Even though spring hasn’t quite arrived at Fieldston, one annual tradition signals the changing of seasons: March Madness. Sometimes called The Natty, The Big Dance or just “The Dance,” The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is an exciting time for die-hard fans and even those who haven’t watched a game all season.
For many, the anticipation of “The Dance” kicks off with closely following conference tournaments, which are often followed by a crash course in bracketology, all in search of the elusive perfect bracket and the bragging rights that come with it. At Fieldston this year, that sense of energy around brackets was alive. Secretary of Athletics Lily Saal organized a bracket competition for each grade, bringing some peer rivalry to each game.
What was unique about this year’s tournament was the lack of upsets. Many people who filled out their brackets using traditional seedings did quite well. In fact, the top seed in each bracket (explain the four quadrants of the bracket) ascended to the final four.
This lack of upsets didn’t make the games any less exciting. In fact, both of the national semi-final games, Florida vs. Auburn and Duke vs. Houston, were decided by six points or fewer. The championship game between Florida and Houston was a two-point game! Ultimately, Florida was victorious, and the Gators became national champions for the first time since their back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007.
The tournament was exhilarating, and hopefully, the warmer weather that typically comes to Fieldston with the March Madness games will arrive soon!
