Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs March Madness has returned, and the brackets have been set. “Selection Sunday” has revealed the 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s basketball bracket, and the first round has been set for Thursday and Friday. Auburn, despite losing the SEC Tournament final to Tennessee, was named the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament. They will head the South Region, while Duke (East Region), Houston (Midwest Region), and Florida (West Region) round out the No. 1 seeds. Before we break out each side of the bracket, the “First Four” games have been set for Tuesday and Wednesday to determine who will be owning No. 11 and 16 seeds in this tournament. In the South Region, it’s San Diego State and UNC battling for the 11 seed, while the No. 16 seed will be the winner of Alabama State and Saint Francis (PA). Then, in the East Region, the winner of American and Mount Saint Mary’s will own the No. 16 seed, and the Midwest Region’s No. 11 seed will be determined between Texas and Xavier. RICK PITINO REVEALS PLANS TO CELEBRATE ST. JOHN’S HISTORIC BIG EAST TOURNAMENT VICTORYNow, without further ado, let’s reveal every team and their first-round matchups in this year’s exciting tournament. SOUTH REGION: No. 1 Auburn (1st overall seed)- 1 Auburn (29-5) v 16 Alabama State/St. Francis (PA)- 2 Michigan State (27-6) v 15 Bryant (23-11)- 3 Iowa State (24-9) v 14 Lipscomb (25-9)- 4 Texas A&M (22-10) v 13 Yale (22-7)- 5 Michigan (25-9) v 12 UC San Diego (30-4)- 6 Ole Miss (22-11) v 11 San Diego St./UNC- 7 Marquette (23-10) v. 10 New Mexico (26-7)- 8 Louisville (27-7) v 9 Creighton (24-10)EAST REGION: No. 1 Duke (2nd overall seed)- 1 Duke v. 16 American/Mount St. Mary’s- 2 Alabama (25-8) v 15 Robert Morris (26-8, 1st appearance in 10 years)- 3 Wisconsin (26-9) v 14 Montana (25-9, Big Sky Champs)- 4 Arizona (22-12) v 13 Akron (28-6, school record)- 5 Oregon (24-9) v. 12 Liberty (28-6)- 6 BYU (24-9) v 11 VCU (28-6)- 7 Saint Mary’s (28-6, WCC champs) v 10 Vanderbilt (20-12)- 8 Mississippi State (21-12) v. 9 Baylor (19-14) MIDWEST REGION: No. 1 Houston (3rd overall seed)- 1 Houston (30-4) v 16 SIU Edwardsville (22-11, bypassing first four, first-ever appearance after winning OVC)- 2 Tennessee (27-7) v 15 Wofford (19-15)- 3 Kentucky (22-11) v 14 Troy (23-10)- 4 Purdue (22-11, 10th straight appearance) v 13 High Point (29-8, first tourney appearance)- 5 Clemson (27-6, school record wins) v 12 McNeese (27-6, Southland Conference champs)- 6 Illinois (21-12) v 11 Texas/Xavier- 7 UCLA (22-10) v 10 Utah St (26-7, third straight appearance)- 8 Gonzaga (25-8, 9 straight Sweet 16) v 9 Georgia (20-12, going for first tourney win since 2002) WEST REGION: No. 1 Florida (4th overall seed)- 1 Florida (30-4) v 16 Norfolk st (24-10, MEAC champs)- 2 St John’s (30-4) v 15 Omaha (22-12)- 3 Texas Tech (25-8, highest-scoring team in 30 years) v 14 UNCW (27-7, CAA champs)- 4 Maryland (25-8) v 13 Grand Canyon (26-7)- 5 Memphis (29-5) v 12 Colorado St (25-9)- 6 Missouri (22-11) v 11 Drake (30-3)- 7 Kansas (21-12, 35th straight time is a record) v 10 Arkansas (20-13)- 8 UConn (23-10, two-time reigning NCAA champs) v 9 Oklahoma (20-13)
