Louisville Cardinals celebrate their victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the 2013 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Cardinals won in a six point de fases 76-82. Revenging the gruesome injury of their team mate Kevin Ware in the elite eight. Photo courtesy of darkroom.baltimore.com
By OWEN CHURCHWELL – Staff Writer
Every year in March, the madness of men’s NCAA basketball tournament kicks off. The 64 team tournament makes every March a month to look forward to.
64 of the top-ranked college basketball teams compete for a chance to win the men’s tournament. The tournament promises many fan upsets, buzzer beaters and slim possibilities of bringing home the trophy. For this reason, the tournament has been commonly referred to as March Madness.
This year’s tournament consists of 18 days full of twists and turns. Within the first two days, 32 games will be played–and 32 teams will be eliminated. Just like that, half of the competing teams will be eliminated.
2015’s tournament has already proved to have plenty of surprises in store: in just the first day, Iowa State University, which is third-ranked in the Southern region, lost to 14th ranked University of Alabama-Birmingham, and third ranked in the west Baylor University lost in a buzzer-beater to 14th-ranked Georgia State University, proving just how unpredictable this tournament can really be.
Every year, there are many underdogs that win which causes never ending upsets by fans. No other sport is able to promise the unpredictability that comes with March Madness.
“The pressure and emotion involved in the high-prestige, single-elimination tournament produce some head-scratching but intriguing results, especially when a little-known school knocks off a powerhouse,” Jake Curtis said for Bleacher Report.
In March Madness, there really is no underdog. With NCAA basketball there is always that possibility that a team ranked 15th in their region might upset and beat the number one region team.
For the first few days, the tournament practically provides nonstop basketball. That is what makes this tournament so special. No other sport is able to gives fans so much excitement in such a small time length.
