Countdown to Selection Sunday: March Madness Brackets Set to Unfold

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Selection Sunday for the 2025 NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments is poised to captivate fans, with the men’s and women’s brackets to be revealed on March 16. Teams that have earned their spot through auto-bids and selections will find out their playoff paths during this widely anticipated event.

The men’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show will begin at 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on CBS. Following shortly after, at 8 p.m. ET, ESPN will air the women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show. Each tournament will feature a total of 68 teams vying for the national championship.

The 2025 men’s tournament is set to kick off with the First Four games at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on March 18. Following Opening Day, the tournament progresses through multiple rounds culminating in the Final Four scheduled for April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The national champion will be crowned on April 7.

For the women’s tournament, the First Four games are scheduled to start on March 19, with the Final Four taking place on April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, and the championship game on April 6.

As selection week unfolds, teams across the country are focused on their last chances to improve their standings. Notable storylines include whether Kentucky‘s John Calipari can secure a last-minute win to enhance their tournament resume and if popular programs like UConn can capitalize on healthy players to re-establish championship contention.

“This is our chance to make a mark when it matters the most,” Calipari said in a press conference. “We know what’s at stake in the coming days.”

The Selection Committees will determine the final compositions of both tournaments, assessing bubble teams that are desperate for a chance. Overall performance in conference tournaments will be critical to those on the edge of qualification.

Fans and analysts nationwide eagerly await the television reveals, as Selection Sunday not only sets the stage for March Madness but also sparks discussions surrounding potential upsets and bracket predictions.

The excitement builds as teams prepare for the final push. With major conference tournaments now in full swing, every game could significantly affect tournament invitations. Programs such as Lipscomb, High Point, and Drake have already secured spots, illustrating the unpredictable nature of “March Madness.”