March Madness – Origin and Backstory Behind NCAA Tournament’s Unique Name

The rich history and lore that the amazing world of college basketball possesses is fascinating. When the first NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament took place back in 1939 it was quite different. However, the competition has evolved through many absorbing phases which has made it more exhilarating. Among those is the upcoming phenomenon of March Madness. While many are always anticipating this event, very little is known about how it came into being. Moreover, since its commencement, the impact it had on the sport is also worth noticing.

As the day closes in for another few weeks of thrilling and gripping college basketball action, let’s take a trip down memory lane to relive the special instances revolving around this madness.

The story revolving around March Madness

The 8 teams featuring in the inaugural edition of the NCAA championships laid the foundation for compelling basketball entertainment for the next 85 years. In addition to this, It was in 1939 only when an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter came up with the term ‘March Madness.’ However, its association with the tournament still had to wait. At the same time, the need for an expansion arose in the next 12 years when in 1951 it involved a total number of 16 teams.

Then, the number doubled to 32 in 1975 which saw UCLA beating Kentucky to become the national champions. Still, it was in 1982 when CBS broadcaster Brent Musberger used it to cover the tournament. Following this, the term has been frequently used ever since and it became more relevant in 1985 when the total number of teams allowed to participate reached 64. This continued until in 2001 Mountain West Conference became a part of Division I. Eventually, it was in 2011 when the current tally of 68 was finalized with the inclusion of 3 more teams.

Read More- March Madness 2024: Detailed Look into List of Venues and Cities Hosting the NCAA Tournament

Meanwhile, there have been several other moments throughout this period which have made the competition memorable.

Moments to celebrate the Madness

When we talk about the defining moments, the first one that comes to mind is Oregon becoming the NCAA’s very first champions. A monumental day that saw them beat Ohio State 46-33 and etched their name in the history books. Since then, there have several notable instances that further glorified this symbolic tournament. Another thing that can reiterate its value is the upsets. Apparently, it was UMBC who caused the biggest upset when it took down the then No.1 Virginia 74-54 in 2018. After this, last year, one of the tournament favorites Purdue was shown the exit door by FDU.

Ironically, the Blue Devils share a mixed bag amidst these moments. On one hand, they have the record for the best March Madness comeback when Coach K‘s champion team overcame a deficit of 22 points to beat Maryland 94-84 in 2001. On the other hand, their 95-78 defeat against the Pirates in 1989 is the second-largest lead blown. Apparently, they couldn’t hold on to their 18-point lead.

While Duke failed to get an automatic entry this time around, they still have a chance to enter the big dance through the at-large bid.

How does the March Madness dynamics work?

There are two ways in which a team can be a part of March Madness. The first one is the automatic bid. The teams that go through this must win their respective postseason tournaments to become one of the 32 teams to be a part of the upcoming NCAA event. This is regardless of how they performed in their regular season. At the same time, the avenue is known as the at-large bid. A 12-member committee determines in the final days of the regular season which 36 teams are eligible to be a part of the tournament. There is no confirmed method for their selection. In fact, the committee just figures it out through a sea of stats and rankings.

The thrill and excitement for the March Madness is unprecedented. While we’ll get to know which teams will head to the knockout rounds soon, further revelations will be made on the Selection Sunday. With multiple teams staking their claim in the post-season tournaments, there are many dark horses who can come out from the at-large bid. Further, the fans would want more memorable moments from the latest edition.

Read More- Can Marquette Win The March Madness?

Nevertheless, what history is made up of and how this most loved and exciting event came into play is a must-know. Especially, when this year’s bracket is going to look red hot with competitions that will send chills to everyone’s bones. Has your team entered the March Madness yet? If not, which team are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments below.