For the fourth consecutive year, Saint Mary's has secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament bracket. This team from the West Coast Conference has faced challenges in the past, having failed to reach the Sweet 16 in any of their previous three tournament appearances. In fact, they haven't advanced beyond the second round for seven straight tournaments. This year, they face a tough road ahead, likely needing to overcome two formidable SEC schools to change their fortunes. Their journey begins with a matchup against No. 10 Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, while the winner will most likely face No. 2 seed Alabama.
When making your 2025 March Madness bracket picks, it's essential to consider the strengths of the Gaels. They return two key starters from last year's team, prominently featuring the versatile guard Augustas Marciulionis. This senior standout leads the Gaels in several crucial statistical categories, including points per game (14.3), rebounds (8.0), assists (6.1), and steals (1.4). His ability to control the game could be pivotal in determining whether Saint Mary's advances to the Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Before finalizing your 2025 March Madness bracket predictions, it is advisable to consult the expert analysis from SportsLine. Their advanced projection model has simulated every game in the tournament an impressive 10,000 times. This model has a proven track record, outperforming over 91 percent of all CBS Sports brackets in four of the last six tournaments. Last year, it accurately predicted UConn's championship run and identified 13 teams that made it to the Sweet 16. Not to mention, it successfully highlighted Alabama's Cinderella run to the Final Four as a 4-seed. The model is adept at spotting potential upsets, having correctly predicted 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016. With such insights, there's no need to rely on luck when constructing your 2025 March Madness pools.
As excitement builds for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, several matchups warrant close attention. One notable game is the No. 8 seed Mississippi State vs. No. 9 seed Baylor in the East Region. Mississippi State has established a reputation for its disruptive defense, averaging 9.2 steals per game, which ranks 16th in the nation. Additionally, their length allows them to contest shots effectively, resulting in an average of 4.6 blocks per game. On the other hand, Baylor is led by forward Norchad Omier, who is having an outstanding season, averaging 15.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game while shooting 56.7% from the field.
Another exciting matchup in the East Region is the 6 vs. 11 game between BYU and VCU. After Mark Pope's departure to Kentucky, new head coach Kevin Young has managed to retain key players from last season, such as Richie Saunders, Trevin Knell, and Fousseyni Traore, while also bringing in impactful newcomers like freshman Egor Denim and Utah transfer Keba Keita. Meanwhile, second-year VCU head coach Ryan Odom has transformed the Rams into one of the most efficient teams, ranking 41st in the nation in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency and 26th in defensive efficiency.
Lastly, keep an eye on the matchup featuring No. 3 seed Wisconsin vs. No. 14 seed Montana. Wisconsin is looking to bounce back after last year's disappointing 12-over-5 upset against James Madison. With only one starter returning from that game, the Badgers have bolstered their roster through the transfer portal. John Tonje, a sixth-year senior guard, is leading Wisconsin with an impressive 19.2 points per game following his transfer from Missouri. Meanwhile, Montana, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, has been on a remarkable run, winning 14 of their last 15 games and boasting the third-best shooting percentage in the nation at 49.6%.
As you consider how far major programs will advance and which Cinderella teams might surprise everyone in the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket, leveraging the insights from the SportsLine model can be invaluable. With its extensive history of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to review the model's predictions before finalizing any of your 2025 NCAA bracket picks.
