by: Kerry Lippold Jr.
As we move into March, we approach quite possibly the wildest two and a half weeks of the year for college sports fans around the globe. Each year, 68 college basketball teams compete head-to-head in what is known as March Madness or the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament.
The madness of this tournament originates on the court but resonates with millions of fans. More than 30 games take place in the first two days. Essentially, a team must win or go home with no second chance to reestablish themselves in the competition. The risk and competitive play are what draws fans in. Not only does it draw a general interest, but it has also come to be a source for gambling using brackets.
According to the American Gaming Association, nearly 40 million people filled out approximately 70 million brackets for the 2015 NCAA Tournament on how they believe the tournament will play out. The Association reported that upwards of $9.2 billion were waged on these predictions.
For the 2019 NCAA Tournament, fans were able to enter the ESPN Tournament Challenge, as they can this year, for a chance to win money. Last year, after the first two days, only nine of the 17.2 million bracket predictions remained perfect. One of Parkland’s own tries to beat the odds each year by indulging in the tournament and filling out a bracket of his own.
Kyle Schum, a flight instructor for Parkland College’s Institute of Aviation, started at Parkland in the spring of 2017 where he began his studies in Aviation. As an instructor, Schum is also working towards the completion of his bachelor’s degree in aviation management. “I plan on a career in Aviation, which hopefully includes helping others achieve their aviation dreams,” he said.
Outside of aviation, Schum has been a fan of college basketball for years. He told the Prospectus, “I have been an all–things University of Illinois fan from day one. I grew up during the Bruce Weber era, which included the 2005 run to the Final Four. Basketball season is a special time that culminates with the NCAA tournament.” This exceptional time for Illinois basketball mentioned in a previous article was a memorable time for true Illini fans to say the least.
“The anticipation of even having a small chance of picking the perfect bracket is what draws me to March Madness…”
The Final Four is a fight in the NCAA tournament for a spot in the championship game and for any team to accomplish this after a strenuous and high stakes tournament is quite the feat. Some would argue predicting a perfect bracket leading up to these games is win in and of itself.
“The anticipation of even having a small chance of picking the perfect bracket is what draws me to March Madness. The perfect bracket though is usually no longer perfect by midday of the first games,” Schum said.
Expectations for Illini basketball in this year’s NCAA Tournament has the instructor and college basketball fan anxious for March Madness. “I am even more excited this year about Illinois prospects in the tournament. Although, I believe the seeding projections have them a little low. I am looking forward to Selection Sunday,” he said.
Can you beat the odds and have a perfect bracket this March Madness? Catch the first-round game selections on March 15 and make your predictions with ESPN to compete with friends, celebrities, and other fans. Additionally, keep an eye out for events around Parkland to celebrate and embrace the competition.
