With the Final Four wrapping up this weekend, students all over campus engaged in the March ritual of tournament bracketology. People frequently put their bracket into pools online or into competitions with friends. Usually people just compete for pride, but sometimes prizes can be involved as well. This week I had the opportunity to ask a handful of students about their bracket and about why they enjoy March Madness.

Junior Greg Merrill said that he has enjoyed this year’s tournament but that all of the early upsets destroyed his bracket. But, what he was probably most disappointed about was that he did not pick his home state Michigan Wolverines to make this year’s Final Four. It will be interesting to see if Michigan, behind superstar point guard Trey Burke and versatile big man Mitch McGary can win it all this year.

Junior Jesse Imse says, “My bracket was busted on the first day because I had Georgetown winning it all this year. But I like rooting for the underdogs because it makes the tournament more entertaining. This year’s tournament has been March Madness at its finest!”

Junior Kate Brouillette also told me, “This year’s tournament has been very unpredictable. Usually I really care about my bracket but this year’s tournament has been so entertaining that I don’t really care about how my bracket turned out.”

Last but not least, my bracket looked very good at the beginning, however, three of the teams I picked to advance to the Final Four, Indiana, Kansas, and Miami (FL) all lost in the Sweet 16. I am hoping for better luck next year and I hope all of your brackets turned out better than mine.

All in all, this year’s tournament has been a great exhibition of the parody in college basketball and hopefully everyone enjoyed the madness!