Marching Onto Victory
Hello again and welcome back to the OBB Blog!
Last year during the height of college football excitement, we shared with you a sampling of the sport’s culture, traditions, and spirit. With March Madness in full swing, we figured it’d be fun to give a look at the amazing fervor behind college basketball.
There’s nothing quite like college basketball. The squeaking of shoes on the court, the rhythmic thump of the rubbery leather, the roar of rival crowds. And of course, the ever popular practice of bracket-making. It’s an American cultural staple, bringing together the country consistently every spring. Plus, unlike the pro’s- these players are here just for the passion and the sport (and maybe to get pro someday, of course)
But what makes the 2022 season special? Well, let’s take a look.
All of us are likely aware of the iconic bracket. Out of all the college basketball teams in the country, only 68 teams are allowed into the tournament, and are then separated into four regions depending on where their respective schools are located. Half of the teams make it into the bracket upon winning their conference tournament. The other half is then selected by the selection committee based on each teams’ seasonal performance. The lucky 68 teams that have made it are then pitted against each other to see who’s the best, working down the matchups till only one remains as the champion.
Of course, like every year, people across the country make their own brackets to guess who may wind up as the winner. However, according to the NCAA, the odds of doing this are 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 1. So for many, March Madness turns to March Sadness.
Currently, we are in the Final Four, with Villanova facing off against Kansas and UNC vs Duke. The winners of those matches will then go head-to-head to determine who will be crowned the champion. With estimates of $3.1 billion dollars spent on sports betting, it sure to be a must-watch event across the nation.
But as the action heats up more than ever on the court, it’s important to remember some of the star athletes that highlighted this season. Because if there’s anything that truly makes basketball a stand out sport, it would be the talented young players. Upcoming stars such as Jabari Smith, Keegan Murray, and Ochai Agbaji not only have great future prospects in their college careers, but also have potential to become NBA icons.
That’s what is really interesting about March Madness: the promise of future greatness that each of these young athletes can obtain. Modern day basketball greats like Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis found great success when they played in previous March Madness seasons. Now they are household names. That’s the magic that draws many to watching this exciting event. It could be the birthplace of a new basketball legend. March Madness engenders feelings of sportsmanship, honor, and pride.
So, as we enter the final stretch, keep cheering on your favorite teams and players. We’ll soon see who ends up as this year’s champions!
