March Madness kicked off with a thrilling first couple of rounds. graphic by Brandon Schlager
NCAA Basketball playoffs, also known as “March Madness,” are in full swing.
Each March marks the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s and Women’s playoff basketball tournament. March Madness begins on Selection Sunday, landing on March 16th this year. Each year 68 teams are chosen to compete in the tournament in hopes of a national championship. They are placed into a bracket and given a ranking based on their performance throughout the season.
The top seeds for the tournament were given to Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston, with Auburn taking the number one overall seed for the entire tournament. This year’s bracket reflected the strength of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which claimed five of the tournament’s top six spots. Auburn came into the tournament riding a wave of momentum after winning the SEC championship, while Alabama and Duke had deep, well-rounded rosters that made them heavy favorites to reach the final four. Florida, meanwhile, entered the tournament with a reputation for strong perimeter shooting and a fast-paced offence rounding out a top line of contenders. As for Colorado teams, CU Boulder failed to make the tournament but Colorado State University (CSU) punched their ticket as the Mountain West tournament champions for the first time since 2003.
As always, the first round of March Madness reminded fans why the tournament is so unpredictable. One of the biggest surprises came when No. 12 seed McNeese State knocked off No. 5 seed Clemson in a thrilling 70-68 upset, busting brackets everywhere. Despite a slow start, Clemson’s offence couldn’t overcome McNeese’s early dominance, which included a 24-point first half lead. McNeese guard Brandon Murray led with 21 points, including 14 in the first half, propelling them to their first-ever NCAA tournament win. Meanwhile, No. 9 Creighton showcased their offensive power defeating No. 8 Louisville 89-75. In another upset, No. 10 Arkansas overcame No. 7 seed Kansas with a 79-72 win. Kansas, despite a strong second-half, fell short due to late game turnovers and missed opportunities. The Razorbacks ended Kansas’s streak of 17 consecutive first round victories. And for Colorado sports supporters the biggest surprise came from CSU’s 78-70 victory over No. 5 seed Memphis. The Rams entered the tournament on an 11-game winning streak, where sophomore guard Kyan Evans delivered a standout performance with a career 23 points, including six three-pointers. This victory marked CSU’s first NCAA tournament second-round appearance since 2013.
The second round continued the trend of excitement and thrill. To no one’s surprise, Duke demonstrated their dominance with an impressive 89-66 victory over Baylor, marking their second consecutive blowout win. Purdue ended McNeese State’s Cinderella run with a solid 76-62 win securing them a spot in the sweet 16. And for CSU, they had one of the most unbelievable games of the entire tournament so far. The game was a back-and-forth battle, featuring 15 lead changes. CSU led by as many as 12 points in the first half and maintained a 37-30 advantage at halftime. The Rams had taken a 71-70 lead with six seconds remaining. Following a Maryland timeout, Maryland player Derik Queen received an inbounds pass and launched a shot as time expired, making the game winning shot for the Terrapins. This heartbreaking defeat marked the end of the Rams impressive tournament run, but their performance throughout the competition highlighted the historic year they had.
The first weekend of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Tournament delivered everything fans love about March Madness unforgettable plays, buzzer-beaters, and bracket busters. While top seeds like Auburn, Alabama, and Duke advanced as expected, the early rounds also gave the Cinderella stories their moment on the big stage. With the field now narrowed down to 16 teams, the madness is just getting started.
