If you are a true basketball fan your eyes are probably about to fall out of your head because you spent the last four days glued to your couch watching the madness that is March. The March Madness tournament is the greatest couple of weeks in all of sports, 67 games over 3 weeks where anything can happen. Everything about the tournament makes it special but here are the best parts.
1. The first big upset
In the days leading up to the start of the tournament, everyone builds up their confidence in their bracket and by that time you are sure you picked the winner correctly. It seems every year there is a major contender that goes down in the first 6 hours of games. It is not usually the favorite but there is nothing better than looking around a crowded lecture hall after this upset, at least one person just lost their national champion and their bracket pool. This is the upset that sets off the madness, gets the juices flowing.
2. When the favorite falls
The odds-on favorite to win the tournament only wins it all 12% of the time. This basically means 9 times out of 10 the favorite goes down and there is nothing sweeter. First of all, no one likes the favorite, the expected outcome is boring, it's not what March is about. Secondly, everyone in your bracket pool that does not follow college basketball and just picked all the favorites are out. There is nothing worse than losing to the kid that doesn’t watch a second of the tournament so it is always great to see the favorite fall.
3. The mid-major cinderellas
March Madness showcases every team in the nation but it brings the Mid-Majors or non-power conference teams into the spotlight. Throughout the season it is mainly the blue-chip programs that get to play on national television. These big names teams are entertaining but there is a clear difference in heart between the two. The Mid-Majors are almost always led by seniors who are not going to the NBA as opposed to a team full of freshman set to go in the first round of the draft. These seniors are playing for their careers, they are all phenomenal players to even reach the level they are at but for these men its win or go home forever.
4. The Buzzer Beaters
There is not really much to explain here. If you have ever watched a game-winning buzzer beater you know nothing compares, its what we all dream of on the playground as kids and when it comes true it is absolutely magical.
5. The National Title Game
The National Title Game, along with the Super Bowl are the two biggest single-game championships and third place isn't close. The National Title Game is another aspect of the madness that makes March Magical. Unlike professional basketball, the single-game elimination nature of the bracket favors the toughest team as opposed to the best team. This tournament is an exhausting last man standing 3 weeks and the work these men put on is clear in the Final. The intensity of this game is unmatched by any NBA game, there is a huge difference between playing for your school and playing for money. These men pour their hearts into the game and it makes for fantastic basketball games.
