COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 04: A view of the NCAA logo on a basketball before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Xfinity Center on December 04, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
This is the Midwest Region breakdown for March Madness 2025:
1. Houston
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 18: A detailed view of the “Jumpman” logo on a Houston Cougars jersey against the UAB Blazers during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
You can have your doubts about their style winning in March, but this squad is 4 points better than last year, and 8 points better than the 2023 squad, according to KenPom.
2. Tennessee
CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 29: A detailed view of the “T” logo of the Tennessee Volunteers as they line up for the National Anthem before playing the North Carolina Tar Heels on November 29, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 100-92. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
The best opportunity in a long time to snap that Final Four drought.
3. Gonzaga
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 21: A general view of the Gonzaga logo on the court prior to the start between the Northwestern State Demons and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 21, 2020 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeats Northwestern State 95-57. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
One of the biggest mis-seedings in recent memory. The Zags check a lot of boxes — guard play, bigs, depth, rebounding, shooting, coaching.
4. Kentucky
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 17: The Kentucky Wildcats logo on a pair of short during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game against the Providence Friars at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Will be playing this tournament without Jaxson Robinson, and maybe Lamont Butler as well, so the length of their run will be determined by how much others will step up to fill the void.
5. Clemson
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 05: The Clemson Tigers logo is seen on the shorts of Chase Hunter #1 of the Clemson Tigers against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Littlejohn Coliseum on March 05, 2024 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
I love how the round of 32 matches up for the Tigers, as long as they get there.
6. Purdue
COLLEGE PARK, MD – JANUARY 10: The Purdue Boilermakers logo on their uniform during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 10, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
Have one of the most entertaining first round matchups against High Point.
7. Illinois
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – FEBRUARY 21: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on a pair of shorts during a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rec Hall on February 21, 2024 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
one of the most “Jekyll and Hyde” teams in the country, and we simply don’t know which one we will get on Friday night (and beyond).
8. UCLA
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: A detailed view of the hand towel the UCLA logo seen hanging out of the pants of Oluwafemi Oladejo #2 of the UCLA Bruins during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Aday Mara could be a major difference maker in this NCAA Tournament if Mick Cronin will simply play him more minutes.
9. Georgia
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 02: The Georgia Bulldogs logo shown on a pair of shorts during the NIT Semifinals college basketball game against the Seton Hall Pirates at Hinkle Fieldhouse on April 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Not many 9-seeds have a future first round NBA draft pick, and Asa Newell certainly is one.
10. Texas
AUSTIN, TX – DECEMBER 1: The Texas Longhorns logo on the floor of the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on December 1, 2022. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
If the team that showed up to the SEC tournament shows up for this NCAA Tournament, they could find themselves in the Sweet Sixteen.
11. Xavier
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 02: A view of the Xavier Musketeers logo on their uniform during the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Capital One Arena on March 02, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Ryan Conwell is the type of player that can take over a game and carry his team on a run.
12. Utah State
DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 29: A detail view of the Utah State Aggies logo on the shorts of a player during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke defeated Utah State 85-52. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
limping into the NCAA Tournament as losers of 3 of their last 5.
13. High Point
25th in the nation in offensive efficiency and can score with anyone. Can they get enough stops to turn their first trip to the NCAA Tournament into a Cinderella run?
14. McNeese
Have plenty of high-major talent, but you have to wonder if Will Wade being linked to every job opening has a little bit of a distracting effect.
15. Troy
This team wins at math. They have a high “rim and 3” rate as well as grab a lot of offensive rebounds and force a lot of turnovers. This makes every opponent fight an uphill battle against them.
16. Wofford
Generic view of a Spalding NBA basketball dropping into the hoop during the FIBA European Basketball Championship on 25 June 1989 at the Dom Sportova in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. (Photo by Gray Mortimore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
If Wofford were to win their round of 64 game, Kyler Filewich and his free throw style will be remembered forever.
17. SIU-Edwardsville
Photo: Shutterstock
Good luck scoring more than 50 points against Houston
