2025 NCAA Tournament: First Round Recap — The Mayhem Breakdown
Welcome to the best 48 hours in sports. The First Round of the NCAA Tournament never fails—and 2025 brought all the madness we could ask for: upsets, blowouts, Cinderella runs taking shape, and blue bloods doing what they do best. Let’s break it all down, region by region, with a trained eye.
SOUTH REGION:
- (1) Auburn 83, (16) Alabama State 63
Auburn came into the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and looked the part. Their pace, length, and depth wore Alabama State down. It was never in question. - (5) Texas A&M 80, (12) Yale 71
Yale hung around, but the Aggies imposed their will on the boards. Pharrel Payne had 25 and was a monster inside. Yale’s passing was beautiful, but they simply couldn’t get enough stops late. - (5) Michigan 68, (12) UC San Diego 65 Michigan escaped with a narrow win against a well-prepared UC San Diego team. It wasn’t their best shooting performance, but they made key defensive stops down the stretch and converted in the clutch. A survive-and-advance result that could serve as a wake-up call.
- (9) Creighton 89, (8) Louisville 75
This was one of the more popular 9-over-8 picks, and for good reason. Creighton’s guard play and spacing were elite. They looked seasoned and locked in from the tip.
EAST REGION:
- (3) Wisconsin 85, (14) Montana 66
Vintage Badger basketball. They controlled tempo, executed in the half court, and locked Montana down. No drama, just business. - (6) BYU 80, (11) VCU 71
Welcome back to the bracket, Cougars. BYU handled VCU’s defensive pressure better than expected. Great balance between inside and perimeter scoring. Don’t sleep on this team going forward.
MIDWEST REGION:
- (1) Houston 78, (16) SIU-Edwardsville 40
Total domination. Houston’s defense suffocated SIUE. The Cougars held them to just 40 points—tied for the lowest scoring total of the tournament. Kelvin Sampson’s team looks like they’ve got Final Four plans. - (2) Tennessee 77, (15) Wofford 62 Tennessee handled their opening round assignment with precision. Their guard play was steady, and they dictated tempo throughout. The Vols created extra possessions with offensive rebounds and timely steals, gradually pulling away in a game that felt under control from the opening tip.
- (4) Purdue 75, (13) High Point 63 Purdue methodically pulled away from a scrappy High Point team. The Boilermakers relied on interior dominance and strong team defense. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective—precisely the kind of performance that avoids early-round pitfalls.
- (8) Gonzaga 89, (9) Georgia 68
Gonzaga looked ready. They jumped out to a 27–3 lead—yes, 27 to 3—and never looked back. Khalif Battle had 24, and the Zags now head into a second-round showdown with No. 1 Houston. Get your popcorn. - (12) McNeese 69, (5) Clemson 67
The bracket buster of the South. McNeese—behind Brandon Murray’s 21 off the bench—executed a flawless game plan. Their 2-3 zone in the first half set the tone, and they hit just enough shots late. First NCAA Tournament win in program history. They’re officially dancing. - (7) UCLA 72, (10) Utah State 47 UCLA put on a defensive clinic, holding Utah State to under 50 points. Their length on the perimeter disrupted passing lanes, and they dominated the glass. A complete effort that signals this team is peaking at the right time.
WEST REGION:
- (2) St. John’s 83, (15) Omaha 6 St. John’s overwhelmed Omaha with speed, spacing, and aggressive play from the perimeter. Their guards got into the paint at will, and they pushed the tempo off every defensive rebound. A clean performance from a confident team.
- (3) Texas Tech 82, (14) UNC Wilmington 72
Texas Tech withstood an extended offensive drought and managed to pull away down the stretch to knock off UNC Wilmington. Kerwin Walton’s sharpshooting, including eight made 3-pointers, was pivotal in securing the win. - (10) Arkansas 79, (7) Kansas 72
Arkansas came to play. Their athleticism overwhelmed Kansas in spurts, and they made critical shots late. Don’t be shocked if the Razorbacks make a Sweet 16 run. This is a dangerous draw. - (11) Drake 67, (6) Missouri 57
Drake played with poise and purpose. They limited Missouri’s transition game, controlled the tempo, and Bennett Stirtz was the guy. Drake’s first first-round win since 1971—and fully deserved.
First Round Takeaways (so far):
- Cinderella Alert: McNeese and Drake are the two stories to follow. Both play with discipline and chip-on-the-shoulder energy.
- Title-Caliber Vibes: Houston and Auburn looked the part. They’re defending, scoring, and rotating bodies like deep, experienced tournament teams.
- Underrated Threats: BYU, Arkansas, and Creighton all have the talent and momentum to crash the second weekend—and beyond.
- UP NEXT: Friday, March 21, 2025 (all times Eastern): Early Afternoon Games
12:15 PM: (9) Baylor vs. (8) Mississippi State
12:40 PM: (15) Robert Morris vs. (2) Alabama
1:30 PM: (14) Lipscomb vs. (3) Iowa State
2:00 PM: (12) Colorado State vs. (5) Memphis
2:50 PM: (16) Mount St. Mary’s vs. (1) Duke
3:15 PM: (10) Vanderbilt vs. (7) Saint Mary’s
4:05 PM: (11) North Carolina vs. (6) Ole Miss
4:35 PM: (13) Grand Canyon vs. (4) Maryland
Evening Games
6:50 PM: (16) Norfolk State vs. (1) Florida
7:10 PM: (14) Troy vs. (3) Kentucky
7:25 PM: (10) New Mexico vs. (7) Marquette
7:35 PM: (13) Akron vs. (4) Arizona
9:25 PM: (9) Oklahoma vs. (8) UConn
9:45 PM: (11) Xavier vs. (6) Illinois
10:00 PM: (15) Bryant vs. (2) Michigan State
Next Stop: Second Round
The pretenders are gone. The pressure’s mounting. The stakes are higher. From here on out, every possession is a legacy-maker.
Survive and advance. It’s March. Let’s ride.
Joseph Angel | Chief NCAA Basketball Analyst for TheNSR Network