4 teams from Alabama make men’s NCAA Tournament: See full bracket for March Madness
Reading time: 5 minutes
There was no drama during Sunday’s selection show as all of our in-state teams knew whether or not they would be in the big dance. And four of them got to hear their name called before it was wrapped up.
The in-state teams in the 2025 men’s college basketball tournament include:
- Auburn | 1 seed | South region
- Alabama | 2 seed | East region
- Troy | 14 seed | Midwest region
- Alabama State | 16 seed | South region (First Four)
Alabama and Auburn have been locks for most of the season while Troy and Alabama State earned automatic bids through their conference tournaments. North Alabama, Jacksonville State and UAB nearly helped set a new state record but all three lost in their conference championships.
ICYMI: 4 in-state men’s basketball teams headed to the NIT
Keep reading for a quick overlook about our four tournament teams, how you can watch each first-round game + check out the entire March Madness bracket.
Auburn Tigers
Auburn spent a program-record 8 consecutive weeks at the top of the AP Poll this season but the Tigers have lost three of their last four games.
However, the team’s resume still included 16 Quad 1 wins, the most in the country, while Auburn’s five losses all came against teams who made the NCAA Tournament.
Even though they fell short of a second straight SEC Tournament title, that resume was enough for the Tigers to earn a No. 1 overall seed for the first time in program history.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Auburn’s first-round matchup:
- Who: No. 1 Auburn (28-5) vs. No. 16 Alabama State Hornets (19-15) or No. 16 Saint Francis Red Flash (16-17)
- When: Thursday, March 20 | 1:50PM
- Where: Rupp Arena | Lexington, Kentucky
- Watch: CBS
- More info
If Auburn gets past the first round, the Tigers will play the winner of Louisville vs. Creighton.
The Tigers are in the South Region which means a trip to the Sweet 16 would guarantee at least one game in Atlanta during the second weekend of the tournament.
Other notable teams in the region include Big Ten champion Michigan, fellow SEC foes Texas A&M and Ole Miss + Ivy League champion Yale who ended Auburn’s season in 2024. The 2 seed in the region is Michigan State.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Despite an impressive win over Kentucky in the SEC Tournament opener, the Crimson Tide could not hang with eventual champion Florida during the semifinals.
That loss was likely the end of Alabama’s chase for a 1 seed but the Tide settle in at a 2 seed in the East Region. It’s the fourth time the program has earned either a 1 or 2 seed with three of those coming under coach Nate Oats.
Here’s what you need to know before the opener.
- Who: No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (25-8) vs. No. 15 Robert Morris Colonials (26-8)
- When: Friday, March 21 | 11:40AM
- Where: Rocket Arena | Cleveland, OH
- Watch: truTV
- More info
If Alabama wins, the Tide will play again on Sunday, facing the winner of Saint Mary’s and Vanderbilt.
Other notable teams in Alabama’s region include No. 1 seed Duke, Oregon (who defeated the Tide earlier this season), Mississippi State and Wisconsin.
Troy Trojans
After splitting the regular season conference championship with three other teams, Troy won the Sun Belt conference tournament to earn a spot in the big dance for the first time since 2017.
With 23 wins already this season, Troy has recorded its most victories in a single season since 2004 when it won 24 games. The team will try to match that total with a massive upset this week.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the first-round matchup:
- Who: No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats (22-11) vs. No. 14 Troy Trojans (23-10)
- When: Friday, March 21 | 6:10PM
- Where: Fiserv Forum | Milwaukee, WI
- Watch: CBS
- More info
If the Trojans can get past one of the most prestigious college basketball programs, they would take on either Illinois, Texas or Xavier in the second round.
Alabama State Hornets
Alabama State dropped to five games below .500 on Feb. 8 but the Hornets have turned it up a notch since, winning 10 of their last 11 games including six wins by five points or less.
That included three single-digit wins in the SWAC Tournament, earning the program’s first trip to the men’s NCAA Tournament since 2011. Alabama State has made four other trips to the big dance but the Hornets have still not won a game.
They’ll have a chance to record their first ever this week, appearing in the First Four for the third time.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Who: Alabama State Hornets (19-15) vs. Saint Francis Red Flash (16-17)
- When: Tuesday, March 18 | 5:40PM
- Where: UD Arena | Dayton, Ohio
- Watch: truTV
- More info
The winner will be rewarded with a trip to Lexington to take on the No. 1 overall seed Auburn Tigers.
Check out the complete bracket below. And print off one for yourself by heading over to the NCAA March Madness website.
Which team do you think makes the most noise in the men’s NCAA Tournament? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
