With seconds ticking off the clock the shot goes up, hits the rim, and bounces right to a Gonzaga guard.  He brings it up the court and makes a lay-up with .9 seconds left in the game.

                After Gonzaga makes the lay-up, the twelfth seeded Western Kentucky HillToppers realize that their season is almost over.  The HillToppers know they were just an inbound pass, a full-court miracle shot, and a celebration by the Gonzaga Bulldogs away from being defeated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

                While the HillToppers whimper about their two-point, last-second loss, millions of people across the country jump off their couches to celebrate with Gonzaga as they reach for their brackets to highlight the win with a yellow-highlighter mark instead of red sharpie representing their losses.  The first real Cinderella team is knocked out of the tournament.

                Personally, I don’t watch college basketball throughout the year, but when the time comes for March Madness, I begin to pay attention.

                It is a national phenomenon.  Kids fill out brackets.  Teachers fill out brackets.  Even the President of the United States fills out a bracket, creating the term “Barack-etology.”

                Not only do millions of fans across America get excited about March Madness, but sixty-four teams have only one goal in mind: to be named the national champion.

                Last year’s tenth ranked Davidson Wildcats made it to the Elite Eight.  This year Ohio’s own Cleveland State beat fourth ranked Wake Forest for the first real upset of the tournament.  Cleveland State eventually lost to twelfth ranked Arizona, who may now be named this year’s Cinderella team.

                In their brackets some people happen to choose the best teams who may end up breaking your heart (Wake Forest and Florida State.)  Some people insist on picking their hometown team (Akron or Ohio State— that worked out for everyone!)  No matter what team you choose you will still have fun participating in March Madness.

                March Madness is a time where the country comes together for one purpose— the chance to win their respective bracket.

March Madness is a time for teams— who may have faced diversity during the regular season— to come together and become this year’s Cinderella.

                March Madness is one of those times, where people put aside their differences and become one as they support their teams to win.

                Even though the Western Kentucky HillToppers lost in a game that had the potential to be the biggest upset in the entire tournament, they showed why March Madness is the most exciting event in sports.  A team that many give no chance to win a tournament game may provide for an early upset, or at least a very exciting game.  A player who many have not heard of, may have a breakthrough tournament game and show up on the radar of many NBA scouts.  When it comes to March, anything is possible.