Top 5 teams outside Power 4 Conferences best poised to make the Sweet 16 ft. Mark Few’s Gonzaga
The Power 4 Conferences dominated the NCAA Tournament over the last four years with Big 12 teams Baylor and Kansas winning the national titles in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
It was previously the Power 5 but the Pac-12 was left with two teams (Washington State and Oregon State) in the 2024-25 college basketball season, following the transfer of previous mainstays to the four major conferences – the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC.
Some teams qualified for the Sweet 16 despite being outside the Power 4 circle. They received a big following due to their Cinderella runs. Teams like Gonzaga, San Diego State, Loyola Chicago, Oral Roberts, Saint Peter's, Princeton and Florida Atlantic have tickled our minds to root for them as they were the so-called "outsiders" in the Power 4-ruled NCAA Tournament.
Some have progressed through the Final Four and even gave Power 4 Conference-member teams a tough fight in national championship games. This coming season is no different with programs outside the Power 4 strengthening their rosters during the offseason for a possible run at the Sweet 16.
Here are some teams outside the Power 4 who are poised to make a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament (as per CBS Sports).
Top 5 teams outside Power 4 Conferences best poised to make Sweet 16
#5. Saint Mary's Gaels
Experts were counting out Saint Mary's this season following the transfer of Aidan Mahaney to UConn. Well, they're wrong.
The Gaels remain a strong team in the WCC with Augustas Marciulionis and Mitchell Saxen expected to lead the charge. The 6-4 Marciulionis, who tallied 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game last season, is bound for another superb season for Saint Mary's, possibly reaching the 15-points and seven-assists region this year.
Saxen, on the other hand, will be Marciulionis' partner in crime this season. The 6-foot-9 forward has been excellent from the field, making 54.4% of his shots to go along with 11.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.3 bpg.
#4. Dayton Flyers
The Dayton Flyers are expected to dominate in the Atlantic 10 Conference in the 2024-25 college basketball season despite the departures of DaRon Holmes II (NBA) and Koby Brea (transferred to Kentucky). Anthony Grant's men, however, aren't backing down, as the Flyers still boast of a formidable squad that could contend in the A-10.
Preseason All-Atlantic-10 First Teamer Nate Santos will lead Dayton's charge for the coming season. Santos will be backed up by Posh Alexander, Enoch Cheeks and Jason Bennett. The return of Malachi Smith from injury meant that the Flyers are promising and are knocking at a possible Sweet 16 appearance in March Madness.
#3. Memphis Tigers
Memphis is back on the Sweet 16 talk after a year of chaos that affected Penny Hardaway's campaign. Hardaway parades what is arguably his best team in his coaching tenure with Texas transfer Tyrese Hunter and PJ Haggerty forming an explosive guard duo that could make the American Athletic Conference gasp for breath.
Moussa Cisse, Dain Dainja and freshman guard Jared Harris are expected to back up Hunter and Haggerty with solid production for Memphis, which seeks to barge into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009.
#2. Boise State Broncos
The NCAA Tournament won't be exciting without a representative from the Mountain West Conference. Over the past two seasons, San Diego State has provided a glimpse of how the MWC is made of, making the national championship final in 2023 and the Sweet 16 the following year.
But this time, Boise State looks to duplicate or surpass San Diego State's run with main gunner Tyson Degenhart leading the Broncos' charge and San Jose State transfer Alvaro Cardenas setting him up. O'Mar Stanley, who averaged 12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 1.2 bpg, will provide stability in the paint for the Leon Rice-mentored team in the 2024-25 college basketball season.
#1. Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been the epitome of consistency in the nation, making nine Sweet 16 appearances since 2015. Experts are already penciling another Sweet 16 return for Mark Few's men, with Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard teaming up for a Final Four or bust bid in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Past Ike and Nembhard, there are still two players who can hurt opponents in the Zags lineup – Michael Ajayi and Nolan Hickman. The 6-foot-7 Ajayi is coming off an excellent freshman season with Pepperdine, averaging 17.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg and 1.9 apg. Hickman, on the other hand, looks set to provide an encore performance after his breakout 2023-24 season where he tallied 14.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.7 apg.
Are there any other teams outside the Power 4 Conferences that are expected to have a Sweet 16 run in the 2025 NCAA Tournament? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.