It’s protected 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 college or participant that the majority of America has by no means heard of can grow to be the speak of the nation. This yr, nonetheless, March seems 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 most effective group of Elite Eight and Remaining 4 groups since no less than 2002. It was recognized 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.
Greatest 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 most effective we’ve ever seen
— Dalton Kates (@Dalton_Kates) March 17, 2025
SEC Stays The Strongest Convention We’ve Ever Seen
After just a few losses and a few uncharacteristically shut calls within the Spherical of 64, the SEC skeptics got here out in full pressure. I’m glad the self-proclaimed specialists received their licks in once they may as a result of they most likely gained’t be capable of for the remainder of the event. The SEC received 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 staff that frankly appeared poised for a possible upset in that sport after demolishing Louisville within the first spherical. Florida additionally proved it’s mettle, surviving a brutally robust sport towards UConn because of Walter Clayton Jr.’s tough-as-nails efficiency down the stretch. Tennessee continues to be a title contender itself, however the Vols should get by convention foe Kentucky. A Kentucky staff that swept them within the common season
To not point out No. 6 seed Ole Miss, who has quietly been probably the most spectacular staff on this event to date. 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 shocked if it continues to crash this social gathering. Chris Beard has been down this street, in spite of everything.
The Large 10 Is Nonetheless The Large 10
Whereas the SEC has largely confirmed what we already knew to date, the Large 10 has kind of shocked us. I might argue that the Large 10’s tear through the first weekend was much more spectacular than the SEC getting seven groups into the Candy 16. The convention began the event 10-0, profitable 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 gained their Spherical of 32 video games additionally. The convention can also be accountable for the best drama within the event to date, 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 approach by 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 know the way 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 staff is primary. Ranked above 2014 Kentucky and 2021 Gonzaga, two groups who entered Remaining 4 with unbeaten information. Not solely that, Duke’s present 39.00 web effectivity score would rank as the 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 score 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.
