NCAA Tournament Champions Statistics

Last year I gathered a bunch of these and developed a system to pick the winner (UConn and Purdue tied) For the teamrankings.com stat, I pro-rated it because they started in 2007. Also, the 3 point percentage was adjusted when they moved the line back. This year, I added Top 50 in offensive rebounding. My magic formula says the Duke will win the championship. Auburn was almost tied, but is 51st in offensive rebounding %. Florida and Michigan State could be the first champions not to be in KenPom's top 25 pre-season.

CriteriaScore - All TimeStreak
KenPom Top 25 Pre-Season2222
Week 6 AP Top 122120
4 seed or better219
KenPom Top 25 AdjOff219
KenPom Top 25 AdjDef213
Elite 8 Coaching experience201
Team Rankings.com Top 6 end of year19.419
Lowest KenPom rank loss <100199
Reg Season or Conf Champ191
6 or fewer losses181
Top 50 in Off Reb164
3 Pt % >35166

Cyclone Fanatic Bracket Pool

Ive seen this mentioned a few times, but I have created a Bracket Pool for CFers. I am using the ESPN Tournament Challenge App/platform. The Group name is CF Brackets, password is Cyclones#1.

If you are going enter, please name your bracket so that we can differentiate between whose is whose. I will do my best to post scores/updates daily. Yes, I realize this is the 11th hour so to speak so we may not get as good of a turnout, but wanted to do it anyway

Happy March Madness, Go Cyclones!

***2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament***

Starting up Wednesday and Thursday with the First Four games.

DATETIME (CT)MATCHUP/ANNOUNCERSSITENETWORK
Wed, Mar 196 p.m.No. 11 Princeton vs. No. 11 Iowa State
Pam Ward, Stephanie White
Notre DameESPNU
8 p.m.No. 16 Southern U vs. No. 16 UC San Diego
Eric Frede, Christy Winters-Scott, Holly Rowe
UCLAESPNU
Thu, Mar 206 p.m.No. 11 Washington vs. No. 11 Columbia
Angel Gray, Aja Ellison
North CarolinaESPN2
8 p.m.No. 16 William & Mary vs. No. 16 High Point
Tiffany Greene, Steffi Sorensen
TexasESPN2
  • Like
Reactions: CycloneDaddy

***WBB: (11) Princeton vs. (11) Iowa State (Wed, 6:00)***

NCAA TOURNAMENT - FIRST FOUR
Iowa State (22-11, 12-6 Big 12) vs. Princeton (21-7, 12-2 Ivy)
Purcell Pavilion – Notre Dame, Ind.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. CT

WATCH: ESPNU
PxP: Pam Ward
Analyst: Stephanie White


LISTEN: Cyclone Radio Network – Varsity App or Radio Affiliates
PxP: Noah Wolf
Analyst: Jamie Steyer Johnson


LIVE STATS

IOWA STATE CYCLONES
GAME NOTES
SEASON STATS

PRINCETON TIGERS
GAME NOTES
ROSTER
SEASON STATS

On That Note: Survivor

Theme is connected with opening week of NCAA Tournament. Key words (title or lyrics) are survive, advance, upset, bust, bracket (and related extensions).

Other words could apply, as long as they relate to tournament flow.

“On That Note” is presented each week on Cyclone Fanatic by @MeanDean, @CycloneRulzzz and cyclones500.

“All of your family had to kill to survive.”

Login to view embedded media

What are one or two games in your bracket that no one seems to be picking but...

What are one or two games in your bracket no one seems to be talking much about or picking the way you are but you're pretty sure you'll be right with your pick?

It's amazing how talking heads shift at the end of the season. All year, even through early March, everyone was saying how down Gonzaga was and wow they might actually miss the tourney. But now those same people are back on the bandwagon for the most part some even having them go deep. I don't buy it even with their metrics. Conversely, if the SEC is as great as it supposed to and battle tested, then even the 'lower' teams are probably better than their seeds may indicate. I saw the Zags vs Georgia and immediately picked Georgia. Probably stupid but I've watched both and Georgia CAN be sneaky good.

See quite a few also picking Liberty over Oregon. I'm not. Altman is 9-0 in first round games at Oregon. He's a good tourney coach.
  • Like
Reactions: CloneIce

The personal side of Audi Crooks

I remember some of this way too much. Even in these forums there were a few who said she wouldn’t cut it or commented about her weight. She carries a big load representing Iowa State the way she does. Here's a good look inside A rather amazing person.

Pregame Story from South Bend: Iowa State will try and prove it belongs against Princeton in the First Four

WBB: Iowa State will try and prove it belongs in the NCAA Tournament when it takes on Princeton in the First Four Wednesday.

@cfchangs9 has more from South Bend.

NIL Budgets

I heard that Iowa's MBB NIL budget is around $2mil and that was a deterrent to Devries not wanting to go there. I know We Will does great with what they have and don't have the resources of other programs, but curious what our NIL budgets are for the big 3 sports (FB, MBB, and WBB) to compare with others.

CFTV: Interviews with Dresser, Gaitan and Herrera

Good stuff from the team.

I thought it was refreshing to listen to Gaitan and Herrera talk about some of the nerves of their own personal tournaments at Big 12's. Its so hard to get athletes to talk about stuff like that so I found it very insightful! Plus, of course, we talk about their matchups, mental prep and more good nuggets.

Enjoy!

Reaction Time: NCAA Championships Preview

Jacqueline Cordova and Ben Visser preview the 2025 NCAA Championships, set expectations for Iowa State, and dive into any other key storylines surrounding the weekend. Presented by Fareway Meat & Grocery.


Kickin’ It: Mascot Bracket 2025 Edition

Jeff Woody and Grant Mahoney are back for the second edition of their mascot bracket to help you make your picks for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Presented by Kelderman Manufacturing.


Black Bag

This movie flew under the radar with very little marketing. But staring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett and directed by Steven Soderberg wow! What a great movie. It’s a slow burn spy thriller that I really hope finds an audience.

It’s only March but it’s the best movie I’ve seen so far no question.
  • Like
Reactions: Gonzo

Twister Sister Summary - Who is Princeton?

Took a bit of a deep dive into the Princeton Tigers today. Here are some things that should catch your attention and give you something to focus on during Wednesday's game.

Using ChatGPT to fill out a bracket...

I saw CNET did this and was curious. I'm in a $5 bracket with some friends and family and asked ChatGPT to give me their picks and scores for the entire tournament with some well placed upsets and gonna go with exactly what they have and see how it ends up doing...some of these I don't buy but it's just an exercise so we'll see.

Some noteworthy picks by AI:

  • Akron over Arizona by 4
  • Drake over Missouri by 2
  • Texas Tech over UNCW but only by 1
  • Purdue over High Point by 25 (weird but whatever)
  • Michigan over UCSD by 15 (popular upset pick)
  • San Diego State over Ol' Miss by 10
  • Marquette over New Mexico by 14
  • St. Mary's beating Alabama by 2 in round of 32
  • Memphis over Maryland in round of 32
  • Drake over TT by 3 in round of 32
  • Kansas over St. John's by 12 in round of 32
  • ISU over SDSU by 3 in round of 32
  • Marquette over Michigan State by 6 in round of 32
  • Kansas over Drake by a lot in Sweet 16
  • ISU over Marquette by 2 in Sweet 16
  • Auburn over ISU by 4 in Elite 8
  • FF: Auburn/Florida/Duke/Houston which is all #1 seeds but whatever
  • Florida over Houston for title

Cyclone Fanatic NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Preview Show

Connor Ferguson and Rob Gray dive into Iowa State’s draw, the Princeton matchup, the rest of the region, and expectations for the Cyclones ahead of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.


2025 Iowa's Best Burger

Top 10 dropped today.


One of my favorite places in my neck of the woods (Dan's in Cresco) made the cut. It's legitimately one of the best burgers I've ever had. They sold like 21,000 burger baskets in the first year they were open. If you're heading up to the Driftless Area to canoe or bike this summer, it's definitely worth the stop.

Filter