The college game is resembling the NBA more and more. From the reliance on the three-point shot to the push by some to move from halves to quarters to the offseason, which has become almost as explosive as the regular season. One thing that will always be unique to the college game (even if some want to change it) is the NCAA Tournament and the selection of the field.
Much like the game has evolved, the importance of bracketology has also evolved. No longer is it something that people only pay attention to in February and March; the impact on a team's tournament chances can be felt and examined in everything they do, even in the offseason. Whether it be from a roster standpoint or how a non-conference schedule can enhance a resume, examining college basketball through the lens of bracketology is becoming a year-round endeavor.
We’re now two months into the season, and for better or worse, we’re starting to see resumes take shape. Some conference storylines show up in the bracket, most notably the SEC's dominant performance in non-conference play.
Just like that it is January and time for conference play to kick in. As the new year begins, we start to see resumes take shape and along with that, which teams need a strong league play performance and which will be using conference battles to build their case for better seeding. Taking into account the final weekend of 2024, here is the first bracket of 2025.