By Angel Efe-Nogo

March Madness is a cultural phenomenon that captivates millions every year. The iconic tournament is one of the most anticipated sporting events as it includes upsets, buzzer-beaters and fans who eagerly fill out the brackets and root for their favorite teams. But when did this NCAA tournament first become this widespread madness?

March Madness was not a big hit at first. The NCAA tournament was held for the first time in March 1949 including only eight teams; Oregon captured the championship by defeating Ohio State, 46-33. However, the gradual growth of the tournament reflected the increasing popularity and television coverage of college basketball. 

The turning point in the sport’s signature event came during the 1973-74 season, when the NCAA changed rules which allowed more than one college from each conference into the tourney. At the time, the organization had no idea this change would set the stage for what we fondly now know as “March Madness.”

The beginning of November officially set college basketball in stone. Duke, the team whose season ended in the Final Four last year, leads the 2026 NCAA basketball ranking having lost only one game. 

 Last March, Florida took home the cake, deafening Houston, 65-63. The Gators claimed their third title and first since the year 2007. In the current season, the Florida Gators hold the stats of 11 wins and five losses, ranking them in 19th place overall in the NCAA so maybe a championship repeat is not on their radar; many other colleges seem to have the big trophy in their forecast so let’s take a look.

Early fan favorites for the men’s tournament include Duke, Purdue, Houston and Gonzaga, while UConn is a strong favorite in the women’s tournament.

Duke, ranked number one, consistently lands top-ranked high school players, often bringing in multiple future NBA prospects each year. In fact, Duke has produced over 100 NBA draft picks, with recent stars like Cooper Flagg, Kon Knuepppel and Khaman Maluach joining the ranks in the 2025 draft.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s not forget about the women’s March Madness which has, and is, continuing to receive more popularity over the years. In truth, the 2024 Women’s March Madness had significantly more hype and viewership than the men’s tournament drawing a larger television audience, nearly estimating up to 19 million views for the first time. 

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, 2024 and 2025 number one first round draft picks, have a lot to thank for the women’s tournaments dominating headlines, setting viewership records and overshadowing the men’s event.

Overall, March Madness is an exhilarating tournament that transcends traditional sports into something even bigger and it is only continuing to grow. 

So now that you are all caught with your March Madness history, don’t forget to tune in during March. In case you are wondering, I will be marking the days and wearing the brightest orange because, of course, Go Fighting Illini!


Courtesy of CBS Sports