An Ode to the Madness of March

Will a Cinderella dance?

Credit: Vitalii Abakumov

It’s that time of year again. 

The first hints of spring? Cherry blossoms about to bloom? Longer days? All of that, yes. But for even the casual sports fan (and yours truly is much more than a casual fan, as my wife, Jean, might sometimes bemoan), it’s something more — the “Madness” that comes in March. 

We are talking about March Madness, the evocative nickname for the national college basketball tournaments (men’s and women’s) that will occupy the next several weeks of headspace (and heart space) for many of us. 

These are the pairings of schools across the country — large and small, public and private, with storied basketball histories and rising programs — in a single-elimination event. The stages on which these contests will unfold are the hardcourts in arenas across America. 

The tournaments start with brackets full of teams with dreams, and then the dance begins. As the field is halved with each consecutive round, we enter a sequence of alliterative accolades — the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, and the Final Four. 

In the end, only one men’s team and one women’s team will remain unbeaten. And those lucky, plucky squads will be crowned national champions and earn a place in the history books. 

What is it about these tournaments that is so captivating? A lot of it is love of the sport of basketball, certainly, played at a high and aspiring level. But it’s also a moment to reflect on the whimsy, serendipity, heartbreak, and unbridled joy that these games and these young athletes and their fans (including the not-so-young) embody. They are lenses through which to look at the broader dramas of life.

Even as one cheers, one must acknowledge the problematic aspects of college sports in general. You want to root for programs that treat their student-athletes well and put them on a path to graduation and future success. At their best, sports, even and especially at the highest level, can offer an environment for young people to mature and learn. There must be diligence on the part of society to amplify these goals in college athletics. 

For me, these tournaments also provide a bonding experience with family members, including my grandson Martin — a lover of basketball like his father and grandfather (and his Aunt Robin, who played in high school and college). Martin played and coached, including girls’ teams, and has helped increase for me the excitement of the women’s NCAA tournament, which for too long was overshadowed by the men’s. He also helped with this post, which is why he’s up there sharing a byline. 

March Madness is often defined by the “Cinderella stories” of teams who defy the odds to beat a much larger school. I’m thinking of tiny St. Peter’s downing mighty Kentucky last year. And I’ll never forget sitting with Martin in a hotel room outside Cleveland watching UMBC defeat the University of Virginia. It was the first time that a #16 seed had ever defeated a #1 seed. We screamed ourselves hoarse. 

To win, especially in a big upset, teams have to combine skill, teamwork, passion, and a little (or a whole lot of) luck. Could we see another historic upset again this year? My gut says it might be Drake, but I’ve also got my eye on Oral Roberts and UNC Asheville. 

For a “60 Minutes” piece more than 40 years ago, I asked the legendary and problematic Indiana coach Bobby Knight what it took to win in college basketball (you can see us play one-on-one at the 7:40 mark). He told me that it was not only the will to win, but also the will to prepare to win. He certainly knew how to do that, but he used methods that these days would likely be labeled abusive. 

Is winning the most important thing in college sports, especially if it is at all costs? That’s one of the complicated and troubling questions that underlie the tournament. But it’s also a question that animates life more generally, from corporate boardrooms to the halls of Congress. 

At its best, however, the tournament is about much more than just what winds up on the scoreboard. 

I think of the dedication of Sister Jean, the now 103-year-old nun who helped inspire the Loyola Chicago Ramblers to a Final Four run and then a return to the Sweet Sixteen three years later. There’s no age limit to being a basketball fan in March.

I think of the poise of Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale, who hit not one, but two game-winners in the women’s Final Four.

And I think of the fans in the stands, the marching bands, the mascots, and the pageantry.

There is no consolation bracket. Fail to play your best in one game, and you’re out. The triumph or agony of a single shot can linger. Sometimes the big shot comes up just short (like Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave when Butler played Duke). But when those shots go in, whoo boy. I remember nearly falling out of my chair when Villanova’s Kris Jenkins hit this game-winning 3 against North Carolina for the national title. 

You never know what will happen. That’s why they play the games. The madness of March. 

So, who might it be this year? I’m biased, but I’d like to see a Texas team win it all.

What does March Madness mean to you?

Note: We’re deeply thankful for the Steady community. If you aren’t already a member, please consider subscribing. Both free and paid options are available.