With March Madness in full swing, it's time you learned how to keep up with the frenzied excitement of the tournament. From understanding bracketology to picking your winner, this guide will help you make the most out of March Madness in 2023.
We'll give you tips on how to pick the best teams, when to switch your picks, and everything else you need to know in order to have a successful bracket.
Let's get started!
March Madness 2023 Overview
What Is March Madness?
In case you don't already know, March Madness is an annual single-elimination tournament that takes place in March and April. Its purpose is to determine the collegiate men's basketball national champion from the NCAA Division I.
How Does the Tournament Work?
The tournament consists of 68 college basketball teams who compete in seven rounds of games (the First Four, the First Round, the Second Round, the "Sweet Sixteen," the "Elite Eight," and the "Final Four").
32 of the competing teams automatically enter the tournament after winning their respective conference tournament. The remaining 36 teams are picked by the Selection Committee based on their performance throughout the regular season.
The teams are arranged, or "seeded," for the first game based on their overall rank within their geographic conference. A team's ranking ranges from one to 16. Following gameplay, the winners advance to the next round. This results in a total of 67 tournament games that culminate in the National Championship Game.
Since its creation in 1939, the tournament has become one of the most popular events in all of sports. As a result, it often carries a high amount of excitement for sports junkies and more casual fans alike.
Understanding Bracketology
The Phenomenon of the March Madness Bracket
One of the reasons March Madness is so well-known, even among folks who don't usually watch sports, is that fans have the chance to fill out a bracket. This is where you pick which team you think will win each round of games, from the initial matches all the way up to the Championship Game.
As the tournament progresses, you and your friends get to see if your picks are correct or if you got left in the dust. It's a great way to stay involved with the tournament even if you don't manage to catch every game.
It offers a similar appeal to fantasy football leagues, even if you don't get to track points of individual player accomplishments in the same way.
Where to Find NCAA March Madness Brackets
You can print out a bracket online and fill it out by yourself, with friends or family, or with coworkers. Just as long as you have a completed bracket at the ready, you can enjoy the tournament and see how your predictions hold up.
Picking the Best Teams
Now that you understand what March Madness and bracketology are all about, let’s talk about how to make your own bracket for the 2023 NCAA tournament.
Know the Teams
The first step is to research the teams that will be in the NCAA tournament. The teams are arranged into four regions: the South Regional, West Regional, North Regional, and East Regional.
You can find information about team standings, stats, and overall performance on websites like ESPN or CBS Sports.
Once you have a good understanding of each team's performance during the regular season, you'll be able to make more educated guesses when it comes time to fill out your March Madness bracket.
Other Factors to Consider
Remember that since March Madness is a single-elimination tournament, every game counts. It helps to pay attention to teams with a good record of winning in previous NCAA tournaments.
If you're still not sure which teams to put where on your bracket, it never hurts to go with a sentimental reason, such as predicting that your alma mater will make it all the way to the final game. After all, March Madness is about having fun!
When to Switch Your Picks
Why Switching Is Okay
When filling out your bracket, it's important to consider when you should switch up your picks. While the tournament is single-elimination, it doesn't mean you have to stick with one team the whole way through.
Upsets and Cinderella Stories
As the tournament progresses, there are usually some unexpected results and "Cinderella story" underdog wins that can throw a wrench in your bracket (just like with any sport!).
In fact, these surprising upsets (such as come-from-behind wins in the second half by a double-digit seed) are one of the most exciting parts of the tournament!
It's also important to remember that March Madness brackets are typically filled out well before the tournament begins, so you won't have all of the information when making your initial picks.
As more games are played, you'll get a better sense of which teams have the best chance of winning and can switch up your picks accordingly.
Strategies for a Successful March Madness Bracket in 2023
And that's about it! Simply keep up with the games and adjust your bracket as the teams fight for dominance throughout the tournament. At the end of the championship round, you'll know who has bragging rights and who has egg on their face.
Still, if you want some more fast tips and advice on sinking the bracket equivalent of a three-pointer, here are some more suggestions:
- Split your risk by generating multiple brackets with different picks for each game.
- Utilize analytics when making picks, including factors such as team strengths, weaknesses, matchups against other teams, and historical performance.
- Balance risk-taking with more reliable predictions by picking some underdogs mixed in with safer selections.
- Don’t wait until the last minute - create your bracket before the tournament starts, so you don’t miss any important details or surprise developments.
- Keep track of all your brackets throughout March Madness 2023 and have friends or family join in the fun.
Wrapping Up - Get Ready For March Madness in 2023!
Whether you're an old hand at bracketology or have never touched a bracket in your life, March Madness is an exciting event that brings out the competitive side in all of us.
With 2023's March Madness tournament already upon us, now is the time to create your successful March Madness bracket.
By following our guide and utilizing our sensible strategies, you can boost your chances of crafting a championship bracket!
So what are you waiting for? Get ready to create a March Madness bracket, celebrate your team spirit, and follow along with the tournament today!
