Comments on: What Is The Fascination With The NCAA Tournament? http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:21:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: liberalrob http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89404 liberalrob Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:46:18 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89404 My bad on the D-II/D-III thing. I think that only reinforces my point, however :) There are lots more "Cinderellas" than there are "Cinderellas that win the tournament." That kind of makes Oliver's question a bit unfair. A sub-8 seed making the Sweet 16 is an accomplishment in itself. Sometimes even getting out of the first round can be exciting. Who would have heard of Weber State except for their tourney win over North Carolina a few years ago (led by Harold "The Show" Arceneaux). My bad on the D-II/D-III thing. I think that only reinforces my point, however :)
There are lots more “Cinderellas” than there are “Cinderellas that win the tournament.” That kind of makes Oliver’s question a bit unfair. A sub-8 seed making the Sweet 16 is an accomplishment in itself. Sometimes even getting out of the first round can be exciting. Who would have heard of Weber State except for their tourney win over North Carolina a few years ago (led by Harold “The Show” Arceneaux).

]]> By: paperpusher http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89395 paperpusher Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:57:52 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89395 the same year that Bird played Magic, DePaul (then an independent) made the Final Four playing only five players, no subs. Mark Aguirre was a freshman starter. the same year that Bird played Magic, DePaul (then an independent) made the Final Four playing only five players, no subs. Mark Aguirre was a freshman starter.

]]> By: mikefromtexas http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89369 mikefromtexas Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:57:38 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89369 I grew up a few miles from the Univ. of Houston and was always a big fan. That NCState last second shot is the most painful sports memory I will ever have. There was also this upset in the 70s when SI player of the year Larry Bird gor beat in the final by this fella that until the tourney, I don't think many people were aware of. Name of Earvin Johnson. I grew up a few miles from the Univ. of Houston and was always a big fan. That NCState last second shot is the most painful sports memory I will ever have. There was also this upset in the 70s when SI player of the year Larry Bird gor beat in the final by this fella that until the tourney, I don’t think many people were aware of. Name of Earvin Johnson.

]]> By: C.L. http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89368 C.L. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:48:17 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89368 I've been noticing several people attempting to push this contrarian "anti-March Madness" meme, seemingly all hitting the same lame points (the players aren't good, the word "Cinderella" is used too much). I think a bunch of the commenters did a good job defending the tournament (although I need to point out that all of the teams in the NCAA Tournament are Division I teams. Divisions II and III have their own tournaments...Go Winona State and Washington U-St. Louis!), but, at the risk of sounding like a record store clerk, the NCAAs used to be more fun back when it was still kind of a cult event that a few people followed while the rest of the sports media focused on the NBA and the start of baseball (kind of like how the World Cup is viewed in America now); back when ESPN carried the early rounds. Once CBS took over showing all the games, that's when the hype machine took over and it became all about office pools. And I'll give Oliver points on the Cinderella thing. All the Cinderella champions in the last few decades have been mediocre teams from major conferences who got lucky at the right time (NC State 83, Villanova 85, Kansas 88). Texas Western was a good story, but back then the tournament only had 20-something teams, and the Miners were ranked #3 in the country going into the tourney. Utah (my alma mater) would have won the championship in 1998 if the NCAA had decided that the championship game should only run 35 minutes instead of 40, but they were a 3 seed, so they wouldn't really have counted as a Cinderella. I’ve been noticing several people attempting to push this contrarian “anti-March Madness” meme, seemingly all hitting the same lame points (the players aren’t good, the word “Cinderella” is used too much). I think a bunch of the commenters did a good job defending the tournament (although I need to point out that all of the teams in the NCAA Tournament are Division I teams. Divisions II and III have their own tournaments…Go Winona State and Washington U-St. Louis!), but, at the risk of sounding like a record store clerk, the NCAAs used to be more fun back when it was still kind of a cult event that a few people followed while the rest of the sports media focused on the NBA and the start of baseball (kind of like how the World Cup is viewed in America now); back when ESPN carried the early rounds. Once CBS took over showing all the games, that’s when the hype machine took over and it became all about office pools. And I’ll give Oliver points on the Cinderella thing. All the Cinderella champions in the last few decades have been mediocre teams from major conferences who got lucky at the right time (NC State 83, Villanova 85, Kansas 88). Texas Western was a good story, but back then the tournament only had 20-something teams, and the Miners were ranked #3 in the country going into the tourney. Utah (my alma mater) would have won the championship in 1998 if the NCAA had decided that the championship game should only run 35 minutes instead of 40, but they were a 3 seed, so they wouldn’t really have counted as a Cinderella.

]]> By: Bruce from Missouri http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89364 Bruce from Missouri Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:08:53 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89364 Another Cinderella: Kansas, 1988. Barely made the tournament with 9 losses. Rock Chalk, Baby! Another Cinderella: Kansas, 1988. Barely made the tournament with 9 losses.

Rock Chalk, Baby!

]]> By: Cali Tejano http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89359 Cali Tejano Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:24:52 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89359 Oliver, Don't tell Jessica she's a Latina. That might be a deal killer if what Perez Hilton says is correct. I may have to post another Kelly Brook picture in support of you again. Nah. I've got a better girl in mind. Oliver,

Don’t tell Jessica she’s a Latina. That might be a deal killer if what Perez Hilton says is correct.

I may have to post another Kelly Brook picture in support of you again. Nah. I’ve got a better girl in mind.

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89325 Oliver Willis Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:26:39 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89325 As longtime readers can testify, I am not a baseball fan. My heart belongs <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/washingtonredskins/profile?team=WAS" rel="nofollow">to one sport</a> and try as I might to watch other contests - even NASCAR - nothing can come close for me. I also don't get where you would think that I would limit myself to one sort of woman. I like them all (and Jessica Alba is latina). In my defense here is perfect woman Aisha Tyler. Damn. <a href="http://imageshack.us" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1700/aishatylerhaloqy5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a> As longtime readers can testify, I am not a baseball fan. My heart belongs to one sport and try as I might to watch other contests - even NASCAR - nothing can come close for me.

I also don’t get where you would think that I would limit myself to one sort of woman. I like them all (and Jessica Alba is latina).

In my defense here is perfect woman Aisha Tyler. Damn.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

]]> By: I'm a Hick http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89324 I'm a Hick Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:15:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89324 "That would be 25 years ago, wouldn’t it? Sigh, McCain’s not the only one who’s old. Well, he did ask if any Cinderella team has ever won it, you young whippersnapper." That sigh was directed at myself as much as anyone else. I shared a house with 3 Georgetown Med students from '82 - '86. Two of them probably didn't know Georgetown had a baseketball team, but the third was a pretty intense fan. Lots of exitement when G'Town beat UH and the Redskins beat Miami in the Superbowl. Not so great when we played Vilanova and Oakland. LiberalBob makes some good points. But I wonder how many people do watch because of the hype? I think I do to some extent. “That would be 25 years ago, wouldn’t it? Sigh, McCain’s not the only one who’s old.

Well, he did ask if any Cinderella team has ever won it, you young whippersnapper.”

That sigh was directed at myself as much as anyone else. I shared a house with 3 Georgetown Med students from ‘82 - ‘86. Two of them probably didn’t know Georgetown had a baseketball team, but the third was a pretty intense fan. Lots of exitement when G’Town beat UH and the Redskins beat Miami in the Superbowl. Not so great when we played Vilanova and Oakland.

LiberalBob makes some good points. But I wonder how many people do watch because of the hype? I think I do to some extent.

]]> By: liberalrob http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89322 liberalrob Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:54:11 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89322 There is indeed a lot of hype, but it's a result of how popular the tournament has become, not the cause of it. Think of it this way: -There are a lot of Division I-A schools (about 200 I think). In football, the only ones that matter are the top 20-25; everyone else is an unknown (or a "basketball school," e.g. Duke, Georgetown). You hear about a Div. I-AA school from time to time if they do something special (like Appalachian State knocking off Michigan) but that's exceedingly rare. The rest of those teams never get on TV at all except when they play one of the big boys as a nonconference "cupcake" game or on ESPN in the last few rounds of the Div. II and Div. III tournaments. As a result, they have a hard time recruiting because no one knows they exist (and that's if they are even able to field a team at all). -In basketball, those smaller Div. I-A, Div. II and even Div. III schools can actually be very good. It only takes 7-10 guys to make a solid basketball team, versus 50 to make a good football team. You were talking about Cinderellas in basketball, I'd highly recommend the 2006 movie "Glory Road" which was about the 1966 Texas Western team that changed basketball (at all levels) forever. They were a massive Cinderella (Texas Western is now known as UTEP). There's a Cinderella virtually every year, and that's part of what makes the tournament great. These little D-I-AA and D-II schools can knock off the big state schools, on national TV, and generate excitement. They had a guy from Davidson on NPR either Friday night or Saturday morning, and he was talking about the big revenue increase they were already seeing because of their making the Elite 8 (and they came very very close to making the Final 4, too close for this Jayhawk alum). He said their revenues from the tournament were already approaching $1 million, a huge sum for a little school like Davidson. Everyone loves to root for the underdog, and in the NCAA tournaments the underdogs have a legitimate shot at winning. You just don't get that in football. Personally I find the college game more interesting than the pro game. The talent is spread thinner which puts a higher emphasis on teamwork (and conversely allows true superstars like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony to really stand out, where on a pro team they're just another guy next to Iverson and, well, no one on the Sonics besides Durant which is why they're 17-57, but you get my point I hope). Another thing about it is tradition. It's just a long-standing tradition at Kansas to root for the basketball team. You just do it. When you're walking around on campus you see Allen Field House and read about all the history that was made in that building, and you just get caught up in it. At least that's what happened to me. There is indeed a lot of hype, but it’s a result of how popular the tournament has become, not the cause of it. Think of it this way:

-There are a lot of Division I-A schools (about 200 I think). In football, the only ones that matter are the top 20-25; everyone else is an unknown (or a “basketball school,” e.g. Duke, Georgetown). You hear about a Div. I-AA school from time to time if they do something special (like Appalachian State knocking off Michigan) but that’s exceedingly rare. The rest of those teams never get on TV at all except when they play one of the big boys as a nonconference “cupcake” game or on ESPN in the last few rounds of the Div. II and Div. III tournaments. As a result, they have a hard time recruiting because no one knows they exist (and that’s if they are even able to field a team at all).

-In basketball, those smaller Div. I-A, Div. II and even Div. III schools can actually be very good. It only takes 7-10 guys to make a solid basketball team, versus 50 to make a good football team. You were talking about Cinderellas in basketball, I’d highly recommend the 2006 movie “Glory Road” which was about the 1966 Texas Western team that changed basketball (at all levels) forever. They were a massive Cinderella (Texas Western is now known as UTEP). There’s a Cinderella virtually every year, and that’s part of what makes the tournament great. These little D-I-AA and D-II schools can knock off the big state schools, on national TV, and generate excitement. They had a guy from Davidson on NPR either Friday night or Saturday morning, and he was talking about the big revenue increase they were already seeing because of their making the Elite 8 (and they came very very close to making the Final 4, too close for this Jayhawk alum). He said their revenues from the tournament were already approaching $1 million, a huge sum for a little school like Davidson. Everyone loves to root for the underdog, and in the NCAA tournaments the underdogs have a legitimate shot at winning. You just don’t get that in football.

Personally I find the college game more interesting than the pro game. The talent is spread thinner which puts a higher emphasis on teamwork (and conversely allows true superstars like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony to really stand out, where on a pro team they’re just another guy next to Iverson and, well, no one on the Sonics besides Durant which is why they’re 17-57, but you get my point I hope).

Another thing about it is tradition. It’s just a long-standing tradition at Kansas to root for the basketball team. You just do it. When you’re walking around on campus you see Allen Field House and read about all the history that was made in that building, and you just get caught up in it. At least that’s what happened to me.

]]> By: Jay http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89321 Jay Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:46:04 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89321 <i>That would be 25 years ago, wouldn’t it? Sigh, McCain’s not the only one who’s old.</i> Well, he did ask if any Cinderella team has <i>ever</i> won it, you young whippersnapper. Now excuse me while I put my teeth in.... :-) That would be 25 years ago, wouldn’t it? Sigh, McCain’s not the only one who’s old.

Well, he did ask if any Cinderella team has ever won it, you young whippersnapper.

Now excuse me while I put my teeth in…. :-)

]]> By: White Whale http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89320 White Whale Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:44:00 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89320 Oliver, Filling a bracket is pretty harmless and doesn't require a vast knowledge of the NCAA season. I had my K-5 students fill one out and they picked the entire Final Four correct. I know have the joy of rubbing into my friends faces and I actually will watch the games. They can be exciting come tourney time, but pros are way better to watch on a regular basis. Too much sloppy play in college and they can't shoot free throws to save thier life! Oliver,
Filling a bracket is pretty harmless and doesn’t require a vast knowledge of the NCAA season. I had my K-5 students fill one out and they picked the entire Final Four correct. I know have the joy of rubbing into my friends faces and I actually will watch the games. They can be exciting come tourney time, but pros are way better to watch on a regular basis. Too much sloppy play in college and they can’t shoot free throws to save thier life!

]]> By: sam http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89315 sam Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:27:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89315 "And I agree with Jay that NC State’s win in 1983 might be the NCAA’s greatest Cinderella story ever." A great story no doubt, but my pick is... Texas Western and Kentucky. Texas Western beat Kentucky in the title game in 1966. Coach Don Haskins played only his 7 black players for the first time ever in NCAA history. Kentucky was coached by Adolf Rupp who is still regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball but also had a reputation for being a racist since he wouldn't even recruit black players. This story was well told in an excellent movie called "Glory Road" a few years back. “And I agree with Jay that NC State’s win in 1983 might be the NCAA’s greatest Cinderella story ever.”

A great story no doubt, but my pick is…

Texas Western and Kentucky.

Texas Western beat Kentucky in the title game in 1966. Coach Don Haskins played only his 7 black players for the first time ever in NCAA history. Kentucky was coached by Adolf Rupp who is still regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball but also had a reputation for being a racist since he wouldn’t even recruit black players.

This story was well told in an excellent movie called “Glory Road” a few years back.

]]> By: somejackass http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89312 somejackass Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:56:09 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89312 My work had a tourney this year via google, and I decided to see what would happen if I just went with the numbers and chose the higher ranked team all the way to the final four, at which point I guessed (not having watched a NCAA game or payed any other kind of attention since about 1994). Just doing that has put me at #1 in my work profile and in the 98th percentile on the google bracket. Apparently this is a good year to just choose the top ranked teams, but honestly I wonder why everyone always thinks they know better than the NCAA? My work had a tourney this year via google, and I decided to see what would happen if I just went with the numbers and chose the higher ranked team all the way to the final four, at which point I guessed (not having watched a NCAA game or payed any other kind of attention since about 1994).

Just doing that has put me at #1 in my work profile and in the 98th percentile on the google bracket. Apparently this is a good year to just choose the top ranked teams, but honestly I wonder why everyone always thinks they know better than the NCAA?

]]> By: lb1863 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89308 lb1863 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:22:35 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89308 for all its flaws (and they are many), college basketball's ncaa tourney is simply the best event in sports, period. *it showcases the best individual amateur athletes at the top of their game. *it gives david a shot a goliath...and david wins regularly *it is one loss and out. you have to win 7 games in a row against a variety of opponents, with only a day to prepare. *it has true emotion and heart...unlike pro sports where overpaid multi million dollar players walk through their parts like robots *it is a true team sport, with strategy and tactics and execution that can be understood by the casual fan, and appreciated in depth by a life long fanatic *it has ebb and flow, triumph and tragedy, joy and heartbreak *it lasts just long enough to be engaging and not long enough to wear thin i could go on and on (and have elsewhere). and the insanity of march madness doesn't hold a candle to the state high school tournaments in indiana and other bb strongholds. btw, i find that those who dismiss college bb often have a baseball bias. i have never understood the deification of baseball, a sport which mostly consists of 8 guys sitting on their butts in a dugout while 2 guys play catch and one guy with a stick fails to get anything done 75% of the time. as an excuse to drink beer on a sunny afternoon, baseball is fabulous. as an engaging team sport, it's one step up from cricket, where they take a break for cucumber sandwiches and tea. for all its flaws (and they are many), college basketball’s ncaa tourney is simply the best event in sports, period.

*it showcases the best individual amateur athletes at the top of their game.
*it gives david a shot a goliath…and david wins regularly
*it is one loss and out. you have to win 7 games in a row against a variety of opponents, with only a day to prepare.
*it has true emotion and heart…unlike pro sports where overpaid multi million dollar players walk through their parts like robots
*it is a true team sport, with strategy and tactics and execution that can be understood by the casual fan, and appreciated in depth by a life long fanatic
*it has ebb and flow, triumph and tragedy, joy and heartbreak
*it lasts just long enough to be engaging and not long enough to wear thin

i could go on and on (and have elsewhere). and the insanity of march madness doesn’t hold a candle to the state high school tournaments in indiana and other bb strongholds.

btw, i find that those who dismiss college bb often have a baseball bias. i have never understood the deification of baseball, a sport which mostly consists of 8 guys sitting on their butts in a dugout while 2 guys play catch and one guy with a stick fails to get anything done 75% of the time. as an excuse to drink beer on a sunny afternoon, baseball is fabulous. as an engaging team sport, it’s one step up from cricket, where they take a break for cucumber sandwiches and tea.

]]> By: IMU http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89306 IMU Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:07:23 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89306 Oliver: tell you what, fill out a bracket next year and then get back to me. I never really got it either until I was in a pool for the first time. Then I was suddenly interested in what was going on, who was winning, who was playing well, etc. Really, just try it once and see. -IMU Oliver: tell you what, fill out a bracket next year and then get back to me.

I never really got it either until I was in a pool for the first time. Then I was suddenly interested in what was going on, who was winning, who was playing well, etc.

Really, just try it once and see.

-IMU

]]> By: drinkof http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89299 drinkof Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:07:18 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89299 Seedings are just somebody's opinion. What could be greater than the chance to watch the Heels try to take the national championship, live and on the court, unlike their football brethren. Seedings are just somebody’s opinion. What could be greater than the chance to watch the Heels try to take the national championship, live and on the court, unlike their football brethren.

]]> By: michael http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89291 michael Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:15:06 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89291 Want to feel old? I was home sick last week, watching Monty Python DVDs, and suddenly realized the first Python episodes debuted 40 years ago. (Which is, admittedly, before I debuted, but it still made me feel very very old.) Want to feel old? I was home sick last week, watching Monty Python DVDs, and suddenly realized the first Python episodes debuted 40 years ago. (Which is, admittedly, before I debuted, but it still made me feel very very old.)

]]> By: I'm a Hick http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89290 I'm a Hick Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:06:23 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89290 "And I agree with Jay that NC State’s win in 1983 might be the NCAA’s greatest Cinderella story ever." Shut up, Shut up, Shut up! :) That would be 25 years ago, wouldn't it? Sigh, McCain's not the only one who's old. “And I agree with Jay that NC State’s win in 1983 might be the NCAA’s greatest Cinderella story ever.”

Shut up, Shut up, Shut up! :)

That would be 25 years ago, wouldn’t it? Sigh, McCain’s not the only one who’s old.

]]> By: natthedem http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89282 natthedem Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:54:03 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89282 Having spent the bulk of my life growing up on Tobacco Road, when I meet/speak to someone who doesn't get as amped about it, I'm a little perplexed. What about the "any given Sunday" feel of the NCAA tournament doesn't appeal to every sports fan? ::shrug:: The #1 teams did all make it to the Final Four this year, but it's worth noting that this is the first time that's ever happened. And I agree with Jay that NC State's win in 1983 might be the NCAA's greatest Cinderella story ever. Having spent the bulk of my life growing up on Tobacco Road, when I meet/speak to someone who doesn’t get as amped about it, I’m a little perplexed. What about the “any given Sunday” feel of the NCAA tournament doesn’t appeal to every sports fan?

::shrug::

The #1 teams did all make it to the Final Four this year, but it’s worth noting that this is the first time that’s ever happened.

And I agree with Jay that NC State’s win in 1983 might be the NCAA’s greatest Cinderella story ever.

]]> By: Jay http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89280 Jay Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:25:13 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/31/what-is-the-fascination-with-the-ncaa-tournament/#comment-89280 NC State won it all in 1983. Other times, Cinderella teams don't necessarily win it all, but often knock off teams that should have beaten them. A recent example is George Mason in 2006. They beat heavy favorites like North Carolina and UConn before losing to Florida in the Final Four. NC State won it all in 1983.

Other times, Cinderella teams don’t necessarily win it all, but often knock off teams that should have beaten them. A recent example is George Mason in 2006. They beat heavy favorites like North Carolina and UConn before losing to Florida in the Final Four.

]]>