The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has delivered quite thrilling performances and unexpected outcomes, some among the teams I highlighted in The Grizzly earlier this year—Kansas, UConn, Duke, Purdue, and Alabama. Here’s a summary of their journeys in this year’s March Madness:
Duke Blue Devils
Duke has showcased dominance throughout the tournament. In the Sweet 16, they secured a 100-93 victory over Arizona, led by freshman Cooper Flagg’s exceptional performance of 30 points, 7 assists, and 3 blocks. This win advanced them to the Elite Eight, where they defeated Alabama 85-65.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has demonstrated offensive aggression, notably in their 113-88 triumph over BYU during the Sweet 16. Guard Mark Sears led with 34 points, contributing to the team’s record-setting 25 three-pointers. This victory set up a thrilling Elite Eight matchup against Duke.
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas entered the tournament with high expectations but faced an early exit. They concluded the season with a 23-11 record, losing in the Round of 32 after a loss to Gonzaga. Despite the disappointment, the potential return of key players and new talent indicates a promise for the next season.
University of Connecticut Huskies
As the defending champions, UConn aimed for a third consecutive title. However, their run ended in the Sweet 16 with a loss to Florida. UConn has had a pretty rough year, with a lot of major talent transferring to other schools or pursuing the NBA and other leagues. Hopefully UConn can bounce back, but their future is in question.
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue’s highly anticipated tournament journey recently ended in the sweet sixteen. They faced Houston in the Sweet 16 and with much promise to make it to the Elite Eight but sadly their run came to an end with a 62-60 loss. Purdue has a well rounded fundamental team, and they will be serious contenders in next year’s tournament.
Kansas, UConn, and Purdue left the tournament earlier than expected with Alabama making the Elite Eight in a thrilling clash with Duke. Now the Final Four is set to be a showdown between Duke, Florida, Houston, and Auburn/Michigan State.
