March Madness - An Introduction

There are 16.8 seconds left in the second half of the Elite Eight (quarter-finals) of the NCAA tournament. “David” in the form of Davidson Wildcats, has the ball trailing by two to “Goliath”, better known as the Kansas Jayhawks.

The Cats put the ball in the hands of their star Stephen Curry, a 6ft shooting guard who has burst onto the scene with an incredible tournament. The Cats hold, they want the last shot.

My brother and I, obviously cheering on the underdog, move to the edge of our seats. It has been a close game throughout that has had us jumping up and down with excitement in our living room. The loser goes home, the winner strides on to the Final Four. This is March Madness.

The clock hits the final ten seconds and Curry makes his move. The rugged Jayhawks defence gives him nothing as they work terrifically around Davidson screens. Curry has to give it up. He passes to reliable point guard Jason Richards, who must shoot with time running out. The deep three is off left and Kansas hold on to make the Final Four (semi finals) but the tremendous game, demonstrates why America loves March Madness and why my brother and I, sitting in our living room in England do too.

However, March Madness is more than thrilling basketball. It is more than sporting clichés, such as the aforementioned “edge of our seats” “David versus Goliath”, CBS broadcasters also highlight “Cinderella stories” and frequently “legends are born”. It is more than this though; the amateur sport is all about money.

For fans it is frowned upon in the US if you do not take part in a bracket (where you predict who will beat who to become champion). Individual game betting is also commonplace.

For the coaches who, unlike their players, are paid, it is about reaching and exceeding expectations to earn that multi-million dollar contract extension.

For the television companies and sponsors, it is about showing off their product to millions of viewers and bringing in the big bucks that way.

And for the players it is about advertising themselves. Big performances in March can mean big money come the NBA draft in June. Only a small percentage of those in the tournament get anywhere near the NBA but even if a player won’t make it that far, a good tournament run will only increase their value and help them get that first contract.

Just look at last year the NCAA tournament final saw the Florida Gators defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes. Eight players who played in that game are now plying their trade in the NBA.

Indeed, without such an impressive record in March it is unlikely former Gator, Corey Brewer, would have been drafted as high a seven by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Would another Gator Joakim Noah, a player with limited offensive skills been drafted ninth by the Chicago Bulls if he did not have the reputation as a winner?

Buckeye Mike Conley, who was drafted fourth overall by Memphis, may not have made the top ten had it not been for a few accomplished performances in March. Gators Chris Richard and Taureen Green were drafted in the second round but would not have made the NBA or NBA money if they hadn’t been part of the team that won two straight NCAA tournaments.

The tournament is about establishing oneself as a player and making money from there. In each draft in recent years, a player has dramatically improved his value with a good tournament. In 2006 it was Tyrus Thomas, in 2005 it was North Carolina’s trio of Raymond Felton, Sean May and Rashard McCants, in 2004 Ben Gordon and 2003 Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh

This year, for the first time in the history of the tournament, the top four seeded teams are the final four left in the competition. It will be an interesting battle between teams full of future NBA players and all-stars.

I won’t be missing it, I’ll be on the edge of my seat watching the legends being born even though it is all about money.

• The Final Four begins at 11pm on Saturday on NASN with the tournaments semi-finals. The final takes places at 2am Monday evening/Tuesday morning on the same channel.