The NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket is set, and several notable teams made their way in. North Carolina, which barely qualified after a 1-12 record against Quad 1 teams, received a nod from the selection committee, sparking debate about potential favoritism.
Auburn earned top billing as the overall number one seed despite losing three of its last four games and dropping a matchup to Duke earlier this year. Coach Bruce Pearl acknowledged that his team “has to get our mojo back a little bit” before the tournament begins.
Meanwhile, Duke, which received lower seeding than expected, is hoping star Cooper Flagg returns in time for its opening game against San Diego State. Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer expressed optimism about Flagg’s chances of returning for Friday’s matchup.
The SEC made history with 14 teams participating, including Florida as the top seed. The conference dominated the selection committee’s decisions, with Auburn, Kentucky, and several other teams making the cut despite underwhelming performances recently.
North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham downplayed concerns about potential favoritism, stating that the team met key criteria to earn its spot. However, CBS analyst Seth Davis questioned whether UNC received an unfair advantage due to Cunningham’s position as chair of the selection committee.
The tournament begins with several intriguing matchups, including a possible first-round game between Arkansas and St. John’s under Rick Pitino, who aims to revive his coaching career after leading Providence to the 1987 Final Four. Other notable teams, such as Michigan State, UConn, and Iowa State, also secured spots in the bracket.
The SEC’s dominance has sparked questions about whether March Madness needs expansion to accommodate more big-school teams. With this year’s tournament featuring 14 SEC representatives, it remains to be seen whether the conference can capture its first national title since 2012.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/march-madness-mens-ncaa-basketball-tournament-bracket-2025