I love March Madness for lots of reasons (…and here’s some of the reasons why it works for the mass market).
I spend more time on my couch in these first few days of the tournament than any other time of year. So today is the third day of the tournament…I have a fantastic assortment of snacks and drinks, and here’s some things that are striking me…
Momentum
If you’ve ever wanted to see the power of momentum right in front of your eyes, this tournament is it.
Momentum intensifies for a team and then is depleted at once, or sustained for ten minutes, or shifts to the other team while mounting a comeback. And you can actually SEE it. Players and entire teams making lots of shots in a row, playing better defense, making amazing passes…and then the opposite when the momentum leaves: missing layups, sloppy passing and defense.
It’s amazing. When one or two or three things in a row go very well, more things have a tendency of going well. It doesn’t mean they will, but it’s more likely.
And when you don’t have momentum, how do you get it? How do you build it? Can it be built? Or how does it find you?
Recruiting
For those who don’t know how the tournament works, the first couple rounds happen Thurs-Sun, and then there’s a break till the next Thursday. So there’s a window of down time.
With the down time some a lot of each of the coaching staffs are prepping for the next game.
However, in the midst of the tournament you know what the head coaches are doing with a day or two of that down time? Recruiting!
Why? Because there is no more magnetic of a time for a college basketball program than when they are IN the tournament. When it is happening in real time.
See, every kid who plays basketball has been watching the college basketball tournament since they were little kids. So when the team who is recruiting you is currently participating in the tournament and the head coach takes the time to call or visit during that time…that’s about the best recruiting tool ever.
I think this is akin to when you’re ABOUT to go make a record. It’s a very magnetic time for you in regards to who you can get in a room with: writers, producers, engineers, etc. When you’re about to make a record people who were thinking about jumping on board actually do jump on board because you’re in the thick of potential lift-off.
Maximum Effort Doesn’t Equal Desired Result
This is the true beauty of the tournament, as it is such an inspiring and heartbreaking reflection of life in so many ways.
There is no question that all of the kids are playing their guts out, trying as hard as they can, digging digging digging, giving everything they have to offer.
But despite all the training, practice, preparation, desire, hope, planning…everyone is heartbroken except for one team.
One team gets the big prize. One team ends with a win.
It’s not that everyone else’s incredible effort is for nothing, it just doesn’t equate to getting what is desired.
So although we love associating ourselves with winners, I think it’s the sadness of all the teams that lose each round that causes us to connect.
Because we all know that sadness.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com