2025 March Madness: Who’s Built for a Run and Who’s Headed for an Early Exit
The 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket is officially set, and with it comes the usual mix of surprises, snubs (sorry, West Virginia), and a renewed hope that this is the year your bracket goes the distance. When considering March Madness 2025 and teams to watch and teams to avoid, predicting success is never easy – it’s a one-and-done format, young players get hot (or ice-cold) in an instant, and the randomness of the tournament is what makes it so great.
So how do you navigate the madness? Break it down by region. Here’s a look at which teams have legit Final Four potential and which ones you might want to avoid when filling out your bracket.
South Region
The South runs through Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed, but we’re not here to talk about the obvious contenders. Let’s look at a team that could surprise people and a team that’s more likely to bust your bracket than make a deep run.
Team to watch: #5 Michigan Wolverines
Michigan might be built differently than most modern teams, and that’s exactly why they could be a problem. While most teams live and die by the three, Michigan leans on two dominant 7-footers in Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf, creating serious matchup nightmares. Their size, rebounding, and defensive presence could allow them to physically wear down teams over the course of a game. If the Wolverines control the paint and the tempo, don’t be surprised if they bull their way into the Elite Eight.
Team to avoid: #3 Iowa State Cyclones
At one point, Iowa State looked like a legit contender. Then the second half of the season happened. A 15-1 start crumbled into an 8-7 finish, and now they’re coming into the tournament on shaky ground. Making matters worse, second-leading scorer Keshon Gilbert is out with an injury, and the offense has stalled at the wrong time. In a tournament where momentum matters, Iowa State looks more like a team that could be heading for the exits early.
East Region
All eyes are on Duke and Cooper Flagg, but beyond the favorites, this side of the bracket is full of uncertainty. Some teams have high ceilings, others are ticking time bombs.
Team to watch: #6 BYU Cougars
BYU can score – plain and simple. They’re the No. 1 offense in the nation since mid-February, and when a team gets hot at the right time, they can be lethal in March. They have an elite shooter in Richie Saunders, a 6’9″ point forward in Egor Demin, and they just torched Iowa State in a 96-92 shootout in the Big 12 Tournament. If their offense stays in rhythm, they’ll be a nightmare to deal with.
Team to avoid: #4 Arizona Wildcats
Arizona has been as streaky as it gets this season – slow start, strong midseason push, then another slump to close it out. Their defense is suspect, their three-point shooting is mediocre, and they’ve shown a tendency to go cold at the worst times. If they fall behind early, this isn’t a team built to shoot its way back in. Stay away.
West Region
This might be the most stacked bracket of the tournament. Florida holds the No. 1 seed, UConn is trying for a three-peat, Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad is lurking, and Drake is a classic Cinderella waiting to happen.
Team to watch: #8 UConn Huskies
Yes, an 8-seed UConn team might sound weird, but count out Dan Hurley at your own risk. This isn’t the same dominant Huskies squad as last year, but Liam McNeely is back from injury, their defense has tightened up, and they’re still one of the best-coached teams in the country. If they get out of the early rounds, they have the talent to make a real push.
Team to avoid: #6 Memphis Tigers
Memphis is limping into the tournament without their star guard Tyrese Hunter, who’s been seen on crutches after an injury in the AAC tournament. His 40% three-point shooting was crucial to their offense, and his absence leaves a massive hole in their game plan. His backup, Baraka Okojie, has barely played meaningful minutes all season. Expect defenses to swarm PJ Haggerty and dare anyone else to step up—which doesn’t seem like a winning formula.
Midwest Region
The weakest of the four regions, the Midwest is Houston’s to lose. But weak brackets mean Cinderella stories, and bracket busters could be lurking.
Team to watch: #11 Xavier Musketeers
Xavier just feels like a classic March Madness sleeper. They have balanced scoring, a great three-point shooting team, and a high-level scorer in Zach Freemantle who can take over games. If they can survive the First Four matchup against Texas, they could ride that momentum into a deep run.
Team to avoid: #3 Kentucky Wildcats
This isn’t about talent as Kentucky has plenty of it. But injuries have been an issue all season, and while Lamont Butler has been cleared to return, the press conference surrounding his status felt… uneasy. Jaxson Robinson has been out since January, chemistry might not be where it needs to be, and if Butler isn’t fully healthy, Kentucky could be primed for disappointment.
Final Thoughts
March Madness is always full of surprises, but if you’re looking for smart picks, focus on teams that play defense, have strong guard play, and come in with momentum. And if history tells us anything, it’s that a few highly seeded teams will go home earlier than expected.
So go ahead – fill out those brackets, embrace the chaos, and let the madness begin.
If you liked this article, you might enjoy these too:
Beginner’s Guide to Betting on College Basketball
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