Over the years, March Madness has often been home to surprises and underdog stories, but this season is proving to be different with the dominance of power conferences. The Sweet 16 lineup in this year’s tournament is comprised solely of teams from these conferences, marking a first since the tournament format was expanded to 64 teams back in 1985. The spotlight usually reserved for teams like Saint Peter’s, Loyola Chicago, or even a Butler or Gonzaga, is absent this time around.
The groundwork for this shifted dynamic was laid during the opening round, which saw no upsets among the top four seeds, achieving a perfect 16-0 scoreline—only the sixth time this has happened in history. Although two No. 12 seeds and one No. 11 seed advanced past the first hurdle, they eventually fell in subsequent games. The team with the highest seed in the Sweet 16 is No. 10 Arkansas, while all other slots are occupied by teams seeded 6 or higher. All four No. 1 seeds are present, alongside three of the four No. 2 seeds.
This year’s tournament sees only four conferences represented across the Sweet 16 matchups in regional sites located in cities like San Francisco, Newark, Indianapolis, and Atlanta, setting a record for the smallest number of conferences in the event. It’s a stark contrast to the max record of 11 conferences. On the topic of records, the SEC has achieved several noteworthy feats: entering with 14 teams, a record of six first-round exits, and now, seven teams making it into the Sweet 16. Tennessee’s coach Rick Barnes noted the collective effort of the league, emphasizing the importance of unity during the tournament season.
On the other hand, the Big Ten also enjoyed a remarkable start by going 8-0 in the first round and extending to 10-0 before BYU halted Wisconsin’s progress. Although the league saw four teams leave in the second round, Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, and Maryland managed to secure their positions in the Sweet 16. The Big 12 matched its previous record, established in 2002, by placing four teams into the Sweet 16, benefitting from new additions including Arizona and BYU, alongside Houston, offering the league strong chances to notch a third national championship over recent years.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Coast Conference, which faced criticism for a rough start, finds a silver lining with Duke. Featuring standout freshman Cooper Flagg, Duke stands out as a contender for the national title. Their impressive win over Baylor highlighted their competitive spirit which coach Jon Scheyer emphasized post-game.
As we look forward, the idea of a three-peat champion disappeared with UConn’s narrow loss to top-seeded Florida, bringing an end to their journey and dream of successive championships. Despite the disappointment, UConn coach Dan Hurley reflected on the passionate display of his team throughout the tournament.
Indeed, this year’s NCAA Tournament underscores the dominance and passion of power conferences.