March Madness 2025: Men's Tournament Schedule, Bracketology Predictions for Seeds

College basketball fans have been waiting all season long to reach March.

And now, they are just a night’s sleep away.

This season has been like no other.

Back-to-back defending champions UConn Huskies have struggled mightily throughout the season, while preseason AP Poll No. 1 Kansas dropped out of the AP Top 25 rankings this past week for just the third time in 16 years (Feb. 8, 2021, Feb. 2, 2009).

With the 2025 men's college basketball tournament just a few weeks away, here's everything you need to know.

Tournament Schedule

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Selection Sunday: March 16

First Four: March 18-19

First Round: March 20-21

Second Round: March 22-23

Sweet 16: March 27-28

Elight Eight: March 29-30

Final Four: April 5

NCAA championship: April 7

No. 1 Seed Prediction: Auburn

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Despite competing in arguably the greatest all-time single-season conference, Auburn has withstood just about every test they've faced.

The Tigers have won 14 of their 15 conference games and are currently 15-2 in Quad 1 games, with wins against powerhouse non-conference programs such as Houston, Iowa State, Memphis, North Carolina, and Purdue.

While senior forward Johni Broome is arguably the best player in the country, five other Tigers average double-figure points.

While Duke may be the most complete team in the country, this team is undeniably the most talented, deserving of the top overall seed.

No. 1 Seed Prediction: Duke

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Led by freshman and future lottery pick Cooper Flagg, Duke has bulldozed its way through the ACC conference, winning 16 of their 17 games—their sole loss coming on the road against a Clemson team that reached the Elite Eight a year ago.

Outside of their conference wins, the Blue Devils have earned significant non-conference wins against teams like top-ranked Auburn, Arizona, and most recently, a 43-point drubbing against Illinois at Madison Square Garden last week.

While questions loom around third-year guard Tyrese Proctor’s availability after sustaining a knee injury in the team’s most recent victory over Miami (FL), freshman guard Isaiah Evans has what it takes to fill the role and has averaged 16.7 points over his last three games.

All-around, this Duke team has no flaws and is the only D-I men’s program to rank top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency per KenPom.

No. 1 Seed Prediction: Houston

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How hard is it to beat Houston?

It takes a 45-minute effort.

No, that’s not a typo.

Of the four teams to beat the Cougars, only one (Auburn) accomplished it in regulation, and that was Houston's second game of the season.

In their second year in the Big 12, Kelvin Sampson's squad has been utterly dominant, winning 16 of 17 conference games.

Since losing to San Diego State in overtime on November 30, 2024, Houston has won 20 of their last 21.

While Houston's defense is always among the best in the nation, the offense has been otherworldly—particularly from the three-point line.

The Cougars are shooting 40.3 percent from deep, their highest mark since at least 1997-98.

This is a team loaded with talent and experience; expect the Cougars to reach at least the Elite Eight.

No. 1 Seed Prediction: Florida

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Here’s where things get interesting: You can easily make a case for St. John’s to earn the final top seed.

With two regular season games and the Big East conference tournament still to come, Rick Pitino’s squad has already won their most games in a single season since 1998-99 (28 wins).

The Johnnies have beaten the back-to-back champions UConn twice this season and sealed at least a share of the regular season conference title with two regular games left on their schedule.

As remarkable as the team has been this season, Florida deserves the top seed more.

Florida's stunning loss this past week at Georgia shouldn't overshadow what they've already accomplished this season.

Florida knocked off the then-AP-ranked top team (Tennessee, Auburn) on two different occasions this season while earning impressive wins against Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt.

Behind Alijah Martin, Will Richard, and Walter Clayton Jr., the Gators have the best backcourt in the nation and have done more than enough to prove they deserve a No. 1 seed.