History of MARCH MADNESS Soleil Dam March Madness is a Division 1 single-elimination basketball tournament that started in 1939. The name originated from a popular high school basketball tournament in Illinois and was adapted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for its annual tournament. The tournament generates over 90% of the NCAA’s annual revenue. It has two separate tournaments that showcase the 68-best Division 1 women’s basketball teams and 68-best Division 1 men’s basketball teams in the United States. This lucrative tournament starts off with teams separated into South, West, East, and Midwest divisions that earn nicknames such as the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four as the tournament progresses. With the rise of sports betting, the tournament has gained popularity and made even more money. Many people fill out a bracket based on who they think will win each matchup. Bettors will put a certain amount of money down in hopes of predicting all winners correctly and cashing in on up to $495,000. “Sports betting and betting on brackets has affected March Madness positively because it makes any game worth watching because it will matter to you,” said Andrei Tomutiu, a junior at Carlmont. During mid-March, the full March Madness bracket with teams and seedings is revealed by the Selection Committee on Selection Sunday.
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18 HIGHLANDER SPORTS
