Why This March Madness Stinks (even as a Maryland Fan)

When I think of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, I think of UMBC over Virginia. I think of Loyola Chicago's run to the Final Four, and I think of those officials from the Maryland-Duke 2001 Final Four who shouldn’t even have been allowed to officiate a high school game. When I think of March Madness, I think of the upsets, the buzzer-beaters, and most importantly, "One Shining Moment."

This year's March Madness, besides Maryland making the Sweet 16, has been horrible. There have been no major Cinderellas, historic upsets, or random players becoming household names. Don’t get me wrong, the games in the second weekend have been great with the higher seeds in, but considering what we’ve had the past couple of years, this tournament has been disappointing. The one buzzer-beater we got this year was from Maryland, but it came at the cost of the only Cinderella left in the tournament in Colorado State.

Part of the magic of March Madness is the unpredictability, the chaos that turns casual fans into die-hards for a weekend. This year, we haven’t had any of that. Instead, it’s been business as usual—top seeds rolling, blue bloods dominating, and the committee patting itself on the back for getting the seedings "right."  Where’s the Fairleigh Dickinson shocking Purdue? Where are the Jack Gohlke’s of the tournament making 10 three-pointers to eliminate a three seed.  Instead, we’ve been given a tournament that feels more like the NBA Playoffs—predictable and chalky.

Even the big-name teams that are advancing aren’t giving us the drama we crave. The games have been competitive, sure, but nothing has felt like an all-time classic. There’s no Steph Curry from Davidson making magic, no George Mason breaking brackets. The closest thing to a Cinderella this year got sent home before the second weekend. It’s like watching a movie where you already know the ending before you even get halfway through.

As a Maryland fan, I should be thrilled that the Terps got to dance as long as they did. But even that excitement is dulled by the fact that the tournament lacks the energy and unpredictability that makes March Madness unique (and also because its coach seemed to spend a lot of time focused on another job). At this point, all I can do is hope that the Final Four delivers something memorable because if this tournament ends the way it’s gone so far, it will be one of the most forgettable in recent memory.

Let’s just hope next year brings the madness back to March!