ESPN releases 2025 Bracketology, way too early NCAA Tournament field predictions
It’s never too early for another Bracketology. Over three weeks have passed since UConn downed Purdue in the national championship and fans around the country adequately mourned their disastrous brackets. Now, it’s time to run it back.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi released his first Bracketology for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Although the transfer portal rages on and the coaching carousel keeps spinning, Lunardi provided fans with his best predictions of where the college basketball landscape will stand next March.
Look below to learn about Lunardi’s predictions, beginning with the No. 1 overall seed in the Midwest Region.
Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
(1) Kansas vs. (16) UMKC
Kansas entered last season as the No. 1 team in the country and Lunardi apparently expects the same in the 2024-25 campaign. Despite the Jayhawks’ high expectations last season, the team fell 89-68 to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas has only allowed the shortcoming to motivate itself this offseason. The team is returning COVID senior Hunter Dickinson and fifth-year guard Dajuan Harris Jr. Additionally, Kansas boasts a monstrous transfer class, including Rylan Griffen (Alabama), AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Riley Kugel (Florida) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State).
(2) Alabama vs. (15) Milwaukee
Alabama head coach Nate Oats didn’t hesitate to make a splash in his third season at the helm of the program. The Crimson Tide lost three of its last four games before the Big Dance. However, they found their rhythm at the perfect time, reaching the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Early in the offseason, it appears Alabama is poised to make another postseason run next year. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. has already announced he plans to return. Additionally, Mark Sears maintained his eligibility while entering the 2024 NBA Draft.
(3) Arizona vs. (14) Ohio
Arizona averaged 87.1 points per game last season, the third-most in the country. The Wildcats suffered an off-night at the worst possible moment when they fell 77-72 to Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
With no shortage of talent, Arizona is poised to have another standout season. The program has already added Tobe Awaka (Tennessee) and Trey Townsend (Oakland) via the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason. Townsend averaged 17.3 points per game last season.
(8) Kentucky vs. (9) Clemson
(5) Xavier vs. (12) Bradley
(4) Purdue vs. (13) Louisiana Tech
(6) Miami vs. (11) Saint Mary’s/Illinois
(7) Ohio State vs. (10) Dayton
West Region (San Francisco)
(1) UConn vs. (16) Wagner
UConn has won back-to-back national championships and Dan Hurley is hungry for more. The UConn head coach reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to become Kentucky’s next head coach. Instead, he hopes to continue to build his dynasty in Storrs, Conn.
“Literally, once we got on that team bus, I turned around and said, ‘Where’s the East Regional next year? Alright, first two rounds are in Providence and then the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are in Newark, New Jersey, where I lived and worked for nine years. Then, the Final Four is in San Antonio,’” Hurley recalled during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
(2) Gonzaga vs. (15) UC Riverside
In a year when postseason expectations were low for Gonzaga, Mark Few made a statement. The tenured head coach guided the Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to eventual national runner-up Purdue in a hard-fought battle.
Gonzaga has now reached the Sweet Sixteen or advanced further every year since 2014. Fans shouldn’t expect the 2024-25 season to be any different. With stars such as Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman ready to run it back, the Bulldogs will pack plenty of bite next season.
(3) Baylor vs. (14) Weber State
For the second-straight season, Baylor fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, head coach Scott Drew hasn’t lost faith in the future of the program. Like Hurley, the 53-year-old head coach turned down an offer to take the reins at Kentucky with hopes of building something greater in his current environment.
Drew is certainly off to an excellent start. Baylor secured a pivotal commitment from former Duke point guard Jeremy Roach in the transfer portal. Moreover, the Bears boast the No. 4 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, headlined by five-star prospect VJ Edgecombe.
(8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas Tech
(5) Marquette vs. (12) Princeton
(4) Tennessee vs. (13) Vermont
(6) Florida vs. (11) Wisconsin/NC State
(7) UCLA vs. (10) Wake Forest
South Region (Atlanta)
(1) Houston vs. (16) Southern/Tennessee State
Houston suffered a stunning loss to Duke in the Sweet Sixteen after star guard Jamal Shead exited the game due to ankle injury with just under seven minutes left in the first half. While Shead won’t have a chance to avenge the loss, his teammates will return next season with a newfound motivation.
Houston returns numerous key players next season, including LJ Cryer, J’Wan Roberts and Emanuel Sharp. It won’t be easy for Houston to replace Shead, but with another No. 1 national defense, Kelvin Sampson could easily find a way to push his team to new heights.
(2) North Carolina vs. (15) Quinnipiac
Houston wasn’t the only No. 1 seed that suffered an upset loss in the Sweet Sixteen. Alabama left North Carolina fans teary-eyed after it defeated the Tar Heels 89-87 in the Big Dance. Evidently, the loss left a bad taste in several of the Tar Heels’ mouths.
Most notably, North Carolina leading scorer RJ Davis announced he will return next season. Davis averaged a career-best 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during his senior campaign. Now, along with Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, Davis will look to help UNC make another run in March.
(3) Auburn vs. (14) Charleston
Auburn’s March Madness crash-landed before it ever took flight this past season. For the first time under head coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers suffered a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn is doing everything it can from repeating history next year. Not only is Auburn returning standouts such as Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones and Dylan Cardwell, but the program also added All-Southern Conference guard JP Pegues via the transfer portal.
(8) Memphis vs. (9) Pittsburgh
(5) Texas A&M vs. (12) Grand Canyon
(4) Indiana vs. (13) High Point
(6) Cincinnati vs. (11) USC
(7) Michigan vs. (10) Arkansas
East Region (Newark)
(1) Duke vs. (16) NC Central/Navy
Duke exceeded expectations in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight before eventually falling to NC State. Duke lost Jeremy Roach in the transfer portal shortly after the season, but make no mistakes — the Blue Devils will be oozing talent next season.
Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, headlined by No. 1 overall prospect Cooper Flagg. The group includes fellow five-star Khaman Maluach and four four-star recruits. Add on returners Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, and there’s little reason to doubt Duke’s potential next season.
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) Samford
Iowa State showed spurts of greatness last season. In the 2024-25 campaign, the team will look to become consistently excellent. The Cyclones will return leading scorer Keshon Gilbert next season while adding four players via the NCAA Transfer Portal, including St. Mary’s standout Joshua Jefferson.
It will be head coach TJ Otzelberger’s fourth season at the helm of the program. As usual, defense will be a point of emphasis. Iowa State made a living on defense last season, only allowing 61.5 points per game, the fourth-least in the country.
(3) Creighton vs. (14) Lipscomb
Creighton fell 82-75 to Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen. However, the Bluejays will essentially return its starting five next season, only losing Baylor Scheierman.
Creighton’s returners include Trey Alexander, Steven Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Miller. Further, the Bluejays will boast several fresh faces, including transfers Jamiya Neal and Pop Isaacs along with highly-touted freshman Jackson McAndrew.
(8) Providence vs. (9) Mississippi State
(5) Michigan State vs. (12) McNeese State
(4) Texas vs. (13) Arkansas State
(6) Rutgers vs. (11) Boise State
(7) Ole Miss vs. (10) Maryland