By William Loughnan, Year 12
With March Madness upon us, basketball fans nationwide are getting ready for one of the most exciting events in sports. The 2025 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments promise to deliver the same usual hype, surprises, and Cinderella stories that define the yearly tournament. With Selection Sunday set for March 16th, the tournament will officially begin with the First Four on March 18th and 19th and transition into full-bracket play on March 20th. As the tournament unfolds, here’s what to expect from this year’s March Madness:
As always, the tournament will include a mix of power programs and dark horse possibilities. Entering this year’s bracket, old-school blue bloods such as Duke, Kansas, Purdue, and Houston are among the top contenders to make deep tourney runs. Returning national champion UConn is also in the mix to repeat. Other teams such as Arizona, Tennessee, and Baylor have had good regular seasons and can be legitimate threats to the top seeds.
On the women’s side, South Carolina is still the team to beat, with Iowa, Stanford, and LSU all in the mix for the title. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and JuJu Watkins are some of the biggest stars that will probably shine during the tournament.
One of the most exciting aspects of March Madness is seeing underdog schools that catch everyone by surprise. Each year, lower-seeded teams stun the world of basketball with upsets. Mid-major leagues such as the Mountain West, Atlantic 10, and Missouri Valley have traditionally produced bracket-busting victories.
Watch out for the likes of Florida Atlantic, Charleston, and Liberty- teams that have consistently upset higher-seeded teams in past tournaments. The possibilities of a 12-seed or a 13-seed upsetting a favorite team are always high, leading to some of the most exciting moments in sports.
The NCAA Tournament is a platform for prospective NBA and WNBA stars. Here are some key players to keep an eye out for. For the men, players like Zach Edey (Purdue) and Reed Sheppard (Kentucky) will be looking to deliver crucial performances. Their performances could determine their respective teams’ fate in the tournament and enhance their draft stocks for the NBA.
For the women, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has been dazzling onlookers with her shooting range and playmaking abilities. LSU’s Angel Reese and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso will be expected to power their way to the top in the paint, putting their teams into the running.
Although March Madness seems to be just about the players, it’s equally important for coaches. Veteran coaches like Bill Self (Kansas), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), and Mark Few (Gonzaga) have brought teams to the tournament threshold before and understand how to lead them through the pressure cooker. Younger coaches are making their marks, proving that a fresh spin can shake up the tournament.
While it is nearly impossible to forecast March Madness, the highest-ranked teams tend to have great defenses, veteran leaders, and consistent shooters. A mix of blue-blood programs and Cinderella stories will likely make it to the Final Four, which is held in San Antonio, Texas, on April 5th, with the championship game on April 7th.
Throughout the madness, one thing is guaranteed: March Madness will feature unforgettable moments, buzzer-beaters, and the type of drama that makes it one of the best shows in sports.
