor vs. 11. Nebraska / Boise State

Cleveland, OH
2. Marquette vs. 15. South Dakota State
7. Mississippi State vs. 10. Maryland

South Area (Atlanta)

Lexington, KY
1. Auburn vs. 16. Saint Peter’s / Alabama State
8. Michigan State vs. 9. Xavier

Denver, CO
4. Wisconsin vs. 13. McNeese
5. Texas A&M vs. 12. Penn State / New Mexico

Windfall, RI
3. North Carolina vs. 14. Charleston
6. Texas Tech vs. 11. Utah State

Wichita, KS
2. Houston vs. 15. Northern Colorado
7. St. John’s vs. 10. Michigan

West Area (San Francisco)

Seattle, WA
1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Bucknell / Central Connecticut
8. UCLA vs. 9. Arkansas

Seattle, WA
4. Memphis vs. 13. Excessive Level
5. Illinois vs. 12. UC Irvine

Milwaukee, WI
3. Iowa State vs. 14. Fort Wayne
6. Indiana vs. 11. Nevada

Cleveland, OH
2. Kentucky vs. 15. Kent State
7. Arizona vs. 10. Clemson

1. Auburn Tigers

2. Kansas Jayhawks

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs

4. Tennessee Volunteers

5. Duke Blue Devils

6. Houston Cougars

Frankly, in the event you don’t love this high line, simply wait just a few days and see how issues shake out within the numerous marquee occasions, as so much might change in a rush this week. (See: Connecticut shedding to Memphis and immediately plummeting to the No. 3 seed line.)

Kansas and Duke are squaring off Tuesday night time in Las Vegas, the place Duke might make a near-unassailable case for a No. 1 seed by including a impartial win over Kansas to a resume that additionally now has a highway win over Arizona. Conversely, if the Jayhawks win, they perhaps leapfrog Auburn for No. 1 total.

There’s additionally Alabama vs. Houston Tuesday in Las Vegas, each of whom are shut sufficient to the highest line that the winner will immediately have a robust argument for a No. 1 seed, notably if that winner goes on to take first place within the Gamers Period Pageant.

Within the Battle 4 Atlantis, Gonzaga would possibly must undergo West Virginia, Indiana and Arizona to keep up/strengthen its No. 1 seed.

Auburn will face North Carolina on Tuesday and both Memphis or Michigan State on Wednesday.

The one one right here with out something large on the horizon is Tennessee, who already staked its declare to a No. 1 seed by dominating the Baha Mar Hoops Championship. Apart from a troublesome highway recreation towards Illinois on Dec. 14, it ought to be easy crusing for the Volunteers no less than till the brand new 12 months.

Fifth-to-Final In: Nevada Wolf Pack—Principally broke even with two wins within the Charleston Traditional.

Fourth-to-Final In: Nebraska Cornhuskers—Rallied from slender Saint Mary’s loss to topple rival Creighton.

Third-to-Final In: Penn State Nittany Lions—Weak competitors to date, however the impression protection is promising.

Second-to-Final In: Boise State Broncos—Tyson Degenhart would possibly get this workforce in all by himself.

Final Crew In: New Mexico Lobos—Blew out two SWAC groups to stay barely in subject.

****CUT LINE****

First Crew Out: Ole Miss Rebels—Undefeated, however let’s have a look at what occurs in Rady Youngsters’s Invitational.

Second Crew Out: NC State Wolfpack—Undefeated, however let’s have a look at what occurs in Rady Youngsters’s Invitational. [That’s not an accidental copy/paste. Both Ole Miss and NC State will join BYU and Purdue in that Thursday/Friday MTE.]

Third Crew Out: Georgia Bulldogs—Battled with Marquette, upset St. John’s and is perhaps legit.

Fourth Crew Out: Stanford Cardinal—Received at Santa Clara in bettering to uncommon 6-0 begin.

Fifth Crew Out: VCU Rams—Tough week however no less than did not go winless in Charleston.

4 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 5. Duke; 12. North Carolina; 29. Pittsburgh; 39. Clemson

Additionally Thought-about: NC State, Stanford, Wake Forest, Miami

Largest Change: Hurricanes swept away

Early-season tournaments are a double-edged sword that might be a springboard to a fantastic season or might be a colossal bellyflop.

For Miami, the Charleston Traditional was very a lot the latter.

The Hurricanes weren’t the runaway favourite to win the event, however they have been a high contender. It was just about a three-way tossup between them, VCU and Nevada.

They have been absolutely purported to win no less than one recreation, although.

They did not.

Miami misplaced its opener towards Drake by 11, the next recreation towards Oklahoma State by six and the seventh-place recreation towards VCU by seven, plummeting straight from a projected No. 8 seed to “Secure to simply about overlook about them till additional discover.”

In all three video games, the Hurricanes’ protection was abysmal, permitting no less than 1.20 factors per possession in every—this with out even dealing with Nevada, which in all probability has essentially the most prolific offense of the opposite seven groups that have been on this subject.

Simply the newest entry in what has been a tough begin to the 12 months for the ACC as a complete.

No less than Duke scored that highway win over Arizona, however as of Monday morning, Torvik had the league at simply 3-17 vs. Quad 1—Duke’s win over Arizona, Wake Forest’s win over Michigan and California’s win at USC—to go together with three Quad 4 losses. (The opposite 4 main conferences have a mixed complete of two such losses.)

That is not official Quadrant knowledge, utilizing Torvik rankings as a substitute of NET rankings, which do not exist but. Nonetheless, it is a testomony to how poorly issues are stepping into what’s trying like a four-bid, 18-team league in the intervening time.

8 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 2. Kansas; 6. Houston; 9. Iowa State; 13. Cincinnati; 21. Baylor; 22. Texas Tech; 24. BYU; 27. Arizona

Additionally Thought-about: Utah, TCU, Kansas State, Arizona State, UCF

Largest Change: Pink Raiders and Wildcats every drop a number of seed strains

Let’s begin with Arizona, who we additionally harped on on this part one week in the past.

Seven days after struggling a 15-point highway loss to Wisconsin, the Wildcats misplaced by 14 at residence towards Duke. There have been considerably fewer fouls and free-throw makes an attempt than there have been within the recreation towards the Badgers, however it’s regarding that Arizona—which had been the very best rebounding workforce within the nation heading into that recreation—completed minus-13 on the glass towards a Blue Devils workforce that begins three freshmen.

The Wildcats will play within the Battle 4 Atlantis later this week, and so they would possibly drop out of our projected subject altogether if they do not win that event, contemplating they’re presently 2-2 with a pair of residence wins over groups that do not rank within the KenPom high 300.

In comparison with that, no less than Texas Tech has 5 wins and suffered its lone loss by a one-point margin. Nevertheless, that loss to still-not-even-close-to-projected-to-dance Saint Joseph’s was an ill-advised misstep for a Pink Raiders workforce which will find yourself solely taking part in one nonconference recreation towards a high 75 opponent—a impartial recreation towards Texas A&M in two weeks.

Alternatives will abound in Large 12 play, after all, however not a fantastic begin for Texas Tech.

5 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 8. Marquette; 10. Connecticut; 28. St. John’s; 30. Creighton; 35. Xavier

Additionally Thought-about: Windfall

Largest Change: Double whammy for Creighton

Taking part in at residence in a rivalry recreation towards Nebraska that it was supposed to win by an 11-point margin, Creighton as a substitute suffered an 11-point loss to the Cornhuskers.

Large man Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 49 factors in Creighton’s season opener, however he was inexplicably held to only one field-goal try whereas taking part in 39 minutes on this one.

Credit score the place it is as a result of Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg and the entire Cornhuskers on the ground for neutralizing the Bluejays’ greatest star, however one field-goal try?

Significantly?

And it was a three-point try?

Might you think about Zach Edey taking part in 39 minutes and taking one shot?

Creighton was completely content material to simply let it fly from distance, taking 42 three-point makes an attempt towards simply 10 twos, however lacking 30 threes and committing 17 turnovers was fairly the deadly mixture.

Including literal damage to insult, veteran level guard Steven Ashworth suffered an ankle damage late within the recreation, with coach Greg McDermott saying afterwards: “We don’t know how lengthy Steven’s going to be out; I feel it’ll be some time.”

Ashworth is averaging 16.0 factors and 6.4 assists per recreation, and it will be an enormous blow if he’s out for any prolonged time period.

For now, they drop just a few seed strains, however this one loss might flip right into a five-game shedding streak in a rush, with video games towards San Diego State, Texas A&M, a TBD opponent within the remaining spherical of the Gamers Period Pageant and Kansas on faucet.

12 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 14. Wisconsin; 15. Purdue; 18. Ohio State; 20. Illinois; 23. Indiana; 31. UCLA; 32. Michigan State; 36. Oregon; 37. Maryland; 38. Michigan; 44. Nebraska; 45. Penn State

Additionally Thought-about: Rutgers, Northwestern, Iowa

Largest Change: Nonetheless a dozen groups, however Ruh roh, Rutgers

The aforementioned highway win over Creighton was sufficient to vault Nebraska from “additionally thought of” into the projected subject, however it ended up being a fellow Large Ten workforce that made some room for the Cornhuskers by struggling a nasty loss.

That workforce was Rutgers, and the dangerous loss got here courtesy of Kennesaw State.

Taking part in outdoors of Piscataway for the primary time this season, the freshmen-led Scarlet Knights dug themselves into a really deep gap on Sunday afternoon, trailing the Owls by as many as 21 factors early within the second half.

They did finally get up, went on a run and had a chance to win within the closing seconds. Nevertheless, their comeback fell simply quick, and so they’ve already been saddled with a loss throughout a gap stretch that was purported to lead to a 5-0 begin to the 12 months.

KenPom was already not a believer within the AP Prime 25 Scarlet Knights, having them rated at 68th even earlier than that recreation. And at this level, they’re going to must play their method again into the at-large dialog.

Conversely, a spherical of applause for Wisconsin, which added victories over UCF and Pittsburgh in successful the Greenbrier Tip-Off. The Badgers already had a fantastic residence win over Arizona on what’s now a stellar resume. Although they opened the season as our first team out of the sphere, they’ve already rocketed as much as a projected No. 4 seed.

9 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 1. Auburn; 4. Tennessee; 7. Kentucky; 11. Alabama; 17. Texas A&M; 19. Texas; 25. Florida; 26. Mississippi State; 34. Arkansas

Additionally Thought-about: Vanderbilt, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, LSU, Missouri

Largest Change: Tennessee makes fairly the assertion

For the second consecutive 12 months, Rick Barnes pulled fairly the pair of up-transfers from the portal.

Final season, Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado) was the Volunteers’ nationwide sensation, whereas Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate) performed a essential position because the workforce’s sixth man. This season, it is Chaz Lanier (North Florida) and Igor Milicic Jr. (Charlotte) within the early highlight at a mixed 31 factors per recreation.

That duo was large this previous week within the Baha Mar Hoops Championship, wherein Tennessee blew out each Virginia and Baylor.

Lanier went for 51 factors, capturing a mixed 13-for-22 from three-point vary. He was additionally the star of its 22-point rout of Louisville, scoring 19 in that one.

Milicic had 14 factors and 6 offensive rebounds and was the MVP towards UVA—the place he started his school profession in 2021, barely seeing the ground for the Cavaliers earlier than heading to Charlotte.

The 6’10” heart additionally tallied no less than three assists for the third and fourth consecutive video games—a enjoyable wrinkle this offense positively didn’t have final 12 months with Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka splitting duties on the 5.

Per regular, although, protection is the secret in Knoxville. After the 64-42 win over Virginia, Tennessee led Baylor 47-20 at halftime earlier than taking its foot off the gasoline a bit.

The Vols at the moment are proper up there with Auburn alongside the No. 1 seed line, with the Tigers ascending to No. 1 total with their victory over Iowa State in Maui.

9 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 3. Gonzaga; 16. Memphis; 33. Saint Mary’s; 40. Drake; 41. Dayton; 42. Utah State; 43. Nevada; 46. Boise State; 47. New Mexico

Additionally Thought-about: San Diego State, San Francisco, VCU

Largest Change: Charleston Traditional giveth; Charleston Traditional taketh away

With nary a ranked workforce in its eight-team subject, the Charleston Traditional was nowhere close to the marquee MTE that the Maui Invitational, Battle 4 Atlantis and Gamers Period Pageant are/shall be.

In lieu of title contenders, what it did have is a boatload of bubble groups who had to determine the way to distribute these 12 wins and 12 losses.

For Drake, it was a beautiful weekend. The Bulldogs defeated every of Miami, Florida Atlantic and Vanderbilt by double digits in turning into the shock champion.

They have been relentless on the offensive glass in all three video games, this regardless of not taking part in anybody taller than 6’8″. Additionally they went off for 11 steals and 5 blocks within the championship recreation towards the Commodores. Bennett Stirtz and Mitch Mascari every performed all 120 minutes, scoring a mixed 108 factors for what’s abruptly a viable bubble workforce.

For VCU, it was a a lot completely different, agonizing story.

The Rams led by a slender margin for many of their opener towards Seton Corridor, however they fell aside within the remaining 10 minutes of regulation, in the end shedding in time beyond regulation. Related story within the subsequent recreation towards Nevada, blowing a 15-point second-half lead because the Wolf Pack gained on back-to-back three-point buckets within the remaining minute.

Between the 2 video games, VCU was outscored 31-10 between the 10- and 5-minute marks of the second half, turning what was a golden alternative right into a nightmarish journey to South Carolina.

Beating Miami within the seventh-place recreation was actually higher than shedding that one, too, however that is a tough pair of losses for a VCU workforce that is not going to get many Quadrant 1 probabilities this season.

21 Groups within the Projected Area (by General Seed): 48. UC Irvine; 49. Liberty; 50. Grand Canyon; 51. McNeese; 52. Yale; 53. Arkansas State; 54. Excessive Level; 55. Fort Wayne; 56. Furman; 57. Charleston; 58. UMass Lowell; 59. Kent State; 60. Northern Colorado; 61. Lipscomb; 62. South Dakota State; 63. Little Rock; 64. Norfolk State; 65. Saint Peter’s; 66. Alabama State; 67. Bucknell; 68. Central Connecticut

Additionally Thought-about: N/A

Largest Change: Princeton takes a pounding in Myrtle Seaside

Heading into the season, Princeton regarded like a improbable candidate for a(nother) Cinderella story.

With main scorers Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce returning alongside key 2023-24 contributors Blake Peters and Dalen Davis, it appeared seemingly {that a} workforce that went 24-3 through the common season can be even higher this time round.

That definitively has not been the case to date.

The Tigers barely gained their opener towards Iona, wanted a late comeback to beat Northeastern and suffered a house loss to Loyola-Chicago just a few days previous to heading south for the Myrtle Seaside Invitational—the place they have been nonetheless thought of the favourite in a subject in any other case devoid of KenPom Prime 100 groups.

They instantly acquired pummeled by Wright State for a surprising 80-62 loss and proceeded to lose by three to Texas State the next day.

Princeton did rally to destroy Portland within the seventh-place recreation, however it was method too little, method too late.

What slim hope Princeton had of turning into the Ivy League’s first ever at-large workforce has already gone out the window, and we now see Yale—even with 4 losses of its personal—projected to win the league.