Yes, that time of the year is here, March Madness, or, The Big Dance as it’s sometimes called where the 68 top teams in college basketball meet to decide the national champion in a single-elimination tournament – win and move on or lose and go home. And I do go crazy over this, as I have for many years. But in my instance, the madness begins the week before the national tournament when I follow my favorite team, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, as they play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
This past week, I watched my 50th consecutive tournament, my first one being in 1967 in the early years of the legendary Dean Smith’s career as head coach of the Heels. They won that year as well as the following two, getting the automatic bids to the national tournament in ’67, ’68 and ’69. At that time, the only way an Atlantic Coast Conference team could go to the “big dance” was by winning the ACC Tournament, also single-elimination, regardless of their overall record. And in all three of those years, they made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, finishing third twice and second once. But Dean Smith finally got his national championship against Georgetown in 1982 thanks to a last-second shot by freshman Michael Jordan, and they won again in 1993 defeating Michigan in the finals.
Overall, North Carolina has won six national championships, one of the most famous in 1957 when they had to play two triple-overtime games in the Final Four, winning the semi-final game against Michigan, 74-70 and defeating Kansas in the finals, led by sophomore Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain, by the score of 54-53, giving them an undefeated season of 32-0. In their 63 years as members of the conference, the Heels have won the regular season conference championship thirty-one times, been in the ACC Tournament Finals thirty-four times, winning eighteen championships, participated in the Final Four a record eighteen times while being in the NCAA tournament forty-five times. They hold many more NCAA and ACC records which would turn this post into a novel, so I won’t go there.
Basketball in North Carolina is played on what is known as “tobacco road”. Tobacco due to it once being a major product in North Carolina, and the road was once US Highway 70 which one traveled to get to all four of the schools; Wake Forest; University of North Carolina; North Carolina State University; and Duke University. In this day and age, the road is now Interstate-40 that connects what is known as the “Big Four”.
But this past weekend, my 50th ACC Tournament viewed, was a success: the Heels won it, defeating Virginia 61-57, and on Sunday they received the #1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA tournament. So as we like to say around here, using our local catch phrase, “How ’bout dem Heels!” So, hopefully, my next three weeks will be tied up in front of the TV, watching my boys march to the national championship. Go Heels!
My husband becomes an absolute nut during March Madness. He is the definition of a super fan.
My husband is that annoying guy during March Madness. He played basketball in high school, and he loves to couch coach.
Having a basketball playing son, it’s all basketball all the time in my house right now! He’s picking the Heels to go all the way so we shall see!
My boyfriend is more into basketball but he only pays attention to one college team. We’re new to the state but we may have to keep an eye on the Tar Heels!
I used to be into watching basketball, especially March Madness, and then I became a parent! lol Now, we watch when we are able but we always keep an eye on our alma mater. Needless to say, we didn’t do well this year. Ahhh… it can be a rather crazy time of year. Enjoy the game, soak in the fun, and catch you next season!
I know so many people are looking forward to March Madness and know how much fun it can be. I hope the Tar Heels have a great season!
I don’t know anything about March Madness other than a lot of my tv shows get preempted when certain games are one.
All the men in my family are basketball fanatics. They get crazy during March Madness.
My boyfriend is into basketball but i know nothing about it! thanks for some insight, finally i have something to say to him about basketball.
My Son is a Basketball fanatic. He loves March Madness.
I am not a huge basketball fan. I never really watch the March Madness tournament. Good luck to all the teams.
I’m not too familiar with Sports and haven’t heard of March Madness until now. Thanks for sharing what it means.
Having a house full of girls we don’t really follow basketball much, Dance is our life, Thank you for sharing.
My son is a basketball player! He was watching a game tonight with my husband!
March Madness is celebrated in our home too! So fun to gather and cheer for our team the Wisconsin Badgers! Congrats to your team!
March Madness is not huge in our house, but I do have friends that are all about it! They go nuts over their brackets.
I am a Laker Girl! I love the LA Lakers so thats the only team I root for!
I can watch live games but for some reason don’t really watch them on TV