NCAA Men's Basketball tournament draws many fans
It's becoming one of the best-known rites of spring. The 86th annual NCAA Basketball Championship begins March 16, at the University of Dayton's UD Arena in Ohio.
The tournament takes place over three weeks at sites across the United States. The national semifinals, the Final Four, have become one of the nation's most prominent sporting events.
It is a single-elimination tournament featuring 68 college basketball teams. The tournament bracket is made up of conference tournament champions from each conference, which receive automatic bids. The remaining slots are at-large berths. Teams are chosen by an NCAA selection committee. The selection process and tournament seedings are based on several factors, including team ranking, win-loss records, and other data.
Since first held in 1939, the tournament has built a legacy that includes dynasty teams and dramatic underdog stories.
Beginning with rounds one and two, all games are featured on national television.
In recent years, friendly wagering on the event has become something of a national pastime, including countless workplace pools that attract expert fans and novices alike.
The term "March Madness" was coined by Henry V. Porter of the Illinois High School Association in 1939. Most historians agree that the name was popularized by Brent Musburger, a CBS sportscaster who worked in Chicago for many years.
