Texas vs. Xavier: 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview & Predictions

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 16, 2025

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is officially here! The March Madness Bracket is set, and first-round NCAA Tournament matchups are in place. It’s time to make your picks and predictions for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament! We’re here to help as we’ll have picks and predictions for each of the first-round 2025 NCAA Tournament games. Here are our NCAA Tournament previews and predictions for Texas vs. Xavier.

2025 NCAA Tournament Preview & Predictions: Texas vs. Xavier

Here are the odds for this opening-round matchup of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Let’s dive into our preview and predictions for this first-round NCAA Tournament matchup.

Texas 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview

Texas entered the 2024-2025 season with a lot of promise, but the Longhorns' journey has been full of ups and downs. After a solid start, they ran into trouble in SEC play, ranking 70th over the final month and a half of play on Bart Torvik. Despite this, they've shown flashes of brilliance, especially with their high-scoring offense, led by freshman guard Tre Johnson, who has been a standout all year. Johnson's ability to score in a variety of ways has been crucial for the Longhorns, and Arthur Kaluma's experience in the frontcourt has been key in keeping the team competitive.

Offensively, Texas ranks in the top 50 in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency, led by a balanced attack. They'll get to the charity stripe and take care of the ball, but don't have the analytically friendliest of an offense, with a lot of iso ball and mid-range attempts. Their defense has been a bit of an issue, ranked just outside the top 55 in adjusted defensive efficiency. This has led to struggles, particularly in big SEC matchups where they failed to close out games defensively.

Heading into March Madness, Texas' chances for a deep run are difficult. They need to stay out of foul trouble and force opponents out of efficient looks. Their numbers are bolstered by beating struggling teams so it's hard to trust their defense to consistently show up in these games against superior opponents.

Xavier 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview

Despite a 1-9 Quad I record, Xavier snuck into the NCAA Tournament and is primed as a sleeper team to surprise in March. Zach Freemantle is healthy and is one of the most important players for a team's success in the tournament. His true shooting percentage was 10th in the Big East, and he's capable of scoring at all levels as a shifty center who can find the open man. Ryan Conwell is the other leading scorer, shooting nearly 41 percent from deep.

It took a bit for Xavier to find its groove but they finished the year strong, ranking 18th overall with a 7-1 record over their final eight games, ranking top-30 in offense and defensive efficiency. Their perimeter shooting as a whole is a top-10 clip in the nation and they manufacture attempts with a high free throw rate and low turnover percentage. Their top-eight free throw percentage also plays well for what might end up being close, late games. Defensively, they rank well with shot volume as well, allowing few second chance looks without fouling.

What's tough to tell is how they'll play when facing increased competition. Their non-conference wins over Wake forest and South Carolina didn't age well and they rank 260th away from home. Nothing they do is exactly elite but they are an all-around team that won't beat itself.

Check out all of our 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket & Betting Coverage >>

2025 NCAA Tournament Game Previews

March Madness is officially here! The 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket has been announced, and the teams are lining up for the Big Dance. Let's take a look at the early odds, previews, and predictions for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

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