NCAA Men’s March Madness 2025: Elite Eight Shows Dominance of Higher Seeds

The Sweet 16 further solidified the trend of this men’s NCAA Tournament: higher-seeded teams are decisively dominant. As we look ahead to the Elite Eight, the matchups are set, and we’ve seen nothing but consistent performance from the top teams.

The Elite Eight Teams

The Elite Eight features the following teams:

Saturday, March 29th

(1) Florida vs. (3) Texas Tech – 6:09 p.m., on TBS
(1) Duke vs. (2) Alabama – 8:49 p.m., on TBS

Sunday, March 30th

(1) Houston vs. (2) Tennessee – 2:20 p.m., on CBS
(1) Auburn vs. (2) Michigan State – 5:05 p.m., on CBS

Breaking Down the Dominance of Higher-Seeded Teams

Two close losses stand out in the tournament so far, notably those of 10-seed Arkansas and 6-seed Ole Miss. The only team seeded No. 3 or lower in the Elite Eight is 3-seed Texas Tech. These teams have consistently proven their mettle, showcasing the talent that earned them their high rankings.

The Games That Matter

Chalky tournaments can often be seen as less exciting, but the truth is, these eight squads are dominating the game. They were clearly seeded this high for a reason, and their performances thus far have emphasized their status as elite programs. These remaining eight teams have earned their spots, demonstrating why “iron sharpens iron” and why each game is sure to be a battle between similarly formidable opponents.

Basketball analyst Wally Szczerbiak discusses the transfer portal in college basketball, the toughest player he faced in the NBA, which teams are on upset watch in the Sweet 16, and more.

Game Scores and Results

First Four

(16) Alabama State 70, (16) Saint Francis 68
(11) North Carolina 95, (11) San Diego State 68
(16) Mount St. Mary’s 83, (16) American 72
(11) Xavier 86, (11) Texas 80

First Round (Round of 64)

Thursday, March 20th

(9) Creighton 89, (8) Louisville 75
(4) Purdue 75, (13) High Point 63
(3) Wisconsin 85, (14) Montana 66
(1) Houston 78, (16) SIU Edwardsville 40
(1) Auburn 83, (16) Alabama State 63
(12) McNeese 69, (5) Clemson 67
(6) BYU 80, (11) VCU 71
(8) Gonzaga 89, (9) Georgia 68
(2) Tennessee 77, (15) Wofford 62
(10) Arkansas 79, (7) Kansas 72
(4) Texas A&M 80, (13) Yale 71
(11) Drake 67, (6) Missouri 57
(7) UCLA 72, (10) Utah State 47
(2) St. John’s 83, (15) Omaha 53
(5) Michigan 68, (12) UC San Diego 65
(3) Texas Tech 82, (14) UNC Wilmington 72

Friday, March 21st

(9) Baylor 75, (8) Mississippi State 72
(2) Alabama 90, (15) Robert Morris 81
(3) Iowa State 82, (14) LIPSCOMB 55
(12) Colorado State 78, (5) Memphis 70
(1) Duke 93, (16) Mount St. Mary’s 49
(7) Saint Mary’s 59, (10) Vanderbilt 56
(6) Ole Miss 71, (11) North Carolina 64
(4) Maryland 81, (13) Grand Canyon 49
(1) Florida 95, (16) Norfolk State 69
(3) Kentucky 76, (14) Troy 57
(10) New Mexico 75, (7) Marquette 66
(4) Arizona 93, (13) Akron 65
(8) UConn 67, (9) Welutana 59
(6) Illinois 86, (11) Xavier 73
(2) Michigan State 87, (15) Bryant 62
(5) Oregon 81, (12) Liberty 52

Second Round (Round of 32)

Saturday, March 22nd

(4) Purdue 76, (12) McNeese 62
(10) Arkansas 75, (2) St. John’s 66
(5) Michigan 91, (4) Texas A&M 79
(3) Texas Tech 77, (11) Drake 64
(1) Auburn 82, (9) Creighton 70
(6) BYU 91, (3) Wisconsin 76
(1) Houston 81, (8) Gonzaga 76
(2) Tennessee 67, (7) UCLA 58

Sunday, March 23rd

(1) Florida 77, (8) UConn 75
(1) Duke 89, (9) Baylor 66
(3) Kentucky 84, (6) Illinois 75
(2) Alabama 80, (7) Saint Mary’s 66
(4) Maryland 72, (12) Colorado State 71
(6) Ole Miss 91, (3) Iowa State 78
(2) Michigan State 71, (10) New Mexico 63
(4) Arizona 87, (5) Oregon 83

Sweet Sixteen

Thursday, March 27th

(2) Alabama 113, (6) BYU 88
(1) Florida 87, (4) Maryland 71
(1) Duke 100, (4) Arizona 93
Texas Tech 85, (10) Arkansas 83 (OT)

Friday, March 28th

(2) Michigan State 73, (6) Ole Miss 70
(2) Tennessee 78, (3) Kentucky 65
(1) Auburn 78, (5) Michigan 65
(1) Houston 62, (4) Purdue 60

What’s Next?

The journey to the Final Four in San Antonio continues with these Elite Eight matchups. These remaining teams have shown undeniable dominance, making each game a must-watch for basketball fans. The Final Four is set for April 5, with the Championship Game on April 7. Watch closely, as the road to the title promises to be nothing short of thrilling.

Expert Insights

Did you know? Wally Szczerbiak has an unique perspective on the game and believes that “transfer portal ‘is better’ for NCAA.”

CLUDE THE EXPERT INSIGHT:

Game Highlights

Among the standout performances, Alabama’s thrashing of BYU in the Sweet 16 highlighted an incredible display of shooting, setting NCAA Tournament records with 51 three-pointer attempts and an astounding 25 made.

Video: Alabama found ‘secret sauce’ against BYU

Did you know?

Alabama set NCAA Tournament records for 3-pointers attempted (51) and made (25) against BYU, showcasing their unmatched shooting prowess and dominance in the Sweet 16.

FAQs

When are the remaining matches for the Elite Eight?

March 29 and 30th.

Which teams will compete in the Elite Eight?

(1) Florida vs. (3) Texas Tech- Tennessee vs.(2) Houston -(1) vs. (2) Michigan State vs. (1) Auburn.

NCAA Tournament 2025: Elite Eight Preview and Complete Schedule