MADNESS RISING. It’s March and the Madness is in full swing. Families and sport enthusiasts alike crowd by their TV screens to watch the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament. Many crazy things have happened over the last two rounds. For just the second time in NCAA history, a first seed team is defeated by a sixteen seed. The Purdue Boilermakers fell to the Fairleigh-Dickinson Knights 63-58. Valley Heights Media Teacher Katlen Schreiner says, “It was a crazy moment and I was shocked when it happened.” In the same round, the second seed Arizona Wildcats also took a crushing loss to the fifteen seed Princeton Tigers 59-55.
The second round was more eventful. The defending National Champions, the Kansas Jayhawks, lost in a dramatic final half to the eight seed Arkansas Razorbacks in a razor close 78-77 heartbreaker. Mrs. Schreiner goes on to describe, “After that game, my bracket went out the window and I passive-aggressively cooked dinner that night.” On the other side of the spectrum Senior Caden Parker, who is a K-State fan, states his excitement after the upset. “It was the best moment of the tournament for me. It was so funny to see KU blow it.” Besides his obvious dislike of the former defending National Champions, Caden’s bracket is about 80% correct. “I have Houston winning it all so I’m pretty confident.” The tournament continues with the Sweet Sixteen kicking off with Gonzaga facing off with UCLA. Kansas State and Michigan State are also set to duke it out, and FAU faces the Tennessee Volunteers.
No matter if your bracket is perfect, or completely out of the question, it's no secret that everyone loves themselves some March Madness.
Article By: Tyrel Wagner
Photo Credit: Bleacher Report