There’s a special type of person who considers March one of the best months of the year. And that person, is a college basketball fan. What’s so great about March you might say? No it’s not Saint Patrick’s day, and it’s definitely not the bipolar weather, but it is March Madness.

Starting on selection Sunday (a holy day), one of the best times of the year moves into motion. 68 lucky teams are chosen to participate in the one and only NCAA basketball tournament. The tournament spans throughout the entire month and leaves one team a national champion. I can’t imagine too many greater feelings.

As a huge college basketball fan, this is obviously something I anticipate every year. I grew up loving college basketball and watching every selection Sunday with my family. But as a huge college basketball fan of a team who has been on the cusp two years in a row, it is also something that really stresses me out. Syracuse is know for a lot of things, such as their mall, and the amount of snow they get, and usually their college basketball. Basketball is not something us Syracusan’s take lightly and any fan can tell you each season is undoubtedly a roller coaster and a half. Trust me, you can ask anyone.

Syracuse was unfortunately, and unfairly, left out of the tournament last year. They had HUGE wins against Florida State, Virginia, and even Duke, yet they still couldn’t seal the deal. I remember actually crying when they weren’t chosen on selection Sunday. Literally in tears.

The year before that, they weren’t excepted to make the tournament, but then made it all the way to the final four. Syracuse is not a team that disappoints and if given the same opportunity again, they would leave a lot of people in shock.

I must admit, this 2017-2018 season has been a rough one. They’ve had bright moments, like beating Miami, Louisville, and Clemson, but they’ve also had some slightly pathetic ones. Losing to Boston College is never a good time. Being “on the bubble” is Syracuse’s forte and only time will tell what happens. The anxiety is crippling sitting through each division and I’d totally prefer not to cry again this year.

I speak on behalf of every Syracuse fan, we desperately hope March 11th brings us a new and exciting fate. A chance to prove a lot of haters wrong.

March madness can still be fun to watch, even if your favorite team doesn’t make the cut. I’m just hoping Syracuse either pulls through, or I make a perfect bracket and win some money. Either way, this month is bound to be a wild one. It always is.