5 NCAA men's basketball teams that could become 2025 Final Four dark horses
The NCAA Tournament had its fair share of dark horse teams in the past. Last season, Nate Oats' Alabama went through the Final Four by beating higher-ranked North Carolina in the Sweet 16 and Clemson in the Elite Eight.
The Crimson Tide's run was stopped in the Final Four by UConn, who subsequently took home the national championship for the second-straight time. Here are some teams that could become dark horse Final Four contenders:
5 teams that are ready to shock the nation as 2025 Final Four dark horses
#1. Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State will be in the NCAA Tournament picture as long as coach Tom Izzo is around. Calling the shots for the 30th season, Izzo is expected to bring his coaching brilliance to guide the Spartans to another Final Four run this season.
The team will have most of its 2023-24 roster returning for another year and two collegiate standouts acquired from the transfer portal in seven-footer Szymon Zapala and former Omaha forward Frankie Fidler.
#2. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers became serious recruiters in the offseason, getting five players from the transfer portal, including seven-footer Oumar Ballo and sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle.
Mike Woodson and his coaching staff secured the services of five-star small forward Bryson Tucker.
The team remains solid, with three of last season's top four scorers — Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako and team captain Trey Galloway — returning for another season.
The Hoosiers are considered a dark horse team in the Big Ten Conference as they bring in a deep lineup good enough to make a run for the Final Four this year.
#3. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee enters the season as one of the dark horse teams that could surprise the expanded SEC and possibly the NCAA Tournament.
The Rick Barnes-coached team will be without Dalton Knecht and Jonas Aidoo but they're replaced by transfer small forward Darlinstone Dubar and centers Igor Milicic Jr and Felix Okpara.
The Volunteers will also bring freshman combo guard Bishop Boswell and transfer shooting guard Chaz Lanier to the roster to combine forces with returning point guard Zakai Zeigler.
#4. Creighton Bluejays
The Creighton Bluejays will have two of their top four scorers — Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth — returning for another season as they look to settle some unfinished business on the hardcourt.
The Bluejays reached the Sweet 16 last season and are looking to surpass the achievement by aiming for a Final Four spot this season.
The team has strengthened its backcourt with Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs and freshmen shooting guards Larry Johnson and Ty Davis. Kalkbrenner will also have frontcourt help from Jackson McAndrew, a four-star recruit from Wayzata High School in Minnesota.
#5. Auburn Tigers
Three of Auburn's top point producers are returning to help 11th-year coach Bruce Pearl qualify for the Final Four one year after suffering a first-round upset to Yale.
The last time the Auburn Tigers qualified for the Final Four was in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, as they outplayed New Mexico State, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky before losing to Virginia by one point.
Top scorer Johni Broome returns to the Tigers' lineup this coming season, alongside Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones.
Auburn added transfer portal acquisitions JP Pegues, Ja'Heim Hudson and Miles Kelly to the lineup, which is expected to contend in the stacked SEC in the 2024-25 college basketball season.