By: Jack Stewart
Starting nearly 100 years ago in 1939, March Madness is something that captivates casual fans and die-hard fans every single year. Tens of millions make brackets and watch the games, culminating in the greatest playoff system in all of sports. Buzzer beaters, upsets, and Cinderella stories happen every single year; with the unexpected nature of the tournament making it so consistently entertaining. This season has featured some great stories and exciting teams, with these few in particular being some of the most likely to win it all this year.
Auburn Tigers – SEC (27-4)
This year’s number one ranked Auburn squad are probably the favorite to go all the way, and it’s clear to see why. The Tigers made their way to the top of an extremely competitive SEC, which has easily been the strongest conference this year. Auburn is led by Bruce Pearl who’s been at the helm since 2014, and has rebuilt the Tigers into a serious college basketball program. Under Pearl, they reached the elite eight in 2019, the second time in franchise history, which last happened since 1986. That same season he also brought the Tigers to the final four for the first time ever, even if that achievement ended with a tough loss to second seeded Louisville. His and Auburn’s success is evident, and it’s clear that the program is ready to take that next step this year. They’ve performed exceptionally well against some of the toughest teams in the country, and have deservingly brought themself to the apex of college basketball. The Tigers have been undeniably great this season, but their main issue is obvious: a December loss to Duke. They took a tough loss to the Blue Devils in Durham, and it’s the primary thing holding them back from being an easy favorite. This loss, however, is far more excusable than some of Dukes’, and while Auburn technically has a worse record, they’ve faced much harder competition while still managing to perform on par with the Blue Devils. This early mis-step is not as big of a problem as some believe it is, with Auburn’s exceptional performances in big games and against tough opponents being the far more defining part of a great season for the Tigers.
Duke Blue Devils – ACC (28-3)
Perhaps the most iconic college basketball program, Duke is the quintessential blue blood. It’s a program rich with tradition and culture, dominating the NCAA throughout their entire history. While their five national championships has placed them in fifth amongst all schools, the Blue Devils are eyeing a sixth this year, and it feels more achievable than ever. This season has been led by power forward Cooper Flagg, who will likely go down as a Duke legend among some of the most iconic players in program history. He has been the standout player this season, not only for Duke, but for all of college basketball. His unique physical qualities and well rounded skill sets have allowed him to thrive this season, leading the Blue Devils to a solid first place finish in the ACC. Most of Duke’s struggles came early in the season, with two of their three losses happening within the first six weeks of the season. These two losses to Kentucky and Kansas were initially concerning, but at this point in the season, it’s clear that Duke has moved on and shaped into possibly the most serious contender for this year’s title.
Houston Cougars – Big Twelve (27-4)
While Houston is always dominant in the regular season, come March, and especially come April, the Cougars can never seem to manage to put it all together. They’ve reached the finals in six separate years, yet have failed to win in any of those appearances. Even though this 0-6 finals record looms over the shoulders of the Cougars, 2025 seems to be another promising year for the program. Their most impressive feat this season has been their defense, which has given them a strong finish atop the Big Twelve, including only one conference loss. The Cougars’ defense has allowed an average of only 58.1 points per game, which leads all of college basketball, and they’ve ended the season first in defensive efficiency. On the offensive side of the ball, Houston has used the three ball to their advantage, recording an impressive team three point percentage of 39.71%. Guards L.J. Cryer and Emanuel Sharp have made up an elite backcourt for Houston, with both players averaging over 41% from deep. Everything seems to be working for this squad, and they’ve been convincing as a contender throughout this entire season. The Houston Cougars are a very well rounded team, and 2025 may be the year where they can finally break their finals curse.
