BROOKLYN, NY – March 24: The March Madness logo on the floor before a second round NCAA Tournament game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Northwestern Wildcats at Barclays Center on March 24, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
Here are the East Region breakdown for March Madness 2025:
1. Duke
DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 18: A detail view of Nike basketballs prior to the game between the Elon Phoenix and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
If someone could guarantee me that Cooper Flagg were 100% healthy, I would say they’re the overwhelming favorites to win the whole thing.
2. Wisconsin
MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 14: A picture of the logo worn on new uniform shorts of a Wisconsin Badgers player during the game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Kohl Center on December 14, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The common sentiment is that guard play rules in March, and Wisconsin has two great ones in Tonje and Blackwell.
3. Alabama
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 06: The Alabama Crimson Tide logo shown on a chair of shorts during the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game against the Connecticut Huskies at State Farm Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
If Grant Nelson is out for the tournament, that significantly hurts their chances. Got outscored by 20 against Florida after he went out.
4. Arizona
MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 15: A picture of the Arizona Wildcats logo on shorts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Kohl Center on November 15, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
One last ride for the Caleb Love experience
5. BYU
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Egor Demin #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars dribbles the ball during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the Rady Children’s Invitational at LionTree Arena on November 29, 2024 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
One of the hottest teams in the country entering the tournament
6. Saint Marys
Have to wonder where they would be seeded had they beaten Gonzaga in the WCC Championship
7. Oregon
MAUI, HAWAII – NOVEMBER 22: The Oregon Ducks logo on shorts during the Maui Invitation college basketball tournament against the Tennessee Volunteers at Lahaina Civic on November 22, 2016 in Maui, Hawaii. The Ducks won 69-95. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
I trust Dana Altman to have this team well-prepared and not get upset in the first round, but I question the upside of this roster beyond that.
8. Baylor
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA – JANUARY 18: The Baylor Bears logo on pair of shorts before a college basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on January 18, 2022 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
the injury to Josh Ojianwuna will hurt defensively and on the glass, but they will enter every game with two of the best players on the floor in VJ Edgecombe and Norchad Omier.
9. VCU
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – DECEMBER 18: Head coach Ryan Odom of the VCU Rams gestures during the second half of a game against the New Mexico Lobos at The Pit on December 18, 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Lobos defeated the Rams 78-71. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
a team that has lost only once since February 1st, and plays some of the best defense you will ever see.
10. Mississippi State
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 23: The logo of the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the uniform shorts worn during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Gotham Classic at Prudential Center on December 23, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. Mississippi State defeated Rutgers 70-60. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Have plenty of size and depth, but have not done a whole lot away from home this season.
11. Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 21: A detailed shot of the Vanderbilt Commodores logo during the second half of the game against the Austin Peay Governors at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium on December 21, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
another middle of the road SEC team that does their best work in the comfort of their own gym.
12. Akron
John Groce’s squad is one of the shortest teams in all of Division I, but that didn’t stop them from thoroughly dominating the MAC
13. Liberty
Winning this iteration of Conference USA is not an overly impressive accomplishment, but beating McNeese, Kansas State, and Charleston in non-conference gives them one of the best non-conference resumes of all mid-majors.
14. Robert Morris
Photo: Shutterstock
A quality starting 5 for the Colonials. Alvaro Folgueiras is a name to watch out for as a potential transfer up in the offseason.
15. Montana
own a top 100-offensive efficiency rating with their best offensive player, Money Williams, coming off of the bench for the second half of the season.
16. Mount St Marys
the Mountaineers can play some defense – they held all of their MAAC Tournament opponents to under 60 points.
17. American
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 ***
Matt Rogers has been dominant against Patriot League competition, but I worry if that formula will work against better opponents.
