For sports fans and non-sports fans alike, filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket is an annual tradition.
People compete for bragging rights and prize money in office pools and against their friends.
It seems odd, but for the first time since I started following college basketball, I’m going against conformity not filling out a bracket.
Having potential monetary benefits tied to a majority of the favorites winning takes the fun out of upsets. Making a bracket gives the selector a rooting interest in the favorite, usually.
Upsets are what make March Madness great. George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth advancing to the Final Four were incredible stories.
Last year, No. 2 seeds Duke and Missouri lost in their opening games. It should have been an exciting opening to the tournament. The hated Blue Devils went down.
Instead of enjoying the historic upsets however, I fretted over already losing a final four team from my bracket.
That’s why I’m not making a bracket. I don’t want to worry about bracket implications for every game.
I want to enjoy the games, stress-free.
Reach the columnist at justin.janssen@asu.edu
