News
NCAA March Madness brings UW-SP students together for many reasons
The Pointer
jglod170@uwsp.edu
While some students traveled abroad or across the United States over break, others glued themselves to their television screens in anticipation of the first two rounds of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Division I basketball tournament, often known as March Madness.
This tournament is a single-elimination format tournament that is held each spring with 65 college basketball teams from across the United States.
The tournament has become a part of American culture as millions of people fill out brackets predicting the entire tournament for office pools, gambling and even just friendly competition between friends and families.
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point students are not an exception to that equation, as many students are participating in Centertainment’s UW-SP bracket challenge, which is being configured on the CBS Sports Web site. Students are competing for the first place prize of an iPod Touch. Other prizes will be awarded for those placing second through fifth as well.
“So, honestly, I joined this bracket because the first place prize was an iPod Touch,” said Tracy Berg. “I know very, very little about college basketball, so I chose my teams based by their seed, and by what team name I liked better. Even though I picked teams completely randomly, I’m actually doing well.”
Besides the prizes, students have many reasons why they pay such close attention to March Madness and filled out brackets for the challenge.
“I like the NCAA tournament because of all the suspense it has,” said Brian Finnel. “There are upsets and several close games; it just keeps you on your toes. I follow the tournament as it is happening, best way to do it. I don’t want to hear who won on SportsCenter, I prefer to watch it live.”
Some students feel the excitement despite the fact that they don’t follow college basketball at all except for during March Madness.
“I may know close to nothing about college basketball, but getting in on the tournament makes for a really exciting couple of weeks for anyone who has someone to root for,” said Samantha Longshore. “Plus, it’s pretty enjoyable to pretend I know what I’m talking about, because chances are, I might be right. That’s how unpredictable the tournament can be.”
The tournament has brought only a few upsets so far. The largest upset to many has been when thirteen-seeded Cleveland State University trampled the popular fourth-seeded, Wake Forest University, in the first round. Also, twelfth-seeded UW - Madison was able to pull off a first round upset over fifth-seeded Florida State University, only to lose in the second round to Xavier University.
“A lot of people doubted the Badgers should have been in the field, but to win like that should have silenced plenty of critics,” said David Polzin.
Sixth-seeded Marquette University also came up short in the second round, losing to third-seed edMissouri University.
“I really was quite disappointed that both of the Wisconsin teams didn’t make it farther in the tournament,” said Finnel.
Whatever the reason for watching, and even despite the loss of the two Wisconsin teams, students plan to stay tuned for the upcoming rounds of the NCAA tournament as it unfolds this weekend.
“All I have to say is I can’t wait for next weekend to watch the rest of the games,” said Alesha Bales. “I really hope I win the iPod because mine just broke, and of course all the bragging rights that come with.”
