March Madness is Officially Heating Up

by Noah Santiago

Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Florida Gators dribbles the ball while defended by Chris Fields Jr. #24 of the Norfolk State Spartans during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/TNS)

With 2025's March Madness officially underway, millions of people rush to fill in brackets in hopes they can win the grand million-dollar prize - a feat no one has ever achieved before. The cultural phenomenon captivated basketball fans every spring for weeks. Fans love to see the underdogs take down the powerhouse teams, or the senior in his last year hit the game-winning shot. Whether you are a die-hard hoop fan or a casual just filling out a bracket, March Madness guarantees excitement.

The second round of the tournament is now complete, and not a perfect bracket remains out of the over 34 million that were filled out. March Madness is super unpredictable, with lots of upsets each year. This year's includes the 12-seeded McNeese defeating the 6-seed Clemson and the 10-seeded Arkansas taking down the 7-seed Kansas and the 2-seed St. John's, breaking lots of people's brackets. There always seems to be a Cinderella Story every year, where a big underdog team makes a big run defeating teams that no one thought they stood a chance against.

So far, Duke seems to be the favorite to win it all. UF is right behind them. The big underdog this year is Arkansas, with the lowest odds to win at a 75-1 chance. Duke has been dominant all season, going 33-3 before the tournament and finishing first in the rankings. This comes in thanks to phenom Cooper Flagg, the projected #1 overall pick for next year's draft.

March Madness never fails to deliver the excitement, chaos, and unforgettable moments that make it one of the most thrilling events in sports. With many dominant teams battling for the ultimate title, underdogs making unexpected runs, and brackets falling one by one, the tournaments continue to prove why they captivate millions every year. As the Sweet 16 round starts, all eyes will be on whether the favorites can hold their ground or if another Cinderella story will steal the show.