The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, known as March Madness, is in full swing, and the madness has already begun. The tournament started March 17, and since then, upset and standout games have already amazed crowds of fans, including students and teachers here at OH.
“[[March Madness]] gets bigger and bigger every year, and it's only in the United States,” said OH special education teacher and Varsity basketball coach Jeff Gilmour. “Because of NIL money and the transfer portal, there's more parity throughout college basketball.”
March Madness is considered the best time of the year to both casual and fulltime sport fans, but for some it's particularly special.
“I watch as much as I can. … It's the most exciting time of the year for me. I'm a big college basketball fan– I don't really get into the NBA, and since high school season’s over now … college is the best tournament we have,” said Gilmour.
This week, the Indiana Hoosiers, led by Coach Curt Cignetti and Heisman winner Fernado Mendoza, completed the fairy tale turnaround in only the second year of the 12-team college football playoffs. The Hoosiers beat the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the CFP Championship Game on Jan. 20 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“I truthfully didn't expect things to go the way they did," said OH senior Logan Nieves. "I don't think anybody thought it would’ve been Miami playing Indiana.”
Both teams have had quite a story leading into the Championship game. The Indiana Hoosiers went 3-9 in the '23-24 season and finished last in the Big Ten Conference standings.
On the heals of NCAA's Jan. 17 decision to recognize women's wrestling as a championship sport, OH senior Kiyah Chavez earned second place in State Sat., March 1.
"I've really started to love wrestling, and it does make me sad...
OH students and staff are locking in their brackets with March Madness just around the corner. It’s a 68-team bracket for the National Championship where the winner advances on and the loser is eliminated.
“The most exciting part is having your first couple picks hit, but then realizing how impossible it is to get a perfect bracket,” said OH junior basketball player Luke Roller.
Podcast hosts Memphis Huguley and Ethan Monahan dig into the College Football Playoff Championship game on Mon., Jan. 20, predicting who will win when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish face the Ohio State Buckeyes. Who will win in this...