Often dubbed the most entertaining time in sports by media personalities and casual fans alike, March Madness comes and goes with the passing of each year. This year was no different from previous years as the tournament truly lived up to its name. 

In the Women’s Tournament, Louisiana State University (LSU) captured its first national title ever, and did so behind a spectacular offensive performance. The Tigers scored 102 points, breaking the record for most points scored in the championship game, surpassing Texas’s 97 points scored against Southern California in 1986. LSU beat Iowa University, and ended an incredible run by star guard Caitlin Clark, who scored 30 points in the championship game, 40 points in the semifinals where she helped beat an undefeated South Carolina, and had the first 40 point triple double in NCAA history during the Elite Eight. Clark also surpassed Sheryl Swoopes record for most points in a tournament, scoring 191 compared to Swoopes’ 177. 

Perhaps the most surprising upset in the Women’s Tournament was #9 seed Miami beating #1 seed Indiana in the Round 32. The women’s tournament shattered viewership records, having an average ticket price to the final of $331 compared to the men’s $234. The championship game averaged 9.92 million viewers, becoming the most watched women’s college basketball game ever. 

In the men’s tournament, #4 seed University of Connecticut captured its 5th national title lead by forward Adama Sanogo and guard Jordan Hawkins, beating #5 San Diego State. The tournament was one of the craziest of all time, with #16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson University beating #1 seed Purdue. FDU became the second #16 seed to beat a #1 seed ever. #15 seed Princeotn won 3 games, making it to the Elite Eight. 

This year marked was the first time that a single #3 seed or lower seed (meaning #1 and #2 seeds) had not made the Final Four in the Men’s Tournament, and was the first time that no #1 seed made it into the Elite Eight. The collective seed total of the Final Four teams was the highest it has been since 2011. Three of the four Final Four teams – Miami, Florida Atlantic, and San Diego State – had never made it this far into the tournament. 

The Men’s Tournament, however, did see a decrease in viewership, perhaps due to these lower seeds being in the final games. Averaging 12.34 millions viewers for the Final Four, the viewership base decreased by 17% since last year.

As with every year, the coming of March brought a frenzied excitement to sports fans across the country. March Madness truly brought the “madness” that every fan hopes to see during the tournament with mind-boggling upsets and buzzer beaters. Fans only have to wait another year for the tournament and it’s “madness” to return.