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NCAA Basketball Tournament
For those who faithfully follow March madness each year, the end of February signals the beginning of the most exciting tournament in college basketball.
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March Madness – 2006
by Kelly Croslis
This year will be the 67th year of March Madness. The first national collegiate men’s basketball tournament was held in 1939. District games were not considered a part of the tournament, only one team from the East and West regional advanced to the final site. From the first televised game in 1946 to the Present day many changes have taken place in forming what we now know as, “March Madness.”
At first one team from each the East and West regional played for the National title, while the regional runner-ups played for third place. From there the game grew to what it is today. The tournament started with 16 teams in 1951, increasing to 32 teams in 1975, 40 teams in 1979 and to 48 teams by 1980. With each increase in the number of teams, a new bracket plan was implemented. The primary objective in the bracketing process was to provide balance in the four geographical regions. In 1983, a schedule was established so the tournament would begin the third weekend in March. The regional championships would be held on the fourth Saturday and Sunday, with the national semifinals and championship the following Saturday and Monday.
As times changed, so did the way teams were teams were chosen as well as how information was presented. Between 1987 and 1999, drug testing and background checks on officials began in an effort to combat performance enhancing drugs as well as the effects of gambling. During this time technology also came into play with the creation of the first Online computer page for the Final Four.
‘R.O.C.K in the U.S.A,’ has been chosen as the theme of this years NCAA coverage. The 65-team championship field, Sunday, March 12th; the opening round play begins Tuesday, March 14th, with first-round action beginning Thursday, March 16th.
This year the “Final Four,” will come together in Indianapolis for the fourth annual Final Four concert, sponsored by Coca-Cola. John Mellencamp will headline the special free all-day concert, Sunday, April 2nd. The championship game will be held the following evening at the RCA Dome.
While the history of March Madness brings us to where we are today, there is no way of knowing where it will go from here.
About the Author: Kelly Croslis is a stay-at-home-mom to 3 busy teenage girls. After moving around the country with her husband for the last 15 years, while he has served in the U.S. Navy, they are looking forward to joining the 'civilian world' later this year. She has been writing for several years, having several works published in Poem Anthologies.
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