As March comes to an end, college basketball enters its final stage.
Only four teams remain in the NCAA tournament, but this year has a story different than most.
Usually there is one underdog team that most of the nation roots for, but that team ends up falling short just before reaching the Final Four. This season, however, went in the opposite direction.
Three teams made the Final Four for the first time this season, as San Diego State, Florida Atlantic and Miami (FL) all survived through the madness of the first two weekends.
This year’s version of the tournament might be the craziest one yet, as it is the first time since 1970 that three new teams have made the Final Four. It features some of the most fascinating underdog storylines in quite some time.
Starting with Florida Atlantic, the Owls started playing basketball in 1988 and did not play in Division I until 1993.
The Owls came out of nowhere, as they dominated teams in Conference USA. The Owls have a record of 35-3, making it the most wins out of any team in Division I this season. Florida Atlantic made history just by winning one tournament game, which the team had never done before. Now the team has a chance to make even more history.
San Diego State has a different story than the Owls, as the Aztecs have made several runs in the tournament, but never did get past the barrier of the Sweet 16.
In 2020, San Diego State finally had a team that could break through and possibly make a deep run and contend for a national title.
Instead, the 30-2 Aztecs saw their dreams crushed as the pandemic stopped the world.
The final underdog is Miami, as the Hurricanes have put together several successful seasons in football and baseball, but never in basketball.
Miami has the most experience of the three squads, as the Hurricanes made the Elite Eight last season.
Miami also has a coach that knows how to win in these types of games, as Jim Larrañaga took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.
We may not see this insane of a tournament ever again, so enjoy the madness while you can.
Even if you are not the biggest sports fan, I encourage you sit back and let the madness of March unfold.