March Madness Preview
With the start of each conference’s tournament, the Final dance draws closer and closer. Every year, millions tune in to watch the March Madness tournament. This tournament is known for its crazy upsets and cinderella stories that wow and excite fans every year. We have gotten some unforgettable basketball moments from this tournament, like Chris Jenkins’ buzzer beater over UNC for the championship, and Steph Curry’s masterclass against Wisconsin. The tournament, which takes place in March and April, features 68 college basketball teams from around the country competing for the national title. It is not just the games that make March Madness so special, it is the fans and the passion for the game.
This year of college basketball has been one of the best in a while. From the freshman phenom, Cooper Flagg, dismantling opponents to Auburn’s domination all season long this season has proved to be one for the history book. The story of the year however is the juggernaut of a conference that the SEC was this year. The SEC had numerous teams ranked inside the 25 almost the whole season, and had the best team in college basketball, Auburn. However, do not count out teams from outside the SEC, Duke and St. John’s, both historic powerhouses, have top teams this year. I expect a deep run from both of these teams come the tournament.
Every year, a lower seeded team goes on an improbable run, beating out better, more talented teams to advance to the next round. These are the cinderella’s of the tournament and they are what make it so special. People love the format of the tournament so much, because it allows so many teams a chance to win. This results in some smaller schools winning big games against college basketball giants. Like when Saint Peters, a 15 seed, beat Kentucky in the first round and were able to advance all the way to the Elite Eight. These stories set March Madness apart from anything else in the sports world.
Where to watch
Watching March Madness is one of the most storied traditions in sports. Some people go all out, buying extra TVs so they can watch multiple games at once. Fortunately for college basketball fans, the NCAA streams the tournament for free on their website. So no matter where you are from, you can watch the games. This is extremely different from the NBA where you have to have some type of subscription service to watch the games. This is what makes college basketball so much different to the NBA, is available to everyone, and because of that, the passion and energy are just so much more real and intense.
March Madness is more than just a tournament. It is a cultural icon that unites sports fans from across the country to stand behind some teams that they have never heard of. Every year, billionaire, Warren Buffet, offers $1 billion dollars to anyone who fills out a perfect bracket. This shows just how much it means for the fans of this tournament. Even though the odds are very much not in your favor, the idea of creating a perfect bracket has enticed sports fans for decades.
The unpredictability of March Madness sets fans on edge and provides lifelong memories. This tournament is a time where athletes can shine while fans watch in awe as they compete at one of the highest levels in their sport.
