Wed Mar 19 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## March Madness Tips Off with Upsets and SEC Dominance

**SAN ANTONIO, TX & TAMPA, FL –** The 2025 NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments have officially begun, kicking off with the First Four games. Alabama State pulled off a dramatic last-second victory over St. Francis in the men’s tournament, while North Carolina easily defeated San Diego State. The SEC made history, sending a record 14 of its 16 teams to the men’s tournament. Auburn secured the number one overall seed for the men, while UCLA earned top honors for the women, alongside South Carolina, Texas, and USC.

The men’s First Four games tipped off Tuesday, March 18th, on TruTV, with the women’s games following on Wednesday, March 19th, on ESPN2 and ESPNU. The full first round begins March 20th (men) and March 21st (women) and will be televised across various networks, including CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV (men) and ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU (women). The tournaments will culminate in the Final Four, with the men’s championship game on April 7th in San Antonio, Texas, and the women’s on April 6th in Tampa, Florida.

Yahoo Sports has provided expert bracket picks to aid fans in their own selections, with brackets open until Thursday morning (men’s) and Friday morning (women’s). The article also highlights some of the biggest snubs and surprises in the selection process, including the SEC’s record-breaking performance and the late entries of North Carolina and Texas in the men’s bracket. The article encourages fans to participate in Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem for a chance to win up to $50,000.

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