Though there is always quite a bit of madness in March, 2016 was packed with electrifying action all the way down to the final two shots of the NCAA Tournament, leading to a buzzer-beater that send Villanova on its way to the second championship in program history. It will be a tough act to follow, but that's just the beauty of the NCAA Tournament, as each year brings a new wave off unpredictability and surprises as the top teams in the country clash for all the marbles. Even if there are plenty of different ways to keep up with the action these days, being there to actually cheer on your favorite team during the Tournament is the type of experience that every college hoops lover needs to make happen sooner or later.
During the 2016 Tournament, it was Villanova that was able to put all the pieces together for yet another title run, defeating North Carolina in a memorable national championship game that went all the way down to the final shots. This time around, however, anything can happen considering the Tournament is known for being as unpredictable as sporting events come, providing plenty of reasons to make the trip to Raleigh, North Carolina to be a part of the action. With the top teams in the nation looking to make a statement, it's never a bad play to head out and see for yourself what all the excitement is about surrounding one of the most celebrated sports tournaments in the world.
The fanfare that comes with the annual NCAA Tournament simply speaks for itself, as the talent level and program commitment on display is simply astounding. Come out and see if the Cinderella team can keep their dream season alive, or watch the powerhouses look to assert their will and meet their title aspirations in another Tournament in which anything can happen after tip-off. It simply doesn't get any better than this if spectator sports are you're thing, as there is something extra special about being there when it's only university pride on the line and two talented teams are leaving it all on the court for university pride and a ticket further into the Tournament.
If you're expecting to see some amazing action on the hardwood, you're definitely in the right spot, as this is a sport that you have to see first-hand to truly appreciate if you want to get the full game day experience. Raleigh, North Carolina is a great spot that is known for having plenty of basketball fans in the area, which is why it's also the perfect meeting point for anyone looking to come in from out of town. With two incredible fan bases in the stands and all kinds of talent down on the court courtesy of the top teams in the nation, it's usually pretty easy to get lost in the excitement that is always at the epicenter of the NCAA Tournament.
College basketball culminates in the yearly NCAA Tournament, which traces its roots back to the late-1930s and has been growing in prominence over the decades as the sport has been accepted all over the country. The Tournament would go through many different evolutions, eventually expanding in the mid-1980s to 64 teams to give the basic outline that you see today, though nowadays there is also an early round that brings together four play-in games and 68 teams in total. Both powerhouses and underdogs have had some incredible moments over the years, which is part of the reason why you never know what's coming around the corner as all the teams in the tournament chase their title dreams in front of the best crowds of the year.
Who did the Villanova Wildcats beat in 1985 for the program's first title?
The first time that the Wildcats won the national title was also in a championship game for the ages, as the Wildcats narrowly took down Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 to mark the program's previous benchmark before winning it all again in 2016.
Don't even think about being left out of the excitement as the best in college basketball converge in Raleigh in what is always celebrated as one of the best sporting events of the year. Once you're there watching the big game unfold alongside tens of thousands of passionate fans, you'll see loud and clear what the Big Dance is all about, and you might even be thinking about doing it all over again as soon as possible by the time of the final whistle. Known for being a great option for basketball lovers of any age, you can't go wrong with heading out into the NCAA Tournament to get right into the heart of March Madness.