It\u2019s never too early for another Bracketology. Over three weeks have passed since UConn downed Purdue in the national championship and fans around the country adequately mourned their disastrous brackets. Now, it\u2019s time to run it back.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, ESPN\u2019s Joe Lunardi released his first Bracketology<\/a><\/strong> for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Although the transfer portal rages on and the coaching carousel keeps spinning, Lunardi provided fans with his best predictions of where the college basketball landscape will stand next March.<\/p>\n Look below to learn about Lunardi\u2019s predictions, beginning with the No. 1 overall seed in the Midwest Region.<\/p>\n Jay Biggerstaff | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Kansas entered last season as the No. 1 team in the country and Lunardi apparently expects the same in the 2024-25 campaign. Despite the Jayhawks\u2019 high expectations last season, the team fell 89-68 to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n Kansas has only allowed the shortcoming to motivate itself this offseason. The team is returning COVID senior Hunter Dickinson<\/a><\/strong> and fifth-year guard Dajuan Harris Jr.<\/a><\/strong> Additionally, Kansas boasts a monstrous transfer class, including Rylan Griffen<\/a><\/strong> (Alabama), AJ Storr<\/a><\/strong> (Wisconsin), Riley Kugel<\/a><\/strong> (Florida) and Zeke Mayo<\/a><\/strong> (South Dakota State).<\/p>\n Patrick Breen\/The Republic \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n Alabama head coach Nate Oats<\/a><\/strong> didn\u2019t hesitate to make a splash in his third season at the helm of the program. The Crimson Tide lost three of its last four games before the Big Dance. However, they found their rhythm at the perfect time, reaching the Final Four for the first time in program history.<\/p>\n Early in the offseason, it appears Alabama is poised to make another postseason run next year. Latrell Wrightsell Jr.<\/a><\/strong> has already announced he plans to return. Additionally, Mark Sears<\/a><\/strong> maintained his eligibility while entering the 2024 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Rob Kinnan | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Arizona averaged 87.1 points per game last season, the third-most in the country. The Wildcats suffered an off-night at the worst possible moment when they fell 77-72 to Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n With no shortage of talent, Arizona is poised to have another standout season. The program has already added Tobe Awaka<\/a><\/strong> (Tennessee) and Trey Townsend<\/a><\/strong> (Oakland) via the NCAA Transfer Portal<\/a><\/strong> this offseason. Townsend averaged 17.3 points per game last season.<\/p>\n (8) Kentucky<\/a><\/strong> vs. (9) Clemson<\/a><\/strong> \u00a9 Patrick Breen\/The Republic \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n UConn has won back-to-back national championships and Dan Hurley<\/a><\/strong> is hungry for more. The UConn head coach reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to become Kentucky\u2019s next head coach. Instead, he hopes to continue to build his dynasty in Storrs, Conn.<\/p>\n \u201cLiterally, once we got on that team bus, I turned around and said, \u2018Where\u2019s the East Regional next year? Alright, first two rounds are in Providence and then the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are in Newark, New Jersey, where I lived and worked for nine years. Then, the Final Four is in San Antonio,\u2019\u201d Hurley recalled during an appearance on \u201cThe Pat McAfee Show.\u201d<\/p>\n (Gabriel Mayberry | USA Today Sports)<\/p>\n In a year when postseason expectations were low for Gonzaga, Mark Few<\/a><\/strong> made a statement. The tenured head coach guided the Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to eventual national runner-up Purdue in a hard-fought battle.<\/p>\n Gonzaga has now reached the Sweet Sixteen or advanced further every year since 2014. Fans shouldn\u2019t expect the 2024-25 season to be any different. With stars such as Graham Ike<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Ryan Nembhard<\/a> and Nolan Hickman<\/a><\/strong> ready to run it back, the Bulldogs will pack plenty of bite next season.<\/p>\n Raymond Carlin III | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n For the second-straight season, Baylor fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, head coach Scott Drew<\/a><\/strong> hasn\u2019t lost faith in the future of the program. Like Hurley, the 53-year-old head coach turned down an offer to take the reins at Kentucky with hopes of building something greater in his current environment.<\/p>\n Drew is certainly off to an excellent start. Baylor secured a pivotal commitment from former Duke point guard Jeremy Roach<\/a><\/strong> in the transfer portal. Moreover, the Bears boast the No. 4 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle<\/a>, headlined by five-star prospect VJ Edgecombe.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n (8) Nebraska<\/a><\/strong> vs. (9) Texas Tech<\/a><\/strong> Amy Kontras | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Houston suffered a stunning loss to Duke in the Sweet Sixteen after star guard Jamal Shead<\/a><\/strong> exited the game due to ankle injury with just under seven minutes left in the first half. While Shead won\u2019t have a chance to avenge the loss, his teammates will return next season with a newfound motivation.<\/p>\n Houston returns numerous key players next season, including \u00a0LJ Cryer<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0J\u2019Wan Roberts<\/a> and Emanuel Sharp<\/a><\/strong>. It won\u2019t be easy for Houston to replace Shead, but with another No. 1 national defense, Kelvin Sampson<\/strong> could easily find a way to push his team to new heights.<\/p>\n Jordan Godfree | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Houston wasn\u2019t the only No. 1 seed that suffered an upset loss in the Sweet Sixteen. Alabama left North Carolina fans teary-eyed after it defeated the Tar Heels 89-87 in the Big Dance. Evidently, the loss left a bad taste in several of the Tar Heels\u2019 mouths.<\/p>\n Most notably, North Carolina leading scorer RJ Davis<\/a><\/strong> announced he will return next season. Davis averaged a career-best 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during his senior campaign. Now, along with Elliot Cadeau<\/a> and Seth Trimble<\/a><\/strong>, Davis will look to help UNC make another run in March.<\/p>\n (Photo by Matt Rudolph\/Auburn Live)<\/p>\n Auburn\u2019s March Madness crash-landed before it ever took flight this past season. For the first time under head coach Bruce Pearl<\/a><\/strong>, the Tigers suffered a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n Auburn is doing everything it can from repeating history next year. Not only is Auburn returning standouts such as Johni Broome<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Chad Baker-Mazara<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Denver Jones<\/a> and Dylan Cardwell<\/a><\/strong>, but the program also added All-Southern Conference guard JP Pegues<\/a><\/strong> via the transfer portal.<\/p>\n (8) Memphis<\/a><\/strong> vs. (9) Pittsburgh<\/a><\/strong> (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n Duke exceeded expectations in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight before eventually falling to NC State. Duke lost Jeremy Roach in the transfer portal shortly after the season, but make no mistakes \u2014 the Blue Devils will be oozing talent next season.<\/p>\n Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, headlined by No. 1 overall prospect Cooper Flagg<\/a><\/strong>. The group includes fellow five-star Khaman Maluach<\/a><\/strong> and four four-star recruits. Add on returners Tyrese Proctor<\/a> and Caleb Foster<\/a><\/strong>, and there\u2019s little reason to doubt Duke\u2019s potential next season.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Nirmalendu Majumdar | Ames Tribune | USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n Iowa State showed spurts of greatness last season. In the 2024-25 campaign, the team will look to become consistently excellent. The Cyclones will return leading scorer Keshon Gilbert<\/a><\/strong> next season while adding four players via the NCAA Transfer Portal, including St. Mary\u2019s standout Joshua Jefferson<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n It will be head coach TJ Otzelberger\u2019s<\/strong> fourth season at the helm of the program. As usual, defense will be a point of emphasis. Iowa State made a living on defense last season, only allowing 61.5 points per game, the fourth-least in the country.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n Creighton fell 82-75 to Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen. However, the Bluejays will essentially return its starting five next season, only losing Baylor Scheierman<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Creighton\u2019s returners include Trey Alexander<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Steven Ashworth<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Ryan Kalkbrenner<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Mason Miller<\/a><\/strong>. Further, the Bluejays will boast several fresh faces, including transfers Jamiya Neal<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Pop Isaacs<\/a><\/strong> along with highly-touted freshman Jackson McAndrew<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n (8) Providence<\/a><\/strong> vs. (9) Mississippi State<\/a><\/strong> The post ESPN releases 2025 Bracketology, way too early NCAA Tournament field predictions<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s never too early for another Bracketology. Over three weeks have passed since UConn downed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50159"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50182,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50159\/revisions\/50182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
(1) Kansas<\/a> vs. (16) UMKC<\/h2>\n(2) Alabama<\/a> vs. (15) Milwaukee<\/a><\/h2>\n
(3) Arizona<\/a> vs. (14) Ohio<\/a><\/h2>\n
(5) Xavier<\/a><\/strong> vs. (12) Bradley<\/a><\/strong>
(4) Purdue<\/a><\/strong> vs. (13) Louisiana Tech<\/a><\/strong>
(6) Miami<\/a><\/strong> vs. (11) Saint Mary\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>\/Illinois<\/a><\/strong>
(7) Ohio State<\/a><\/strong> vs. (10) Dayton<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nWest Region (San Francisco)
(1) UConn<\/a> vs. (16) Wagner<\/a><\/h2>\n(2) Gonzaga<\/a> vs. (15) UC Riverside<\/h2>\n
(3) Baylor<\/a> vs. (14) Weber State<\/a><\/h2>\n
(5) Marquette<\/a><\/strong> vs. (12) Princeton<\/a><\/strong>
(4) Tennessee<\/a><\/strong> vs. (13) Vermont<\/a><\/strong>
(6) Florida<\/a><\/strong> vs. (11) Wisconsin<\/a><\/strong>\/NC State<\/a><\/strong>
(7) UCLA<\/a><\/strong> vs. (10) Wake Forest<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nSouth Region (Atlanta)
(1) Houston<\/a> vs. (16) Southern<\/a>\/Tennessee State<\/a><\/h2>\n(2) North Carolina<\/a> vs. (15) Quinnipiac<\/a><\/h2>\n
(3) Auburn<\/a> vs. (14) Charleston<\/h2>\n
(5) Texas A&M<\/a><\/strong> vs. (12) Grand Canyon<\/strong>
(4) Indiana<\/a><\/strong> vs. (13) High Point<\/a><\/strong>
(6) Cincinnati<\/a><\/strong> vs. (11) USC<\/a><\/strong>
(7) Michigan<\/a><\/strong> vs. (10) Arkansas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nEast Region (Newark)
(1) Duke<\/a> vs. (16) NC Central<\/a>\/Navy<\/a><\/h2>\n(2) Iowa State<\/a> vs. (15) Samford<\/a><\/h2>\n
(3) Creighton<\/a> vs. (14) Lipscomb<\/a><\/h2>\n
(5) Michigan State<\/a><\/strong> vs. (12) McNeese State<\/a><\/strong>
(4) Texas<\/a><\/strong> vs. (13) Arkansas State<\/a><\/strong>
(6) Rutgers<\/a><\/strong> vs. (11) Boise State<\/a><\/strong>
(7) Ole Miss<\/a><\/strong> vs. (10) Maryland<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n