Get ready: The madness of March is about to begin

Think of it as the best roller coaster ride you have ever been on: a ride complete with twists, turns, screams, hollers and incredible emotional highs —along with drops that can make your stomach churn.

It is all coming to the college basketball fan in full living color starting next week, with conference tournaments, then Selection Sunday, soon to be followed by three crazy weeks now known as “March Madness.”

 For the hoops fan it’s like Christmas, “the best time of the year.”

The “one and done” aspect of the tournament, of course, adds to the drama. As games wear on, the pressure for the players, and for the avid fans watching, increases exponentially. Often in these games, as the expression goes, you can cut the tension with a knife.

One missed shot, one turnover, one made free throw can sometimes be the dramatic difference. It is all right there for the fans to watch and either celebrate in ecstasy with their favorite team winning, or be brought to tears by the end of a season for the team they have been rooting for.

The goal of each team, of course, is to “survive and advance,” the expression used meaning to move on to the next stage, with hopes of eventually making it to the prestigious Final Four.

The two favorites right now? Based on a season-long period of excellence, they are Auburn and Duke. Following them you have a long line of really good teams that can all challenge, and behind even them are some of our favorites. They are lovingly known in the tournament as “The Cinderellas," those smaller, unknown schools who make the tournament based on winning their conferences.

One of the highlights of March Madness, and part of what makes it so special, is watching these smaller schools (who, don’t kid yourself, have a lot of talent—even if not as well known) pull off the upset and beat the bigger, favored school. Sometimes these “Cinderella” teams can even get on a roll and make it to the Elite Eight or even The Final Four.

So hoops fans, get plenty of sleep, don’t overdo your work days, and get ready for the month-long celebration that is the Madness of March. 

Remember, it is not a sprint, but a marathon. So pace yourself and be ready for the final moments when it all concludes with the championship game in early April.