The swish of the net is all that is heard as the crowd holds a collective breath. The buzzer sounds as the ball falls through the net. March Madness is under way.
The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) college basketball tournaments start in the middle of March for both men and women. The men’s Final Four was held in Houston, Texas on Apr. 2nd. The University of Connecticut (UCONN) beat the University of Kentucky (UK) 56 to 55. Also for the men’s basketball, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) lost to Butler University 62 to 70. The women’s Final Four was held in Indianapolis, Indiana on Apr. 3rd. The University of Connecticut (UCONN) was beat by the University of Notre Dame 63 to 72. The University of Texas A&M- Collage Station (Texas A&M) beat Stanford University 63 to 62.
Nearing so close to the championship, many basketball fans are in a frenzy.
“I can’t wait for the championship. I’m so excited to see who will win,” Abigail Plexico, freshman, said.
While some still have hopes for their teams to win, there are those that they have to defeat to get where they are and their fans are feeling the loss.
“I was disappointed to see that A&M could have beat Baylor. I was so hoping that since they were able to beat UCONN earlier in the season, that they could make it to the top two and defeat them,” Stephen Hudson, DATA Geometry Teacher, said.
Preference between men’s and women’s basketball depends on the viewer. There is a controversy between which is more exciting to watch.
“I like to watch men’s basketball better. They have more action because women can’t play,” Steven Quinn, sophomore, said.
In the finals for men’s, UCONN will be playing Butler. Even down in Texas these northern teams have many fans.
“I was going for UCONN for both men and women’s (basketball), but I guess I can’t for women’s (UCONN basketball) anymore,” Plexico said.
In the finals for women’s, Notre Dame will be playing Texas A&M.
“I’m sad that it can’t be Baylor playing for the finals, but it’s nice to have a Texas team playing. They obviously are good if they can beat two number one teams in a row,” Hudson, said.
Texas A&M defeated Notre Dame for the women’s college basketball championship title while UConn held off a challenge from Butler University to claim the men’s title and survive the 68-team tournament.
