The Men's 2025 March Madness Pain Index

[Travelman6]

Pain Index: Who between Duke, Houston, had most painful tournament loss?

Some losses are understandable; others will haunt us forever. Let's rank every 2025 men's NCAA tournament defeat, from least to most devastating.

www.espn.com

Ain't that the truth?

• ... What just happened?! Reserved for the most painful finishes.

What just happened?!​

2. UConn Huskies (8-seed, West)
How they lost: 77-75 to 1-seed Florida in the round of 32
Peak win probability: 77% with 9:05 left in second half, leading by 6


The two-time defending national champion Huskies understood the assignment. Take care of the ball, defend, make a few key shots late. They raced to a six-point lead out of the half and led for the next 17 minutes. The dream for a three-peat was alive and well, and the top-seeded Gators -- picked to win it all in 21% of Tournament Challenge brackets, the second most of any team -- looked uneasy for most of the game. Brackets were about to be in shambles. And then a switch flipped. UConn went scoreless for nearly two minutes, Florida went on an 8-0 run sparked by multiple offensive rebounds off missed free throws and, just like that, the dream is dead.

 

[AdamaNation]

Too bad for us. But an awesome article.

 

[bendm]

huh? we were an 8 and lost to a 1. SJU was a 2 and lost to a 10...sounds like the article was written by a bitter Cuse fan.

 

[TroyHall98]

huh? we were an 8 and lost to a 1. SJU was a 2 and lost to a 10...sounds like the article was written by a bitter Cuse fan.

Or a band wagon St John’s fan.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

huh? we were an 8 and lost to a 1. SJU was a 2 and lost to a 10...sounds like the article was written by a bitter Cuse fan.

I doubt Syracuse fans are watching the tournament or remember that it exists.

 

[mike012]

I think it implies we should have won. Then painfully lost it in the last 2 minutes. We did have a 77% peak win probability with 9 minutes to go. St John’s looked like crap most of that game.

 

[JB75]

Like I said. To be up the entire second half and lose like we did was sickening