The 2024-25 NCAA Division 1 men's basketball season has ended, and the 2025 March Madness tournament has begun. This season has featured many standout players, such as Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg, as well as dominant teams like Auburn and Duke.
The Auburn Tigers have had a mostly dominant season led by senior forward Johni Broome who leads the Tigers in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game. They are now ranked third in the country as of March 12th, despite formerly being the number one ranked team in the country, after back-to-back upset losses to the Texas A&M Aggies and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Broome started off playing for Morehead State, but transferred to Auburn after the 2022 season. He is grateful for his opportunity to play for Auburn after transferring.
“I thought it would be a successful college career, but I didn’t think I would end up here, you know the position I am in right now. I had a lot of self-confidence, but that can only take you so far. I have been blessed to have a successful college career,” Broome said.
The UConn Huskies, who have won the national championship two years in a row, have faced struggles this season. UConn has been led by freshman forward Liam McNeeley, who has averaged 14.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as of March 12th. Despite their problems, they recently upset the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 5th, who were ranked 20th in the country at the time.
UConn is also coached by Dan Hurley, who has been head coach since 2018. Hurley was offered the head coaching position for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA this past offseason, but rejected the offer to stay with UConn.
Duke, led by freshman forward Cooper Flagg, is the first ranked team in the nation as of March 12th. As of March 10th, Flagg is the favorite to win the Wooden award, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in college basketball.
“When you look at some of our special guys, Paolo was Paolo. Zion was Zion. Jayson is Jayson. I think he’s proven — he’s Cooper. That to me is the marking of a great player. At this point, he’s up there with any of them, but obviously he’s got a long way to go,” said Duke coach Jon Scheyer.
Although Flagg is projected by many to be the first pick in the NBA draft, and could be missing out on money from his rookie contract, Duke fans have reason to believe that Flagg might stay in college another year.
“I want to come back next year,” Flagg said in a recent interview while talking about his future.
College basketball fans have a wide range of opinions on who the best player in the country is this season.
“I think it's honestly Zuby Ejiofor who plays for St. Johns, because he’s 6 '9 and on the best team in the Big East, he’s a really good player and he’s getting better every game,” NHS freshman Levi Ervin said.
Some other fans seem to think the best player happens to play for the number one ranked team.
“I think right now it’s gotta be Cooper Flagg. I mean, just the way that he’s doing it as a freshman, in one of the best basketball conferences in the league. I mean, he’s great, he’s excellent,” NHS freshman Kyle Duncan said.
Meanwhile, there has also been debate about the best team in the country this college basketball season.
“I gotta go with Duke. They’re top five in offensive rating and defensive rating, and they have arguably one of the best players in the country,” Duncan said.
St. Johns, the sixth ranked team in the country, won the Big East this season for the first time since the 1984-85 season. They are coached by two-time national champion head coach Rick Pitino.
The Kansas Jayhawks, who were ranked number one in the country during the preseason, have finished the year unranked. Despite this, senior Hunter Dickinson at the center position has been averaging 17.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as of March 12th, leading the team in both categories. Recently, Dickinson scored a career high 33 points while upsetting Arizona who was ranked 24th at the time.
This season of college basketball has brought a lot of excitement from fans. Many teams and players are looking to play their best in the March Madness tournament, and be the 2025 national champions.
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