Daylight savings time allows for night to fall later, making for more time spent outside. The snow on the ground melts away, and the drawer with all of my shorts can finally be opened from its 5 month hibernation. School days are being counted down, with only a little over a month left to go. Life is good.
Did I forget to mention they play some basketball games too?
A little over 3 years ago, a group of friends and I decided we wanted to commemorate our last March Madness in high school together by doing something great. We were sitting around in my basement when the idea hit us. We would make a huge NCAA bracket. Everyone seemed on board, but the problem arose when it came time to decide where to put it. Leave it to Bursa to solve everything. “THE CEILING!”
Thus it was born, the ceiling bracket. We carefully measured everything out but yet still messed up in classic fashion. It didn’t matter though, we were all there, working, eating, and laughing. We’ve tried to make a small update every year, just to keep it fresh. One year it was a line of past champions, another year we added the regional final names, and this year we put up all the game scores. The only thing missing is the signatures of everyone who helped put it up that day in March of 2004.
If you have not seen this 11 ft. X 9 ft. ceiling bracket, I suggest a visit. You know where to find me. You will not be disappointed.
Every year the majority of us fill out a bracket, maybe even get into a pool at school, at work, or with a small group of friends. We all sit and watch the games with a sudden rooting interest in each and every one of them. When the last second shot somehow finds its way in the basket some of us scream with jubilation, while others crumble up their wasted bracket and wait helplessly for next year.
All the way through high school the first two days of the tournament created a buzz around the hallways of school. The first set of tournament games start around 11:00 on a Thursday in March. For the first 18 years of my life, I found myself sitting in a classroom when the tournament got underway. However, certain teachers, like Mr. Stultz would put the games on during lessons. During a change in classes those who were lucky enough to know the scores would relay them to the less fortunate ones. As funny as it may sound, it provided a bonding experience for guys among different grade levels.
One particular tournament moment sticks out for me with regards to high school. First, just a little background information. Kevin, Huss, and myself have always done a pool on ESPN.com for as long as I can remember. Therefore, we tended to root against each others picks in order to win the pool. Well, the year was 2002, and the setting was in Mr. Siguenza’s room. Siguenza’s class was the last one for the day, and he did not mind when we asked if we could watch the tournament before we left for home. Huss had picked the Florida Gators to win the entire tournament and they were in a close game with the Creighton Bluejays in the first round. Kevin, Huss, myself and some other friends packed around Siguenza’s television for a good 25 minutes. Creighton and Florida were in double overtime, and with under one second to go, Terrell Taylor hit a game winning three pointer for Creighton to knock off Florida. Huss was extremely disappointed, Kevin and I were ecstatic, and Mr. Siguenza had no idea what was going on.
It is moments like that which I will never forget.
I’ll never forget Bryce Drew and Valparaiso. I’ll never forget Chris Webber’s timeout. I’ll never forget Grant Hill’s toss to Christian Laettner. I’ll never forget UCONN’s upset of Duke in 1999. I’ll never forget my little brother winning my pool in 2002, or my dad doing the same in 2004. I just can’t.
I can’t talk about March Madness without mentioning my favorite broadcaster, Gus Johnson. I remember Gus’s first ever tournament game. It was a first round game between the 4th seeded UCLA Bruins and the 13th seeded Princeton Tigers. Princeton upset UCLA 43-41 with a great backdoor pass and lay-up with just a few seconds left. Gus brings so much energy to the table, it’s hard not to like him. His voice has that certain cackle to it. It’s hard to explain, but if you were to watch a close game with Gus broadcasting, you would know what I am talking about. Gus is the man.
This year I planned on doing much better in my bracket than last years debacle. For the first time in recent memory, I did not get a single Final Four team last year. George Mason came out of nowhere. LSU upset my Texas Longhorns (a team I always seem to pick to go far), and UCLA stole one from Gonzaga in the last seconds.
Every year before the bracket is announced, I set in my mind 3 to 4 teams I really like. No matter who they get matched with, or what seed they may draw, I typically will have those teams going far in my bracket. This year my teams were Georgetown, Texas A&M, and Kansas.
I also follow a couple of rules when it comes to actually filling out my bracket. First of all, not every 1 seed is going to make it to the Final 4 (although this year it is getting pretty close). Secondly, a 12 seed always seems to upset a 5 seed in the first round (although this year it did not happen). My final rule is that in the last few years, one conference usually gets 2 teams in the Final 4 (this year only the Pac-10 can pull this off).
Based on my rules and how the tournament is going this year, it would appear that I would not be doing so hot. Well, take away Texas A&M and Law’s inability to make a lay-up, and I WOULD have been sitting pretty comfortably with all my Final 4 teams still intact. I had Kansas, Texas A&M, Georgetown, and Florida in the Final 4.
However, if the Jayhawks win it all, I’ll finish near the top of most of my pools. If they beat Georgetown in the finals, I might just win them. All I can do now is just sit, watch, and root. And I can not wait to do just that.
The NCAA tournament transcends sports. It goes past just winning and losing a basketball game. It provides moments and memories that will last a lifetime.
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