The 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is set to kick off later in March. As the season reaches its peak, March Madness brings excitement as 68 teams compete for the coveted championship trophy. While many spots in the bracket are still up for grabs, several teams have already secured their places in the tournament.
Teams can qualify for the tournament in various ways. One method is by earning an automatic bid through winning their conference tournament, guaranteeing them a spot in March Madness. A total of 31 teams secure their spots this way, while the remaining 37 spots are filled by ‘at-large’ teams chosen by a selection committee.
Selection Sunday will reveal the fate of these 37 teams, with the First Four games kicking off two days later. The championship game is scheduled to take place on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Among the teams that have already secured their spots are:
– Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
– Lipscomb University
– High Point University
– Drake University
– Wofford University
– Troy University
– Omaha Mavericks
– University of North Carolina-Wilmington
– Saint Francis University
These teams have punched their tickets to the tournament by winning their respective conference championships. March Madness is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive event as these teams aim to make their mark and create unforgettable moments in college basketball history.
Robert Morris University secured a victory over Youngstown State in the Horizon League final on Tuesday night, with a score of 89-78. This win marks their success in the tournament.
Gonzaga University’s Bulldogs, the No. 2 seed, triumphed over the top-seeded Saint Mary’s Gaels with a score of 58-51 in Las Vegas, securing the school’s fifth West Coast Conference title in the last six years. This win also marked their 28th consecutive tournament final appearance.
McNeese State University’s Cowboys, the No. 1 seed, defeated the Lamar Cardinals 63-54 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, earning back-to-back Southland Conference tournament championships for the first time in the school’s history.
American University’s Eagles emerged victorious with a 74-52 win over the Navy Midshipmen in the Patriot League tournament title game held in Washington, DC. This win marked their return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.
The University of Montana’s Grizzlies secured victory over the Northern Colorado Bears with a score of 91-83 to claim the Big Sky tournament crown in Boise, Idaho. This win marked their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2019 and their 12th overall in program history.
Norfolk State University’s Spartans clinched their third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in the last five years after a close 66-65 win over South Carolina State, earning their fourth NCAA tournament appearance overall in program history.
Bryant University earned their second NCAA tournament appearance in program history by defeating the University of Maine Black Bears with a score of 77-59 in the America East Conference title game.
Colorado State Rams’ victory over Boise State with a score of 69-56 secured their first Mountain West Conference championship in over 20 years, marking their third NCAA tournament appearance in four years on a 10-game win streak.
The University of Houston Cougars, led by coach Kelvin Sampson, won their first Big 12 title in program history by defeating the University of Arizona Wildcats with a score of 72-64. Houston is likely to clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
St. John’s University, under coach Rick Pitino, brought home the Big East title for the first time in 25 years by defeating Creighton 82-66. This win marked their return to the NCAA tournament with a 30-4 record.
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers secured a spot in the NCAA tournament with a 63-49 victory over the Iona Gaels in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title game, marking their first appearance since 2021.
The University of Akron Zips won their second consecutive Mid-American Conference championship by defeating the Miami (OH) Redhawks 76-74, with Zips guard Nate Johnson scoring a game-winning floater in the final seconds.
Duke University’s Blue Devils emerged victorious in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, defeating Louisville 73-62 even without freshman standout Cooper Flagg. Guard Tyrese Proctor’s impressive performance, sinking six three-pointers, secured the program’s 23rd conference title. With this win, Duke seems poised for the No. 1 seed as they aim to bring a national championship to Durham, North Carolina post-Mike Krzyzewski era. Flagg, sidelined due to an ankle injury, is expected to return for the NCAA tournament. In other news, Kaden Metheny led Liberty University to a 79-67 victory over Jacksonville State, clinching the Conference USA championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. UC San Diego made history by earning their first-ever postseason bid, defeating UC Irvine 75-61 to claim the Big West title. Alabama State edged past Jackson State 60-56 to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Grand Canyon also punched their ticket to the Big Dance, with Ray Harrison’s 18-point contribution helping them defeat Utah Valley 89-82 in the Western Athletic Conference tournament final. Stay updated on the latest NCAA tournament qualifiers and conference schedules by clicking here.
