The state of Arizona will have two teams in the men's NCAA Tournament in 2025 when the
March Madness bracket is announced Sunday. According to one NCAA Tournament projection, fans of basketball in the state might be able to see them play in the same game. The
Arizona Wildcats will be at-large pick from the Big 12 in the NCAA bracket reveal, while the Grand Canyon Antelopes are an automatic qualifier after winning the WAC Tournament.
Sports Illustrated has the teams facing off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this week in its final March Madness projection, which would be a very interesting matchup.
Arizona vs Grand Canyon NCAA Tournament projection for first round
Could Arizona really play Grand Canyon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament? Yes, it could happen. In Sports Illustrated's projection, the Wildcats are the No. 4 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament, while the Lopes are the No. 13 seed, pitting the teams against each other in the Round of 64 on Thursday or Friday. Arizona went 22-12 overall this season and was 14-6 in its first season in the Big 12. The Wildcats lost to No. 1 seed Houston in the Big 12 Championship Game as the No. 3 seed. Grand Canyon was 26-7 overall and 13-3 in the WAC this season. The Lopes defeated No. 1 seed Utah Valley in the WAC Championship game as the No. 2 seed to get its March Madness berth.
Arizona vs Grand Canyon in second round of March Madness?
Another NCAA bracket projection has Arizona playing Grand Canyon in the NCAA Tournament as a possibility, but the projection, from
CBS Sports , has it in the second round. Jerry Palm has the Wildcats as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region in his projection, with the team taking on No. 12 seed UC San Diego. He has the Lopes as the No. 13 seed, facing No. 4 seed Texas A&M. In that projection, an Arizona win and a GCU win in the first round would pit the in-state foes against each other in the second round with a Sweet 16 berth on the line.
More Arizona, Grand Canyon March Madness projections
ESPN projects Arizona as the No. 4 seed in the South Region in its latest projection, taking on No. 13 seed High Point in the first round. It has Grand Canyon as the No. 13 seed in the Midwest Region, facing Texas A&M.
USA TODAY Sports has Grand Canyon as the No. 13 seed in the East Region, with the Antelopes taking on No. 4 Maryland in the first round. It has the Wildcats as the No. 4 seed in the South Region, with Arizona's foe being No. 13 seed Lipscomb.
On3 seeds Arizona at No. 4. It pits the Wildcats against No. 13 High Point in a West Region first-round game. Grand Canyon is a No. 13 seed in that projection. The Antelopes face No. 4 seed Michigan in that NCAA Tournament bracket prediction, in the East Region.
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