Slamming into March with the hottest tournament causes madness. 

March Madness is the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I basketball tournament for men and women, containing a total of 68 teams. 

“My favorite thing is how unpredictable it is. Any team can get hot at the right time and knock off a favorite, and every game feels intense because it’s win or go home. It’s just nonstop excitement for a few weeks,” senior Landon Vaziri said. 

Basketball is a sport that tends to bring people together. 

“I think the best part of March Madness is how unpredictable and exciting it is, and this year I am rooting for UConn because I am a big fan of their women’s basketball team,” junior Gracelyn Bowels said. 

Some people do a lot of research to ensure that they build the best bracket. 

“I think a strong overall team like Kansas or Duke has the best chance this year. They always have talent, good coaching, and experience, which matters a lot in the tournament,” Vaziri said. 

Some teams have made a habit of dominating the tournament, while others are just happy to make an appearance.

“I’m really hoping Butler can pull through and make it for the first time in awhile, but I think BYU will shock many people. Ultimately Arizonas is taking home the gold,” Swain said. 

March Madness brackets can get serious. 

“In 2025, me and Faustyn Serowick were in Florida for vacation with a bunch of our friends and family. We got to watch the games with intense fans around us, and it was always very loud and hype. Although we were not rooting for a specific team, I really wanted Duke to pull through because of the Cooper Flag. Getting to watch the games in the environment was very memorable.” sophomore Steele Swain said. 

It is common for people to do extensive research about the tournament. 

“The UMBC upset of #1 Virginia in 2018, the first time a 16-seed beat a 1-seed, but I think any team outside of the top seeds could surprise anyone,” Bowles said. 

Certain plays even go down in history. 

“For me, 2016 was the most memorable because of the Villanova vs. UNC championship game. The buzzer-beater by Kris Jenkins is one of the craziest endings in sports history,” Vaziri said.