March Madness is Back: UNCW, Saint Francis Make History as Automatic Bidders As the college basketball world holds its collective breath, the 2025 March Madness landscape has taken shape, and it’s safe to say that this year’s bracket is shaping up to be one for the ages. With conference tournament scores pouring in, the stage is set for a thrilling NCAA tournament that promises to deliver on its promise of upsets, comebacks, and Cinderella stories. In a pair of stunning upsets, the UNC Wilmington Seahawks and the Saint Francis Red Flash have punched their tickets to the Big Dance, securing automatic bids to the 2025 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. Get ready to witness the unbridled energy and excitement of March Madness, where dreams are made and legends are born. In this article, we’ll break down the conference tournament scores, and explore what’s in store for UNCW, Saint Francis, and the rest of the field as they prepare to take on
The Big Sky, Patriot League, and Southland Conference: Automatic Bids and What to Expect
As the NCAA Division I basketball committee begins to finalize its selections for the 2025 March Madness tournament, three conferences will determine their automatic bids on Wednesday. The Big Sky, Patriot League, and Southland Conference will be in the spotlight as they conclude their championship games.
In the Big Sky Conference, the top seeds, Weber State and Sacramento State, will face off in the title game. The winner will secure the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, in the Patriot League, No. 1 seed American will take on No. 5 seed Navy in the championship game. This marks the first time since 2018 that a Patriot League team other than Colgate will make it to the Big Dance.
In the Southland Conference, No. 1 seed Texas A&M-CC will face off against No. 2 seed Sam Houston in the title game. The winner will secure the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
These conferences will provide exciting matchups and nail-biting finishes, ultimately determining which teams will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. As the competition heats up, we can expect to see some upsets and thrilling performances from these conferences.
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference has been a hotbed of activity this season, with several teams vying for the top spot. Weber State and Sacramento State have emerged as the top contenders, and their matchup in the title game promises to be an exciting one.
Weber State, led by their dominant center, has been on a roll lately, winning several close games. Sacramento State, on the other hand, has been impressive on the defensive end, holding several opponents under 50 points.
This matchup will be a test of strength and endurance, as both teams will need to bring their A-game to secure the automatic bid.
Patriot League
The Patriot League has been a conference of parity this season, with several teams competing for the top spot. No. 1 seed American has emerged as the favorite, but No. 5 seed Navy has been a dark horse in the tournament.
American has been led by their dominant big man, who has been dominating on the glass and in the paint. Navy, on the other hand, has been impressive on the perimeter, with several guards showcasing their scoring prowess.
This matchup will be a battle of styles, as American’s physical play will be tested by Navy’s quickness and agility.
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference has been a conference of upsets this season, with several teams pulling off impressive victories. No. 1 seed Texas A&M-CC has emerged as the favorite, but No. 2 seed Sam Houston has been a dark horse in the tournament.
Texas A&M-CC has been led by their dominant point guard, who has been leading the team in scoring and assists. Sam Houston, on the other hand, has been impressive on the defensive end, holding several opponents under 60 points.
This matchup will be a battle of wills, as both teams will need to dig deep and find their inner strength to secure the automatic bid.
The High-Major Front: Opening Round Games and What to Expect
As the Big East, Big Ten, and SEC join the fray with opening round games, the high-major front is heating up. These conferences will provide exciting matchups and nail-biting finishes, ultimately determining which teams will earn bids to the NCAA Tournament.
The Big East has been a conference of parity this season, with several teams competing for the top spot. No. 1 seed Villanova will face off against No. 8 seed Butler in the opening round, while No. 4 seed UConn will take on No. 5 seed Marquette.
In the Big Ten, No. 1 seed Purdue will face off against No. 8 seed Michigan State, while No. 4 seed Illinois will take on No. 5 seed Ohio State.
In the SEC, No. 1 seed Kentucky will face off against No. 8 seed Tennessee, while No. 4 seed Auburn will take on No. 5 seed Florida.
Big East
The Big East has been a conference of upsets this season, with several teams pulling off impressive victories. Villanova has emerged as the favorite, but Butler has been a dark horse in the tournament.
Villanova has been led by their dominant big man, who has been dominating on the glass and in the paint. Butler, on the other hand, has been impressive on the perimeter, with several guards showcasing their scoring prowess.
This matchup will be a battle of styles, as Villanova’s physical play will be tested by Butler’s quickness and agility.
Big Ten
The Big Ten has been a conference of strength this season, with several teams competing for the top spot. Purdue has emerged as the favorite, but Michigan State has been a dark horse in the tournament.
Purdue has been led by their dominant point guard, who has been leading the team in scoring and assists. Michigan State, on the other hand, has been impressive on the defensive end, holding several opponents under 60 points.
This matchup will be a battle of wills, as both teams will need to dig deep and find their inner strength to secure the bid.
SEC
The SEC has been a conference of upsets this season, with several teams pulling off impressive victories. Kentucky has emerged as the favorite, but Tennessee has been a dark horse in the tournament.
Kentucky has been led by their dominant big man, who has been dominating on the glass and in the paint. Tennessee, on the other hand, has been impressive on the perimeter, with several guards showcasing their scoring prowess.
This matchup will be a battle of styles, as Kentucky’s physical play will be tested by Tennessee’s quickness and agility.
The March to Selection Sunday: A Preview of the Final Stretch
As we enter the final stretch of conference tournaments, the competition is heating up. Teams will need to dig deep and find their inner strength to secure bids to the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA Division I basketball committee will be paying close attention to the final stretch of conference tournaments, as they begin to finalize their selections for the 2025 March Madness tournament.
The committee will be looking for teams that have shown consistency and strength throughout the season. Teams that have demonstrated the ability to win close games and dominate on the glass will be in a strong position to secure bids.
Conference Tournament Scores
Here are the conference tournament scores from around the country:
- Big Sky: Weber State vs. Sacramento State
- Patriot League: American vs. Navy
- Southland Conference: Texas A&M-CC vs. Sam Houston
- Big East: Villanova vs. Butler
- Big Ten: Purdue vs. Michigan State
- SEC: Kentucky vs. Tennessee
- Strength of schedule
- NET ranking
- Team-sheet data
- Conference performance
- Head-to-head matchups
These matchups will provide exciting finishes and nail-biting conclusions to the conference tournaments.
Selection Committee’s Criteria
The NCAA Division I basketball committee will be using the following criteria to select teams for the 2025 March Madness tournament:
Teams that have demonstrated strength and consistency in these areas will be in a strong position to secure bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Bracketology and the NCAA Selection Process
Unionjournalism’s Bracketology efforts are focused on projecting the NCAA tournament field just as we expect the NCAA Division I basketball committee to select the field in March.
Our bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, uses the same data points favored by the committee, including strength of schedule and other season-long indicators, including the NET and team-sheet data similar to what is available to the NCAA, in his projections of the field.
Visit Unionjournalism’s website for a fuller understanding of NCAA selection criteria and to see our latest bracket projections.
The 68-Team Bracket
The 68-team bracket is the standard version of the NCAA tournament field that has been in place since 2011. If the 2021 field is comprised of 68 teams, there will be some key differences to past years, however.
The primary adjustment from a normal year is, of course, the playing of the entire NCAA tournament at a single site. This eliminates the need for geographical considerations in seeding.
Additionally, there will be at least one fewer automatic qualifier this season, as the Ivy League’s decision to forgo the 2020-21 season reduces the number of AQ entries to 31 for this season.
The 48-Team and 16-Team Brackets
We will also be projecting the 48-team and 16-team brackets, which would result in a condensed selection process and a reduced field.
The 48-team bracket would reduce the field by 10 at-large teams and 10 automatic qualifiers, with the top four seeds in each region receiving a bye into the second round.
The 16-team bracket would select and seed the 16 best available teams, with no automatic qualifiers, although all non-competing conference champions would receive the designated revenue unit.
Expert Analysis and Insights
Unionjournalism’s expert analysts and insiders will provide expert analysis and insights on the NCAA Tournament field, including conference tournament winners and final four teams.
Our team of experts will break down the strengths and weaknesses of each team, providing a comprehensive analysis of the NCAA Tournament field.
Jerry Palm’s Bracketology Expertise
Jerry Palm is CBS Sports’ bracketology and College Football Playoff expert. He has been writing about sports on the internet right after Al Gore invented it.
Palm’s expertise in bracketology is unmatched, and his insights will provide valuable information to fans and analysts alike.
Bracket Predictions and Picks
Unionjournalism’s expert analysts and insiders will provide expert predictions and picks for the NCAA Tournament, including conference tournament winners and final four teams.
Our team of experts will break down the strengths and weaknesses of each team, providing a comprehensive analysis of the NCAA Tournament field.
The Role of Data in Bracketology
Data plays a crucial role in bracketology, with teams that have demonstrated strength and consistency in key areas being in a strong position to secure bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Our team of experts will analyze the data and provide expert insights on the NCAA Tournament field, including conference tournament winners and final four teams.
Conclusion
March Madness 2025: The Road to the Big Dance
As the conference tournament scores poured in, the 2025 edition of March Madness took shape. The article from CBS Sports highlighted two Cinderella stories: the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and Saint Francis University, both securing automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. UNCW’s thrilling victory in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament and Saint Francis’ dominating performance in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament marked the culmination of their championship aspirations. As these underdog teams look to upset the NCAA’s top seeds, the stage is set for a thrilling tournament.
The significance of these automatic bids extends beyond the teams themselves, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of college basketball. As programs like UNCW and Saint Francis punch above their weight, they inspire hope and optimism among fans and coaches alike. The NCAA’s March Madness tournament, a revered platform for competitive excellence, has once again delivered on its promise of unpredictability and excitement. As the tournament tips off, the nation will witness a thrilling spectacle of athleticism, teamwork, and perseverance, with UNCW and Saint Francis leading the charge.
Looking ahead, the 2025 NCAA Tournament promises to be just as unpredictable and captivating. As the brackets are revealed and the games unfold, we will see which underdogs will continue to defy expectations and which top seeds will falter. As we witness the drama and excitement of March Madness, let us not forget that the true beauty of the tournament lies not just in the victories, but in the journey of the teams that dare to dream. In the words of Vince Lombardi, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”