Madness Memo Post-1st Weekend

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Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports 

March 26th, 2025

What many fans and casuals spend doing in the weeks before the NCAA tournament is combing through YouTube’s depth of buzzer beater compilations, late game heroics, and highlights from their all time favorite moments that this great month has offered them in years past.

What many fail to realize is that those moments are in compilations for a reason. The reason in question? They don’t always happen. We put them in YouTube time capsules so we can go back to them, relive them, and get excited for even the slight possibility— not a guarantee, mind you— that we can experience the same thing every time March approaches. 

This season is one of the seasons where we did not get as much “Madness” as the name of the tournament might suggest. However, in my opinion, it has done nothing to diminish the product, which some have suggested to be true. 

No, mid-majors being knocked out before the second weekend will not eventually lead to the “death of college basketball.” This take, in addition to being outrageously reactionary, buries the lead. 

The lead in question is that we have 16 of the best teams remaining in the NCAA tournament, and it has created some delectable matchups for us to take in. BYU vs. Alabama might be the fastest paced, highest scoring game we see all year. Michigan vs. Auburn will give Johni Broome a real challenge down low with Michigan’s big man tandem of Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin. Florida vs. Maryland will be a fantastic game. John Calipari plays this year’s Cinderella (ain’t that something?) vs. Texas Tech. Kentucky vs. Tennessee, Round 3. 

The real story here, when we look beyond the matchups on the court, is that there are some pretty quick triggers in the media sphere about what this all means for college basketball. It wasn’t just Stephen A. Smith’s doomsday proclamation on national television (for a sport he admits he does not pay much attention to), but there are others. According to some, NIL led to this. Maybe it was Dan Hurley’s fault (I say in jest— UConn class of ‘23). The internet has created some wild theories about why this might be bad for college basketball.

Here is my answer: it is too early to tell what this means for college basketball. The truth is, not every single event or narrative has to have a grand overarching theme attached to it. To refresh everyone’s mind, two seasons ago, the Final Four consisted of UConn, San Diego State, Florida Atlantic, and Miami (FL). Miami (FL), FAU, and San Diego State had never been to a Final Four. UConn was the highest seed— a 4 seed. 

What did people say for that Final Four? “We want to see the big dogs,” or “There go the ratings for this year!” Two years later, before we have even reached the Final Four, a 10th seeded Arkansas is the lowest remaining seed, coached by someone who has won a national championship and is a Naismith Hall of Fame coach. The four power conferences are the only ones represented, with seven teams coming from the nation’s richest league, the SEC. 

What are people saying this year? “Where are all of the upsets?” or “This March Madness has been so boring.” It is a droning revolving door. True college basketball fans take the tournament for what it is: a sometimes chaotic random number generator that can also, by way of chance, spit out the exact numbers you guessed. It doesn’t always work out that way, but sometimes it does.

That being said, multiple things can be true at once. Objectively, no upsets probably is not great for college basketball. No mid-majors advancing far may not be a fantastic thing for the sport, but it was just a year ago when 11th seeded NC State won nine straight games to get to the Final Four. 14th seeded Oakland was the early tournament Cinderella, taking down Kentucky in their path. 8th seeded North Carolina nearly made it to the pinnacle in 2022; 11th seeded UCLA was a buzzer-beater away from a national title game in 2021. 

I am also aware that NIL, in its current form with no rules and regulations, is more dangerous to the sport than it is beneficial. I am also aware that conference realignment has certainly turned some things a little lopsided. However, even if you do think there is a direct correlation between those factors and this year’s chalkiness, it is irresponsible to declare that as fact at this point. One year where mid-majors lay an egg and the big dogs dominate cannot stand as a line in the sand unless it continues to be a trend. It still may continue, and 5 or 10 years down the road, perhaps we have to have a different conversation. However, when we are so soon removed from Cinerellas wearing the glass slipper (ahem, literally last season, and the year before that, and so on and so forth….), we simply cannot make that jump yet. 

2025 is a single year in college basketball, and it happens to be a year where the top teams are incredibly dominant. It doesn’t always happen, but sometimes it does. It is much too early to say that this year spells doom for the sport. It is completely possible we stand here next season with a 2023-like flair in the Final Four. It is also possible we have chalk again. More than likely, it’s somewhere in the middle. Whatever happens next year, the beauty is in the fact that we have no idea, and no amount of NIL, coaching changes, or conference realignment can dictate how insane this tournament can get. 

In this sense, I implore everyone to cool it with the reactionary, doomsday takes. The tournament is great, and there is amazing basketball yet to be played. If you watch college basketball all season, you are aware of this. If you only watch the tournament, and maybe you’re disappointed, cheer up. The basketball only gets better from here. Welcome to March.

Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.

Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports 

March 21st, 2025

John Calipari and Bill Self had faced off just two times in the NCAA tournament prior to Thursday’s first round clash: in 2008, when Calipari’s Memphis fell to Self’s Kansas in the national title game; and in 2012, when Calipari’s Kentucky took down to Self’s Kansas in that year’s title game to even the score. 

On Thursday, a third, less monumental rubber match fell in favor of Calipari. His first year in Fayetteville as Arkansas head coach has been, in a word, disappointing. One of the sport’s highest NIL allotments, paired with a talented, puzzle piece roster, managed a modest 21-13 record, going 6-10 in SEC play. Their strongest win going into conference play was a win over Michigan. It all looked bleak before the Razorbacks’ fateful trip to Rupp Arena, which produced Calipari’s first signature win in Arkansas red. Subsequent wins over Texas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State ended up landing them a 10 seed, matched up with 7th seeded Kansas.

Yes, 7th seeded Kansas. It is the Jawhawks’ lowest tournament seeding in program history, after a tumultuous season that rivals Arkansas for disappointment. Beginning as they often do— the pre-season #1 team— Kansas’ wheels fell off slowly but surely. Losses to Missouri and Creighton headlined their out of conference woes. In Big 12 play, they suffered a debilitating double overtime loss at home to Houston, followed by losses to Baylor, Utah, and a drubbing at BYU. They limped into the tournament, where they met the Razorbacks in Providence.

In perhaps the most entertaining, back and forth game of the day, Arkansas bested Kansas 79-72. In a loss that resulted in KJ Adams Jr. injured and in the locker room, Arkansas took control in the final minutes and pulled away with some clutch buckets by Johnell Davis. Jonas Aidoo’s 22 points led the way for Arkansas, who move on to play St. John’s in an epic coaching matchup in round 2: Calipari vs. Pitino.

One of the most intriguing stories in the sport right now is Will Wade. As present coach at McNeese, he is vehemently open about his discussion and essential agreement with NC State to become the Wolfpack’s head coach beginning next year. Any possibility of that notion weighing heavy on the Cowboys’ locker room faded as soon as the ball was tipped against fifth-seeded Clemson, who fell to a 31-13 halftime deficit. McNeese ended up scratching out a win, despite a valiant effort by Clemson to claw back in the game. The Tigers, who reached the Elite 8 last season, hit a program record 27 wins this season, succumbing to the Cowboys playmaking and horrific shooting on their own part. Will Wade’s McNeese team will strut into the 2nd round with a date against fourth-seeded Purdue, who defeated High Point earlier on Thursday. Wade’s career at McNeese is not over yet. 

What many saw as not much of an upset was Drake’s victory over Missouri in the 11 vs. 6 matchup in the West Region’s 1st round. Ben McCollum’s first season at Drake resulted in a 30-3 record, a Missouri Valley double championship, and now, a win over an SEC team in the Big Dance. Bennet Stirtz led Drake’s empowering offense to a 10-point victory. Controlling the tempo, Drake was able to shut down Missouri’s offense that ranked top 10 in efficiency nationally. Drake’s rise as a mid-major powerhouse has been stamped by their first appearance past the first round since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. 

Elsewhere on day 1: Auburn survived a slow first half to take down Alabama State, Houston dismantled SIUE, and St. John’s pulled away from Omaha. Creighton took down Louisville in dominating fashion in a de facto away game. Michigan survived an upset bid over popular pick UC San Diego. Texas A&M, Purdue, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, and BYU all took care of business. UCLA and Gonzaga pummeled Utah State and Georgia, respectively. 

Day 2 awaits, with more intriguing storylines and highlights to come. By the end of tonight, there will be 32 teams remaining. By Monday morning, 16 teams. The field dwindles and the excitement is palpable. In other words, it is March. 

Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.

Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports 

March 3rd, 2025

If March is a canvas for the season’s strongest and best teams to create art, the late February storyline surge provides the paint. This season, just like every other season, brings plenty of storylines to the table as March approaches. One dominant conference, a not-so-dominant defending champion, and national player of the year race for the ages all decorate this season’s discourse beautifully. As we look ahead to March Madness, it is time to explore what we will still be talking about nonstop when the first ball is tipped in Dayton.

We are almost there, folks. 

National Player of the Year: Cooper Flagg vs. Johni Broome 

When Duke and Auburn faced off at Cameron Indoor Stadium all the way back in December, Flagg’s Blue Devils got the better of Broome’s Tigers. However, there was very little separating the two star players’ stat sheets. Both Broome and Flagg had double doubles with over 20 points and double digit rebounds, they both played nearly 40 minutes, they both took 18 shots and finished one made field goal away from having mirrored field goal percentages. In addition, neither made a 3 pointer. Quite literally, the two juggernauts were nearly identical, officially kick starting one of recent memory’s most compelling National Player of the Year races. 

Both Broome and Flagg are exceptional talents on teams that are seemingly destined to meet in the national championship game. They both lead their teams in next to every major stat category, they are both versatile and athletic, and they both can essentially do anything on the court that their team needs them to do. The only real difference is that Johni Broome is 24 years old and Cooper Flagg turned 18 years old just months ago. 

The race will likely come down to postseason performance. It is so close that it’s hard to imagine the conversation not adding up to simply comparing game-by-game box scores every time the two studs hit the hardwood. 

For Flagg (19.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4 apg. 1.1 bpg), one of the slights many have given him is performing with these numbers against a historically weak ACC that will only send 3 teams to the tournament (as of the most recent SM bracketology report). Broome (18.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.6 bpg) theoretically has the edge in this notion, putting up his insane numbers while playing— and dominating— in a historically great SEC that may shatter the Big East’s record of sending 11 teams to the Big Dance.

As a counter, if your mind assesses the National Player of the Year to be the “most valuable” player in the country, a lot can be said for Auburn not missing a step in the two games that Broome missed earlier this year with an ankle injury. Although it hasn’t happened to provide any cold hard evidence, it’s clear in lots of aspects that Duke may struggle without Flagg a bit more than Auburn did without Broome. In that case, perhaps Flagg can be deemed “more valuable.”

Then again, who even knows? They are far and away the two best players in the sport, and whoever third place is (Purdue’s Braden Smith, Wisconsin’s John Tonje… Villanova’s Eric Dixon?), they are up looking at Broome and Flagg with blurry vision and binoculars. They are so far clear of the field that the only true solution may just be for the two to face off again on the first Monday night of April in San Antonio. If that happens, bless our hearts. Even if it doesn’t, we are watching an amazing competition that we haven’t seen since JJ Redick vs. Adam Morrison in 2006. Cherish it, witness it, and take it in. Flagg is a presumed shoe-in for the #1 draft in this summer’s NBA draft, and Broome’s stock is rising by the minute. We likely won’t get this again for a long time. 

Husky Hangover 

It started on one fateful night in Houston two years ago. It continued a year later in Phoenix. And then, in a bandbox on the island that shall not be named, the UConn dominance we have come to know and admire over the past two seasons came crumbling down over three nights in November of this season.

After losing four starters to the NBA from last season, it’s hard to comprehend in hindsight why many believed UConn was a touted favorite to threepeat— yes, threepeat. Perhaps a lot of the reason was the fact that the Huskies had just done something similar in 2024, winning their second straight national championship after losing three core pieces to the NBA draft from their 2023 title winning team. It also has a lot to do with the man on the sidelines, Dan Hurley. 

Hurley’s brilliance as a coach remains evident, but UConn’s step back from the national title conversation this season has undoubtedly been a top 3 story in college basketball this season. Hurley himself publicly lamented not being ranked #1 in the preseason AP poll, and followed it by losing three straight at the Maui Invitational.

In a true seesaw season, UConn has had enormous highs and troubling lows. They lost to Big East-basement dwellers Seton Hall in comical, Looney-Tunes fashion, with failed inbounds plays and a missed dunk turning into a game winning tap in. This came just days after a triumph over Creighton in Omaha for the first time, backed by Liam McNeeley’s 38 point performance. The same team that won on the road at Marquette lost on the road at Xavier. They have gone to overtime against Butler, and lost on the road at Villanova. Of course, the losses to Colorado and Dayton in Maui— neither of whom will be dancing— don’t help either. 

The offensive highs have been amazing: Solo Ball’s shooting, Liam McNeeley’s playmaking, the evolution of Jaylin Stewart. However, the Huskies’ 111th ranked defense (according to KenPom) doesn’t do them any favors. It’s also hard to forget Dan Hurley’s early season sideline antics, which have admittedly toned down since Maui. However, it was a story then, and until he stops making waves, it will continue to be a story. 

Taking a breath here, I acknowledge how difficult it would be to sum up UConn’s season in so many words. There isn’t a way to do it succinctly, so I will stop here. With all of this being said, UConn is a #9 seed in the most recent SM bracketology report. Assuming they reach the second round, through all of the ups and downs this season, I don’t know of many #1 seeds who would be happy with a first weekend matchup against the back to back reigning champions. Of course, with the way the season has gone, the question would be: is it more likely that they pose a threat against a #1 seed in the second round, or more likely that they flame out in the first round before even getting a chance?

The SEC’s Dominance

For the past decade or so, the Big 12 has essentially run college basketball. Between the likes of Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech, and (formerly) Oklahoma and Texas, the conference is constantly sending teams deep into the tournament. This season, the SEC has taken over. Out of the league’s 16 teams, they are projected to get at least 11 teams— likely 12, perhaps 13, and 14 is not out of the question!--- into the NCAA tournament. This would break, shatter, and destroy the 2011 record held by the Big East, who sent 11 teams to the tournament. In the most recent SM bracketology report, here is how the top seeds are laid out:

2 #1 seeds (Auburn and Alabama)

2 #2 seeds (Tennessee and Florida)

1 #3 seed (Texas A&M)

2 #4 seeds (Kentucky and Missouri)

That’s exactly half of the league’s potential projected bids getting priority and protected seeding, which is quite simply astounding. The conference went ballistic in non-conference play, winning 185 games while losing just 23. Auburn, Alabama, and Tennessee have all been ranked #1 in essentially every major media poll at some point this season. Florida has been a mainstay in the top 5 and has gotten as high as #2. Kentucky has flirted with the top 10 the entire season, and Missouri keeps rising as one of the nation’s most surprising success stories. Whether it’s NIL, great coaching, luck of the draw, or something else magic, the SEC is putting on a show. 

As we head into the tournament, it’s both up to fate and mathematics to determine just how many SEC teams advance deep into March. It seems statistically unlikely that the Final Four doesn’t include at least two SEC teams, and it’s also completely plausible that it includes three or even four. The SEC is that good, but it remains to be seen how good they can continue to be when it matters to most. So far, so great. 

Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.