The Sweet 16: March Madness 2025's Top Teams

The Sweet 16 is here, and several teams have already made a strong impression. Duke has been a standout, cruising through their first two games with ease. Their star player, Cooper Flagg, has returned from injury and is playing better than ever. Duke's depth and talent are on full display, making them a favorite to win it all. Their defense and offense are both clicking, and they have a player, Tyrese Proctor, who can hit threes at an impressive rate. Auburn had a slow start but turned it around in the second half of their games. They won by a comfortable margin against Creighton, showing they can turn it on when needed. Their fans will be a big factor in the Atlanta-hosted regional, giving them a home-court advantage. Houston has been on a roll, winning games by double digits and looking strong on defense. They held SIU-Edwardsville to just 40 points, showing they can lock down opponents. Their next challenge will be in the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis, where they will face tough competition. Tennessee's defense has been their calling card so far. They held both Wofford and UCLA to under 62 points, showing they can shut down opponents. Their offense has also been impressive, with Chaz Lanier and the Vols' perimeter players hitting threes at a high rate. They are a top-five team and have delivered top-five performances. Alabama had a close call against Robert Morris but pulled away in the end. Their defense and presence inside were key in their win against Saint Mary's. They will need to improve their three-point shooting if they want to go far in the tournament. Michigan State faced a tough challenge from New Mexico but came out on top. Their confidence is high after closing out their second-round win. They are a solid team and will be a tough out in the Sweet 16. Maryland's Derik Queen hit a buzzer-beater to send his team to the Sweet 16. The Terps have been playing well, throttling Grand Canyon and closing strong against Colorado State. They are a team to watch in the West Regional. Texas Tech's JT Toppin has been a standout performer, averaging 18. 5 points and 11. 5 rebounds in their first two games. His performance has been a big reason for the Red Raiders' success so far. They will need to keep up their strong play if they want to advance further in the tournament. Arizona has been hot from three, shooting 48. 9% from beyond the arc in the tournament so far. They have also shown they can play tough defense, holding Akron to a low score in their first-round win. They are a team on the rise and could make a deep run in the tournament. BYU has been one of the most highly-rated offensive teams in the country. They have shown they can score in bunches, but their defense has been a concern. They will need to improve on that end if they want to challenge the top teams in the East Regional. Michigan had a close call against UC San Diego but pulled away in the end. They have shown they can make winning plays when it matters most. Roddy Gayle has been a spark for the Wolverines, scoring 37 points across their two wins. They will need to find more consistency if they want to go far in the tournament. Purdue has been impressive so far, with Trey Kaufman-Renn averaging 21. 5 points and 12. 5 rebounds in their first two games. They have not faced a tough challenge yet, but their performances have been solid. They will need to step up their game if they want to make a deep run in the tournament. Ole Miss has been hot from three, shooting 48. 7% from beyond the arc in the tournament so far. They have shown they can score in bunches, but their defense has been a concern. They will need to improve on that end if they want to challenge the top teams in the South Regional.