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MARCH MADNESS Preview
The time has come that comes but once a year. The time of cheers and the time for tears. The time when unheard of young phenoms can become household names. March Madness is upon us, and yet again the nation is atwitter. However, if one reads this and does not instantly get goosebumps you will not be lonely. There a more than a few of us who do not understand why some tear apart printed brackets and curse the name of their underdog 12th seed. This is for you.
“Since its humble beginnings, the NCAA championship has become much more complex in its team selection and in how the tournament is run.”
Way back in 1939, the first NCAA championship was held between the University of Oregon and Ohio State University. Oregon won by 13 points. This began an annual tradition of national collegiate basketball competition. For the first twelve years, only eight teams were invited to participate. Each year after that though, the number steadily grew. Across the country local supporters realized that their little college could gain national fame. Now the event begins with a crowd of 68 teams. This is whittled down to the “sweet sixteen” after four days. It is cut further in the next two days of play to the “final four”. Over two more days of competition a champion is crowned. The University of California Los Angeles, UCLA, has won the most titles holding eleven trophies. Followed by Kentucky with seven. It should be noted that ten of UCLA’s eleven victories came between 1964 and 1975 under the direction of a single head coach, John Wooden; and their star player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the Most Outstanding Player trophy three times with this team. Not to leave out Kentucky, it should be said that they started winning with back to back wins in 1948 and 49. 12 |