Why People Love March Madness

Why are these people spending so much time watching basketball? The games are literally on all day long. People call in "sick" to work, jump up and down, and get excited about schools that they definitely could not find on a map. Welcome to the men's college basketball tournament, which is also called March Madness or "The Big Dance." There are other major sporting events throughout the year, but for some reason this one is special. Three weekends of basketball culminate in the Final Four and the crowning of a new champion in college hoops. Here are a few reasons why people love the time of year that is truly March Madness.

Upsets

March Madness is all about upsets. Prior to the start of the tournament, the 64 teams in the single-elimination "bracket" are ranked based on their regular season records, strength of schedule, conference, and general perception about their overall ability. One might think that the higher seeded teams would always beat the lower-seeded teams. However, this is not the case and this adds to the excitement. Teams that are ranked much lower can often pull off an "upset" by beating the favorite. When this occurs, it makes the overall event all the more exciting because even the "experts" may not have seen this one coming. A Super Bowl, NBA Final, and World Series can sometimes be a bit lopsided, but March Madness always seems to have some unpredictable elements.

Lots of school

The tournament is also very fun because there are so many participants. There are large schools that are traditional sports powers with storied basketball programs. There are also smaller schools that may only be in the tournament on a rare occasion. When a small and unknown school challenges a legendary program and prevails, it gives people a sense that the underdog still can prevail over the giant. These teams often have something to prove. Not only do people get to watch basketball, but they also get to try and figure out the state where some of these schools are located.

Bragging rights

College basketball can be a participation sport, because many people enter office pools that involve picking the winners of these games. Because of the unpredictable results, people who know very little about sports may be able to do well in the office pool. This can be extremely frustrating to the avid sports fan, but it is part of what makes the tournament a good time. When someone makes a winning pick that was not anticipated, they can exuberantly shout, "I picked that game!" and treat the victory like they themselves hit the winning shot.

The bottom line...drama

Overall, the college basketball tournament is always fun because it has drama, and people of all walks of life enjoy a bit of drama sometimes. There are the previously mentioned upsets, along with star performances, last-second shots, and nail-biting finishes. Not everyone is into sports, but for those that enjoy a little hoop action, nothing beats the excitement and intrigue of March Madness.