By: Redd Peterson
When you think of March Madness, you think of the iconic theme song, monumental upsets, and the legendary Cinderella stories. This year’s NCAA D1 Men’s Basketball Tournament should be no different.
2025 has been a great year for college basketball and its stars are shining brighter than before. Cooper Flagg, freshman phenom, and frontrunner to be the 1st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has led the Duke Blue Devils to a dominant 19-1 record in ACC play while averaging 19.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Flagg did get injured early in the ACC tournament but is expected to suit up for the Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament.
The Auburn Tigers have been led by senior forward Johni Broome, who has been unstoppable all season for the Tigers, and has averaged a double-double throughout the season. The Tigers are the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament but they have lost 3 of their last 4 games of the season, which is never a good sign going into the tournament.
With Auburn and Duke both having electric players on the court, they share the role of being the Favorites to win this year’s tournament. But being the favorite hasn’t always worked out for past teams with good odds to “Win it all”.
In 2018, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), seeded 16th, shocked the world when they routed the number 1 seed Virginia by 20 points and became the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed in NCAA tournament history.
Two local squads are also preparing for the ‘Madness’. Brigham Young, and Utah State are all projected to be dancing this march.
BYU won 8 straight games going into the Big 12 tournament, and made it to the semifinals of the tournament until losing to the eventual Big 12 tournament champion, Houston.
The Cougars are a 6-seed in this year’s tournament and they are looking to get their first NCAA tournament win since 2012. The Cougars will play against the 11-seeded VCU Rams at 2:05 on Thursday 20.
Utah State has made the tournament for the 4th time in 5 years. The Aggies finished third in the Mountain West Conference this season with an overall record of 25-6. USU has proven themselves with big wins against Saint Mary’s and San Diego State earlier this season but they have played rather poorly against better competition recently.
The Aggies struggled in recent games before their conference tournament, losing by 15+ points in two of their last three games. But if Utah State can get some momentum going, they can do some damage in the NCAA tournament as a 10-seed and they will face off against the 7-seed UCLA Bruins on Thursday 20 at 7:25 PM.
With huge point spreads and astronomical title odds, some teams seem to have no chance in the tournament, until they do. Cinderella teams are common every year of the tournament and they never get old.
During March Madness, a stretch of a few games can change someone from a nobody to a superstar.
So what team will break hearts and defy odds this tournament? Will we see another 16-seed stunner? Who will become the next Carsen Edwards, Jimmer Fredette, or Stephen Curry?
Legends are made, schools are put on the map, brackets are broken, and in the words of commentator Ian Eagle, “March equals madness.”
