With March now in full swing, there is a good chance you have heard the buzz around the school regarding the end of year college basketball tournament known as March Madness. From the day the brackets detailing all of the matchups come out, it seems like the whole school goes into a frenzy and I am here now to tell you why.

First of all, the format of the tournament is crucial. March Madness is the largest single elimination tournament in college sports, meaning your dream of winning the school pool could end just as fast as it started. Furthermore, the games are more pressuring for students to follow being that there are no second chances for any team. On a different note, the rapid fire pace of the tournament is also highly effective. Within only the first 4 days of the tournament, 48 games take place, meaning the action never gets dull and students always have games to look forward to.

Next, arguably the largest draw to March Madness is the numerous bracket pools that include cash prizes. Every year, a large majority of students join a school-wide pool consisting of a $10 entry fee. Because the pool is run on the yahoo website, once the madness gets underway, everybody in the school can see who has the hottest bracket, which can earn you coveted bragging rights. Junior and March Madness expert Brendan Carberry states that “without the school-wide pool, March Madness wouldn’t really be fun.” With a grand prize of upwards of $800, it is clear to see why the tournament draws such a big crowd.

Lastly, the unpredictability of the tournament puts the cherry on top. Each year, there is an average of 8 upsets just in the first round and one or two cinderella teams that advance to the elite eight. As a result, students are always hunting for that next upset pick that will set their bracket apart. If you’re upset picks win, you will appear to be a genius.

Finally, although March Madness results in failure for most people, it is a time that everybody knows and loves.