CHAMPION:

Florida Gators

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team has been dominant this season, posting an impressive 32-4 record (14-4 SEC). With standout players like Walter Clayton Jr., Aljiah Martin, and Will Richard, the Gators are set up for a deep run in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and have the talent to capture the national title. Clayton Jr. has been a key player, leading the team with 625 points, including 318 of those points coming from three-point range. His scoring ability, both from beyond the arc and driving to the basket, makes him a major offensive threat. The Gators received one of four No. 1 seeds for the 2025 tournament and first faced off against Norfolk State. They dominated the game winning 95-69 over the Spartans earning a spot in the second round where they battled with the former nation champions, Uconn. Both teams fought hard all game, but the Gators were able to prevail and win 77-75. Their 32-4 record represents their resilience, having made their way through tough SEC matchups and road games with confidence. With their blend of scoring, defense, and depth, the Gators are built for a national championship run. With players like Clayton Jr. leading the way, no team will be eager to face the Gators in the tournament. Florida is ready to bring home the championship in 2025 and has all the talent needed to do so.

SLEEPER:

Ole Miss Rebels

With a stacked group of SEC teams this season, many schools have been overlooked. One of those teams is the Ole Miss Rebels. This team of Rebels has shown their strength all season long with a 10-8 record in the conference but have not got the recognition they deserve. The Rebels had many staple wins in the regular season including victories over Kentucky, Tennessee, BYU and on the road at Alabama. Moving into the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament, Ole Miss began with a big 71-64 win over the 11 seed North Carolina and a dominant 91-78 win over the three seeded Cyclones from Iowa State. The team is led by many high impact transfers including Sean Pedulla and Malik Dia with Pedulla averaging 15 points per game and Dia averaging 10.5. They are backed by returners Matt Murrell, Juju Murray and Jaemyn Brakefield. But the biggest question is why is nobody talking about Ole Miss? If the Rebels continue to play as well as they have the past few games, they have the talent it takes to go all the way. In the past four games, the Rebels have outscored their opponents 302-284. The Rebels are averaging 77.4 points per game and are shooting 44.6%. The Rebels are approaching a big matchup with the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet Sixteen with their eyes locked on the Final Four.

OVERRATED:

Alabama Crimson Tide

As the 2025 NCAA Tournament progresses to the Sweet Sixteen, Alabama’s men’s basketball team stands out, though not for the right reasons. Despite being ranked highly and entering the tournament with expectations, the Crimson Tide have raised eyebrows for their underwhelming performances, making them arguably the most overrated team left in the field. Alabama boasts a No. 2 seed, but the team’s inconsistent play has exposed weak spots in their games. Leading scorer Mark Sears has been solid, averaging 18.6 points per game, but his shooting efficiency is troubling. Sears shoots just 40% from the field and struggles from beyond the arc, hitting only 32%. The Crimson Tide also rely heavily on senior Grant Nelson, who chips in 11.7 points per game, but he lacks the explosive scoring ability seen from other Sweet Sixteen teams. When compared to teams like Houston or Duke, Alabama falls short in key areas. Houston’s defense, ranked first nationally, has limited opponents to just 58.4 points per game. Duke features the offensive firepower of Cooper Flagg, averaging 19 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, with a much higher shooting percentage than Alabama’s top scorers. With several stronger, more balanced teams in the mix, Alabama will need to elevate its play to justify its high seeding, or risk being an early exit in the Sweet Sixteen.

CINDERELLA:

Arkansas Razorbacks

This year’s tournament was not filled with exciting upsets as almost all of the higher seeded teams took care of business and advanced. But one double digit seeded team paved the way to the third round of the tournament: the Arkansas Razorbacks. This season came with many high expectations for the Razorbacks as they welcomed legendary head coach John Calipari. Calipari was previously the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats from 2009-2024. Throughout his career, Calipari has racked up crazy stats as a head coach of many different teams. He has reached the Final Four six times and has 835 total wins in his career. With these high expectations to start the season, the Razorbacks’ season began slow with an 0-5 start SEC play. The Razorbacks’ season soon made a quick turnaround as Calipari made his return to Rupp Arena with their huge 89-79 road win at Kentucky. They concluded the regular season in the middle of the SEC finishing in 9th place out of 16. The Razorbacks were given a spot in the tournament as a 10 seed. They quickly made their presence known with wins over Kansas and St John’s. Arkansas will match up with Texas Tech in the Sweet Sixteen this weekend. With the upcoming competition, they do not have the potential to advance further, but they have made their statement this year with lots of momentum going into the 2025-26 season.