Sports
NCAA Tournament Begins with Big Ten Sending Eight Teams
SEATTLE, WA – The 2025 NCAA Tournament is set to kick off, featuring a strong showing from the Big Ten Conference, which will send eight teams competing for the championship. The tournament begins on March 20 and runs through April 7, 2025.
The teams representing the Big Ten include Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA, and Wisconsin. This year’s bracket promises to deliver excitement as Michigan, the No. 3 seed, recently clinched the Big Ten Tournament championship with a nail-biting 59-53 victory over No. 5 seed Wisconsin, securing the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“Winning the Big Ten Tournament meant everything for us,” said Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. “It shows our hard work and determination, and we’re ready to bring our best game in the NCAA Tournament.”
In addition to the NCAA Tournament, Nebraska and USC will compete in a new event called the College Basketball Crown, a single-elimination tournament featuring 16 teams. This inaugural contest will take place in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 6, 2025.
Television coverage for the NCAA Tournament will be provided by CBS Sports, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with online viewing available through the NCAA March Madness Live app. For the College Basketball Crown, FS1 will broadcast the first and second rounds, while the semifinals and championship will be aired on FOX.
The AP Top 25 rankings list several Big Ten teams leading into the tournament: Michigan State at No. 8, Maryland at No. 11, Wisconsin at No. 13, Michigan at No. 14, Purdue at No. 22, and Oregon at No. 25. The USA Today Coaches Poll has similar rankings, with Michigan State at No. 7 and Wisconsin at No. 10.
As the teams prepare for the opening rounds, anticipation builds among fans. The NCAA Tournament schedule includes a variety of matchups, with notable games on March 20, kicking off with Purdue facing High Point.
It’s a critical time for college basketball as teams battle for tournament glory, and fans are eager to witness who will emerge as the national champion.
