March Madness Intensifies as NCAA Tournament Second Round Prepares to Kick Off

SEATTLE, Washington — After an exhilarating first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, 32 teams remain poised for action as the second round approaches this weekend. Teams such as Arkansas, Michigan State, and defending champions UConn are among the favorites looking to advance further in the quest for college basketball’s ultimate prize.

The day of basketball action is set to resume Saturday, featuring matchups like Arkansas against St. John's in a highly anticipated clash between Hall of Fame coaches Rick Pitino and John Calipari. The second round will showcase all the fanfare and competitive spirit characteristic of March Madness.

March Madness got off to a thrilling start with notable upsets and standout performances. As the first round commenced Friday, the Tournament continued to draw fans nationwide into its unpredictable chaos. Among the surprises, No. 12 seed Colorado State triumphed over No. 5 seed Memphis in a tight 78-70 contest, thanks to standout performances from Kyan Evans, who scored 23 points.

The stakes were high with the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, making his debut for No. 1 seed Duke, who dominated No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary’s with a resounding 93-49 victory. Flagg contributed significantly despite recovering from an ankle injury, scoring 19 points in the effort.

“It feels great to be back on the court,” Flagg stated after the game. “I’ve worked hard to get to this point, and it’s exciting to play at this level again.”

Other teams making headlines on the first day of action included No. 1 seed Houston, who easily defeated their opponent, and No. 2 seed Alabama, who overcame No. 15 seed Robert Morris with a score of 90-81, led by Mark Sears with 22 points and 10 assists.

The thrill of March Madness is underscored by the challenges that remain. With only 121 perfect brackets still standing in ESPN’s tournament challenge after day two, the quest for an immaculate prediction continues to captivate basketball fans.

“With every passing game, the chances of a perfect bracket seem to dwindle,” ESPN analysts noted. “The excitement and unpredictability make it all the more entertaining.”

As the second round approaches, teams are bracing for the pressures of elimination, while fans eagerly await to see who will emerge as the champion. Matchups include Illinois against Kentucky and Gonzaga taking on Houston, promising high-stakes action as March Madness rolls on.

The full schedule for Saturday’s games features:

Arkansas vs. St. John’s – 2:40 p.m. ET (CBS)

Michigan State vs. New Mexico – 5:15 p.m. ET (CBS)

Illinois vs. Kentucky – 7:10 p.m. ET (TBS)

Gonzaga vs. Houston – 8:40 p.m. ET (TNT)

As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on the teams as they push toward a shot at college basketball glory.