Meanwhile, we can’t stand the thought that North Texas could beat Purdue, because that was NOT the annual 4/13 upset we chose! (Now I’m rethinking my strategy…) Somehow, because we clicked a particular button on ESPN or CBS, we are actively rooting against Virginia because we picked the Ohio Bobcats for the upset. And tune in we do, because, despite the fact there is zero reason to be invested in a given game, we are, in fact, actively invested in every given game - because of our brackets. There’s also something about the nature of basketball, too. While there’s often criticism of, say, the CFP, for not bringing in every Power Five conference champion or non-Power Five Cinderella, there’s little doubt that, year in and year out, the nation’s best team is somewhere in the field of 68. It’s the most balanced tournament in sports, because it actually allows every possible title contender to compete.
Sure, a lot of thought goes into the perceived snubs of the “first four out,” but every team in the tournament has a reason to be there. What makes the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament so much better than literally every other sporting event out there?īesides all the reasons above, there is something cool about the inclusivity of it. Better than the College Football Playoff (yes, even when Ohio State is in it). What’s better than four days of 64 teams (68 if you count the play in + bonus day) getting whittled down to 16? What’s more Cinderella than a pair of glass slippers? What’s more inspiring than watching the underdog win - repeatedly? What’s greater than the mascots, pageantry and Sister Jean? What do you love more than the brackets, pretending you know anything about the matchup between Utah State and Colgate (yes, it’s my round of 32 pick).
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