Latest news with #2025NCAAMen'sBasketballTournament
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
This Ranking System Predicted The Best March Madness Bracket In 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 29: The Florida Gators celebrate after defeating the Texas Tech ... More Red Raiders to advance to the Final Four in the Elite Eight round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Chase Center on March 29, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament concluded with the Florida Gators securing their third national championship, defeating the Houston Cougars in the title game. In the lead-up to March Madness, the NCAA Selection Committee was tasked with seeding 68 teams, a process informed by seven different ranking systems. These included NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), KenPom, Torvik T-Rank, ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI), Wins Above Bubble (WAB), Strength of Record (SOR), and KPI. These systems incorporate varying methodologies, including efficiency-based models, résumé-based assessments, and hybrid approaches combining performance and opponent strength. To evaluate the predictive validity of these metrics, I conducted an experiment during the 2025 tournament. Using each ranking system independently, I constructed a complete bracket based solely on the relative rankings as of Selection Sunday. No adjustments were made once the tournament began, and no subjective inputs were included. The objective was to assess which system most accurately predicted the actual outcomes of the NCAA Tournament. This year's tournament produced very few upsets relative to historical norms. All four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four, and three of the four No. 2 seeds reached the Elite Eight. In all the tournament produced only eleven upsets, defined here as any lower-seeded team defeating a higher-seeded opponent. Even among those results, many were minor deviations from expectation. Two were 9-over-8 matchups, and two others were 10-over-7. According to historical data, a No. 9 seed wins about 49% of the time against No. 8 seeds and No. 10 seeds win about 39% of the time against No. 7 seeds. PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND - MARCH 20: The McNeese Cowboys celebrate their win over the Clemson ... More University Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Amica Mutual Pavillion on March 20, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The four South region upsets included: No. 9 Creighton over No. 8 Louisville, No. 10 New Mexico over No. 7 Marquette, No. 5 Michigan over No. 4 Texas A&M, and No. 6 Ole Miss over No. 3 Iowa State. The West region accounted for the largest share: No. 12 Colorado State over No. 5 Memphis, No. 11 Drake over No. 6 Missouri, No. 10 Arkansas over No. 7 Kansas, and No. 10 Arkansas over No. 2 St. John's. East region upsets included: No. 9 Baylor over No. 8 Mississippi State and No. 6 BYU over No. 3 Wisconsin. The lone upset in the Midwest region included: No. 12 McNeese over No. 5 Clemson. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 21: Jalen Lake #15 of the Colorado State Rams reacts after making a ... More three-point basket during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Climate Pledge Arena on March 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by) This relatively low rate of disruption suggests a high level of accuracy in the Selection Committee's seeding decisions. Given that the Committee's process is informed in large part by advanced ranking systems, the tournament's chalk-heavy nature may also reflect the strength and consistency of the underlying metrics used to evaluate team quality. To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the ranking systems used by the NCAA Selection Committee, I submitted bracket entries into the 2025 ESPN Tournament Challenge with picks made purely based on each of the seven rankings used by the NCAA Selection Committee in order to determine which ranking system proved most accurate this season. The selection process followed a systematic approach. For each ranking system, the team ranked No. 1 was selected as the national champion. The remaining picks were made sequentially: the team ranked No. 2 was advanced as far as possible without facing a higher-ranked opponent, and so on, until a complete bracket was filled. This process ensured a consistent and objective methodology across all seven systems. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 3: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars arrives during Final ... More Four Media Day at the 2025 Men's Final Four at Alamodome on April 3, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Jack Dempsey/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) To assess performance, each ranking system was evaluated using two scoring frameworks: Together, these two metrics offer complementary views of performance and capture both bracket efficiency in a competitive context and underlying predictive accuracy. None of the brackets constructed using the seven ranking systems correctly predicted the Florida Gators as national champions. However, five of the seven systems accurately projected all four Final Four teams. Only Wins Above Bubble (WAB) and KPI omitted Duke in favor of Alabama, a divergence that ultimately reduced their overall predictive performance. Comparison of all seven ranking metrics and how they performed in the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball ... More Tournament. The Tournament Challenge results present an interesting pattern. Only 290 out of a possible 1,920 points separated the top performer, KenPom, from the bottom performer, KPI. However, these brackets landed in very different percentiles. The percentile is an indicator of how the bracket performed relative to other brackets submitted on ESPN. A KenPom bracket was better than 97.5% of all other brackets while a KPI bracket was only better than 68.6% of all other brackets. This gap underscores how even modest differences in bracket accuracy can translate into substantial variance in competitive standing. Unweighted accuracy showed less variability across systems. KenPom and Torvik T-Rank led with 51 correct picks out of 63 games (81.0%), while KPI trailed slightly with 46 correct picks (73.0%). The narrow five-game spread between the top and bottom performers illustrates the relative consistency in baseline predictive ability. However, the compounded value of correct predictions in later rounds, particularly the Elite Eight, Final Four, and championship, amplified the separation in weighted performance. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 28: Head Coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers watches from the sideline ... More during the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at State Farm Arena on March 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) This analysis demonstrates that while all seven NCAA-endorsed ranking systems offer a reasonably accurate view of team quality, not all are equally effective at predicting tournament outcomes. KenPom and Torvik stood out, combining strong overall accuracy with high-impact picks in later rounds. In contrast, systems like KPI and WAB lagged behind, missing key matchups and failing to match the predictive performance of their peers. In a year with relatively few upsets, the best models closely mirrored the actual trajectory of March Madness. This performance reinforces their value not just to the Selection Committee, but to analysts, fans, and bettors seeking a competitive edge. When the margin between a good bracket and a great one is only a few games, the choice of ranking system can make a meaningful difference.
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida Gators win 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, claim 3rd national championship
Florida Gators win 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, claim 3rd national championship The Florida Gators are the 2025 men's basketball NCAA Tournament champions. The Orange and Blue overcame a 12-point deficit against the Houston Cougars to win the national championship, 65-63, Monday night. Nothing about the win was easy. Florida struggled with turnovers early in the game, Walter Clayton Jr. ended the first half with zero points and Houston had the ball with a chance to win at the buzzer. As Todd Golden has said time and time again, "This team is special." A brilliant first-half performance from Will Richard kept Florida alive, and Golden made the right gameplan adjustments to get the job done after that. Clayton, Alijah Martin and Richard cemented themselves as the best backcourt in the country, picking each other up whenever someone wasn't feeling it and leading the Gators to its third national championship in program history. Too many early turnovers Turnovers have been a key stat for Florida all year long, and a 9-2 margin in favor of Houston was a major reason Florida trailed at the half. Alex Condon travelled three times and Clayton turned it over two more times. Kudos to Houston's relentless defense, which made Florida uncomfortable all night, but many of the early turnovers could easily result from national championship nerves. Florida trailing by just three points at the half was somewhat miraculous considering the difference in the turnover column after 20 minutes of action. Something clicked in the second half, though. Florida turned the ball over just four times after halftime and Houston gave it away nine times, including its final two possessions of the game. Had Florida played as sloppy as it did in the first half, there's no comeback or title win. Will Richard legacy game Richard single-handedly kept Florida in the game during a rough first half. He scored half of the team's points (14 of 28) before the break and went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. His two misses were fine, coming on a heat check and at the halftime buzzer. Clayton and Martin have averaged 40 points per game over the NCAA Tournament, but with neither scoring much — they combined for two points on 1-of-9 shooting in the first half — Clayton was the offensive catalyst. His performance brings things full circle. Richard was the first of Florida's Big 3 to transfer to the program and has been with Todd Golden all three seasons in Gainesville. He's had ups and downs, including a transformation from a 3-point specialist to a slash-and-defend wing, but Richard leaves Florida as the same sharpshooter he was when he joined the Gators. A couple of big steals and the game-tying free throws from him helped secure the championship late. Mama, there goes that man This wasn't Walter Clayton's finest performance, but he came up big when Florida needed him late. A pair of and-1s and a game-tying three with three minutes to go put Florida in a position to win it all, and the Gators don't reach the title game without his clutch performances in every other game of the tournament. He'll go down as the best guard in Florida history, and his name is now etched in the history books forever in Gainesville. Foul trouble is good trouble? Houston played a clean game for all of the first half and a good chunk of the second, but a string of three of fouls in nine seconds by the Cougars put them into foul trouble. Two of their best bigs had four fouls with just under 10 minutes to play, and Joseph Tuggler fouled out in the final minutes of the game. Getting Florida into the bonus early allowed the Gators to score plenty at the line and keep things close, even when they weren't sinking shots. Florida, on the other hand, fouled just 10 times over 40 minutes, not including a pair of technicals. Only Condon had three or more fouls, and Houston did not capitalize at the line, shooting just 64.3% percent. Florida shot 81% at the stripe and got eight more free points than Houston. There's no one stat that allowed Florida to complete the comeback, but making more free throws than the opponent usually leads to good things. Let the Golden Era begin Todd Golden has elevated Florida's basketball program to the heights fans have expected since Billy Donovan won back-to-back championships with the Gators nearly 20 years ago. The Mike White era had many wondering if the Gators could ever return to prominence, especially in a conference that's only getting better by the year. Golden changed all of that in just three years and he's only 39 years old — the youngest to win a national championship since Jim Valvano, 37, with NC State in 1983. Florida ends the 2025 season on top of the college basketball world, knocking off two No. 1 seeds — Auburn and Houston — and as the best team in perhaps the best conference of the 21st century. Gators Boys stay hot! Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Forbes
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
NCAA Conference Realignment Strains Athletes, Teams And The Planet
DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 16: California Golden Bears head coach Charmin Smith signals the travel during ... More the college basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and the California Golden Bears on January 16, 2025 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) As the 2025 Men's and Women's NCAA Final Four wraps up the season, it marks a moment to reflect on the effects of conference realignment. Shifts in conference structures have led to travel that has stretched teams and fans across the country. These changes are not only reshaping the landscape of college sports, they are contributing to a mounting climate crisis, creating long-term consequences that go beyond the disruption of traditional rivalries and empty seats in arenas. As the NCAA grapples with name, image, and likeness policies, transfer portal dynamics, and mounting mental health concerns, the 2024/25 season also brought with it major conference realignments. The prominent athletic programs of Oregon and UCLA joined the Big Ten, and Cal and Stanford moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference. These changes, motivated largely by financial incentives and media rights deals in football, have brought about consequences for athlete well-being, travelling fans and environmental sustainability. While football was the driving force behind the reshuffle, basketball and other sports have arguably been more affected by increased travel. Conference realignment has impacted college basketball 'in a worse way than it did football, forcing fans to either travel distances outside of their region to support the team or watch at home, leading to empty areas for big-time games,' reported Brock Vierra for Sports Illustrated. While travelling is a violation on the basketball court, it's a necessity off it. Conference realignments have resulted in increased travel for nearly every school in the four major conferences in 2024-25, according to Wall Street Journal analysis. The 10 schools that left the Pac-12 had the largest uptick, travelling between 47% and 222% further than the 2023-24 season. The Oregon Ducks men's basketball team reportedly travelled 26,700 miles this season, up from 7,327 miles in the 2023-24 season. Similarly, Stanford and Cal women's basketball teams each traveled over 23,000 miles in their inaugural ACC season. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 21: Rashaan Mbemba #21 of the Colorado State Rams and Dain Dainja #42 of ... More the Memphis Tigers go up for the tip off at the beginning of the first quarter of the game during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Climate Pledge Arena on March 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) Outside of basketball, the 18 Big Ten football teams racked up an estimated 158,000 miles of travel during the 2024 season, roughly the equivalent of circling the Earth six times. The Stanford women's volleyball team will travel more than 33,700 miles by the end of the 2024-25 season, three times more than during their final Pac-12 season. Gymnastics also report a similar overall picture of increased travel across the conference. The physical and mental strain associated with higher instances of cross-country travel poses challenges for athlete recovery and sleep patterns. Frequent travel across multiple time zones disrupts circadian rhythms and increases the risk of injuries due to inadequate rest and recovery. These concerns led Cal men's basketball coach, Mark Madsen, to bring NASA in to share recovery insights. The Big Ten bylaws require teams to have at least two days between games, so more time away from campus is sometimes needed to comply with scheduling rules. Class time is increasingly missed and online classes are needed. 'Increased travel means more stress on your physical health and academic career,' says NYU varsity women's basketball player and 2024 and 2025 NCAA National Champion, Belle Pellecchia. 'Student athlete mental health is more of a problem than we are recognising. Support might be better now than it used to be, but it's still not considered enough.' SALEM, VIRGINIA - MARCH 22: Belle Pellecchia #4 of the NYU Violets shoots a free throw in the second ... More half during the Division III Women's Basketball Championship held at the Cregger Center on March 22, 2025 in Salem, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan Hunt/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) It's not just the student athletes that are impacted, says Jonathan Casper, associate professor and sport management program coordinator at North Carolina State University. But also 'the often-overlooked athletic administration staff, trainers, and graduate assistants who travel with the teams. These individuals are expected to perform their duties despite jet lag, extended travel, and lost time.' USC men's basketball coach Eric Musselman shared his thoughts on his team's fifth trip to Eastern or Central time zones this season. 'I'm so exhausted," he told reporters. "My wife summed it up best this morning that she's never seen me so sick throughout the course of a college basketball season.' UCLA men's basketball coach, Mick Cronin, has been outspoken about the impacts of travel too. Fans are also feeling the toll, facing longer trips and higher costs to see their teams play. Casper believes there might be an initial honeymoon period for those travelling to away games at new locations, but excitement could be 'tempered by the realities of long flights, little free time to explore, and the toll of crossing multiple time zones.' The increased carbon emissions associated with more frequent travel, over longer distances, raises a red flag for the environment. Calculating definitive figures for the increase in carbon emissions from travel this season is difficult, with many variables and lack of data on teams, let alone fans. For football however, researchers have found that team travel emissions in the 2024 season were estimated to have doubled compared to 2023. Increased travel driving up carbon emissions sits in opposition to leading experts advising that we actually need "rapid, deep, and immediate" cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, to avert the most severe consequences of climate change. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and we are going to be poorer, and sicker in a warming climate. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: A burned basketball hoop stands in the yard of a home that ... More burned in the Palisades Fire on January 18, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Twenty-seven people are confirmed killed by wildfires in Los Angeles County so far as urban search and rescue teams continue combing through the destruction. Historic wildfires driven by dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds destroyed homes by the thousands, beginning January 7. The region has had virtually no significant rain since last winter, lowering the moisture content in the local chaparral habitat vegetation and increasing its flammability. Scientists say that fluctuating years of extreme weather conditions - record drought years broken by record or near-record rainy winters - is fueled by worsening human-caused climate change. No rain is in the forecast at this time and communities are bracing for a possible return of dangerous fire weather next week. (Photo by) Bad weather and natural disasters have disrupted sports schedules for decades, but scientific consensus shows that climate change, driven by human activities, is now causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events. This is increasingly disrupting college sports, including those that take place indoors. A historic snowstorm hit Louisiana in January 2025, and five men's and women's basketball games were postponed due to 'hazardous travel conditions.' Around the same time, wildfires were burning in Los Angeles, leading Northwestern women's basketball to forfeit games to USC and UCLA, due to their decision not to travel. 'While we acknowledge that bylaws and rules are in place for a reason and we will abide by them, it does not diminish this team's sound reasoning for not participating during this natural disaster,' said athletic director Mark Jackson. 'There are a lot of kinks to be ironed out,' says Jessica Murfree, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 'Performance, revenue and other elements will be cited, but our environment is the puppet master behind it all.' The success of college sports depends on athlete performance, both in terms of physical conditioning and games actually taking place. Both are impacted by our environment. The uptick in travel associated with conference realignment is contributing to the climate crisis, while the climate crisis is making college sports more challenging. 'Moving forward, college sports programs will need to proactively plan for extreme weather events and have contingency plans in place, especially for outdoor sports,' says Jonathan Casper. In spite of these college athletes facing more travel and tougher conditions, 'the expectations on them to perform will continue to go up,' says Jessica Murfree. 'We wouldn't have this massive conference realignment and new TV deals if there wasn't a return on the investment.' CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 15: Head coach Mark Madsen of the California Golden Bears coaches during a ... More game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on January 15, 2025 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 53-79. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) Optimizing fixture schedules to reduce travel miles could have 'tremendous benefits' says Brian McCullough, associate professor at University of Michigan, including cost savings, performance recovery and athlete wellbeing. 'These optimizations can also help reduce environmental impacts of the expanded conferences.' Optimized schedules that reduce carbon emissions could involve matches between teams with shorter travel distances, and if longer travel is required and student timetables allow, adding additional matches with teams along the way. "I would love to bunch it up," Cal men's basketball coach, Mark Madsen has said. 'Let's get four games in one trip. Let's get three games in a trip.' He also suggested early tip times on Saturday to allow easier return travel. As the NCAA and its member institutions look to the future, the path forward for college sports must consider more than just growth, revenue and viewership. The consequences of conference realignment are already evident in the physical and mental toll on athletes and staff, and escalating carbon emissions amidst a worsening climate crisis. Financial sustainability might be at the forefront of minds, but if college athletics are to remain socially and environmentally viable in the long term, the NCAA must address climate resilience and travel impacts.
Forbes
29-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Assessing The Impact Of Growing College Expenditures And NIL Revenues On NBA Talent Pipeline
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 27: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils attempts a layup against the ... More Arizona Wildcats during the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Prudential Center on March 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) College basketball is undergoing a transformative phase where financial strength and brand-building opportunities are reshaping the game. Major men's programs are expected to increase their annual budgets from the current $3-5 million to between $5-8 million next season. At the same time, the emergence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals—some reportedly valued at $1.2–$1.4 million—are influencing how players approach their collegiate careers and, ultimately, their path to the NBA. In a fiercely competitive recruiting environment, college programs are significantly ramping up their investments. These funds are not only fuelling improvements in facilities and coaching but also expanding comprehensive support systems that include sports science, nutrition, and academic services. Such investments are creating professional-level training environments that attract top talent and encourage players to extend their college careers. This shift can lead to a more mature, polished cohort of athletes entering the NBA, although it could also result in fewer one-and-done prospects. The introduction of NIL opportunities has given athletes the chance to build lucrative personal brands without sacrificing their college eligibility. This new financial dynamic is influencing decision-making within college basketball. With agents negotiating deals that can secure over a million dollars for standout players, many athletes now see a viable alternative to jumping straight into the NBA. The ability to earn significant income while continuing to refine their skills may encourage players to delay their draft entry, allowing them to enter the league more seasoned and better prepared for professional challenges. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - APRIL 10: New Arkansas Razorbacks basketball head coach John Calipari holds ... More his first news conference after his introduction at Bud Walton Arena on April 10, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by) Among the programs leading this financial revolution is the University of Arkansas. The Razorbacks have significantly strengthened their position in the NIL landscape, thanks in part to substantial support from influential figures. Billionaire John H. Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods, has played a pivotal role by channeling considerable funds into the program. This financial backing has facilitated the hiring of high-profile coach John Calipari and allowed Arkansas to set an NIL budget reportedly exceeding $5 million. Such strategic moves underscore the university's commitment to leveraging financial resources to attract and develop elite talent, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of their program. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: NBA commissioner Adam Silver prepares to announce the first round pick ... More by the Atlanta Hawks during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The combined effect of increased college spending and robust NIL opportunities is poised to reshape the NBA's talent pipeline in several ways: 1. Extended Collegiate Careers: With the appealing combination of advanced training facilities and substantial NIL earnings, players may choose to remain in college longer. This trend could result in a steady influx of more mature and well-rounded prospects entering the NBA, though it might also decrease the number of classic one-and-done stars. 2. Evolving Draft Strategies: NBA teams will need to adapt their scouting and development strategies to account for athletes benefitting from extended periods of structured growth. The focus may shift toward evaluating experience, maturity, and proven performance rather than just raw, untapped potential. 3. Broader Talent Distribution: As more programs, like Arkansas, invest heavily in both athletic and financial development, the talent pool may become more evenly distributed. This could lead to increased competitiveness among college programs, ultimately influencing the diversity and quality of players making the transition to the NBA. The rising tide of college spending, combined with the transformative impact of NIL deals, is creating a new landscape for basketball. For athletes, these changes present the opportunity to secure financial stability while honing their skills in a top-tier development environment. For college programs, the increased financial commitment serves as a strategic tool to attract and retain top talent. For the NBA, this evolving scenario requires adapting scouting and development practices to a new era of college basketball, where maturity and long-term growth increasingly define success. The future of the NBA pipeline is being reshaped as both collegiate and professional teams adjust to this dynamic financial and developmental environment.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness 2025: How to watch the Florida vs. Maryland NCAA tournament game tonight
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change. Rueben Chinyelu and the Florida Gators will play the Maryland Terrapins this Thursday in the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) (Grant Halverson via Getty Images) The No. 1 Florida Gators will face the No. 4 Maryland Terrapins during the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 NCAA basketball tournament. The two teams will play in the West Regional semi-final game on Thursday, March 27 at 7:39 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The winner of that game will face the winner of Friday's Texas Tech vs. Arkansas game in the Elite Eight round this weekend. Here's everything you need to know about how to tune to Florida vs. Maryland tonight, and check out our constantly-updated bracket to keep track of every team and game of the tournament. How to watch the Florida vs. Maryland game: Date: Thursday, March 27 Advertisement Time: 7:39 p.m. ET TV channel: TBS Streaming: Max, Sling, Hulu with Live TV and more Where to watch the Florida vs. Maryland game: You can tune into Florida vs. Maryland on TBS, which is available on platforms like DirecTV, Sling, and Hulu with Live TV. The game will also be streaming on Max. 2025 March Madness Men's Sweet Sixteen Schedule: Thursday, March 27 (2) Alabama vs. (6) BYU, 7:09 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ (1) Florida vs. (4) Maryland, 7:39 p.m. | TBS, Max (1) Duke vs. (4) Arizona, 9:39 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ (3) Texas Tech vs. (10) Arkansas, 10:09 p.m. | TBS, Max Friday, March 28 (2) Michigan State vs. (6) Ole Miss, 7:09 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ (2) Tennessee vs. (3) Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. | TBS, Max (1) Auburn vs. (5) Michigan, 9:39 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ (1) Houston vs. (4) Purdue, 10:09 p.m. | TBS, Max How to watch March Madness basketball games in 2025: Men's NCAA tournament games will air across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. The women's NCAA tournament will air across the ESPN suite — so ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU and ESPNews. Advertisement Don't have cable? Don't worry. You can stream the men's games easily with a subscription to Paramount+ and Max, or a live TV streaming service like DirecTV, Fubo or Sling. The women's games will also be accessible via a live TV streaming service that includes the ESPN suite. Every way to watch NCAA March Madness games this season: Stream 2025 NCAA tournament games Max Standard plan Max, aka "the one to watch," has select live sports available through its Bleacher Report Sports add-on, which is included free of charge for ad-free Max subscribers. (If you subscribe to Max's ad-supported plan, you should be able to access the B/R add-on content until March 30). On top of March Madness games on TBS, TNT and TruTV, Max has buzzy shows including The White Lotus, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, Dune: Prophecy and more. Ad-supported Max starts at $10/month. The standard plan (which includes B/R Sports free of charge) costs $17/month. $16.99/month at Max
