IN A WIDE-OPEN FIELD, WHO'S YOUR MEN'S NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPION? WOMEN'S?

March Madness is here again.  And for the first time in quite some time there isn't a clear-cut favorite.  There could be any number of teams that grab the trophy in San Antonio in early April. The four #1 seeds are set:  Houston, Duke, Florida and Auburn.  For a good share of the season, I was leaning Auburn.  That was until Florida has played so well in recent weeks.  I'm picking the Gators.  Here's wishing myself good luck.  Oh, and you too.

The remainder of the 68-team field is cluttered with hopefuls.  The Big Ten is on the outside looking in.  Their best offering might be Wisconsin.  Maybe Michigan.  Really don't understand how Michigan State got a #2 seed.  Sure, they won the regular season crown.  Coach Tom Izzo factor no doubt.  Purdue without big man Zach Edey this year has a real tough road.  It goes without saying, the Big Ten is very so-so.  Speaking of hopefuls.  The SEC has a record 14 teams in the tournament, an NCAA record.  It might very well be that the conference is becoming the leader not only in football, but basketball.  Money, money, money.  The Big 12 has a couple of interesting teams to watch with Arizona and BYU.  The Cougars have a nice-looking squad and open with VCU, a very winnable game.  Arizona has been trending upward in recent weeks.  And let's not forget St. John's.  Head coach Rick Pitino is leading the Redmen into the tourney.  It's the sixth team he's put a team into the field.  A record.  Amazing.  Who has the toughest road to Tampa?  Looks like Auburn.  

There are some teams that we've come to know that are always in the top seed area, that aren't this season.  #7 Kansas is the biggest notion.  2025 marks the first time the Jayhawks haven't been at least a number 4 seed since 2000.  Their opening round game against #10 Arkansas and John Calipari could prove interesting.  One and done?  Wouldn't that be a shocker?  Two-time defending champion #8 UCONN will have their hands full against #9 Oklahoma.  The Huskies are a team that is hard to gauge.  On experience alone they might have a run in them.       

How about a couple of sleepers?  Liberty is an interesting ballclub.  As the #12 seed they open with #5 Oregon.  With 28 wins they could provide some fun.  Nobody else really jumps out at me except maybe St. Mary's and Creighton.  There are a couple of other teams (not sleepers) to watch like #2 Alabama.  They led the nation in scoring with a 91.4 average.  They've been on the cusp in recent years, this might be their time to sneak into the Final Four.  And don't forget #2 Tenneessee.  Just another SEC team on the prowl.  Clearly, the 8-9 games are going to be barn burners (UCONN-Arkansas; Mississippi State-Baylor; Louisville-Creighton and Gonzaga-Georgia.  

Will Cooper Flagg's ankle injury keep Duke from a deep run?  Many have suggested they are a good team, but not a great team without Flagg.  And then there's Houston.  Always like how the Cougars play so physical, but they seem snake bit.  I think this will be another year like that.  

The trophy awaits its new home

So, who were some of the overlooked in 2025?  The snubs as we like to call them.  Perhaps the biggest was West Virginia.  The words from head coach Darian DeVries sums it all up.  "Obviously, we are extremely shocked, saddened and disappointed with not being selected for the NCAA Tournament.  We strongly believe that we have a resume that is worthy of an NCAA Tournament Team".  Indiana, Ohio State and SMU probably feel the same way.  What is noteworthy is DeVries is a candidate for the Iowa head coaching position that became vacant when the Hawkeyes dismissed Fran McCaffrey on Friday.  The Mountaineers weren't selected to play in the NIT or turned it down and now word is they won't play in the new College Basketball Crown tourney either. West Virginia will be sitting the post-season out completely to see if they still have DeVries as their head man.  Just another matter where sports and business collide.               

Brackets?  Brackets?  Let's not forget them.  We have a Family Traveling Trophy tourney every season.  I'd like to think I could win that sucker every year.  Not the case.  All it takes is a couple of upsets to screw up your bracket.  BTW, nobody has ever filled out a perfect bracket.  As far as the NCAA can tell, only one person has ever even picked perfectly through the Sweet Sixteen

Best to you with your picks.   

The Women's field is set now too.  The #1's are UCLA, USC, South Carolina and Texas.  Two Big Ten teams and two SEC teams.  Of the four, only South Carolina was in their conference last season.  All the others are in their first season with their new setting.  If, I was a betting man, which I'm not, I'd probably go with South Carolina.  They have one of the easier brackets and they seem like they're ready to bust the doors open since they didn't grab the #1 overall seed.  UCLA did.  

This is a truly fun time in the sports world.  There will be a ton of games and a whole lot of agony and ecstasy.  But if you have a hard time and you're left high and dry again, remember there's always next year.