March Madness is the annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament that takes place each March. It features 68 college teams competing in a single-elimination tournament to determine who will be crowned national champions. The tournament has become popular worldwide and draws millions of viewers every year, making it one of the most widely watched sporting events in the world.
The madness begins with Selection Sunday when all 68 teams are announced for inclusion into what’s known as “the Big Dance". This event marks the beginning of three weeks filled with nonstop action featuring buzzer beaters, Cinderella stories and bracket busting upsets as teams compete for a spot in Final Four Weekend where the National Champion will be determined from eight remaining contenders.
In addition to its dramatic outcome, part of what makes March Madness such an exciting event is its unique format compared to other major collegiate sports tournaments like football or baseball playoffs – teams aren't chosen strictly based on their regular season record but rather through rankings established by selection committees made up by experts appointed by conferences affiliated with NCAA Basketball programs throughout America. This group of experts then grades each team according to criteria including strength and quality of opponents faced during season play (conference and out-of conference) plus individual player performance stats alongside coaching ability/expertise among other factors that help to decide which successful applicants will be granted entry into this highly competitive athletic competition. March Madness has seen many storied rivalries, spawned traditional powerhouse match ups through the decades, and even earned spots across ESPN "Greatest Games" lists while propelling some players onto professional levels after receiving All American honors for their exceptional performances.
March Madness, the annual college basketball tournament that captivates millions of sports fans around the world every year, has a long and storied history. The tournament began in 1939 with eight teams vying for an NCAA championship trophy. But who started March Madness?
The answer to this question is simple: Dr. Harold "Bud" Foster Jr., then-director of athletics at Butler University in Indiana. In 1938, Foster had read about a similar statewide high school basketball competition taking place in Illinois called the “Sweet Sixteen” – so he decided to create his own version at Butler using existing collegiate teams from different conferences nationwide as entrants into what he named “The National Invitational Tournament".
Foster was also responsible for introducing seeding methods during the selection process which ensured fairness among all participating schools – no matter their size or background – something nobody else had done before him. He even recommended expanding it beyond just 8 schools – ultimately leading up to today's 68 team format (now referred too widely as 'the Big Dance'). This expansion proved hugely successful; by 1951 almost 60 universities were represented annually!
With its now iconic single elimination format and media coverage through ESPN and CBS Sports Network broadcasts – not only was there greater recognition but more importantly escalated interest among both alumni and fan bases throughout the nation. These boosted fan numbers served to generate larger than ever revenue streams while unifying people together behind their favorite alma maters in the pursuit of ultimate glory. March Madness has truly became an institution synonymous with passion, intensity, joy and sorrows across many university campuses within the United States over the last 80+ years.
Whether you follow college hoops religiously or just enjoy watching occasionally come the end of springtime there's sure something special about witnessing the excitement surrounding the spectacle known globally today even if you’re not directly involved. So, embrace the chaos kicking off mid month as everyone eagerly anticipates crowning the next champion amongst the field of talented competitors ready to give fans everywhere a thrilling experience!
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