2025 NCAA Tournament March Madness

[Brad]

Could have just had a 4 team playoff this year and done just as well. Not much intrigue to this tournament.

My interest level this year has been at an all-time low.

Yep, and I don't see it getting any better in the NIL era...

[nebugeater]

Could have just had a 4 team playoff this year and done just as well. Not much intrigue to this tournament.

My interest level this year has been at an all-time low.

Yep, and I don't see it getting any better in the NIL era...

It's OK, though. I filled the available time by looking at so-so pictures of birds.

[OmahaRedWing]

I think it's hard to draw any definitive conclusions on the NIL era based on this year. Last year was NIL and we had a crazy mix in the final four.

I am kind of excited that seemingly the best 4 teams made it to the final four. All games should feel like a heavyweight fight.

[omaha79]

Could have just had a 4 team playoff this year and done just as well. Not much intrigue to this tournament.

My interest level this year has been at an all-time low.

Outside of Omaha making the tournament, I haven't watched much. My interest peaked and pretty much died opening weekend with no real upsets.

You could have just gone into your bracket and picked the entire thing chalk and you'd easily be leading heading into the Final Four.

[Louie]

I am kind of excited that seemingly the best 4 teams made it to the final four. All games should feel like a heavyweight fight.

That's how I'm viewing this year.

[mrsticka]

Florida just beat Auburn 79-73. So they will be playing for the national championship. They’re now awaiting their opponent. It will be either Duke or Houston.

[mrsticka]

Wow, I can't believe it! Houston came back and beat Duke 70-67. So they'll be playing for the national championship. Houston sure showed some resilience.

So the national championship matchup is all set. Florida and Houston.

[mrsticka]

Florida did it. They came from behind and won. So they’re the national champions. It's party time in Gainesville.

[swinquest]

With my son a Gator fan, we were watching it and the last couple of minutes (especially the final 47ish seconds) ended up being a true nail-biter. I cannot believe that Houston had that last second opportunity, but lost it like that.

In my opinion, that game is the true definition of championship basketball. Even though Florida did not lead for much of the game, they kept it close and made the clutch baskets at all of the right times.

[mrsticka]

Well, I guess that’s it for college basketball until October or November.

[skinzfan23]

Didn’t know where to put this, but I think Des Moines and Omaha should host the NCAA tournament more often. The Illinois game that is being played in Greenville South Carolina. Looks like the place is mostly empty. It’s like that every single year when they host I have no idea how they keep getting to host. At least when Midwestern cities host we pack the place.

[OmahaRedWing]

Didn’t know where to put this, but I think Des Moines and Omaha should host the NCAA tournament more often. The Illinois game that is being played in Greenville South Carolina. Looks like the place is mostly empty. It’s like that every single year when they host I have no idea how they keep getting to host. At least when Midwestern cities host we pack the place.

I didn't realize that until watching yesterday that St Louis hadn't hosted for 10 years. I could see them jumping into the mix more frequently. After the $100 million in renovations they did several years ago, the Enterprise Center is definitely a top flight arena again.

I think we will see PBA as a host. Especially if they proceed with the expansion (though they are already bigger than several that host).

[skinzfan23]

What a |expletive| hole. I think I knew this before but Carver arena in Iowa City doesn’t have AC and yesterday for the women’s games there, the temp inside was in the mid 80’s. Crazy to think that a large arena like that doesn’t have AC in 2026.

[Greg S]

What a |expletive| hole. I think I knew this before but Carver arena in Iowa City doesn’t have AC and yesterday for the women’s games there, the temp inside was in the mid 80’s. Crazy to think that a large arena like that doesn’t have AC in 2026.

I had to look it up. Was thinking maybe it was just broke? But no. Only the offices and some side areas have it. And it's newer than Devaney....how the heck did that happen?

This honestly should disqualify them from having events like this.

[skinzfan23]

https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/ncaab ... ball-bm06/

Conference records for the tournament:

CONFERENCE (REMAINING NCAA TEAMS) 2026 RECORD
Big East (1) 6-2 (.750)
Big Ten (2) 18-7 (.720)
Big 12 (1) 11-7 (.611)
SEC (0) 14-10 (.583)
Atlantic 10 (0) 2-2 (.500)
ACC (0) 6-8 (.429)
WCC (0) 1-3 (.250)
MAC (0) 1-2 (.333)

As mentioned before, the Big 10 has been very good this year, but the Big East continues to have the most success %-wise in the tournament. The Big East has also won 4 of the previous 9 tournaments. Crazy stat, is the Big 10 hasn't won since 2000.