For many sports fans, March is one of the most exciting months of the year, packed full of sporting events: MLB Opening Day, Formula 1 races, NBA and NHL playoff pushes; but one event stands out: the NCAA basketball tournament, otherwise known as March Madness.
Anything can happen in March. This year’s tournament has told two different stories: dominance at the top in the women’s bracket, and unpredictability on the men’s side.
The Elite Eight in the women’s tournament was exciting. The first and second rounds, as well as the Sweet Sixteen, were full of 10-30 point wins, with games getting closer and closer as the tournament went on.
Charity Elliott, Point Loma Nazarene University’s Women’s Basketball head coach, shared her thoughts on the women’s tournament thus far.
“I think there are four or five or six, maybe eight women’s teams that are just at a whole other level … and I think UConn is in that category,” she said. “March is March, and anything can happen. You’ve got to go out with no fear.”
No. 1 University of Connecticut (UConn), a powerhouse in both men’s and women’s basketball, defeated No. 6 Notre Dame 70-52.
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong are key players to watch for UConn. They face No. 1 South Carolina in the Final Four.
No. 1 South Carolina, 2024 national champions, bested No. 4 Oklahoma 94-68. They are led by legendary Head Coach Dawn Staley, a USA Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star. On the court, the Gamecocks are led by Joyce Edwards, averaging 19.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
No. 1 UCLA, led by forward Lauren Betts, will face No. 1 Texas in the Final Four, with all four No. 1 seed teams still standing.
Betts, averaging 17.1 points and a 57.7% field goal percentage, has one of the most compelling storylines in this year’s tournament.
She battled mental health challenges earlier in her college career and stepped away from the game for a period to focus on her well-being. She’s returned grounded and confident, leading the Bruins to their second Final Four in a row.
No. 1 Texas has had a rather expected run in the tournament this year, beating every team they have played by 30 to 40 points. The Longhorns had a 34-3 season and are highlighted by forward Madison Booker, who averages 19.3 points per game.
While the women’s tournament has largely been defined by dominant top seeds, the men’s side has delivered the chaos fans have come to expect.
For starters, No. 2 UConn eliminated No. 1 Duke, winning by only one point. Duke was the most favored to win the tournament; roughly 25% of brackets had them winning.
The Blue Devils blew a 15-point halftime lead and were up three points with 28 seconds to go.
After a foul and one of two free throws made by UConn guard Silas Demary Jr., the Huskies forced a turnover from Duke guard Cayden Boozer with less than seven seconds left, and freshman guard Braylon Mullins hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left.
The Huskies will face No. 3 Illinois, one of the Big Ten’s most consistent programs, known for their tough defense and versatile guards.
No. 1 Arizona has been winning most of their games with ease. Arizona has a nice mix of high-profile recruits and experienced upperclassmen, and with a versatile offense, they are more than capable of winning the tournament.
The Wildcats will go up against No. 1 Michigan in their Final Four matchup. The Wolverines were No. 1 in the Big 10 conference and have a versatile roster, with forward Yaxel Lendeborg averaging 14.9 points per game, Elliot Cadeau averaging 5.7 assists per game and Morez Johnson Jr. holding a 62.5% field goal percentage.
San Diego was included in the action with several first-round games happening at San Diego State University’s Viejas Arena.
Jenna Bernath, PLNU journalism alumna, who now works in CBU’s athletic department, shared about her experience being back in San Diego for the biggest stage in college sports. For smaller programs, simply making the tournament can be just as meaningful as advancing.
“It kind of felt like we were at a home game in a way, which was really crazy to experience,” she said. “We were just really proud of them for making it. … Point Loma’s success in sports and CBU’s success in making March Madness just shows that you don’t have to go to some massive university of thousands of students to be able to have that athletic experience.”
As it all unfolds, the men’s tournament is expected to deliver more of the unpredictability that has defined it so far — lower seeds riding momentum, last-second finishes and no clear favorite emerging.
High-level matchups are expected between Final Four women’s games: They’ll test whether dominance can continue or if a challenger can rise and disrupt the expected path to the championship.
Cade Michaelson