It’s that time of year again — March Madness, the annual college basketball tournament, is in full swing. This tournament has become a cornerstone of American sports culture, dating back to 1939 when the first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s basketball tournament featured just eight teams.
Brackets were introduced in 1977, according to the “Smithsonian,” when 88 people in a Staten Island bar filled out brackets and competed against each other. Since then, the March Madness bracket has become a staple of the tournament, with millions of fans attempting to create the elusive perfect bracket.
Over the decades, the tournament has expanded, reaching its current format of 68 teams in 2011. The term “March Madness” was first coined by Henry Porter in 1939 to describe the excitement of Illinois high school basketball tournaments. It wasn’t until the 1980s that CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger popularized the term in connection with the NCAA tournament.
Wade Neely (11) has created his bracket, despite his favorite team not making it to the tournament.
“I am hoping Clemson will come out on top now that Furman has lost to Wofford. I think that March Madness is a very fun event that is exciting, especially when unexpected teams beat better ones,” Neely said.
There has never been a perfect bracket in the history of March Madness. The odds of creating one are 1 in 9.2 quintillion — a 9 followed by 18 zeros. To put that into perspective, it’s statistically more likely to win the Powerball jackpot than to craft a perfect bracket. According to “USA Today,” even if every person on Earth filled out 100 brackets, it would take 13 million years for a perfect bracket to emerge.
The unpredictability and “madness” of the tournament keep viewers captivated. Underdog teams, often called “Cinderella stories,” frequently knock out higher-ranked opponents, capturing the spotlight. This element of surprise is a key reason why March Madness consistently draws high viewership, averaging around 14 million viewers in recent years. Many fans choose dominant teams like Duke to win the tournament, but Cinderella stories remain a constant source of excitement.
This year has already delivered its share of surprises. No. 12 seed McNeese defeated the higher-ranked and more popular No. 5 seed Clemson, exemplifying the unpredictable nature of the tournament. Upsets like this are part of what makes March Madness so captivating.
John Hammond (12) said he is excited to watch March Madness and follow his favorite teams.
“Well, my bracket ended pretty quickly when Clemson lost. Duke is the only team I have left competing at this point, so I am pulling for them,” Hammond said.
According to “Investopedia,” the NCAA generates around $1.38 billion in annual revenue, with March Madness contributing a significant portion of that figure. The combination of buzzer-beaters, Cinderella stories and intense competition ensures that the tournament remains one of the most beloved events in American sports.
Ethan Braun (12) said he is optimistic about his bracket’s chances this year.
“I think that my bracket for this March Madness will be perfect this season. It’s been a very predictable year, and I hope that Michigan wins,” Braun said.
