From buzzer-beaters to shocking upsets, fans never know what will happen next. This is what captivates fans around the country into watching college kids play basketball.
March Madness is the annual college basketball tournament, organized by the NCAA, where 68 men’s and women’s teams compete in a single-elimination bracket for the national title. The unpredictable nature of the tournament is what makes it one of the most popular sporting events in the United States.
According to ESPN, 26.6 million basketball fans filled out brackets this year. People cheer for underdogs and watch the chaos unfold during the tournament.
This year has been no different, with dramatic comebacks, buzzer-beaters and surprising upsets capturing fans’ attention across the country. For sophomore Athens Phillips, the tournament’s unpredictability is what makes it exciting.
“It’s 68 teams competing to win it, and you don’t know what the hell’s about to happen,” Phillips said.
Phillips originally chose Duke, one of the colleges that is best known for its basketball program, to win the tournament. But after a dramatic buzzer-beater moment in one of their games, he changed his prediction.
“Duke tried a long pass, and it got blocked, and they hit a game-winner from half-court,” he said, explaining why he now believes UConn will take the championship.
The dramatic finish between Duke and UConn highlighted the unpredictable excitement that defines March Madness.
Freshman Alexander Schoellman supported the favorites of the tournament, the University of Connecticut, since the start.
“I want UConn to go all the way,” Schoellman said, explaining the Huskies were his pick because “[they’ve been] good all year, and they just beat Duke.”
Even though predictions vary, the excitement of watching the future stars of the country battle it out is what keeps Scholleman entertained.
“You get to see the best recruits,” he said. “You get to see a lot of good talent play against each other.”
Games like UConn and Duke or Iowa upsetting the No. 1 Florida in the round of 32 demonstrate the tournament’s strong unpredictability. Every game carries enormous stakes. One mistake or one clutch shot can instantly change a team’s championship dreams.
With the finals set for UConn and Michigan, every fan is either hyped for the sureness of a great game or disappointed their team was eliminated by an underdog. Overall March Madness is a great way to get people excited for the new talent heading into the NBA. The unique unpredictably every year, the fact that no one is able to guess what happens next after each game, truly expresses fans’ love for basketball.
“Well [March Madness] has really been a big [event] for the culture,” junior Cedric Johnson said. “You know, it’s very unpredictable. It’s pretty much one of the [most fun] things to watch.”
