With theNFLseason over , the summercater world now moves to basketball . While the NBA still has multiple months before they coronate a champion , college hoops is one month by fromMarch Madness , the greatest tourney in sports . 68 teams will take on in the NCAA Tournament , which lead off on March 18 . Fans will get a minor taste sensation of tournament legal action when teams deport their conference tournaments at the start of the calendar month .
The 2024 - 2025 time of year does not have a clear-cut favorite to trim back down the connection . Last season , UConn dominated the rivalry on their direction to a sixth national championship . In 2025 , Auburn , Alabama , and Duke have systematically ride out near the top of the crown , but all three team have their defect . These next few weeks in February will go a long means in find out seeding on Selection Sunday .
Before group discussion tournaments get , check out our March to the Madness preview , which highlights the top storylines and games for the remainder of February .
NCAA Men’s Basketball: Storylines to follow leading into March Madness
After dominating football game for the last 15 years , the SEC is now the top group discussion in college basketball . Nine SEC teams are inWeek 15 ’s AP Top 25 Men ’s College Basketball Poll , include five in the top 10 . The top two spots belong to Auburn and Alabama , who will make history on February 15 when they become the first SEC teams ranked No . 1 and No . 2 to look each other . Bruce Pearl and Auburn are looking to return to the Final Four for the first time since 2019 , while Nate Oats and Alabama are attempting to bring back to the Final Four for the second consecutive time of year .
Florida , Tennessee , and Texas A&M are the other SEC schools in the top 10 for Week 15 . The Gators are a team that has big win over Auburn and Tennessee . After a first - round passing in 2024 , Todd Golden ’s Gators can make some haphazardness in this year ’s tourney behind a ternion of guards — Walter Clayton Jr. , Alijah Martin , and Will Richard .
Before losing to Clemson on February 8 , the Duke Blue Devils had won 16 straight plot . Duke is led by stunning freshman Cooper Flagg , who leads the Blue Devils in distributor point ( 19.5 ) , rebounds ( 7.7 ) , and assist ( 4.0 ) . Barring an epic collapse or combat injury , Flagg should become the first newcomer since 2019 ’s Zion Williamson to succeed National Player of the Year .
🤯 🤯 🤯 🤯 🤯 🤯 💀 🙆 ♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️🙆♂️@Cooper_Flaggpic.twitter.com/K0cqvzuWtY
& mdash ; Duke Men ’s Basketball ( @DukeMBB)January 8 , 2025
In the Big 12 , five teams — include Houston , Arizona , Iowa State , Texas Tech , and Kansas — are jockeying for place to win the conference . Houston sit atop the conference for now , but Arizona is knocking on the door , especially after their season come animated thanks to a miraculous half - court of law scene by Caleb Love . Houston and Arizona run on February 15 for first place in the Big 12 .
The Big Ten is still Purdue ’s conference to lose thanks to its tandem of Trey Kaufman - Renn and Braden Smith . Michigan State has another scrappy crew under coach Tom Izzo . Thanks to the addition of freshman Jace Richardson , the Spartans could have breathing in higher than a Sweet 16 appearance . Elsewhere , Wisconsin , Michigan , and Maryland could play pillager and win next calendar month ’s league tournament .
The surprise team of 2025 is easily St. Johns . The Red Storm introduce the top 10 in the AP Poll for the first meter since the 1999 - 2000 season . Rick Pitino ’s squad went to UConn on February 7 and vote down the defending internal champions on their home base court . The Red Storm and Huskies will rematch at Madison Square Garden on February 23 .
NCAA Men’s Basketball Schedule: Games to watch
Auburn vs. Alabama start time, channel, and live stream
Results : Auburn 94 – Alabama 85
Duke vs. Virginia start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Duke 80 – Virginia 62
Purdue vs. Michigan State start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Michigan State 75 – Purdue 66
Michigan State vs. Michigan start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Michigan State 75 – Michigan 62
Tennessee vs. Texas A&M start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Tennessee 77 – Texas A&M 69
Oregon vs. Wisconsin start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Oregon 77 – Wisconsin 73 OT
Iowa State vs. Houston start time, channel, and live stream
ensue : Houston 68 – Iowa State 59
Kentucky vs. Alabama start time, channel, and live stream
ensue : Alabama 96 – Kentucky 83
Duke vs. Illinois start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Duke 110 – Illinois 67
UConn vs. St. John’s start time, channel, and live stream
Result : St. John ’s 89 – UConn 75
Houston vs. Texas Tech start time, channel, and live stream
outcome : Houston 69 – Texas Tech 61
Mississippi State vs. Alabama start time, channel, and live stream
Result : Alabama 111 – Mississippi State 73
Vanderbilt vs. Texas A&M start time, channel, and live stream
ensue : Vanderbilt 86 – Texas A&M 84
Watching college basketball with Sling TV
Most of the channels list above can be watched with a cable telly subscription . However , many consumer are elect to cut the corduroy and sign up for a streaming goggle box divine service . With a cheaper cost and no cable corner required , why would n’t anyone explore these streaming alternative ? One of the idealistic service that includes college basketball coverage is . With Sling TV , drug user can take in sports , news , and live television for a fraction of the cost of transmission line .
Sling telly offers two program : Orange at $ 46 per month and Blue at $ 51 per calendar month . Sling is offering a 50 % discount for the first calendar month . The divergence in price affects the number of channels , as Orange features 35 while Blue has 46 . Orange sport ESPN , a staple in every sport fan ’s home . However , Orange does not include local broadcasts to ABC , Fox , and NBC . The best Sling option is probably to combine Orange and Blue for $ 66 per month . Consumers can also purchase Sports Extra , which add popular channel like Big Ten internet , NBA TV , and NFL RedZone .
