We began the 2025 NCAA Tournament with 68 teams vying for a quartet of spots in San Antonio, and after two weeks of bracket play, we’re down to the Final Four.
All four spots were claimed by the No. 1 seeds from each of the bracket’s regions: No. 1 Auburn, No. 1 Florida, No. 1 Duke, and No. 1 Houston.
While the word “chalk” is often used to describe this sort of outcome, it’s actually not very common. This tournament was the first time all four No. 1 seeds made the Elite Eight since 2016, and it’s the first time since 2008 that all four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four.
Teams get hot and make unpredictable runs in the NCAA Tournament all the time, but in 2025, the No. 1 seeds truly were a step above the rest of the field—and by a staggering margin.
The KenPom metrics, which are based on adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, date back to the 1996-97 season and give us an effective way of comparing teams in tournament play. As one of the most reliable datasets out there, KenPom holds a lot of weight in terms of its validity in ranking teams.
So, when we look at the Top 10 teams ever record in KenPom metrics, and the entire Final Four field for 2025 is on the list, it’s certainly notable.
No, there weren’t a ton of upsets in this bracket. However, the Final Four that’s been produced as a result is one that we’re not likely to forget.
Duke vs. Houston and Florida vs. Auburn will certainly be some of the most intriguing matchups that we’ve seen all season, and the winner of this tournament will definitely have earned the right to lift that trophy.
It’s gonna be one heck of a week, ladies and gentlemen.
