If you have a gambling addiction, these past few weeks have probably been the most exciting time you'll have this year. If you like college basketball, I guess it's also interesting.
As March comes around, people start actually paying attention to men and women's college basketball as 64 teams in two brackets compete for their respective NCAA championship.
It is incredibly tiring at first. There are 128 teams to pay attention to, and for the first week there are an average of 16 games a day.
This year was different though. The number of upsets was almost unheard of, and the women's bracket was finally given the respect it deserved with help from Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins, Cameron Brink, and other incredibly talented women who are actively changing the sport.
One of the most exciting moments of the first week came from the insane upset that was Oakland vs. Kentucky, where the super-senior graduate student Jack Gohlke sunk ten three-pointers out of 20 attempts. On the same side of the bracket, 11-seed NC State were able to go farther than anyone thought when they got into the Final Four, where they were put down by Purdue.
March Madness is incredible for these reasons. Future NBA All-Stars are getting destroyed by future stockbrokers and real estate agents.
"I love how exciting the upsets are and how unpredictable it is," said senior Kyle Carlsen.
The final came as no shock in reality, as U Conn defeated Purdue 75-60, but statistically it's a wonder. A number-one seed (U Conn) has not won the tournament in 12 years, and is one of only eight teams ever to win consecutive championships.
On the women's bracket, history was being made. You may have heard of Caitlin Clark and her christening as the world’s best women's ball player. In her championship run she had achieved the most career points scored by any woman in the tournament, and had an incredible 30-points in the final.
"Caitlin Clark is the NBA," said junior Ava Mrkonja.
Only time will tell if next year’s March Madness will be as exciting . . . and if you do have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.