March Madness begins the road to a national title starts now

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) —The biggest dance in college basketball is underway. March Madness has arrived—a time when dreams are made, brackets are busted, and legends are born. It’s win or go home, survive and advance—because in this tournament, anything can happen.

Auburn earns No. 1 seed in the South

Auburn enters the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the South Region with a 28-5 record and national championship aspirations. Despite losing its last two regular-season games, history suggests that isn’t a dealbreaker—just ask the 2011 UConn team.

The Tigers boast six wins over top-15 teams and rank among the nation’s best on both ends of the floor. Forward Johni Broome, a Wooden Award candidate, has been a dominant force, while guard Tahaad Pettiford provides perimeter shooting. Head coach Bruce Pearl has the depth and experience to make a deep run as Auburn aims for its first national championship in program history.

Duke secures No. 1 seed in the East

Duke returns to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Region with a 31-3 record, led by one of the youngest teams in the country. Head coach Jon Scheyer has guided the Blue Devils to a 19-1 finish to the regular season, including a victory over Auburn.

Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, the Wooden Award frontrunner, has been the team’s leader on both ends of the floor. However, Flagg’s ankle injury remains a concern after he missed most of the ACC tournament. Defensive standout Maliq Brown is also questionable with a shoulder injury.

Despite those uncertainties, Duke ranks top-four in defensive efficiency and starts three freshmen—Flagg, Kon Knipple, and Khaman Maluach—similar to the 2015 title-winning squad. If healthy, the Blue Devils have the talent to contend for another national championship.

Houston claims No. 1 seed in the Midwest

Houston enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region after securing 30 wins and a Big 12 title. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has guided the Cougars to deep tournament runs in recent years, but this team may have its best shot at a national title.

Unlike past Houston teams known primarily for defense, this group has firepower. Guard L.J. Cryer is averaging 18 points per game while shooting 43% from beyond the arc. The Cougars also excel in transition, ranking among the nation’s top 10 in offensive efficiency.

Houston finished 19-1 in Big 12 play and lost just once after November. The health of J’Wan Roberts, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, could be a key factor in how far this team goes.

Florida earns No.1 seed in the West Region

Florida is back in the national championship hunt thanks to a key offseason move by head coach Todd Golden. By shifting Walter Clayton Jr. to point guard, the Gators developed the nation’s third-ranked offense, averaging 84.8 points per game.

Florida also ranks second in the SEC in defensive efficiency, behind only Tennessee. The Gators went 3-1 against Tennessee, Auburn, and Alabama, proving they can compete with the nation’s best.

Clayton leads the charge, but Will Richard, Alex Condon, and Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin have also been key contributors. Florida last won the national title in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007. With a balanced attack, the Gators could make another championship run.

SEC makes history with 14 tournament bids

The SEC leads all conferences with a record 14 teams in the NCAA tournament, the most in tournament history. The Big Ten follows with eight bids, while the Big 12 secured seven.

The Big East sends five teams to the tournament, while both the ACC and Mountain West Conference each earned four bids. With March Madness underway, every team has a chance to make history.

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Topics

NCAA Tournament: Auburn, Duke, Houston, Florida awarded top seeds in men’s bracket

The Auburn Tigers, Duke Blue Devils, Houston Cougars and Florida Gators were selected as No. 1 seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
NBC News - 12h
March Madness men's basketball tournament bracket set

Auburn is the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, with Duke, Houston and Florida joining the Tigers on the No. 1 line in the March Madness bracket.
CBS News - 9h
Auburn, Duke top men's NCAA field; SEC gets 14

Overall top seed Auburn was joined by Duke, Houston and Florida as 1-seeds, and a record 14 teams from the SEC were selected to participate in the NCAA tournament.
ESPN - 7h
2025 March Madness odds: Duke, Florida have best odds to win NCAA Tournament after bracket is set

Duke and Florida have better odds to win the NCAA Tournament than Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed
CBS Sports - 10h
NCAA tournament bracket revealed: Auburn announced as No. 1 overall seed ahead of Duke

Johni Broome will look to lead Auburn to the program's first NCAA championship.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Bracketology: SEC likely assured two No. 1 seeds in NCAA Tournament after losses by Auburn, Michigan State

Jerry Palm projects the winner of the SEC Tournament will join Auburn, Duke and Houston as the fourth No. 1 seed
CBS Sports - 1d
March Madness: There are 4 NCAA tournament favorites ahead of conference tourney week

Auburn and Duke have the best odds to win the 2025 national title. Will they meet in the Final Four?
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Duke women’s basketball to face Lehigh to open March Madness in 2025 NCAA Tournament

Duke women's basketball just won its first ACC tournament championship in 12 years, and now the Blue Devils head into March Madness as a No. 2 seed.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
March Madness: Breaking down the race for NCAA men's tournament No. 1 seeds

Auburn remains the clear-cut No. 1 overall seed and Duke seems like a lock, but the other two spots are up for grabs heading into conference tournament week.
Yahoo Sports - 6d

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