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Selection Sunday is one of the most exciting days in college basketball. It marks the official unveiling of the NCAA Tournament brackets for both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I Basketball Championships. The event sets the stage for March Madness, a tournament filled with thrilling matchups, Cinderella stories, and the pursuit of a national championship.
This year’s Selection Sunday will take place on:
- 📅 Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025
- ⏰ Men’s Bracket Reveal: 6:00 PM ET (CBS & Paramount+)
- ⏰ Women’s Bracket Reveal: 8:00 PM ET (ESPN & ESPN App)
Let’s break down everything you need to know, including how the bracket is formed, top seeds, bubble teams, key dates, and where to watch the action unfold.
📌 What Happens on Selection Sunday?
On Selection Sunday, the NCAA Selection Committee releases the 68-team bracket for both the men’s and women’s tournaments. These teams are divided into four regions, each with 16 seeded teams (plus four additional teams competing in the “First Four” play-in games).
🔹 How Are Teams Selected?
Teams receive tournament bids in one of two ways:
- Automatic Bids: Each of the 32 Division I conferences has a conference tournament winner, who automatically qualifies for the tournament.
- At-Large Bids: The NCAA Selection Committee picks the remaining 36 teams (men’s) and 36 teams (women’s) based on their performance throughout the season.
The committee evaluates several factors when deciding at-large bids and team seeding:
✔️ Overall record and strength of schedule
✔️ Quad 1 wins and losses (games against highly ranked teams)
✔️ Head-to-head matchups
✔️ Injuries or roster changes
✔️ NET ranking (NCAA Evaluation Tool)
The selection process can be controversial, with teams on the bubble anxiously waiting to see if they make the cut.
📌 Top Contenders and Projected No. 1 Seeds
As we head into Selection Sunday 2025, several teams have emerged as top seeds for the tournament:
🏀 Auburn Tigers – A dominant season with major wins against ranked opponents. They are expected to be a No. 1 seed in the South Region.
🏀 Duke Blue Devils – Despite a recent injury to star freshman Cooper Flagg, Duke has had an impressive year, positioning them for a No. 1 seed in the East.
🏀 Houston Cougars – With one of the best defenses in the country, Houston is a strong candidate for a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region.
🏀 UConn Huskies – The defending national champions have continued their momentum this season and are projected to secure the final No. 1 seed in the West.
Other potential top seeds include Arizona, Purdue, Kansas, and Tennessee.
📌 Bubble Teams – Who’s In & Who’s Out?
Every year, some teams are right on the edge of making the tournament. These are the “bubble teams”, whose fate is in the hands of the selection committee.
🔹 Bubble Teams on the Edge:
🔹 North Carolina Tar Heels – A strong finish in the ACC tournament could secure their spot.
🔹 Xavier Musketeers – Mixed results in big games make them a 50-50 chance to get in.
🔹 Indiana Hoosiers – A borderline case, they need a strong argument for selection.
🔹 Texas A&M Aggies – A last-minute push in the SEC tournament may help them secure an at-large bid.
Teams on the wrong side of the bubble may find themselves heading to the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) instead of the NCAA Tournament.
📌 Key Dates for March Madness 2025
📅 Selection Sunday: March 16, 2025
📅 First Four Play-In Games: March 18-19 (Dayton, Ohio)
📅 First Round: March 20-21
📅 Second Round: March 22-23
📅 Sweet 16: March 27-28
📅 Elite Eight: March 29-30
📅 Final Four: April 5 (🏟️ Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas)
📅 National Championship: April 7 (🏆 San Antonio, Texas)
📌 Where to Watch Selection Sunday & March Madness
📺 TV Broadcasts:
- CBS: Men’s Tournament Selection Show (6 PM ET)
- ESPN: Women’s Tournament Selection Show (8 PM ET)
📡 Streaming Options:
- Paramount+ (Men’s tournament)
- ESPN App (Women’s tournament)
- NCAA March Madness Live App
📌 Printable Brackets & Fan Predictions
Fans can download and print the 2025 NCAA bracket to fill out their predictions. Whether you’re playing for fun or participating in a betting pool, making your picks is a huge part of March Madness culture.
📌 Conclusion – Let the Madness Begin!
Selection Sunday sets the stage for the most exciting time in college basketball. With teams finding out their fates, brackets being filled, and fans preparing for intense matchups, March Madness 2025 is sure to deliver unforgettable moments.
Will we see Cinderella teams making deep runs? Can a top seed go all the way? Or will there be major upsets that shock the basketball world?
Stay tuned for Selection Sunday on March 16, and get ready for another unforgettable March Madness!
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