The 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament kicked off its first full day of action with a mixed bag of results. Notable upsets saw McNeese State Cowboys edge Missouri Tigers, while Drake Bulldogs pulled off a thrilling win against the same opponent.
Meanwhile, BYU Cougars continued their hot streak, dispatching VCU Rams in a convincing performance. The team’s guard play and physicality proved too much for their opponents, with Egor Demin handling pressure well and Fousseyni Traore providing a spark off the bench.
Gonzaga Bulldogs, initially seeded at No. 8, made a strong case to be considered overseeded. Mark Few’s team dominated Houston Cougars in their first-round matchup, showcasing an impressive 27-3 start and setting up a potential path to the Elite Eight or Final Four.
Top-seeded teams held serve on Thursday, with all four winning comfortably against lesser opponents. The lack of major upsets suggests that these top seeds may have a better chance at advancing further in the tournament.
Despite this, fans can look forward to exciting matchups in the second round and beyond. With Gonzaga’s impressive start, BYU’s strong performance, and other teams’ potential for surprise runs, March Madness has truly begun to unfold.
Source: https://www.si.com/college-basketball/march-madness-takeaways-byu-could-make-a-run-gonzaga-may-be-underseeded