Excitement and Upsets of the NCAA March Madness College Basketball Tournament

The Excitement of March Madness

The NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament is one of the most exciting sporting events in the United States. Known simply as "March Madness," this single-elimination tournament features 68 college basketball teams competing to be crowned the national champion.

The Bracket

The tournament begins with Selection Sunday, when the selection committee reveals an NCAA bracket with the full field of 68 teams. This bracket seeds the teams from 1 to 16 in each of four regions: East, West, South, and Midwest. The top four seeds in each region are awarded to the four teams deemed the strongest by the selection committee.

Fans eagerly fill out their bracket predictions for which teams will advance through each round and ultimately win the championship. Even President Barack Obama previously filled out his bracket on ESPN. Part of the fun and madness is that upsets are common, busting many fans' brackets along the way.

First Four

The tournament kicks off with the First Four games, where eight teams compete in Dayton, Ohio for a spot in the first full round of 64 teams. The First Four features two matchups between #16 seeds fighting to advance and two matchups between the last at-large teams selected.

Rounds of the Tournament

After the First Four games trim the field down to 64 teams, the full March Madness bracket kicks into high gear. Here is a breakdown of each round and how the field progressively narrows to ultimately crown a champion:

First Round (Round of 64)

The 32 games of the first round whittle the 64-team field down to 32 teams. As #1 seeds are 91-1 lifetime against #16 seeds, there are usually few upsets at this point. But the suspense builds as some scrappy lower seeded teams often shock the world with stunning upsets over complacent favorites.

Second Round (Round of 32)

March Madness really takes shape in the second round. Many brackets get completely busted as more exciting upsets occur. Cinderella stories come to life each year as unheralded teams bust into the Sweet 16 after taking down basketball powerhouses.

Sweet Sixteen

Reaching the Sweet 16 is an accomplishment that builds a team's basketball legacy for decades. But every year, a few surprises make it this far. This is when coaches really have to scout opponents and student fans rush to buy tickets as their darling team exceeds all expectations.

Elite Eight

As the regional semifinals, the Elite Eight rounds feature college basketball bluebloods who expect to contend for the title each year. While some powerhouses like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Duke often reach this round, other hopefuls try to cement their program's status by making a surprise run to the Final Four.

Final Four and Championship

If the previous upsets weren't shocking enough, the Final Four features games with huge title implications. Contenders rely on star players to shine bright on this national stage and book their ticket to the championship.

Final Four

The two national semifinals feature phenomena like Sister Jean willing Loyola Chicago to cut down the nets. While powerhouses seem poised for the title, teams of destiny sometimes have other ideas to pull off more stunners.

National Championship

Reaching the season's final game puts two worthy teams on the grandest stage of all in college basketball. Whether crowning a first-time champion or dynastic coach like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, the national championship delivers gripping excitement as one net gets cut down to commemorate a national title.

March Madness is rightly called mad because its unpredictability captivates audiences everywhere. While upsets may ruin brackets, they make for absolutely thrilling basketball. The road to the Final Four is full of classic moments and Cinderella stories that make March Madness a can't-miss event every year!

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FAQs

How many teams qualify for the NCAA March Madness tournament?

A total of 68 college basketball teams qualify for March Madness each year. There are 32 automatic bids awarded to teams that win their conference championships, plus 36 at-large bids selected by the tournament's selection committee.

What are the names of the four regions in March Madness?

The four regions that comprise the NCAA tournament bracket are the East, West, South, and Midwest regions. The entire bracket contains all 68 qualifying teams seeded from 1 to 16 in each region.

When do March Madness games take place?

March Madness tips off with First Four games in mid-March. The first and second full rounds then take place shortly after, followed by the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds the subsequent week. The Final Four national semifinals and championship game wrap up March Madness in early April.

Where is the Final Four played?

The city and arena that hosts the semifinal and championship games rotates each year. Recent Final Four venues include San Antonio, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and New Orleans. The NCAA selects final sites years in advance.