The Magic Of March Madness | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

The Magic Of March Madness

What makes the NCAA tournament especially memorable

8
The Magic Of March Madness
New York Times and Getty Images

The men's college basketball regular season is done. Conference Tournaments have come and gone. Selection Sunday is now over. It can all only mean one thing. The arrival of March Madness! In my opinion, there is no other greater postseason in either professional or collegiate sports today. Certainly, the Hunt for October in MLB comes close, and the NHL Playoffs will usually live up to the hype. Perhaps the Champions League can create a similar feeling, but it is not quite a postseason and stretches itself out for many months, as compared to the NCAA Tournament’s quick, sudden turnaround. And while the Super Bowl holds a special place in American pop culture today, each preceding game does not carry the same emotion or drama that the early games of the NCAA Tournament maintain.

I can still vividly today recall some of my early memories of March Madness.

I remember, my beloved UMD Terrapins were playing in one of the early games on a school day, and so in my gym class, we were given a free day. Those that wanted to watch the game could do so while others were free to do as they pleased.

I remember years upon years of filling out brackets, trying to pick the best potential upsets, all the while being wholly optimistic with my choice for champion. No feeling quite matches having your bracket busted with a major upset, nor the elation emanating from when you pick an upset that nobody else saw coming.


I remember reenacting crazy buzzer beaters with friends, trying to see who could pull off the hand-in-your-face fadeaway three-point shot from the corner with time expiring.


And of course, I remember watching game after game, not growing tired of basketball, but yearning for more and more of it.

March Madness is one of the most special times in the sports year, and there are so many reasons why it deserves the credit it receives. By some standards, the postseason should always be regarded with high esteem, but the NCAA Tournament’s legacy runs deeper than that.

Firstly, as March Madness gets under way, a viewer will find that games are on constantly, and on multiple different television channels. Every game gets televised, followed on some social media platform, connected via a March Madness specific app, or streamed live on the internet. The media coverage surrounding the event is incredible. Furthermore, every game matters; a loss means that a team is out, and make no mistake, the players are giving it their all on the court. With the caliber of the teams involved, only a few mistakes could cost a team the game. No team is safe.

Secondly, March Madness gives fans some of the greatest storylines to follow. From the moment that teams are seeded, fans begin to cast teams as heroes and villains – if they were not so already. Dynasties are often cast in the latter role, as schools like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, UNC are often jeered by the general fan populace.

However, beyond this, March Madness presents an opportunity to see teams grow, especially after repeated runs to the Tourney, such as Wichita State. Sometimes, as fans, we are fortunate enough to see a team of senior veterans go deep into the tournament. Or other times, a freshman sensation rocks the tournament, or a rising star leaves his mark.


Sometimes, even, a storyline will become a tale of legend. Take for instance Stephen Curry’s run with Davidson back in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. His role helped catapult him to a high draft pick in the NBA Draft. Eight years later, he has won both the NBA MVP Award and a championship and is considered one of the greatest players in the league.


Or, look at Florida Gulf Coast’s run in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. They became the first 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen in March Madness history. Their legacy in the historic run is cemented with the moniker, “Dunk City.”


Thirdly, no NCAA Tournament is left without its epic video montage set to “One Shining Moment,” by David Barrett. The song itself has a great history, but it is used as the backdrop every year for each NCAA Tournament.

Lastly, but most importantly, are the historic upsets that come each and every year. They are almost always fun to see, except when it is your team on the receiving end. In the NCAA Tournament, an underdog can thrive. Mismatches, experience, luck -- there are many reasons for upsets. Either way, they are one of the biggest reasons that March Madness is “mad.”


March Madness is one of the best moments in the sports year. Situated in the lull after the Super Bowl, but before the NBA and NHL Playoffs take off, as well as the start of baseball season, the NCAA Tournament takes the sports world by storm every year. It is an absolutely special moment every year around, and it never ceases to disappoint. It starts with a large 68 teams, and then it dwindles down until there is only one -- the national champion. March Madness, here we come.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Vivien Leigh
Revelist

I've lived a whole 21 years with an RBF (Resting Bitch Face), so naturally, I go through most of these struggles on a daily basis.

And before you ask, yes I'm fine. No, I'm not mad. This is just my face, so take it or leave it! To those of you who have been #blessed with an RBF, you'll probably relate to these more than you'd like to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774497
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

A Candid Letter to My Best Friends Ex

Because this is the real form of torture you deserve.

226
middle finger
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

What's up Asshat,

I've composed a list of things that I wish upon you, and they're harsh and cruel. These things are things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst of enemies, not even that Starbuck's barista who always screws up my order, not even him. You fall into a whole other category of hate. You surpass Starbucks barista. Congratulations, I'm actually a pretty nice person, making you worthy of every single bit of torture I wish upon you. What are these things I wish upon you you might ask?

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

College Life: As Told By Bob's Burgers

If there's anyone who understand the struggles of college, it's the Belcher family

909
Bob's Burgers

College is a time of gaining independence, exploring new things, and copious amounts of Netflix. If you're like me, you often find yourself laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the situations you find yourself in. Here are ten times Bob's Burgers accurately captured college life.

1. What you're pretty sure your upstairs neighbors do at 3am every morning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Why Theater Kids Are the Greatest People Ever

Supportive and spontaneous human beings are the best.

680
Theater Kids

Throughout school, the theater department has always been my go-to place with go-to people when I need advice, a dance party, or just someone to listen to me vent.

You never know what's going to happen when you're dealing with theatre or what kind of characters you'll encounter. We have too much fun doing anything! One time in my senior year acting class, we spent an entire class period watching Bob's Burgers, and it was the greatest class period ever.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments