Pack Insider · Oct 27, 2025
ESPN Ranks NC State’s March Madness Potential
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello ranked 80 teams’ March Madness potential heading into the 2025-26 Men’s Basketball season into 10 tiers. They put NC State in Tier IV: Can Win a Tournament Game. Here’s a breakdown of the 10 tiers.
Tier I: National championship favorites
Purdue Boilermakers
Florida Gators
Houston Cougars
UConn Huskies
Tier II: Final Four contenders
BYU Cougars
St. John’s Red Storm
Louisville Cardinals
Michigan Wolverines
Duke Blue Devils
Kentucky Wildcats
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Arkansas Razorbacks
Tier III: Second-weekend threats
Arizona Wildcats
Illinois Fighting Illini
UCLA Bruins
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Alabama Crimson Tide
Iowa State Cyclones
Auburn Tigers
Wisconsin Badgers
Tennessee Volunteers