SEC women’s is in a battle to avoid coin toss, while Rick Pitino has had people calling him “Godfather.” Cooper Flagg is running a tight race, and Paige Bueckers continues to keep people on their toes about her last dance. Is it time we bring back Gus Johnson’s “COLLEGE BASKETBALL… CBS SPORTS… THIS IS MARCH MADNESS”? Yes, we believe.

Entering March, the NCAA Tournament committee has already rolled out the top 16, offering a glimpse of the action that awaits. But a glimpse was all it was- 5 of the men’s top 9 teams haven’t ever played a title game, while women’s saw scripts flip in a matter of weeks. Thrill and uncertainty fill the air, but Selection Sunday fast approaches to set the stage.

The Road to Glory Begins: Selection Sunday and Tournament Breakdown

The journey to March Madness 2025 officially begins on Sunday, March 16, when the NCAA brackets are revealed. This is the moment when 68 teams in both men’s and women’s tournaments learn their fate, setting the stage for the high-stakes drama that defines the tournament.

• Men’s Bracket Reveal: 6 p.m. ET on CBS
• Women’s Bracket Reveal: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Selection Sunday is more than just a reveal, it’s a celebration of the season’s hard work and a glimpse into the matchups that will shape the tournament. Fans eagerly await the announcement of automatic bids (awarded to conference champions) and at large bids (selected by the NCAA Selection Committee), as well as the seeding that determines each team’s path to the championship.

The action tips off with the First Four play-in games, where the lowest-seeded teams battle for their spot in the first round.

• Men’s First Four: March 18-19 at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio
• Women’s First Four: March 19-20 at UD Arena

From there, the tournament moves into the First Round and Second Round, where the field narrows dramatically. These early rounds are where Cinderella stories often begin, as underdogs take on giants in a win-or-go-home showdown.

• Men’s First Round: March 20-21
• Women’s First Round: March 21-22
• Men’s Second Round: March 22-23
• Women’s Second Round: March 23-24

The intensity ramps up the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight, where only the best teams remain. These rounds are hosted in iconic venues across the country:

• Men’s Sweet 16: March 27-28 at East: Prudential Center (Newark) West: Chase Center (San Francisco) South: State Farm Arena (Atlanta) Midwest: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• Women’s Sweet 16: March 28-29 at Legacy Arena (Birmingham) and Spokane Arena (Spokane, WA)
• Men’s Elite Eight: March 29-30 at Prudential Center (Newark) Chase Center (San Francisco) State Farm Arena (Atlanta), and Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• Women’s Elite Eight: March 30-31 at Spokane Arena (Spokane, WA) and Legacy Arena (Birmingham, AL)

The pinnacle of the tournament is the Final Four, where the last four teams compete for a spot in the championship game.

• Men’s Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas with the championship game on April 7.
• Women’s Final Four: April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, with the title game on April 6.

Host Cities, Teams to Watch, and How to Tune In

March Madness 2025 will light up in 14 cities across the U.S, hosting 68 teams and 67 unforgettable games. The tournament’s early rounds will be played in eight cities, including:

• Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
• Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington
• Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island
• Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas

As the tournament progresses, the action shifts to regional hubs for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, culminating in the Final Four at the Almodome (men’s) and Amaliee Arena(women’s). These iconic venues will become the heartbeat of college basketball’s most electrifying month.

For fans looking to catch every dunk, buzzer-beater, and upset, here’s how you can watch the games:

• Men’s Tournament: Broadcast on CBS, TBS, TNT, AND tur TV.
• Streaming platforms: Paramount+, Max, Direc TV stream, Fubo, and Hulu
• Women’s Tournament: Broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESP News.
• Streaming platforms: ESPN+, YouTube, Sling TV, and Hulu+Live TV.

While the brackets won’t be finalized until Selection Sunday, several teams and players are already generating buzz. On the men’s side, perennial powerhouses like Auburn and Duke are expected to dominate, but March Madness is known for its surprises. Keep an eye on standout players who could become household names by the time the nets are cut down.

On the women’s side, UCLA and Texas are early favourites, but with the tournament’s unpredictability, anything can happen. Whether it’s a freshman phenom or a seasoned senior, the stars of March Madness often emerge when the pressure is highest.

The Madness of Bracketology and Why It’s Unforgettable

No March Madness experience is complete without filling out a bracket. From casual fans to die-hard enthusiasts, millions participate in bracket challenges hosted by platforms like ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo. The unpredictability of upsets, like a 16-seed defeating a 1-seed, makes this process thrilling as fans try to forecast which teams will advance.

March Madness is more than just a tournament, it’s a shared story of passion, perseverance, and the magic of basketball. It’s when the underdogs triumph, the buzzer-beaters roar, and the collective gasp of a nation as brackets bust.

So, grab your snacks, fill out your brackets, and get ready for the most exciting month in sports. Which team are you rooting for this March Madness?