Bracketology 2025: Kansas and Houston lead the first projected field of the year

West Region (San Francisco)

Providence

1.) UConn vs. 16.) High Point

8.) Ohio State vs. 9.) Texas Tech

Denver

5.) UCLA vs. 12.) Grand Canyon

4.) Arkansas vs. 13.) Vermont

Milwaukee

6.) Clemson vs. 11.) Michigan/Louisville

3.) Iowa State vs. 14.) Charleston

Seattle

7.) Wake Forest vs. 10.) Kansas State

2.) Gonzaga vs. 15.) Weber State

They said a repeat would be difficult, and in this day and age, a three-peat might be close to impossible, but UConn will give it their best shot. After flirting with the Lakers, Dan Hurley came back to give it a go. The Huskies lost a lot from their title teams, but thanks to the portal and a stud freshman in Liam McNeeley, they are a contender to win three in a row. Therefore, UConn is the No. 1 seed out west, hoping to get to San Francisco.

A three-peat certainly won’t be easy with a loaded Gonzaga Bulldogs squad as the No. 2 seed in the West region and arguably the best defensive team in the country, Iowa State as the No. 3 seed. As well as potential sleepers UCLA, Clemson, and Wake Forest. Nate Oats and Arkansas, as well as a UCLA team looking to bounce back from a 10-10 finish in the Pac-12, are also lurking in this region.

The No. 7 seed in the West is Wake Forest who returns Hunter Sallis, Cameron Hildreth, and Efton Reid III to lead a veteran lineup. The question for the Demon Deacons is whether their young bench is looking for a few sophomore jumps. Parker Fredrickson and Marquis Marion return, and guys like Davin Cosby, Churchill Abass, and Omaha Billew add not only some of the best names in college basketball but also depth and youth that gives Wake Forest a chance to be the third-best team in the ACC.