Based on the metrics and general seeding, this yr’s Elite 8 area was arguably the strongest within the historical past of the NCAA Event.
Of the remaining eight groups coming into the weekend, 4 had been No. 1 seeds, three had been No. 2 seeds, and one was a No. 3 seed. Based on Jordan Mendoza of USA At the moment, this was the bottom remaining seed whole within the Elite 8 since 2007 (13). That 2007 match additionally had an an identical draw when it comes to seeds remaining.
What makes this yr completely different?
The distinction between this yr and 2007, or actually every other yr, is the standard of the No. 1 seeds. I’ve listed this truth in numerous articles over the previous few weeks, however it bares repeating yet another time given the circumstances.
This yr’s version of the NCAA Event featured 4 of the six highest-rated groups in 23 years of KenPom’s pre-tournament rankings.
All 4 traditionally nice one-seeds prevailed of their matchups, setting the stage for a loaded Closing 4 in San Antonio subsequent weekend. 2008 was final time all 4 No. 1 seeds made the Closing 4, and that match ended with one of many lasting photographs of March Insanity.
The one factor we are able to do now could be hope for extra drama within the video games subsequent weekend. Till then, let’s undergo what we noticed this weekend and decide what lived as much as the billing and what didn’t.
West Area: (1) Florida 84, (3) Texas Tech 79
This was simply the sport of the weekend. Texas Tech proved that you just typically reside by the sword and die by the sword, shedding by the hands of an inconceivable Gator comeback after pulling off a miraculous comeback of their very own within the Candy 16 towards Arkansas.
Florida trailed by 9 factors with simply 3:14 remaining, however got here all the way in which again, taking a 78-77 lead on a Walter Clayton Jr. 3-pointer with 59 seconds remaining. Clayton Jr. scored 22 of his 30 factors within the second half, and shot 50% from the sphere general to assist coach Todd Golden and the Gators stave off elimination for one more spherical.
East Area: (1) Duke 85, (2) Alabama 65
This was one of many video games that didn’t reside as much as the billing. Whereas I used to be definitely anticipating a Duke victory and a few regression to the imply from Alabama following the Tide’s 113-point efficiency towards BYU within the Candy 16, I wasn’t anticipating this.
Alabama went from taking pictures an NCAA Event report 25-of-51 from 3-point vary within the Candy 16, to taking pictures simply 8-of-32 from 3-point vary within the Elite 8 on Saturday. The Crimson Tide’s taking pictures woes and lack of defensive presence had been felt on the scoreboard. Duke didn’t path for a single second and the Blue Devils held a safe double-digit lead for the ultimate 12 minutes of the sport. First group All-American Mark Sears was a non-factor for Alabama, scoring simply six factors on 2-of-12 taking pictures. Kon Knueppel led the way in which for Duke with 21 factors.
Midwest Area: (1) Houston 69, (2) Tennessee 50
By way of how the 2025 Elite 8 can be remembered, Houston vs. Tennessee had loads using on it. Because the Sunday matinee, the standard of this sport between the nation’s two premier defenses went a good distance in figuring out whether or not the weekend can be remembered or largely misplaced to historical past.
It was one other dud. Tennessee put collectively a traditionally terrible efficiency within the first half, scoring simply six factors within the first 11+ minutes of the sport. Houston led 34-15 at halftime and led by as many as 22 factors within the first half. Based on Matt Norlander of CBS Sports activities, Tennessee’s 15 first-half factors had been the bottom ever by a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in any NCAA Event sport.
Tennessee’s 15 first-half factors are the bottom in NCAA Event historical past by a group with a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
Lowest not simply in an Elite Eight sport — lowest in any spherical of the match. Ever.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 30, 2025
The Vols confirmed some semblance of life within the second half and minimize the deficit to 10 factors with underneath six minutes remaining. That was as shut as they might get after the break, nonetheless, and Houston moved on to this system’s seventh Closing 4 with out a lot as breaking a sweat.
South Area: (1) Auburn 70, (2) Michigan State 64
I truly assume this sport did reside as much as the billing, though Auburn was by no means actually towards the ropes at any level. However, Michigan State stored its head above water simply sufficient to the place you could possibly by no means really matter them out at any level both.
This sport additionally gave us one of many coolest moments of the match up to now. Auburn star and SEC Participant of the Yr Johni Broome went down with what seemed to be a critical harm halfway by means of the second-half, casting a sobering cloud over what was monitoring to be a historic day for the Auburn program. Minutes later, nonetheless, Broome emerged from the locker room to raucous applause. From there, Broome took his spot again on the ground with Auburn nonetheless firmly in place to safe its second Closing 4 berth in class historical past. And that the Tigers did.
