March Madness

By: Jada Cooper & Lucy Daley

March is finally here! And you know what that means, March MADNESS!! That one special time of the year when college basketball fans come together to watch and predict winners of one of the most intense basketball competitions in the country. So what is March Madness, exactly?
March Madness was created in 1939 by the National Association of Basketball and came from the idea that Ohio State University coach thought of.
March Madness a country wide competition for NCAA colleges to compete against one another to gain the title of champion. March Madness is a single elimination competition, with 68 teams competing in the madness. The first round, second round with 32 teams, then the "Sweet Sixteen" round, followed by the "Elite Eight" round. The final round before the championships is "Final Four" which, you guessed it, includes 4 teams. After that, the winners will advance to the Championship to compete to be crowned champion.
Now, you might be wondering why this competition is such a big deal. Well, for most, this is the biggest time of the year for bracket and bets!
Bracket making is practically an art for most diehard NCAA fans. There are even countrywide contest with a prize of a million dollars every year for the rest of your life for anyone who creates a perfect bracket. Now, remember, no one has EVER had a perfect bracket. Last year, the best bracket had 10 games wrong. It's harder than it seems, with odds of 1 in nine quintillion!
Even if you aren't into the whole perfect bracket making thing, it's still tons of fun to do with family or a small group of friends. At the beginning of the season, have everyone donate $10 and create a bracket, and then give the money to whoever gets guesses closest at the end of the season.
Or, just place bets on specific games that include your favorite teams. It's a good way to show support and improve your basketball skills.
As you can see, March Madness can be TONS of fun. Even if you aren't into basketball, make this the year you get mad for March Madness!!