March madness 2025: biggest storylines heading into the tourney

The calendar has officially flipped to March, and sports fans are turning their attention to the upcoming March Madness tournament. This year’s lead-up has been filled with shocks, dominant performances, and unexpected twists, including an intriguing race for National Player of the Year.

Let’s dive into some of the biggest storylines shaping the final stretch of the college basketball season.

National Player of the Year Race: Down to Two

Heading into the season, all eyes were on Cooper Flagg, Duke’s 6’9 freshman phenom and the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Expectations were sky-high, and he hasn’t disappointed, leading the No. 2 seed Blue Devils to a 26-3 record while averaging 19.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 49.2% shooting. Flagg has looked every bit like the future star he was hyped up to be.

However, what most didn’t expect was someone not only keeping pace with Flagg—but surpassing him as the favorite for National Player of the Year. Enter Johni Broome.

The 6’10 Auburn forward has been dominant, averaging 18.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 50.5% from the field and adding 2.4 blocks per game. More importantly, he has led Auburn to a 27-2 record, putting them in position for a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

As of now, Broome is the betting favorite at -230, while Flagg sits at +200. The race is still close, and with both players leading top contenders, March Madness could ultimately decide the award. Keep an eye on how these two perform under the brightest lights.

Rick Pitino Cements His Legacy at St. John’s

Rick Pitino has already built one of the most storied coaching resumes in college basketball, and now he’s added another chapter to it.

After a solid 20-13 debut season at St. John’s, Pitino has completely turned the program around, leading the Red Storm to a 26-4 record and a Big East championship—their first outright title since 1985.

Pitino has now won conference championships with five different schools—the first coach to ever do so. His ability to revive struggling programs is unmatched, and this may be his most impressive turnaround yet.

Of course, Pitino’s legacy isn’t without controversy. The vacated Louisville title, the recruiting violations, and the off-the-court scandals have undoubtedly tainted his reputation. But when it comes to pure coaching ability, his success speaks for itself.

With St. John’s headed back to the tournament as a dangerous team, Pitino has a chance to add another deep run to his résumé. If history is any indication, March is when his teams are at their best.

The Fall of UConn and UNC

For the past 25 years, UConn and UNC have been among the most dominant programs in college basketball. Both schools entered this season with high expectations, but as March arrives, neither looks like a true contender.

UConn’s Disappointing Title Defense

Entered the season as the No. 3 team in the preseason polls
Currently sitting at 20-9 (12-6 in conference play)
Struggled with consistency, including an early-season three-game losing streak to unranked opponents Memphis, Colorado, and Dayton

Dan Hurley turned down the Los Angeles Lakers to stay at UConn and chase a third straight national championship. Instead, the Huskies have fallen well short of expectations and now look like a mid-seed team unlikely to make a deep tournament run.

UNC’s Even Bigger Collapse

Entered the season ranked No. 9, expecting to be an ACC title contender
Now projected to be part of the First Four Out, meaning they may miss the tournament entirely
Has relied almost entirely on RJ Davis, who has struggled with efficiency issues

While UConn’s struggles have been frustrating, UNC’s fall has been even more dramatic. A team that started the year expecting a deep run could very well be left out when the bracket is announced.

The Madness Is Almost Here

At the end of the day, nothing dominates March like the tournament itself. Whether it’s the bubble battles, Cinderella runs, or National Player of the Year race, this year’s March Madness is shaping up to be as unpredictable as ever.

So get ready for buzzer-beaters, bracket chaos, and nonstop action—because March is here, and it’s about to get crazy.

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