Power conferences dominate Sweet 16 with no Cinderella teams
- No mid-major programs are present in the 2025 Sweet 16, a significant deviation from past tournaments.
- SEC made history with seven teams advancing, showcasing the dominance of major conferences.
- This year's tournament has seen surprising consistency among top-seeded teams, raising the stakes for contenders.
In the 2025 NCAA tournament, for the first time since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the Sweet 16 comprises solely teams from power conferences, marking a notable shift in tournament dynamics. This year saw an unusual lack of upsets, as many of the favorites advanced without significant surprises. Despite having the fewest double-digit seeds progressing in tournament history, one 10-seed, Arkansas, managed to reach the Sweet 16, showcasing a commendable performance led by freshmen players. Notably, the SEC secured a historic seven teams in the Sweet 16, further emphasizing the power of major conferences over mid-majors this season, which, coupled with the early exits of more traditional tournament favorites, reflects a guaranteed absence of Cinderella stories from this year's championship chase. In the context of the impressive showings, powerhouses such as Duke, led by star Cooper Flagg, stand out as leading contenders for the national title. All four of the top seeds will now seek to continue their momentum toward the Final Four.