The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, is just around the corner, and many of its fans are getting ready to get the best of it.
After two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the famous basketball tournament is coming back looking almost like its standard version, although some COVID guidelines still apply for players and staff.
According to ESPN, many are wondering if Kansas Jayhawks will become the first team to become champion for the second time since 2006.
Many sports experts are already writing about what they believe could be the tournament’s outcome, while gamblers are looking for a reliable sportsbook for March Madness to place their bets and add some spice to the games.
March Madness schedule
According to the NCAA website, the 2023 men’s tournament will start mid-march. The first round will begin on March 14th and 15th in the UD Arena of Dayton, Ohio. The first and second rounds will extend during the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th of march, and the venues will be Legacy Arena (Birmingham, AL), Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, IA), Amway Center (Orlando, FL), Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, CA), MVP Arena (Albany, NY), Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH), Ball Arena (Denver, CO) and Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, NC).
While during March 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th, the west, east, Midwest, and south regional will take place in T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV), Madison Square Garden (New York, NY), T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, MO) and KFC Yum! (Louisville, KY).
The Final Four will start on April the 1st and 3rd in the NRG Stadium (Houston, TX). It will keep going during the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th of April in the Arizona State University (State Farm Stadium), the Alamodome (San Antonio, TX), Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis), Ford Field (Detroit), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) and the AT&T Stadium (North Texas).
Getting ready for fun
Below we have reunited some fun facts that will help fans wait for the March Madness dates to arrive. Check them out to learn a curious fact about one of the most popular tournaments in the United States.
1. Basic facts
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) March Madness tournament was created in 1939 by Harold Olsen, a coach who presented the idea to the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Since its creation, the tournament has featured sixty-eight college basketball teams that play in the NCAA, and it is one of the most popular sports events in the country.
Aside from following the games, it is standard for Americans to bet on the tournament’s possible outcomes by participating in the bracket pool contest.
2. First time for ladies
Starting in 2023, the NCAA March Madness will also refer to the women’s basketball tournament. Up to this point, NCAA March Madness only included the men’s basketball tournament, while women’s basketball was referred to as women’s basketball.
Fortunately, times are changing, and inequality between gender is being tackled on many levels, such as disproportions between facilities available for both teams.
Consequently, 2023 marks a turning point with the NCAA March Madness brand incorporating women’s basketball tournaments.
3. Biggest scores
Until today, Christian Donald Laettner holds the title of an all-time leading scorer. He played for the Duke Blue Devils of Durham, North Carolina, was later selected for the Dream Team in 1992, and contributed to winning the gold medal during the Olympics.
Laettner’s career in the college league is so impressive that, after 30, no one has been able to exceed his record of 407 points. In fact, within March Madness, only less than ten players reached the 300.
Another impressive record is for Austin Carr. He played for the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and, in 1970, scored 61 points in a single game, which earned him a record that has remained undefeated for half a century.
Last but not least impressive record within March Madness goes for Lorri Bauman. She played for the Drake Bulldogs of Des Moines (Iowa) and stands out for her remarkable career, holding the record of 50 points in a single game.