March Madness 2025: Dickie V’s Breakdown of the South Region
Hey there, hoops junkies! It’s that time of year again when the air is filled with the sound of bouncing basketballs and the anticipation of buzzer-beaters. Yes, the Big Dance is here, and I’m ready to break it down, Dickie V style! We’ve got PTPers (prime time performers), diaper dandies, and championship-caliber coaching ready to take the court. Who will be cutting down the nets at the end of the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament? Let’s dive into the madness, baby!
South Region: First Round
Let’s start with the South Region, where the action is as hot as a summer day in Alabama. The Auburn Tigers, with their athleticism, are set to dominate the play-in winner between Alabama State and St. Francis. The Tigers are just too much in transition. Auburn WINS!
Next up, we have a slugfest between the Louisville Cardinals and the Creighton Bluejays. It’s a tight game, but Louisville’s defense stiffens late, allowing them to escape with a win. Louisville WINS!
The Michigan Wolverines face off against UC San Diego, and they get hot early, never looking back. Michigan WINS!
In another matchup, the Texas A&M Aggies outmuscle the Ivy League champs, Yale, on the boards. Texas A&M WINS!
Ole Miss takes on the winner of San Diego State and North Carolina in a thriller. The Rebels hit a dagger 3-pointer to survive. Ole Miss WINS!
Iowa State Cyclones execute their way to a comfortable victory over Lipscomb. Iowa State WINS!
Marquette’s Kam Jones and Donovan Dent put on a show against New Mexico, but the Golden Eagles come out on top. Marquette WINS!
Finally, Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans dominate Bryant. Michigan State WINS!
Round of 32
In the Round of 32, Auburn’s defense stifles Louisville, and the Tigers move on. Auburn WINS!
Michigan’s size proves too much for Texas A&M to handle. Michigan WINS!
Iowa State’s speed and perimeter shooting take over against Ole Miss. Iowa State WINS!
In a heavyweight battle, Michigan State grinds it out against Marquette in the closing moments. Michigan State WINS!
Sweet 16
The Wolverines own the glass and advance past Auburn. Michigan WINS!
Another gritty win for Izzo’s squad as Michigan State takes down Iowa State. Michigan State WINS!
Elite Eight
A rivalry game with a Final Four trip on the line? Are you serious? Sparty wins the battle of Michigan. Michigan State WINS!
East Region: First Round
Over in the East Region, Duke’s talent and depth prove too much for American/Mount St. Mary’s. Duke WINS!
Mississippi State scraps their way to a win over Baylor. Mississippi State WINS!
The Oregon Ducks fly high against Liberty. Oregon WINS!
Arizona’s firepower is too much for Akron. Arizona WINS!
VCU plays lockdown defense to stun BYU. VCU WINS!
Wisconsin controls the tempo and gets it done against Montana. Wisconsin WINS!
Saint Mary’s sneaks by Vanderbilt in a nailbiter. Saint Mary’s WINS!
Alabama rolls over Robert Morris. Alabama WINS!
Second Round
Duke’s alley-oop dunk with less than five minutes on the clock brings the house down against Mississippi State. Duke WINS!
Arizona’s defensive intensity is off the charts as they take down Oregon. Arizona WINS!
Wisconsin’s veteran leadership takes over against VCU. Wisconsin WINS!
Alabama’s flurry of 3-pointers late in the second half puts away Saint Mary’s. Alabama WINS!
Sweet 16
In crunch time, Duke’s Cooper Flagg makes a sensational steal and finishes it with a thunderous dunk to put the game out of reach against Arizona. Duke WINS!
The Crimson Tide turn their game against Wisconsin into a track meet, running the floor and finishing at the rim with authority. Alabama WINS!
Elite Eight
This game is tight, tense, and thrilling all the way to the final minutes, but Duke prevails over Alabama. Duke WINS!
Midwest Region: First Round
In the Midwest Region, Houston puts on a defensive clinic against SIU Edwardsville. Houston WINS!
Gonzaga battles but advances past Georgia. Gonzaga WINS!
Clemson takes care of business against McNeese. Clemson WINS!
Braden Smith dominates as Purdue rolls over High Point. Purdue WINS!
Illinois muscles through a tough one against Texas/Xavier. Illinois WINS!
Big Blue Nation celebrates an opening-round win as Kentucky takes down Troy. Kentucky WINS!
UCLA’s experience proves key against Utah State. UCLA WINS!
Tennessee advances with stifling defense against Wofford. Tennessee WINS!
Second Round
Houston turns up the defensive pressure and forces turnover after turnover against Gonzaga. Houston WINS!
Purdue controls the tempo and rebounds like monsters to defeat Clemson. Purdue WINS!
Illinois fights until the final buzzer, but Kentucky makes big plays down the stretch to close it out at the line. Kentucky WINS!
The Vols get physical, control the boards, and wear down the Bruins. Tennessee WINS!
Sweet 16
Purdue gives its all, but the Cougars’ athleticism and relentless pressure wear the Boilermakers down. Houston WINS!
In the final minutes, Tennessee’s veteran leadership shows up, and the Vols close it out like champions against Kentucky. Tennessee WINS!
Elite Eight
The Cougars hit big shots and clutch free throws and win with elite execution down the stretch against Tennessee. Houston WINS!
West Region: First Round
In the West Region, the Florida Gators cruise in a blowout against Norfolk State. Florida WINS!
The defending champs, UConn, prove they’ve still got it against Oklahoma. UConn WINS!
The Rams pull off the first-round shocker against Memphis. Colorado State WINS!
The Terps’ starting five carries them through against Grand Canyon. Maryland WINS!
The Bulldogs bark the loudest, pulling off the upset against Missouri. Drake WINS!
The Red Raiders win with JT Toppin showing out against UNC Wilmington. Texas Tech WINS!
A legendary coaching battle, but Rock Chalk moves on against Arkansas. Kansas WINS!
The Johnnies ride their red-hot offense to victory against Omaha. St. John’s WINS!
Second Round
This one’s a classic, but Florida survives and advances against UConn. Florida WINS!
The Terps make a late push, but the Rams step up with clutch free throws in the final minute against Maryland. Colorado State WINS!
A few monster dunks in the second half get the crowd going, and the Raiders pull away late against Drake. Texas Tech WINS!
Kansas makes a late push, but St. John’s hits a monster 3 with less than a minute to go. St. John’s WINS!
Sweet 16
The Gators’ defense gets to the Rams in the second half, forcing turnovers that turn into highlight-reel dunks against Colorado State. Florida WINS!
Big-time players make big-time plays, and St. John’s punches its ticket to the Elite Eight against Texas Tech. St. John’s WINS!
Elite Eight
The Johnnies’ magic ends as the Gators chomp their way to the Final Four against St. John’s. Florida WINS!
Final Four
Izzo is a Hall of Fame mastermind, but Florida is flat-out scorching from beyond the arc. The Gators get the W and punch their ticket to the title game against Michigan State. Florida WINS!
The Cougars bring toughness, but the Blue Devils have too much firepower. Their defense clamps down late, and they march on against Houston. Duke WINS!
National Title
Two heavyweights collide in a matchup for the ages. Florida battles, but the Blue Devils’ size and speed put them over the top. Duke is cutting down the nets, baby! Duke WINS!
And there you have it, baby! This year’s March Madness is going to be a barnburner, a true test of mental toughness and clutch performances. Florida makes an incredible run, but at the end of the day, Duke is dancing all the way to the national title.
Originally Written by: Dick Vitale
