NCAA Bracket 2012: 10 Things We Love About March Madness

The NCAA tournament is what sports are all about. It isn’t difficult to find things that we love about March Madness. What’s not to love?

There is the hope that comes from the No. 16 seed, the bracket pools and the commentators that only come around once a year. March Madness is a tournament that transcends a college basketball fanbase. Everyone has a bracket, even the President.

No matter if you follow college basketball religiously or only around St. Patrick’s Day, there is no denying the love for March Madness.

The Pageantry

There is no other tournament that takes over the country quite like March Madness. Folks flock to their emails looking for the bracket pool invite, quick to send a few bucks to their buddy's PayPal account.

There is something about the multiple host cities, the length of the tournament and the coaches that take the court. College basketball has a rich history with big names line North Carolina, Duke and Kansas all winning big in their school's history.

There are also the Butler-type teams that make it into the spotlight of the country for a few short weeks.

March Madness allows for virtually any team from anywhere in the country to contend for a national title. It may not always be practical or probable for a small school to find victory in the tournament, but the hope resets every year.

The Cinderella

Up to this point, there has never been a No. 16 seed team that has defeated a No. 1 seed. There have only been four No. 15 seeds that have won since 1985. The Cinderella doesn’t win much, but they still draw a ton of bandwagon fans during the first week of the tournament.

This is one of the best parts of the NCAA tournament. The fact that any team can push through and win their conference title in pursuit of a national title and actually get the chance to win it is what makes the tourney great. After all, it’s always fun to root for the underdog. 

Bracket Pools

The bracket pool phenomenon is really baffling to me. Don’t get me wrong, I have my bracket filled out and submitted, but why is this such a craze?

Other sports have tried to use the same type of format to drum up a following for the post season, but nothing compares to Bracketology.

Not only does the President carry a bracket, but I am pretty sure everyone from secretary to CEO does as well. March Madness reigns over the lively world of cubicle cities everywhere. 

Watching the Overrated Fall

Just as much fun as it is to watch the Cinderella succeed, watching the overrated fall is a bit fun as well. There will always be puffed-up seeds for a number of reasons. Whether they won in an overrated conference that performs well historically, or if they slammed a bunch of low level talent, it’s fun to watch the overrated fall.

This year the committee seems to have done a great job filling the brackets with proper positioning, but there is always a team or two that is a bit higher than they should be. 

The Money

Vegas brings out the fun in most everybody. It also brings a ton of betting dollars, and that is a big part of the madness that comes with March. Sports gambling is as much a part of American culture as the hot dog.

March Madness is a great event for Vegas, again people love the underdog, but also a great event for fans. On occasion, the average Joe wins big. Well, maybe Joe doesn’t win big in Vegas now that his bodog.com account has been seized, but he did win the two-hundo from the bracket pool.

Host Cities

One of the best parts of the college basketball tournament is the ability for the fans to travel to host cities. Host cities bring a unique twist to the college game, allowing for fans to travel with their teams and mix with locals and opposing fans alike.

The tournament provides a huge influx of dollars to the host cities as well, something that the local business owners have to enjoy.

There is an added fun that comes with traveling with your team and not heading to your old college town. Host cities are easily one of the most loved parts of March Madness.

The Commentators

The unique commentary that comes with college basketball is unbeatable. Names like Joe Lunardi, Jay Bilas and Gus Johnson. Johnson is really all you need with his awesome on-air scream for a team’s deep three-point game-winning shot.

The others bring great commentary and hilarity to the selection process and keep the tournament what it is meant to be: fun. Other sports could learn from the March Madness laidback approach to a special part of the sports season. 

The Dance Lines

Let’s be honest. College basketball is one of the most action-filled, hard-fought games there is in sports. It is a great to watch teams battle it out on the court.

One of the best pieces of the pageantry that comes with the tournament is the dance lines. After all, the half-court show is as much a part of the game as free throws, am I right?

No matter who your favorite team is, you can always appreciate the other guy’s team colors when it is being worn by one of the young ladies that take to the court at halftime. 

The Rabid Fans

The rabid fans that hop city to city on their two-week vacation for March Madness may be the thing we love most.

The students that ditch two weeks of class in hopes of being a part of the March Madness magic brings the spirit and heart of the game to every court a team will play on.

If nothing else, the painted dude that is a few-too-many beers in already makes catching a game worth your time. There is no other college sport that fuels such a nomadic following as March Madness. It is definitely one of the best parts of the tournament.

Dick Vitale

Love him or hate him, Dickie V is March Madness. Sure he loves on Duke constantly, but can you blame him? The Blue Devils consistently bring the heat in the tournament.  

Dickie V has brought us some of the best quotes in basketball and his coined finisher, “baby,” will always be a way to recognize his calls. Dickie V brings passion for the game that is unsurpassed. Listening to Dick Vitale call a basketball game is a treat no one should miss. It all happens because of March Madness.

Dickie V has also built a foundation for pediatric cancer, which may be his most important contribution yet.

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For your printable bracket for the 2012 NCAA tournament, click here.