March is the best time of year

The month of March is probably my favorite time of the year. The primary reason for this is because the NCAA Division I basketball tournament takes place during this month. The tournament is the biggest and most exciting event in America. There are so many games to follow , and everyone has a reasonable chance at predicting the outcome which makes it very accessible. This last thing in itself gives everyone a stake in the tournament. What other event captivates the attention of so many fans and even their grandmothers? Many are in interested in all the games since each has an effect on their prediction. The excitement is increased because of the nature of the tournament format and the game of basketball itself. Basketball is inherently a game of runs and flows. A team may have a huge lead, but there almost always is a chance to make a comeback. The game goes back and forth and is usually very unpredictable. The other great attribute is the fact the tournament format gives us rare matchups between majors from vastly different power conferences as well as between the good mid-majors and the majors. Since it is not a series format, but rather a one and done game, anyone has a chance to knock off any team on a given night.

We are in the midst of the first four days of the tournament, which I think are the best. In this span, the most games are played simultaneously. Also we usually see the crazy upsets of the first and second rounds. I almost feel the final four and the championship game are anticlimatic in comparison to the first four days.

Anyway now on to Purdue basketball. Purdue pulled out a great win on Friday night to stay alive. They outhustled and overwhelmed Arizona with their toughness. Also Purdue really slowed the game down and forced Arizona to play half court. We imposed our will on them. It really shows that sometimes talent and athletic ability alone cannot win games. It is a combination of many factors. A few of those factors are desire and effort. Friday night Purdue overcame Arizona's edge in athleticism and talent with heart, toughness, coaching, and determination. It was a great win in the Painter era. Hopefully more great things are on the way the next few years.

Purdue now gets the matchup with possibly the best team in the nation, Florida. I don't think realistically Purdue will win the game. Florida is a very complete team and definitely has the inside edge on Purdue. However, anything can happen since the game is a tournament game. Personally, I like these desperate situations. Instead of dread, I look at this as a great opportunity to give one of the best teams your best shot. This is a chance to leave a lasting impression. I am already proud of Purdue's turnaround this season. I will be more impressed if they give Florida all they can handle tomorrow afternoon.

Go Purdue