Last Updated on: 16th March 2025, 09:11 pm
Arizona’s journey in the Big 12 Conference Tournament ended in a 72-64 loss to top-seeded Houston in Saturday’s championship game. Despite the defeat, the Wildcats (21-12) are poised to secure an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
As Selection Sunday looms, teams across the nation are split between confidence and anxiety. Some programs rest assured their regular-season resumes have locked in a spot, while others await the committee’s verdict with nervous anticipation.
NCAA Tournament Selection Show Details
- Date: Sunday, March 16
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Stream: Paramount+ | Fubo (free trial)
- Worldwide: STFLIX offers live updates and streaming access (subscription may apply).
The 2025 March Madness frenzy tips off with the First Four games on March 18 in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament will then crisscross the country, culminating in the Final Four at San Antonio’s Alamodome on April 5, followed by the national championship game on April 7.
The Wildcats now await their NCAA Tournament opponent, location, and seeding, all of which will be unveiled during Sunday’s Selection Show. Arizona’s seed projection and path through the bracket remain key talking points, with FanDuel Sportsbook listing the team at +5000 to win the title and +1000 to reach the Final Four—odds likely to shift once matchups are confirmed.
What Goes Down on Selection Sunday?
Selection Sunday isn’t just a TV event—it’s the tipping point for college basketball’s most chaotic spectacle. Here’s the lowdown on how 68 teams earn their shot at glory in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament:
The Breakdown: Automatic vs. At-Large
- 31 Automatic Bids: Reserved for conference champions (think Cinderella mid-majors and powerhouse league winners).
- 37 At-Large Bids: Handpicked by the NCAA’s 12-member selection committee, rewarding teams with strong regular-season resumes or “bubble” squads clinging to hope.
Seeding & Structure: The Roadmap to Chaos
The field splits into four regions, each with 16 teams ranked No. 1 to No. 16. But wait—16 x 4 = 64. Where do the extra four teams come from? Enter the First Four, a quartet of play-in games added in 2011 to expand the bracket to 68 teams. These matchups include:
- Two Games for Underdogs: The four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers (often small-conference champs) battle for a shot at the main bracket.
- Two Games for Bubble Survivors: The last four at-large teams (typically hovering around No. 10–12 seeds) duke it out for a chance to avoid the NIT.
The committee’s bracket reveal doesn’t just set matchups—it crafts narratives. A brutal region could derail a title favorite, while a favorable path might propel a dark horse to the Final Four. For fans, it’s the starting gun for bracket pools, office debates, and three weeks of edge-of-your-seat hoops.
2025 March Madness Full Schedule
| Date | Round | Venues/Locations |
|---|---|---|
| March 16 | Selection Sunday | 6 p.m. ET, CBS |
| March 18–19 | First Four | Dayton, OH – University of Dayton Arena |
| March 20 | First Round | Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena; Providence, RI – Amica Mutual Pavilion; Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena; Denver, CO – Ball Arena |
| March 21 | First Round | Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena; Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse; Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum; Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena |
| March 22–23 | Second Round | Same venues as First Round |
| March 27 | Sweet 16 | Newark, NJ – Prudential Center; San Francisco, CA – Chase Center |
| March 28 | Sweet 16 | Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena; Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium |
| March 29–30 | Elite Eight | Newark, NJ – Prudential Center; San Francisco, CA – Chase Center; Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena; Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium |
| April 5 | Final Four | San Antonio, TX – Alamodome |
| April 7 | National Championship | San Antonio, TX – Alamodome |
Once the bracket is revealed, fans will dive into predictions, bracket challenges, and betting pools. The action officially begins March 18, as 68 teams embark on the road to San Antonio.
