March Madness is one of the most popular sporting events in the United States. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, better known as “March Madness.” Every March, teams from all over the country compete to become the National Champion of college basketball. But why is it called “March Madness”? And why is it called “seed” in March Madness?
What is March Madness?
March Madness is a single-elimination tournament that is played every year to decide the national champion of college basketball. It is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and usually takes place in March of each year. The tournament consists of 68 teams, which are selected by a special selection committee. The teams are divided into four regions, and each team is assigned a “seed” (their ranking) in the tournament. The teams then compete in an elimination bracket, with the winner of each game advancing to the next round.
Why is it Called “March Madness?”
The phrase “March Madness” is used to describe the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the NCAA tournament. The term was first used in 1939 when a reporter for the Illinois High School Association described the state tournament as “a march madness of emotion and excitement.” Since then, the term has become synonymous with the NCAA tournament and is used to refer to the tournament’s unpredictable nature and exciting games.
Why is it Called “Seed” in March Madness?
In March Madness, each team is assigned a “seed” that determines their ranking in the tournament. This is known as the “seeding” process. The teams are seeded based on their record, strength of schedule, and other factors. The higher the seed, the better the team is considered to be. The top four teams in each region are considered “top seeds” and are given the best chance of winning the tournament.
The term “seed” was first used in basketball in the 1930s. At the time, teams were seeded based on the results of previous tournaments and how they were expected to perform in the upcoming one. The term was adopted by the NCAA in the mid-1970s and has since become an integral part of the March Madness tournament.
Conclusion
March Madness is one of the most popular sporting events in the United States. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. The term “March Madness” is used to describe the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the tournament, while “seed” is used to describe the ranking of each team in the tournament. The term was first used in the 1930s and has since become an integral part of March Madness.