March Madness this year was… different. Not exactly the one I hoped for, but definitely one I won’t forget. I filled out my bracket like I always do—optimistically picking a bunch of upsets, thinking I’d catch lightning in a bottle. And like clockwork, the chaos I predicted never came. I was toast by the end of the first round. Let’s just say it didn’t work out. I went down fast. Real fast.

Despite my busted bracket, the tournament still had its moments. Houston’s energy was electric. They had non-stop hustle and heart. They played with an edge that made you want to root for them, even if you didn’t pick them. Even though they made it to the championship, they were a very fun team to watch. Maryland had a little fight in them too, and Ole Miss surprised me. I like the way they played. Maryland only played 5 players and came very short of an upset. Ole Miss was scrappy and tough. Those are the teams I find myself watching even when they’re not expected to go far. They keep things interesting.

But then came the Final Four… and yeah, I won’t lie—it felt a little boring. All 1 seeds making it? Chalk. No Cinderellas, no buzzer beater heartbreaks, no weird 11-seed that somehow catches fire? It kind of felt like a college basketball version of a pre-written script. That said, I get it. These were the best four teams all season, and they proved it. The games themselves were high-level— clean basketball, great coaching, solid execution. It just lacked that underdog spark that makes March Madness feel like March Madness. 

Being a part of the madness was always fun though. Filling out a bracket, trash talking with friends, watching buzzer beaters and heartbreaks – there’s nothing else like it. One day you’re yelling at your TV, the next you’re Googling schools you’ve never heard of. Even when your picks flame out, it’s the shared experience that makes it worth it. 

Now, I’m already looking ahead to next year. I think BYU is going to surprise a lot of people. They’ve got the pieces, the system, and if they keep trending up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a deep run. Mark it now: BYU is going far, a sleeper team turned contender. I’ll try to be smarter with my bracket too, and maybe not go all in on upsets next time. Or maybe I will. Who knows. 

All in all, this year’s tournament reminded me why I love March—even if it didn’t love me back. I’ll be back next year.