2025 March Madness First Four predictions: UNC vs. San Diego State, Alabama State vs. St. Francis

Has the outrage over the 68th team invited to the dance subsided yet? Of course the Tar Heels don’t belong in the NCAA Tournament.Of course it helped to have their athletic director — and the chairman of the selection committee — as a constant presence among those who made the decision, even if Bubba Cunningham wasn’t in the room during those discussions.But the committee did North Carolina no favors in its First Four matchup with the Aztecs, whose past two tournament runs ended in the national title game and the Sweet 16.The fast-paced Tar Heels will face an elite defense that’s built to slow down any offense, then use its size to force tough shots.San Diego State tops the nation in opponents’ field goal percentage (38.1), already defeated elite offenses in top-seeded Houston and ninth-seeded Creighton, and is led by senior guard Nick Boyd, a starter on Florida Atlantic’s Final Four team.Though North Carolina has won eight of its past 10 games, none have come against NCAA Tournament teams.This will mark the Tar Heels’ 13th game against a top 35 defense.Carolina is 1-11 against such opponents. Sadly, “(Pa.)” isn’t really necessary anymore, two years removed from the shocking announcement that St.

Francis Brooklyn would close its gym doors, ending New York City’s oldest basketball program (1896).Sadly, the now-defunct Terriers will never have the chance to make their first NCAA Tournament, to make the kind of unlikely run that the Red Flash needed to reach Dayton.St.Francis was 10-17 less than a month ago.

Then came three consecutive overtime wins and an unlikely conference tournament run, winning all three games by three points.But the magic won’t last much longer for the team picked to finish last in the Northeast Conference preseason poll.The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2025 field.Alabama State — which has won 10 of its past 11 games — had a similar late-season run, ...