Author: Tiffany Champion
March Madness: A Beginner’s Guide 🏀
Start your engines: it’s college basketball o’clock, and the annual frenzy is about to begin anew. In 2024, the tournament averaged nearly 10M viewers per game. That figure is nothing to sneeze at – for comparison, the entire population of Greece sits just over that mark. In other words, it’s a pretty big deal.
Statistically speaking, even if you’re not into it, there’s a high likelihood that someone you know is. Sports in general, but especially communal sports events like this one, are a fun and easy reason to gather and bond within our communities, whether IRL at games or following along from home. But on the same hand, the spectacle is somewhat intimidating to newcomers, which can prove to be a participation barrier.
In reality, this tournament has room for all, from the diehards to casual newbies, and everyone in between, which is part of what makes it so special. This year, to knockout (pun intended) FOMO, we’ve prepared this beginner-friendly guide to get anyone who could use one up to speed. Keep reading as we break down the basics by covering all those questions you were too afraid to ask your group chat, allowing you to March on with confidence amongst your coworkers, family, and friends these next few weeks – and keep your chill in the chaos.
What Makes March So Special? 🏀
Every March, a college basketball tournament featuring 68 Division 1 (aka the highest level of college sports in the United States) men’s and women’s teams from across the country is held.
Every year, participating teams are announced on Selection Sunday, the Sunday before the third Thursday of March (try saying that five times fast), when play begins. After the First Four trims the field from 68 to 64, the action kicks into high gear, and the tournament culminates with a championship game in early April.
Why Is It So Competitive? 🏆
A single-elimination tournament (which you might see referred to as knockout or sudden-death) means that the loser of every matchup is out of title contention, and the victorious team moves forward into the next round, eliminating opponents until only two teams remain vying for national championship glory.
When you’re out, you’re out, so the stakes are high.
Who Should I Be Rooting For? 🤼
That’s up to you! You don’t even have to root for anyone, but it might be more fun if you do!
- If your family or state has a prevailing team allegiance, or if your alma mater is participating, that’s a good place to start.
- If neither applies, you can root for the underdog! A term you’ll want to know is “Cinderella team,” which refers to lower-seeded teams that advance further than expected in a tournament by pulling off shocking, bracket-busting upsets.
- Keep in mind as you create your own bracket that the higher-ranked teams aren’t always a guaranteed win. Bracket busting happens to everyone, so enjoy your front seat to the drama!
What’s a Seed? What’s a Bracket? Where Do I Get One? 🤓
Once the remaining 64 teams are determined, they are divided into four regions of 16 teams each and ranked 1-16. That assigned ranking is the team’s seed within their region.
The tournament bracket represents all of the competing teams, the path each team needs to follow to reach the Final Four, and, if luck is on their side, the championship game.
And since no beginner’s guide would be complete without one, we made you your very own 💜💚
Ok, I’m In. How Do I Get Involved? 🤝
Now that you’re caught up on the essentials, this part is the competition within the competition.
- Ask your family, friends, and coworkers if they’re setting up a bracket challenge, where you’ll compete to predict the winners of every game in the tournament. The participant with the highest score at the end wins!
- Few things delight sports fans more than being invited to discuss sports freely, especially if that interest is new. Since sports are universal, sports talk is a great way to open doors socially.
- Hosting and attending watch parties is a highlight of the competition each year, thanks to great snacks, great sips, and playful trash talk.
Is It More/Only Fun If I’m Drinking? 😰
Definitely not.
Recently on the blog, we’ve covered ways to enhance celebrations and social situations [hyperlink après ski and St. Patrick’s here] typically associated with freely-flowing alcohol with adult beverage alternatives like Wynk.
While it’s true that this tournament is one of the biggest sports-related drinking events of the year, as a 0-calorie, 0-sugar, and 0-proof option, you can get your buzz on without waking up feeling foggy. Choosing mindful swaps like our #1 team of THC + CBD means making more memories without having to sacrifice any fun. Pick up an Everything Bundle to get squared away as the games begin.
Ready to March?
See, it’s not so intimidating after all, is it?
Believe it or not, after this blog post, you officially have all the knowledge (and cans of Wynk) you’ll need to survive the tension, excitement, and nonstop chatter of the next few weeks.
- Complete your bracket and select your champ.
- Check out the full tournament schedule here to get those watch party plans going.
- Start asking around about joining pools, and dive into the competitive spirit headfirst.
Welcome to the club, and enjoy showing off your brand-new sports savvy! Human beings have enjoyed watching sports socially for thousands of years, and hopefully, we’ll be doing it for thousands more. 🏀🎉
