March is well known as one of the greatest months of the year. Saint Patricks Day, The Ides of March, Easter, and Spring Break all occur in this month, yet all are overshadowed by the greatest creation of man, March Madness. The NCAA’s Basketball Championship tournament is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining few weeks during the year, as we progress from winter to spring by cheering on our favorite teams, rooting for upsets, and pulling for whoever plays against Duke. Selection Sunday is March 13, and following that the madness ensues. As always, there will be two days to fill out your predictions and take your shot at instant fame. Public pools, ESPN tournament challenge, and many more will be destroyed by the madness that is to be this tournament.

Every March Madness contains its upsets and cinderella teams, but in a season as wild and open as this, it is hard to predict who the true top teams are. Six different teams have sat atop the AP Top 25 already this year, one of the highest numbers in recent history. In addition to the rotating lazy Susan of top teams, the Top 25 teams have lost over 80 times already this year, leaving the title for the taking. ESPN’s head Bracketologist Joe Lunardy’s current number one seeds are Kansas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Villanova, yet all have suffered multiple losses this year, many to unranked teams. The conference tournaments are sure to help separate the fields as always, but many dark horses can emerge as well, similar to how UCONN has been able to streakily win their way to two national championships in four years. Indiana is currently on a roll and looks hotter than ever before this season, lead by senior guard Yogi Ferrell. Indiana has bounced back from the early season injury-caused loss of the leading scorer James Blackmon Jr to clinching a share of the Big 10 regular season last night with a win over Iowa, in one of the most dangerous states to play. If the Hoosiers can win their way to an automatic bid via the Big 10 Title, they will be poised and ready for whatever path they need to take to the Final Four in Houston.

Predicted two-seeds such as Miami, Xavier, Michigan State, and Oklahoma have also proven to be high-powered teams that will look to make deep runs in the tourney. Oklahoma and Michigan State are lead by high volume scoring seniors Buddy Hield and Denzel Valentine who want to end their Wooden Award candidate seasons with trips to the ‘ship. Miami, Xavier, and Oregon have all emerged from their respective conferences with wins over high-ranked teams, despite suffering high-volume losses to teams. The mid-ranked teams can’t be counted out either, as the young backcourt of Kentucky coupled with John Calipari are always on the prowl to extend their legacy. If LSU makes the tournament Ben Simmons could be able to prove he is capable of single-handedly willing a team to victory, further extending the possibility of a wild card team. Underdog teams include America’s favorite Monmouth, supported by their ever-entertaining bench, and predicted 7 seed Seton Hall intends to ride the scoring rampage of Isaiah Whitehead deep into the tournament this year as well.

The tournament is sure to surprise in ways that are unexpected, as it does to the faithful every year. Brackets will be far from perfect, hearts will be broken, and one fan base will celebrate with the ecstatic joy of being crowned national champion deep in the heart of Texas.