Top seeds dominate; upsets predicted in NCAA Tournament

The 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament has seen few upsets so far. For the first time since 2017, all 16 top seeds advanced to the second round. They won their games by an average of nearly 23 points. Despite the lack of major surprises, a few lower-seeded teams have performed well. No. 11 seed Drake defeated No. 6 seed Missouri. No. 12 seed Colorado State beat No. 5 seed Memphis, and No. 12 seed McNeese narrowly won against No. 5 seed Clemson. As the tournament continues, some teams may still pull off upsets in the second round. One potential surprise could be No. 10 seed New Mexico beating No. 2 seed Michigan State. New Mexico boasts standout guard Donovan Dent and has a strong team overall. Michigan State faces challenges, with many unranked No. 2 seeds historically struggling to reach the Sweet 16. Another possible upset could be No. 12 seed Colorado State over No. 4 seed Maryland. Colorado State is on an 11-game winning streak and features star forward Nique Clifford. Meanwhile, Maryland’s coach, Kevin Willard, has been linked to another job, which could distract the team. Finally, No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s might surprise No. 2 seed Alabama. Saint Mary’s has a slow-paced style that could disrupt Alabama's fast attack. The Gaels excel at rebounding, which may limit Alabama's scoring chances. The second round promises to be exciting as fans watch for more surprises in the tournament.