Basketball
Now that the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament field is set, it is time to start looking ahead at potential champions.
While most of the focus will be on the top seeds — Duke, Auburn, Houston, etc. — recent history has shown there is always a chance for sleeper teams to put together deep runs. Not just by winning a game or two, but by making actual serious runs into the Final Four or even the national championship game.
NIL and the transfer portal have completely changed the game and leveled the playing field.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five sleeper teams outside of the favorites that could turn the tournament upside down and go on deep runs — perhaps even winning it all.
1. BYU Cougars, 24-9, No. 6 seed in East Region
BYU is no joke as a No. 6 seed and is perfectly capable of winning the whole thing. The Cougars finished the season with a whopping eight Quad 1 wins and boast one of the most efficient offenses in the country, ranking 11th in KenPom’s offensive efficiency rankings.
What truly separates them is they are one of the deepest teams in the field. They have 10 players that have averaged at least 10 minutes per game this season and eight players that average at least seven points per game.
They are on a roll going into the tournament, they should not be afraid of foul trouble due to their depth, and they have proved all season they can hang with elite teams.
2. St. Mary’s Gaels, 28-5, No. 7 seed in East Region
The Gaels are no strangers to the NCAA Tournament, earning a bid for the fourth consecutive season and the sixth time in the past 10 years.
That experience, as well as their style of play, is not going to make them fun to play against.
The Gaels limit teams to just 60.7 points per game (fifth best in the country), play a dreadfully slow tempo and are a relentless defensive team that can completely shut teams down from behind the three-point line (opponents shoot just 30.8% from three-point range).
They also have the one type of X factor that can really be a game-changer in the tournament: An experienced guard in Augustas Marciulionis who is not only an outstanding scorer (14.3 points per game) but also an outstanding ball distributor (6.1 assists per game).
3. New Mexico Lobos, 26-7, No. 10 seed in South Region
The Lobos do pretty much everything well and are perfectly capable of winning any type of game by any means necessary.
They play at one of the fastest paces in the country and average more than 80 points per game, but are also a fierce defensive team that has spent the season going up against tough out of conference opponents.
The duo of Donovan Dent and Nelly Junior Joseph is also extremely tough to contain offensively.
4. UC San Diego Tritons, 30-4, No. 12 seed in South Region
UC San Diego might be the most fascinating team in the tournament. In just their fifth year of Division I basketball, and in their first year of NCAA Tournament eligibility, the Tritons won the Big West Conference and roll into the tournament as an extremely dangerous No. 12 seed.
They lack size, but are a dangerous shooting team from the perimeter and are one of the best teams in the country at forcing turnovers.
5. Grand Canyon Antelopes, No. 13 seed in West Region
Grand Canyon is dancing again for the third year in a row and fourth time in five years. After pulling off a major upset in the first round a year ago, the Antelopes might be poised for a serious run this season.
They have experience, an outstanding guard in Tyson Grant-Foster and were able to hang with strong out of conference teams (Georgia) all season.
Read More Margarete Catt