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You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / A wild ride of an NCAA tournament comes to a predictable end

A wild ride of an NCAA tournament comes to a predictable end

April 6, 2018 by Max Preston

If you kept up with the NCAA tournament this year, your mind might have exploded with the madness that occurred throughout. However, the insanity still came to a predictable ending.

This year’s bracket was filled with major upsets. We saw the first ever 16-seed victory when the University of Maryland Baltimore County took down Virginia, a team highly favored to win the title. Loyola-Chicago captured hearts with Sister Jean and an improbable run to the Final Four. We even saw a region not send any of its top four seeds to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever.

The ending of the tournament, as usual, came to a predictable ending though. I don’t want to take anything away from a historic tournament, but Villanova being crowned the champion could have easily been picked before it even started.

In the last 20 years, with the exception of 7-seed UConn in 2014, no seed lower than three has won the National Championship. I know it’s a little too much to ask since there were so many surprising upsets and comebacks that happened, but can we not have a well known and talented school win the title?

Loyola-Chicago was only the fourth 11-seed to ever make the Final Four, which also ties for the highest seed to ever make it that far, and with the way the team was playing, fans were rooting for the Wolves to make the championship over Michigan.

While Villanova most likely would have also beat Loyola-Chicago, it would have been an awesome change rather than to see the usual 3-seed or higher teams playing for the trophy.

I believe in this historic tournament; it was destiny for a Cinderella team to at least make the National Championship. I can’t say I’m upset with what took place in this bracket busting tournament though.

Through all the noise of the incredible upsets, Villanova dominated and remained a true 1-seed team. The Wildcats, not to be mistaken for ACU, deserved the title after the strong successful season they put together.

Watching a team win two championships within three years is also witnessing history, even if the school is a talented top-seeded team, because winning a title in college basketball is tough. I just hope an unexpected team can make a championship run in the near future.

Filed Under: Columns, Sports

Other Opinion:

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About Max Preston

Max Preston is a senior convergence journalism major from Amarillo.

I wouldn’t be the sports director if I didn’t love sports. I’m involved in Galaxy social club and like being social. I’m here for a good time not a long time.

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / A wild ride of an NCAA tournament comes to a predictable end

Other Opinion:

  • Skipping class is a drug

  • Athletics have a lack of traditions leading to low engagement from students

  • Directionless but encouraged: My experience on The College Tour’s film set

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