Sports
March Madness History: Origins, Records, and Greatest Moments
It is that time of year when fans across the globe fill out their brackets and keep track of every game. March Madness started last week, but I am not here to give you live coverage.
Instead, I will delve into the history of the event, covering its origins, player/team/state performances, and some of the greatest teams to play.
Now, the tournament goes all the way back to 1939, when eight teams competed for a national championship with the finals taking place in Evanston, Illinois. The Oregon Webfoots defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 46-33.
How was March Madness named?
The name “March Madness” was coined by Henry V. Porter, who was a former Illinois High School Association official.
He felt it matched the excitement the tournament offered nationwide when writing about it in an essay. It was not until 1982 that the name was used on television when Brent Musburger used it. However, Musburger told the Rich Eisen show that “It stems from the Illinois State basketball tournament, and a car dealer in Chicago… It was accidental. Obviously, it stuck, and it is a great description.”
When you tune into a game, there is always an instrumental that welcomes you to the contest. In 1992, CBS Sports held a contest to determine what its next NCAA tournament telecast would be. Bob Christianson won and developed the melody during a cleaning frenzy. It has not been changed since, but there have been meetings about it that never garnered traction to replace it.
Why a perfect bracket is so difficult
In the history of March Madness, nobody has been able to fill out a perfect bracket, and the odds are nearly impossible. There is a 1 in 9.2 quintillion chance of being perfect. The closest anyone has gotten was in 2019, when Gregg Nigl had 49 correct game predictions. Purdue’s win busted the bracket, but it stands as the longest streak in the tournament’s history.
When it comes to appearing in the championship, the lowest seed to win was #8 Villanova in 1985. Three No. 11 seeds made it to the Final Four, but all of them lost, with the most recent being NC State in 2024. The Saint Peter’s Peacocks are the lowest seed to reach the Elite 8 as the No. 15 seed, beating Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue. They lost to UNC by twenty, and were led by Doug Ebert, who transferred in the off-season to the Bryant Bulldogs.
Three No. 15 seeds have made it to the Sweet Sixteen: Florida Gulf Coast, Oral Roberts, and Princeton. One upset was #15 Lehigh beat Duke 75-70, where guard CJ McCollum put up 30 points. He now plays in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks.
Historic upsets
During its nearly century-long existence, only two No. 16 seeds have taken down a No. 1 seed. UMBC decisively beat Virginia, 74-54, in 2018. It would take five years for the feat to be accomplished again. Farleigh-Dickenson University took down Purdue 63-58 in a game where the Knights clamped down on Zach Edey and the Boilermakers. FDU is the first 16 seed to win a second game after being in the first four. This past Thursday, Siena became the first 16 seed to have a double-digit lead over a No. 1 seed when they faced Duke. They made no substitutions until there were ten seconds left, and lost by six.
There are plenty of Cinderella stories in March Madness, but what about the powerhouses?
UCLA holds the record for most tournament titles with 11, followed by Kentucky at 8 and UNC at 6. On the flip side, some teams have played in the big dance but never won. Boise State has lost 10 games, which is the most by any University that has appeared. Eastern Kentucky and Colgate are among the other teams that have not won yet.
The most points scored in a March Madness game by a team was 149 by Loyola Marymount in 1990.
Austin Carr dropped 61 playing for Notre Dame, which was the most ever in the tournament by a single player in the year. The Fighting Irish beat Ohio University in the Regional Quarterfinals in 1970. This tournament has highlighted several superstars along the way. Bill Walton scored 41 points in the title game, while Carmelo Anthony holds the record for most points in a Final Four with 33 in his freshman year with Syracuse. Perhaps the most famous example is Stephen Curry’s run with Davidson in 2008. Curry led them to the Elite Eight as the No. 10 seed, scoring over 100 points in four games. One last performance that flew under the radar came in 2012 when Anthony Davis recorded a record 29 blocks with Kentucky.
Best March Madness coaches
Let us see how coaches have fared. Tom Izzo holds the longest-tenured streak of appearances in the tournament with 28. The Spartans have won one title in that timespan and appeared in eight Final Fours. Only Rick Barnes (30) from Providence and Coach K (36) from Duke have been to the Dance more times.
The only two states that have never had a team appear in the tourney are Alaska and Maine. Alaska does not have a D1 men’s basketball team, and the University of Maine has never made it either. Maine competes in the American East and is among 37 teams in the country to have never competed at the Big Dance.
There are plenty of late-game theatrics when it comes to March Madness. In total, there have been 47 buzzer beaters, with Kris Jenkins clinching the three to win the title for Villanova in 2016 being one of the most iconic.
Lastly, 20 teams have entered the tourney unbeaten, and seven won it all. This includes San Francisco, UNC (who won in triple OT), and UCLA, which has done it four times. Indiana is the last team to have a perfect season, way back in 1976. Gonzaga entered the tourney in 2021 undefeated and lost in the title game in 2021. Baylor spoiled their perfect season, winning by sixteen.
Once the buzzer sounds and the confetti comes down, there is a song that takes place. Called “One Shining Moment,” it was composed by David Barrett. Barrett had an exchange with a waitress about the ‘poetry of basketball’, and after she left, he began writing the song down on a napkin. The song was originally meant for the Super Bowl, but made its debut in 1987 at the tournament. It has changed many lives, and is now a tradition at the end of every tournament to be played.
Looking at the tournament this year, there have already been some interesting stats. High Point’s guard Chase Johnston hit his first two-point FG of the year, which was the game-winner against Wisconsin. Siena would have been the first team since 1979 to play all their starters for the whole game, but made a substitution with ten seconds left. It was too late as Duke escaped a scare. Nebraska earned its first two March Madness wins in school history and has a Big 10 showdown with Purdue this Friday. Miami of Ohio made it into the tournament despite having zero Quad-1 wins. Texas is the last double-digit seed remaining in the tournament.
This is March Madness, where dreams come true, and the powerhouses look to cement their legacy. Who will have their “One Shining Moment” at the end of the year, and what other upsets will happen? Keep on watching as the Sweet Sixteen kicks off this Friday.
Sports
Sebastian Korda stuns No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in Miami Open third round
Mar 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Sebastian Korda (USA) celebrates after his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) (not pictured) on day six of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz took a surprising defeat to 32nd-seeded American Sebastian Korda, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in third-round action of the Miami Open on Sunday in Miami Gardens Fla.
Korda, who was 1-4 all-time against Alcaraz with the win coming in 2022 before the Spaniard won his first grand slam, was sensational on his serve, smashing 12 aces while committing no double faults. He had more winners than Alcaraz (33-30), won more service points (63% to 62%) and saved three of five break points while Alcaraz saved two of five.
“It was a lot of tense moments, for sure. But I think today the ultimate thing was belief, going back to just believing, committing in every shot. Luckily, I got it done at the end,” Korda said in his news conference.
It appeared Korda could be headed for a straight-set win when he led 5-3 in the second set, but Alcaraz won the ensuing four games, including his only breaks of the match, to force a third set.
Korda got the decisive break at 3-3 in the final set and finished off the match in his next two service games.
“(Sebastian) was incredible today,” Alcaraz said. “Played such a great game. A lot of tight, tight moments that I just didn’t make the most of it. I think he was better on those points, on those moments. I would say that was the key of the match.”
Alcaraz, who started the calendar year with 12 straight wins, is 5-2 since and failed to make the Round of 16 at Miami for the second straight year.
Of the eight third-round matches contested Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, the other seeded competitor to fall was No. 14 Karen Khachanov of Russia, who fell 6-3, 7-6 (2) to Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce.
Khachanov had more than double as many unforced errors (26) as winners (12), facing eight break points and saving four of them. Landaluce, 20, is through to the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time. He’ll face the 21-year-old Korda next for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Along with Korda, two other seeded Americans took care of business Sunday. No. 6 Taylor Fritz disposed of fellow American Reilly Opelka 6-3, 6-4 in 63 minutes, and No. 22 Tommy Paul outlasted Belgium’s Raphael Collignon for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) win in 140 minutes.
Czech No. 21 seed Jiri Lehecka (6-3, 7-6 (6) over Ethan Quinn), No. 24 Valentin Vacherot of Poland (7-6 (5), 6-4 over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini), French 28th-seed Arthur Fils (6-0, 6-1 over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas) and No. 29 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina (7-5, 6-4 over Spain’s Rafael Jodar) each advanced into the fourth round with straight-set victories.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bucks, Clippers still hoping to make playoff runs
Mar 21, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) looks on during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Clippers will welcome an old friend back into town Monday when former head coach Doc Rivers and his current team, the Milwaukee Bucks, make a visit to Inglewood, Calif.
As the Clippers try to nail down a favorable spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, the Bucks are making a last-gasp effort to become play-in eligible with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Los Angeles (35-36) is heading home after ending a four-game losing streak with a 138-131 overtime victory on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Darius Garland stepped up in his best game for the Clippers, scoring 41 points with 11 assists.
Garland, who has played in nine games for Los Angeles, including seven starts, is averaging 21.4 points with 7.0 assists for his new team after arriving in a trade-deadline deal from the Cleveland Cavaliers. James Harden was traded to Cleveland in the transaction.
Even with his production, Garland was just as pleased to see teammate Kawhi Leonard deliver 34 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range.
“Yeah, it was pretty cool to see him go to work,” Garland said of Leonard, who scored 13 points in the third quarter when the Clippers outscored the Mavericks 37-27 as they rallied from a 12-point first-half deficit. “I just wanted him to get some catch-and-shoot opportunities, and he got a couple to get us going. Overall, it was a good team win.”
Los Angeles shot 56.7% from the floor and went 21 of 42 from 3-point range, including 9 of 19 in the second half and 4 of 6 in the decisive overtime period. Leonard scored seven points in OT.
The Bucks (29-41) lost six of seven games before pulling off a 108-105 road victory over the postseason-eligible Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Ryan Rollins scored 26 points with 10 rebounds, including four points in the final 23.8 seconds to seal the victory.
The Bucks, who are 7 1/2 games out of the final play-in spot, not only were playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) for the third consecutive game, they also lost Kyle Kuzma in the third quarter because of right Achilles tendon tightness. Kuzma finished with 20 points before departing.
Kuzma scored 17 points in the first half as Milwaukee scored 42 points in the second quarter as a team and rallied from a 13-point deficit to take a 57-52 lead at halftime.
“I just thought it was a team win; everybody pitched in,” Rivers said. “Kuzma had a fantastic first half and I thought (Rollins) was consistent. It was funny, Ryan started out in the beginning of the game struggling a little bit. We took him out, brought him back in and I thought he played terrifically.”
Rollins is scoring a career-best 16.9 points per game, while also reaching career highs in games played (68) and starts (61).
Monday’s game will be the first between the teams this season. They will also meet March 29 at Milwaukee.
The Bucks have won five of the last six games over the Clippers during the past three seasons, with the only loss coming in their first game at Los Angeles’ new arena last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NBA roundup: Timberwolves earn rare victory in Boston
Mar 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) controls the ball while Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Bones Hyland scored 23 points and Jaden McDaniels finished with 19 to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 102-92 win over the host Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
Rudy Gobert added nine points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who won in Boston for the first time since 2005. Minnesota also received 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Ayo Dosunmu.
Minnesota outscored Boston 26-15 in the final quarter, even though the Celtics scored the game’s final six points.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 29 points and seven rebounds. Jayson Tatum added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who shot 35.8% from the field (34 of 95). The loss ended Boston’s four-game winning streak.
Nuggets 128, Trail Blazers 112
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists, Jamal Murray also scored 22 points and host Denver never trailed in a win over Portland.
Peyton Watson returned from a 19-game absence to score 14 points off the bench. Cameron Johnson scored 19 points, Christian Braun had 15, Bruce Brown contributed 13 and Aaron Gordon had 12 as the Nuggets beat the Blazers for the 11th straight time on their home court.
Deni Avdija led Portland with 23 points and 14 assists, while Donovan Clingan hit a career-high four 3-pointers on his way to 18 points. Toumani Camara and Robert Williams III scored 16 each, while Scoot Henderson finished with 13 points.
Kings 126, Nets 122
Malik Monk scored 32 points, Maxime Raynaud paired 22 points with 10 rebounds and Sacramento snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over visiting Brooklyn.
Monk, as a reserve, also had six assists and knocked down 7 of 13 from 3-point range. Devin Carter added 16 off the bench for Sacramento, and Precious Achiuwa posted 14 points and 15 boards.
Ben Saraf contributed 22 points off the bench for the Nets, who suffered their seventh straight loss. Malachi Smith and Ziaire Williams contributed 18 points each, and Nolan Traore 17.
Suns 120, Raptors 98
Devin Booker scored 25 points and Jalen Green added 20 as Phoenix snapped a season-worst five-game losing streak with a victory over visiting Toronto.
Collin Gillespie had 16 points for the Suns, who led wire-to-wire and avenged a 122-115 road loss to the Raptors on March 13. Jordan Goodwin scored 14 points, Ryan Dunn added 12 and Rasheer Fleming chipped in 11.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 17 points. RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter added 13 apiece, Immanuel Quickley had 11 and Gradey Dick scored 10. Forward Brandon Ingram was held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting after averaging 25.8 points over his last five games. Toronto trailed by as many as 31 and lost its second straight following a three-game winning streak.
Knicks 145, Wizards 113
Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 26-point, 16-rebound double-double and seven Knicks scored in double figures as New York rolled to its sixth straight win with a rout of visiting Washington.
The Knicks rebounded from an anemic offensive effort their last time out in a 93-92 win on Friday over Brooklyn, pouncing on the Wizards early en route to 68 first-half points and their second-highest scoring game of the season. New York spread its scoring evenly among a corps of Towns, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. The Knicks’ trio of Villanova products — Brunson, Hart and Bridges — finished with 23, 16 and 14 points. Hart added six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
Washington was short-handed due to a spat of injuries and was also down starting forward Justin Champagnie on Sunday for his involvement in an altercation in the Wizards’ loss to Oklahoma City. Jaden Hardy came off the bench to lead the team with a season-high 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range.
–Field Level Media
Sebastian Korda stuns No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in Miami Open third round
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