March Madness was first seen in 1939 when eight teams competed in the new competition. The program proved popular and continued to see expansion throughout the 20th century and, since 2011, it has consisted of 68 teams. The NCAA tournament is especially known for the unlikely successes of outsiders, while many players have made names for themselves throughout the knockout tournament.
March Madness Betting
This year’s selection Sunday takes place on March 16 with the first four played on March 18 and 19. The tournament will culminate in the NCAA championship game on April 7. The tournament is known for its major upsets, and most fans delight in seeing outsiders making long runs through the event, which also makes it a popular betting extravaganza with long-odds winners regularly featuring. Punters can bet from virtually anywhere, even in states like California where online sports betting is not yet regulated. Your ultimate guide to California sports betting with Card Player lists a host of offshore sites, many of which are offering odds on this year’s NCAA tournament.
Gambling expert James Briscoe points to great odds on a wide range of markets available from these sites. According to bookmakers, the current favorites to win this year’s NCAA tournament are Duke (+320) and Auburn (+350) but punters looking for value further down the field might want to consider Florida (+600) or Houston (+800). Texas Tech (+4000) will appeal to some bettors.
As well as being a betting extravaganza, attracting nearly $3 billion in bets, March Madness has also created some incredible sporting moments in the past 25 years.
1. Jimmer Fredette’s 2011 Run
In 2010, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette managed to score 37 points in a first-round match-up against Florida. But, while this was a memorable moment in itself, Fredette will more likely be remembered for his performance in the following year. During the 2011 tournament, Fredette scored 32 points in the first round with 34 points two nights later. Despite missing 12 of 15 threes in the Sweet 16, he still managed to score 32 points, and Fredette was the national player of that year.
2. The Huskies Epic Unexpected Run In 2011
Connecticut’s Huskies started 2011 unranked but the Jim Calhoun-coached team seemingly didn’t let that affect them, securing marginal wins over Arizona (65-63) and Kentucky (56-55) before beating Butler 53-41 to take their first championship for seven years but their third since 1999. What made their run all the more impressive was the fact they had to win five from five to secure their place in the tournament, meaning they enjoyed an 11-game run. Kemba Walker’s performances saw him drafted into the NBA, making his mark for the Charlotte Bobcats.
3. Anthony Davis Dragging Kentucky Over The Line In 2012
In 2012, the Kentucky Wildcats brought home their eighth title, winning 38 games across the entire season – a record shared with 5 other teams for the most wins in a single NCAA men’s Division 1 season. 6ft 10in Anthony Davis was the stand-out performer. The player, nicknamed “The Brow” had yet to make his mark on the game, but he arguably dragged Kentucky to the championship and, in the final match, he went on a late surge to ensure victory for the collegiate team. During the 2012 NBA draft, Davis was snagged up by the New Orleans Hornets but now plies his trade for the Dallas Mavericks.
4. Georgia’s Ron Hunter Hits The Deck In 2015
It isn’t always the players that leave a mark, and in 2015, it was Georgia coach Ron Hunter who left his mark. On the courtside floor. Hunter was coaching his first game of the tournament on a wheeled chair, after rupturing his Achilles while celebrating the conference tournament championship. When his son, RJ, scored the winning shot, after Georgia went on a 13-0 run to overturn a 56-44 deficit, Hunter celebrated so hard he toppled off his chair and had to be helped up by players and coaches during a time out.
5. Kris Jenkins’ 2016 Last Gasp Winner
Kris Jenkins scored arguably the greatest shot of any NCAA tournament in 2016. North Carolina and Villanova, and certainly one of the most memorable for fans. After Marcus Paige hit a three-pointer to bring the scores level at 74-74, with just four seconds left on the clock, and following a timeout, the Wildcats’ Ryan Arcidiacono dribbled up court before giving it back to Jenkins who hit a three-point shot which went in as the buzzer sounded. It was the first time a national championship was won on the buzzer.
6. 16th Seed UMBC Stomp To 2018 Victory
Seeding began back in 1985 and, while it might have its critics, it has proven fairly accurate. Before 2018, no number 16 seed had beaten a number 1 seed in 135 attempts, despite some coming close. 2018 changed that, however. Virginia had eased their way through the season thanks to a patient defense and powerful offense. So, they were expected to make easy work of no. 16 seed UMBC. The teams were tied 21-21 at halftime but, in the second half, UMBC took it to the Cavaliers and, eventually, won 74-54. It wasn’t just a victory, it was a mauling.
7. Virginia Vs Purdue 2019 Masterclass
Virginia will have wanted to forget 2018. They managed to dispatch no. 16 seed Gardner-Webb in the first round, putting the 2018 demons to bed. In the final showdown, with less than 6 seconds left, Diakite intentionally missed the second of two free throws. Kihei Clark picked up a ball at the backcourt before running away from his own basket and launched it to Diakite with three seconds left. Diakite duly caught, shot and scored with a millisecond of time left. The Cavs went on to win 80-75 in overtime.
8. Ja Morant’s 2019 Triple Double
Ja Morant had one of the best single-match performances of any NCAA tournament in 2019 when Murray State took on and beat favored Marquette. Morant scored 17 points, grabbed 16 assists, and knocked down 11 rebounds during the game. He was just the 7th player to get a triple-double in NCAA tournament history and those 16 assists are the joint third most assists in the history of the tournament.
9. Gonzaga And UCLA Were Almost Impossible To Separate In 2021
The whole of the 2021 tournament was held around Indianapolis and it saw UCLA facing off against Gonzaga in the final four. Gonzaga was attempting to be the first undefeated champions and the two teams duked it out for the entire match. The teams were tied at the end of regulation time and nothing separated them even with 3.3 seconds of overtime remaining. After 19 lead changes and 16 ties during the game, it was Jalen Suggs who dribbled up the court and scored a three-pointer to win the match for Gonzaga.
10. Mike Krzyewski’s Final North Carolina Game In 2022
North Carolina facing Duke is always a big match thanks to one of the sport’s greatest rivalries. The match-up during the 2022 NCAA tournament took on an extra level of rivalry with it also being Mike Krzyzewski’s final weekend of his coaching career. The game was every bit as exciting as fans hoped for, with 18 lead changes. North Carolina would eventually win the match, bringing an end to Coach K’s career.
