USA Today: March Madness bracket predictions: No. 1 seeds to first four out of 2025 NCAA Tournament

[NT80]

No. 5 seeds

• Michigan State (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten)
• Marquette (19-6, 10-4 Big East)
• Ole Miss (19-6, 8-4 SEC)
• Memphis (21-4, 11-1 American)

Memphis will be an interesting test case for the tournament’s selection committee when it comes to seeding. Penny Hardaway’s Tigers are 5-2 in Quad One games, but have poor advanced metrics relative to their gaudy record, play in a weak American Athletic Conference and have suffered two Quad Three losses: at home against Arkansas State and at Temple.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/02/15/march-madness-bracket-predictions-bubble-seeds-ncaa-tournament/78627795007/?tbref=hp

 

[UNTLifer]

OU as an 11 seed is a joke.

[Venson]

I don't get this seeding. There are teams on there that I 100% believe we are better than but yet we cannot make it. They may as well say they want a tournament that is completely made up of Power conference teams. The others who are not from a power conference seem to only be there so they can say they are not biased. I agree with @UNTLifer OU on this list at 11 is a joke.

[drex]

I don't think that Memphis will survive the AAC tournament as winners.  I like our chances on a neutral court.

[MrAlien]

I dont hate that projection as things are now, the top 16 seem about right other then St. Johns (I have them as a 5 seed instead of a 4).  St. Marry's I think could be a shocker, I would have them at a 6th or even 5th seed.  The rest of the bracket is really up in the air at this point, depending how the conference tournaments go. 

That bracket obviously assumes Memphis will win the conference tournament, and with their Q1 record, be a 5th seed.    

[GMG_Dallas]

Mid-majors need to schedule more uncomfortable OOC slates such as neutral site and away games against those high-majors and then go at least .500 in those games. Looking purely at resume, which includes a home loss to UTSA and loss at UAB, we have absolutely no business getting an at-large. I also think we're better than some of those at-large candidates but moving forward, we need to do more to prove it in OOC play.

[NT80]

2 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Mid-majors need to schedule more uncomfortable OOC slates such as neutral site and away games against those high-majors and then go at least .500 in those games. Looking purely at resume, which includes a home loss to UTSA and loss at UAB, we have absolutely no business getting an at-large. I also think we're better than some of those at-large candidates but moving forward, we need to do more to prove it in OOC play.

Our OOC schedule greatly needs improved.   Memphis is receiving accolades because they are 5-2 in Quad 1 games; most all were OOC scheduled games. 

It's sad we could end up 26-7 after the AAC Tourney and still be left out of the NCAA Tourney, due to our poor OOC scheduling.

[untjim1995]

Memphis can get good games for OlC play because of their reputation and the recruiting base.

While we provide the recruiting base, we share it with two power conference teams that a loss doesn’t hurt as much as to us.

[GMG_Dallas]

8 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

Memphis can get good games for OlC play because of their reputation and the recruiting base.

While we provide the recruiting base, we share it with two power conference teams that a loss doesn’t hurt as much as to us.

Excuses. 

First, this is basketball in 2025. Most High-major OOC schedules are full of neutral site games. Teams aren't traveling in OOC to play SMU and TCU in their house. The only High-major team to play at either of those schools is Mississippi State at Moody. The rest were all neutral site or road games for TCU or SMU.

Second, it's up to us to take the hit and travel. Make it enticing for the other school such as a neutral site near them or straight on the road at their house.

Third, the excuse is just poor. Colorado State played Ole Miss, Washington, TCU, Colorado, and VCU who's very solid, all were on the road or neutral site. Dayton played UNC, Iowa State, Connecticut, Northwestern, Marquette, and Cincinnati with only Marquette being at home. Santa Clara played TCU, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, and good mid-majors in Saint Louis, McNeese State, and Bradley with only Stanford being at home. I could go on but I'm sure you get the point. We need to do better. 

[untjim1995]

3 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Excuses. 

First, this is basketball in 2025. Most High-major OOC schedules are full of neutral site games. Teams aren't traveling in OOC to play SMU and TCU in their house. The only High-major team to play at either of those schools is Mississippi State at Moody. The rest were all neutral site or road games for TCU or SMU.

Second, it's up to us to take the hit and travel. Make it enticing for the other school such as a neutral site near them or straight on the road at their house.

Third, the excuse is just poor. Colorado State played Ole Miss, Washington, TCU, Colorado, and VCU who's very solid, all were on the road or neutral site. Dayton played UNC, Iowa State, Connecticut, Northwestern, Marquette, and Cincinnati with only Marquette being at home. Santa Clara played TCU, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, and good mid-majors in Saint Louis, McNeese State, and Bradley with only Stanford being at home. I could go on but I'm sure you get the point. We need to do better. 

You are right and I stand corrected. 

[greenminer]

7 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Excuses. 

First, this is basketball in 2025. Most High-major OOC schedules are full of neutral site games. Teams aren't traveling in OOC to play SMU and TCU in their house. The only High-major team to play at either of those schools is Mississippi State at Moody. The rest were all neutral site or road games for TCU or SMU.

Second, it's up to us to take the hit and travel. Make it enticing for the other school such as a neutral site near them or straight on the road at their house.

Third, the excuse is just poor. Colorado State played Ole Miss, Washington, TCU, Colorado, and VCU who's very solid, all were on the road or neutral site. Dayton played UNC, Iowa State, Connecticut, Northwestern, Marquette, and Cincinnati with only Marquette being at home. Santa Clara played TCU, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, and good mid-majors in Saint Louis, McNeese State, and Bradley with only Stanford being at home. I could go on but I'm sure you get the point. We need to do better. 

Neutral sites. This is the way.

[Matt from A700]

The American has always had at least two tournament bids in its short history, right? I could see Pernetti and the Memphis AD making a deal - conference tourney in Memphis the next three years, but the Tigers can't win.

[NT80]

ESPN+ bubble watch for NCAA Tournament has Memphis as a 99% chance.

Outside looking in

North Texas Mean Green (25%), Dayton Flyers (18%), Jacksonville State Gamecocks(14%), Middle Tennessee State (12%), Northern Iowa Panthers (11%)