Ballin' like the March Madness

Written by: Jackson Freeman Pictures by: ESPN Photographers

March 1st, 2024

As spring rolls around, it’s time for everyone’s favorite part of the year: March Madness. March Madness refers to the NCAA Basketball Tournament where 68 teams compete against each other to be crowned national champions. So let’s dive into the regular season as teams are eager to compete on the biggest stage in college sports.

It can be very hard to judge what teams should make the playoffs, especially with so many colleges in the USA. But the sheer amount of teams in the bracket ensures everyone that deserves a spot can get one. But there is still uncertainty on who will compete and where they will place. The top teams like Purdue and Houston don’t have to worry about that, as they are guaranteed the number one seed in their respective parts of the bracket. But teams that aren’t ranked are fighting for their spots at all times, as they won’t know where they’re expected to place until the season ends and the bracket is released. Many teams have similar records or points scored, so every game matters.

While it is a great honor for a team to be crowned national champions, it is certainly a bigger accomplishment for individual players. Winning the tournament can show NBA scouts a player’s true talent when it matters, not in regular season games with less meaning. These players also get more exposure just for making it further in the tournament, as the games are nationally televised, and as the tournament progresses there are less and less games to watch. This means that players try their hardest to show out and come up big for themselves and their team, but not everyone gets the opportunity to win. This year is some great players' last chance before their careers end or they go to the NBA, and many will be trying their hardest to win, like star center Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers. Zach Edey averages 23.7 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game this season, which is one of the most dominant statlines in college basketball history. He was also named 2023 National Player of the Year, and is a top NBA Draft prospect for this year. However, he is yet to make it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament, even losing to the 16 seed FDU last year, which was only the second time in history a 16 seed has upset a 1 seed. Zach Edey hopes to make his mark this year to solidify himself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time.

Colorado State and Colorado are both hoping to make it in the tournament this year, which will be good for local fans. Colorado State has a top ten point guard in college basketball this year with Isaiah Stevens, who averages 16.6 points per game and 7.3 assists per game, being the only player in men’s college basketball this year to put up such numbers. Colorado State is practically guaranteed to be in the tournament this year, as they are just outside the top 25 teams and expect to get decent seeding in hopes of chasing their first title, as they historically don’t have much success in the tournament. They have gathered a total of four wins to their twelve losses since 1954, and haven’t won a game since 2013. Colorado is on the edge of making the tournament, and they need to win their last games to make it. They have made the NCAA Tournament more times than Colorado State, and have had more success, but recently have been struggling the same way as their rivals. While CU doesn’t have as much talent as CSU, they make up for it with their chemistry and hard work, as they have been putting in work all season trying to make it to the tournament.

This year of March Madness is shaping up to be one for the ages. There are star-studded rosters all around, and heavy competition to match it. This season has already seen plenty of upsets during the regular season, and more are certainly expected in the tournament. This will be an exciting tournament to watch, no matter which college you are a fan of.

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