Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, because the madness has officially begun. With Selection Sunday revealing the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket, I now present my perfect bracket in all its glory.
South Region
UC San Diego – Second Round: All year, I’ve heard whispers that UC San Diego could be a Cinderella team in March. Initially, I wasn’t convinced, but after digging into the numbers, I realized the Tritons might be trouble for No. 5 seed Michigan. Why? Because UC San Diego is Michigan’s kryptonite — a slow-paced team that limits turnovers. The Wolverines, on the other hand, thrive in an up-tempo game, making this a prime upset opportunity for the No. 12 seed Tritons.
Yale – Sweet 16: A good draw for one team means a nightmare for another. Just like Michigan, No. 4 seed Texas A&M got an unlucky matchup against the battle-tested No. 13 seed Yale Bulldogs. Ivy League teams have a history of first-round upsets, and I believe it’s bound to happen again. Yale’s tournament experience will help them roll past Texas A&M and then take down UC San Diego to become my Cinderella of the South.
Auburn – Elite Eight: Auburn is good. Really good. No. 1 overall seed good. But being the top seed doesn’t guarantee a deep run. While I think the Tigers will ride their momentum into the Elite Eight, their historic season ends here. Why? Because this team is regressing, and with star player Johni Broome battling injuries, Auburn’s magic will run out just short of San Antonio.
Michigan State University – Final Four: The depth of Michigan State basketball is a thing of beauty, and it’s what will carry the green and white to the Alamodome. To get there, MSU must take down No. 15 seed Bryant, No. 10 seed New Mexico, No. 6 seed Ole Miss and No. 1 seed Auburn. Bryant and Ole Miss shouldn’t pose much of a challenge, but New Mexico and Auburn will be tougher tests. Again, it’s all about depth, and the Spartans have plenty of it, helping them reach their first Final Four since 2019.
"I’ve watched MSU all year, and I can say it’s been an amazing experience to see how well our team plays together and the chemistry and talent they have,” user experience graduate student Collin Mizner said. "I’ve had so much fun this year watching this team, especially with how good they’ve been."
Mizner and his friends are heading to Cleveland to support the Spartans against Bryant on Friday. He sees it as the perfect opportunity to watch MSU dominate its way into the next round.
East Region
Akron – Second Round: Let’s kick off the East Region with some Cinderella magic. Akron has the potential to shake things up by knocking off No. 4 seed Arizona. I could break down the analytics — like their fast-paced style of play — but I’ll let you in on a little secret: never pick against the MAC in the first round. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
VCU – Sweet 16: The No. 11 seed Rams are giving me flashbacks to their legendary 2011 Final Four run. Do I think history repeats itself 14 years later? No. But VCU is built for March, and a Sweet 16 run feels inevitable. They’ll take down No. 6 seed BYU and No. 3 seed Wisconsin along the way.
Duke – Sweet 16: Duke has been the talk of college basketball all season, and rightfully so. With head coach Jon Scheyer leading a talented squad featuring Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, a deep postseason run seems inevitable … right? Nope. The Blue Devils are young, come from a weak ACC, and run into a red-hot Oregon team that will end their season in the Sweet 16.
Oregon – Elite Eight: Speaking of Oregon, here they are. The Ducks are peaking at the perfect time and have the experience to outmatch a young Duke team en route to the Elite Eight.
Alabama – Final Four: The East Region belongs to No. 2 seed Alabama and its explosive offense. My confidence in the Crimson Tide stems from head coach Nate Oats, who has turned this program into a powerhouse. I’ve watched them all season, and I have zero doubt Alabama will roll past No. 5 seed Saint Mary’s, Cinderella VCU and underdog Oregon to reach their second straight Final Four.
West Region
Grand Canyon – Sweet 16: The West Region’s Cinderella? No. 13 seed Grand Canyon. Last year, the Antelopes shocked No. 5 seed Saint Mary’s, putting the program on the map. With head coach Bryce Drew still at the helm, I predict they go even further — taking down a young Maryland squad and following it up with a win over an inconsistent Memphis team.
Texas Tech – Sweet 16: It was tough not to push Texas Tech into the Final Four, but being in the toughest region of the tournament makes that nearly impossible. One thing I love about this team? Tenacity and grit. That alone will help them survive against a tough Missouri squad, but the road ends here.
St. John's – Elite Eight: The team to beat my scrappy Texas Tech team is No. 2 seed St. Johns. Mentored by hall of fame head coach Rick Pitino, it was also hard for me not to position the Red Storm in the Final Four. Their defense is one of the best in the nation, and this is why I see them routing Kansas and Texas Tech in the other direction. Any other year this is a Final Four run, so it’s too bad that they’re in Florida's region.
Florida – Final Four: Florida is very good. Elite offense. Elite defense. Elite talent. That combination is enough to cruise past the defending champions (No. 8 seed UConn), eliminate my Cinderella Grand Canyon, and take down St. John’s to reach their first Final Four since 2014.
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Midwest Region
Wofford – Second Round: The No. 15 seed Wofford Terriers shouldn’t even be in this tournament. They were a No. 6 seed in their own conference tourney — yet here they are, proving once again that they just find ways to win. With lights-out shooting and a classic Cinderella feel, I’m rolling with Wofford to shock No. 2 seed Tennessee.
UCLA – Sweet 16: Wofford’s Cinderella story ends here. Enter No. 7 seed UCLA. I wasn’t initially high on the Bruins (and honestly, I could still see them losing to No. 10 Utah State in the first round), but this team competes. In my bracket, they take advantage of a favorable draw and reach the Sweet 16.
High Point – Sweet 16: This Cinderella is so unknown, I had to Google what state they’re from (it’s North Carolina, by the way). But don’t sleep on No. 13 seed High Point — they’ve dominated competition all season. In their first-ever NCAA Tournament, I have them taking down No. 4 Purdue and No. 5 Clemson to crash the Sweet 16.
Illinois – Elite Eight: When Illini head coach Brad Underwood gets his team clicking, Illinois becomes a terrifying tournament team. We saw it last year, and I believe we’ll see it again. Underwood will have his squad ready for Xavier/Texas, ready for No. 3 seed Kentucky and ready for UCLA, propelling the Illini to back-to-back Elite Eights.
Houston – Final Four: Surviving the chaos of the Midwest Region (which, let’s be honest, is the worst region in the bracket), the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars punch their ticket to San Antonio. One word defines this squad: defense. That’s what carries them past a sneaky-good No. 8 seed Gonzaga, then over Cinderella High Point, and finally, through Illinois in the Elite Eight. The Cougars march on to the Final Four.
Final Four
MSU vs. Florida: Depth carried MSU this far, but in March, depth alone isn’t enough. Florida, battle-tested in the SEC, has both elite defense and offense — the exact combination needed to win in March. As much as it pains me to say it, Izzo and the Spartans fall short. Florida marches into the National Championship.
Mizner would be disappointed in me for picking this result. For him, he believes MSU will dominate this tournament, taking home the 2025 National Championship. "We can get it done. Some things have to go our way, but I’m confident MSU will take home the ultimate prize," Mizner said.
Alabama vs. Houston: Two elite teams, two elite coaches. But polar opposites — Alabama thrives on offense, Houston dominates on defense. And we all know how the saying goes: defense wins championships. Houston shuts down the Tide and advances to the title game.
Houston vs. Florida – National Championship: This is the title game we deserve. Two elite teams, high energy, elite coaching and balance. Not much separates them — except one thing: strength of schedule. Florida battled through the toughest conference in college basketball history and still managed 30 wins. That deserves a trophy. And they get it.
