2025 NCAA Tournament: Five Key Questions That Could Shape March Madness
From Cooper Flagg to John Poulakidas: Five NBA Draft Storylines to Watch in the NCAA Tournament
March Madness is officially here. After yesterday’s Selection Sunday, the 68-team field is set, and the 2025 NCAA Tournament tips off this week, beginning with the First Four on Tuesday. As always, the bracket reveal wasn’t without controversy—North Carolina, despite a 1-12 record in Quad 1 games, snuck in and will head to Dayton alongside Texas, Xavier, and San Diego State as part of the last four in. The SEC made history by sending a record 14 teams to the tournament, while defending champion UConn looks to become the first team in nearly two decades to three-peat.
Meanwhile, St. John’s is back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2019, with Rick Pitino becoming the first coach to take six different programs to the NCAA Tournament.
With all these storylines unfolding, here are my five biggest NBA Draft-related questions heading into the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
1. How Much Will Cooper Flagg’s Injury Impact Duke’s Tournament Run?
Duke’s national title hopes hinge on the health of Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and a Player of the Year candidate. Flagg suffered an ankle injury against Georgia Tech and missed Duke’s last two games, including a thrilling win over hated rival North Carolina and an ACC Championship victory over Louisville. Remarkably, the Blue Devils secured the conference title despite being without two of their top six players—Flagg and Maliq Brown—showcasing their depth and resilience.