March Madness has evolved from team-focused Cinderella stories to individual player narratives, as traditional underdog runs become increasingly rare. The 2025 NCAA Tournament was described as one of the "chalkiest" of all time, featuring only the second Final Four in history with four No. 1 seeds.
Several factors have contributed to this shift away from mid-major upsets. The transfer portal has accelerated player movement between schools, while name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules allowing financial compensation have fundamentally reshaped college basketball's competitive landscape. These changes have created explosive markets for top players.