Getting Started with the Madness
Alright, so March rolls around again, and you know what that means. NCAA tournament time. I always keep an eye on Syracuse, being a fan for ages. This year, I decided to really follow their journey, not just catch the scores.
First thing I did was tune into Selection Sunday. Had to see where the Orange landed, who they were up against. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking, right? You hope for a decent seed, a matchup you feel good about. They announced their spot, and I immediately started looking up the opponent. Felt like homework, but the fun kind.
The First Game Grind
Game day arrived. Made sure I had nothing else planned. This was my focus. Got my setup ready – comfy chair, snacks within reach. The usual pre-game jitters started kicking in. You always hope they come out strong.
I watched the whole thing, from tip-off to the final buzzer. It wasn’t just passive viewing. I found myself:
- Yelling at the screen (just a bit, you know).
- Pacing during timeouts, especially the close ones.
- Rewinding key plays to see what happened again.
- Checking stats during halftime, trying to figure out what needed to change.
They played hard. There were moments of brilliance, some sloppy plays too. That’s basketball. I remember this one sequence, a steal leading to a fast break dunk. Man, that got me hyped! Felt like the momentum was shifting right there.
Win or Go Home Reality
They managed to pull out the win in that first one. Felt great! A sense of relief, but also excitement for the next round. It’s that survival instinct of the tournament – win and advance.
So, I rinsed and repeated for the next game. Checked the schedule, cleared my evening. Same ritual, same anticipation. This opponent looked tougher on paper, and it showed on the court.
It was a real battle. Back and forth. Syracuse zone defense was doing its thing, causing problems, but the other team kept hitting tough shots. You could feel the tension ratchet up in the final minutes. Every possession felt huge.
The End of the Road (This Time)
Unfortunately, that second game didn’t go our way. They fought till the end, but just came up short. It’s always a bummer when the run ends. You feel for the players, especially the seniors. That final buzzer hits different when it means elimination.
So, that was my practical experience tracking Syracuse through the tournament this time. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, for sure. You invest your time and energy, ride the highs and lows with the team. Even though they didn’t go all the way, the process of following them closely, game by game, was intense and, honestly, pretty fun. That’s the madness of March, I guess. Already looking forward to next year’s chance.
