So it’s March, and all your sports fanatic friends are getting excited? Why?
Midterms? No.
Spring break? Maybe.
The NCAA Tournament? Definitely.
Then you are sitting there, clueless and wondering why in the world these people are so excited because you don’t give a hoot about basketball at all. But, part of you wants to give a hoot. You want to get in on the excitement. You just don’t know how.
Worry no longer, as I’ll give all you all the information you’ll need to know in order to enjoy the March Madness like you were a fan all along! Here are six very basic questions you will no longer have to ask when trying to keep up with the madness.
1.“Soooooo…What is this exactly?”
The NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, is the annual tournament where 68 division one schools from around the country compete to be crowned the national champion of college basketball. There are four “play-in” games to get the tournament field to 64 and then the number of teams is cut in half round by round until there is one champion.
2.“How did these teams get here?”
Don’t even bother asking this question. The only answer you will receive will be a very complicated one on how each team got there in a different way. Just know that every team worked hard and earned the right to play for college basketball’s top prize!
3. “What is this bracket game everyone plays?”
The brackets are the iconic image of March Madness. It’s hard to find someone, basketball fan or not, that hasn’t filled out a bracket. Every year people across the country join a pool, fill out a bracket, and try to take home a boatload of cash from their friends. They pick every single game all the way from the first round to the national championship, and typically, whoever picks the most games right wins the pool. It’s an aspect of March Madness that makes it so exciting. It makes a person care about every single game and gives them a reason to cheer for other schools besides their own.
4.“Why isn’t my school playing anymore?” or “So are they done?”
The tournament is a single elimination tournament. So, when a team loses, they are out. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. It’s do or die for every game.
5.“What is the Final Four?”
The Final Four is exactly what you’d guess it is. It is the final four teams in the tournament. The Final Four isn’t necessarily the four best teams in the tournament; it is just the four teams who have been playing the best. The Final Four is usually held in a major U.S. city with a large stadium. This year it’s at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, and is practically the Super Bowl of college sports. Final Four tickets are usually in such high demand that they can fill an entire football stadium of people.
6.“So, now that I know the basics of the tournament, who should I pick in my bracket to win?”
The five best schools in the country right now look to Florida, Wichita State, Arizona, Louisville, and Duke. Your best bet is to go with Florida, but your friends will probably think you are just taking the easy way out and picking the best team. So, if you really want to impress your friends, pick Louisville to repeat as champions!
So, now you are set. You no longer have to look dumb in front of your sport-loving friends as their eyes are glued to the television set for days at a time watching student-athletes play basketball. You are very welcome!