Last year, UConn became the first repeat national champion in 17 years, the first No. 1 overall seed in a decade to win it all and the owner of the largest average margin of victory (23.3 points) in NCAA Tournament history, winning every game by double digits.
This year?
There is no one to fear.
Because even in a field where the nation’s top-ranked team has the nation’s top player, Duke enters the NCAA Tournament with uncertainty, following the ankle injury that knocked freshman superstar Cooper Flagg out of the ACC Tournament.
Duke informed NCAA officials that Flagg will suit up for the NCAA Tournament, but even if the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft returns at — or near — full strength, the National Player of the Year favorite is in no stronger position to win it all than the past four Blue Devils who played on a No. 1 seed and were drafted first overall (Elton Brand, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson and Paolo Banchero), each falling short of a national title.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer, 37, is looking to become the youngest head coach to win a national championship in 42 years (Jim Valvano) by guiding the first freshmen-led title team since the Blue Devils’ most recent triumph a decade ago, with Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen.
“I think it’s trending in a great way where Cooper will be ready to go right away in the NCAA Tournament,” Scheyer said after winning the ACC Tournament.
Senior-led Auburn entered March looking like a juggernaut, widely considered the team to beat after earning 10 wins over ranked teams.
The Tigers, led by National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, claimed the No. 1-overall seed but suffered more losses in the past two weeks (three) than in the first four months (two) and are one year removed from a first-round upset to Yale.
The SEC — which earned a record 14 bids, breaking the mark set by the Big East (11) in 2011 — picked up another No. 1 seed via Florida, who claimed their first SEC Tournament title in 11 years.
The Gators arguably have the most balanced team in the nation but also have a head coach (39-year-old Todd Golden) who never has won an NCAA Tournament game.
The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2025 field.
Houston, the Big 12 champion, is a No. 1 seed for the third straight year, following back-to-back Sweet 16 exits under coach Kelvin Sampson, 69, who is older than every title-winning coach in tournament history.
Tennessee, a No. 2 seed, has a championship defense, but a head coach, Rick Barnes, 70, with a well-earned reputation as an all-time tournament underachiever.
Tom Izzo, 70, led No. 2 seed Michigan State to an unexpected Big Ten title, but he is 25 years removed from his lone national title, more than any coach has ever gone between titles.
St. John’s also grabbed a No. 2 seed after securing the school’s first Big East titles in nearly four decades, with Rick Pitino, 72, becoming the first coach to lead six different schools to the NCAA Tournament.
However, the relentless Red Storm are untested against the nation’s best, playing no team that claimed a top six seed.
There also never has been a national champion with worse 3-point shooting than St. John’s (30.4 percent), which ranked 338th in the nation this season.
St. John’s is among seven top three seeds without a national championship.
None of the past eight national champions (UConn, Kansas, Baylor, North Carolina, Virginia, and Villanova) is a top six seed.
Kansas, the preseason No. 1, endured its most losses under Bill Self (12) and was given a No. 7 seed, its lowest in 25 years.
UConn’s quest for the first three-peat since UCLA’s run of seven straight titles (1967-73) faced long odds after Dan Hurley lost four starters to the NBA draft.
Now, it requires one of the most unlikely runs in tournament history, with the Huskies entering as a No. 8 seed after suffering 10 losses.
“Our quality is way off from where it’s been for a variety of reasons,” Hurley said after last month’s loss to St. John’s. “We’ve got too many flaws.”
The champs are not alone.
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