Amanda Knapp
The annual college basketball tournament, NCAA March Madness, is also known as The Big Dance or Going Dancing. The tournament, which takes place from mid-March to early April, features 68 teams and is one of the most popular competitions in the US. The nickname The Big Dance is said to have originated in 1977 when Marquette University's head coach, Al McGuire, wore a blue blazer throughout the season and replied to a reporter's question with Absolutely. You gotta wear the blue blazer to the big dance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the tournament | March Madness |
| Other names | The Big Dance, Going Dancing |
| Organizer | NCAA |
| Number of teams | 68 |
| Start date | Mid-March |
| End date | Early April |
| First held | 1939 |
| First tournament winner | Oregon |
| Number of viewers in 2022 | 18.1 million |
| Basketball moves | Crossover, Through-the-legs, Hook shot |
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What You'll Learn
The 'Big Dance' and its origins
The Big Dance is a nickname for the NCAA Tournament, an annual college basketball tournament that spans from mid-March to early April. The tournament consists of 68 teams and is known for its unpredictability, with upsets often occurring early on as underdog teams take down heavy favourites. This unpredictability adds to the excitement and entertainment value of the tournament, making it a highly anticipated event for fans.
The origin of the nickname "The Big Dance" can be traced back to 1977 and is attributed to Marquette University's head basketball coach, Al McGuire. During the 1977 season, McGuire was known for his distinctive fashion choice of wearing a bright blue blazer. When asked by a reporter if he would continue wearing the blazer during the NCAA tournament, McGuire replied, "Absolutely. You gotta wear the blue blazer to the big dance." Marquette University went on to win the championship that year, and the phrase "the big dance" became associated with the grandeur and significance of the NCAA tournament.
While the term "The Big Dance" was coined in 1977, it wasn't until 1982 that the tournament gained another nickname, "March Madness." This phrase was first used by CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger during his college basketball coverage. Musburger had heard the term used in car dealership commercials while broadcasting an IHSA tournament and decided to adopt it for the NCAA tournament. "March Madness" quickly caught on and became the most widely known nickname for the tournament.
The NCAA Tournament has a long history, with the first-ever tournament taking place in March 1939. This inaugural tournament featured an eight-team playoff, with Oregon ultimately beating Ohio State to claim the championship title. Since its humble beginnings, the tournament has grown exponentially in popularity, attracting fans from across the nation and becoming one of the biggest gambling events, with millions wagered worldwide.
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Basketball moves to dance around the competition
The annual college basketball tournament hosted by the NCAA is called "March Madness" and it takes place from mid-March to early April. The tournament is famous for its unpredictability, with underdogs often beating the favourites. This has led to the coining of the term "bracket buster" games.
The tournament is also referred to as "The Big Dance", a term that was first used by Marquette University's head coach, Al Maguire, in 1977. The phrase "We're going dancing" is also used to refer to the tournament.
Basketball, like dance, requires a lot of energy and dedication. Both sports involve a lot of movement, specific clothing, and rules. However, they are two distinct sports.
When it comes to basketball moves to dance around the competition, it's important to remember that you don't need fancy moves to be a great player. Perfecting the basics is much more effective in dominating on the court. Passing is an important skill in basketball as it's the quickest and most effective way to move the ball around the court. A successful team makes strong and accurate passes, and always catches the ball. The more passes made by the offense, the more the defense is challenged. The crossover is a simple yet effective move where the ball handler bounces the ball from one hand to the other, acting as if they're heading in one direction, and then quickly moving in the other direction. This move is particularly effective when executing a drive, helping players get around defenders and drive to the basket. Some of the players famous for their crossover dribble include Jamal Crawford, Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway, and Stephen Curry.
Another move similar to the crossover is the through-the-legs technique, where the ball is bounced from one hand to the other but through the player's legs. This move makes it harder for opponents to reach in and ensures the ball is further from the defense. The advanced form of the crossover dribble involves bouncing the ball off the floor behind the feet and catching it with the other hand.
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The birth of March Madness
The annual college basketball tournament, March Madness, has become a staple of American sports culture. The tournament, hosted by the NCAA, takes place from mid-March to early April and features 68 teams competing in a single-elimination format. The tournament is known for its unpredictability, with underdogs often taking down heavy favourites and advancing to the deeper rounds. This unpredictability makes it one of the biggest gambling events in the nation, with millions wagered worldwide.
The origins of March Madness can be traced back to 1939 when Ohio State's basketball coach, Harold Olsen, came up with the idea for a small tournament involving only eight teams. These teams were selected to represent geographical areas, with the East and West brackets introduced in 1939 and continuing until 1950. In the first edition of the tournament, Harold Olsen's Ohio State faced Oregon in the championship game, with Oregon prevailing 46-33 to take home the first-ever NCAA Basketball Tournament championship.
While the tournament has been held annually since 1939, the phrase "March Madness" was not always associated with it. The exact origin of the phrase is debated, with some sources attributing it to Henry V. Porter, an assistant executive secretary and coach at the Illinois High School Association. In a 1939 issue of Illinois High School Athlete magazine, Porter was quoted as saying, "a little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel," in reference to the fans' excitement surrounding Illinois' annual statewide basketball tournament. However, etymologist Barry Popik stated that the phrase was also used to describe an earlier tournament, the 1931 state high school basketball tournament in Indiana.
It wasn't until the early 1980s that "March Madness" became a household name, thanks to legendary sportscaster Brent Musburger, who popularised the term during his college basketball coverage for CBS. Musburger first heard the term in car dealership commercials while broadcasting an annual IHSA tournament and later brought it over to his coverage of the NCAA tournament. The nickname "The Big Dance," on the other hand, is attributed to Marquette University's head coach, Al McGuire, who, in 1977, told a reporter that one had to "wear the blue blazer when you go to the big dance." McGuire wore a blue blazer throughout Marquette's winning season, and the phrase stuck ever since.
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''Bracket buster' games
The annual college basketball tournament hosted by the NCAA, known as "March Madness", is a single-elimination tournament that usually takes place from mid-March to early April. The tournament features 68 teams and is famous for its unpredictability, with underdog teams often beating the favourites. This unpredictability has earned the tournament the nickname "The Big Dance", coined by Marquette University's head coach, Al Maguire, in 1977.
"Bracket buster games" refer to when a lightly regarded team, usually from a mid-major school, upsets a highly ranked team in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The tournament has a single-elimination "bracket" format, where fans predict the outcome of each game by filling out a bracket form. Bracket buster games often ruin people's predictions and their chances of winning money in informal pools, hence the name.
One of the earliest examples of a bracket buster game took place on March 18, 1971, when Western Kentucky defeated its in-state rival, Kentucky, 107-83. Another notable bracket buster was in 2006, when George Mason made it to the Final Four, and Bradley, a 13th seed, beat Kansas and Pitt to reach the "Sweet 16" round. ESPN capitalised on the popularity of bracket busters with its ESPN BracketBusters concept, which began in 2003 and featured 100 teams in 2006. However, due to issues with travel expenses and scheduling, ESPN discontinued BracketBusters after the February 2013 event.
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'Cinderella teams'
The annual college basketball tournament hosted by the NCAA, known as March Madness, has become famous for its unpredictability. The tournament, which usually takes place from mid-March to early April, features 68 teams and is one of the biggest gambling events in the US, with an estimated $12 million wagered worldwide.
The tournament is often full of surprises, with underdogs taking down favourites and ruining brackets. These so-called "Cinderella teams" are low-seeded teams that exceed expectations and advance to the deeper rounds of the tournament. Cinderella teams are usually mid-major schools that showcase the idea that anything is possible when playing with passion and heart.
One of the most notable Cinderella teams in recent memory is Saint Peter's, also known as "Dunk City." In 2013, Saint Peter's became the first 15-seed to reach the Sweet 16, defeating Georgetown in the first round and San Diego State in the second. Their entertaining style of play and embrace of small ball captivated fans and earned them a spot in the record books.
Another Cinderella story is that of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2011. Coached by Shaka Smart, VCU cruised through the early rounds, winning their first three games by at least 13 points. They continued their dominant run, ultimately reaching the Final Four. VCU's success transformed them into a much more recognizable brand in college basketball.
The 1985 Villanova Wildcats also deserve a mention. Entering the NCAA tournament with a modest 19-10 record, the Wildcats were a lowly 8-seed. However, they defied the odds and became the lowest-seeded team to win a national championship, defeating several powerhouse teams along the way.
These Cinderella teams have left an indelible mark on the NCAA tournament, inspiring future underdogs and showcasing the magic that can happen when passionate players get their chance to shine on college basketball's biggest stage.
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Frequently asked questions
The "Big Dance" is a nickname for the NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness.
The term "Big Dance" was coined by Marquette University’s head coach, Al McGuire, in 1977. McGuire wore a blue blazer throughout the 1977 season, and when asked if he would continue to wear it during the NCAA tournament, he replied, "Absolutely. You gotta wear the blue blazer to the big dance."
The "Big Dance" takes place annually from mid-March to early April.
"March Madness" is the most widely known nickname for the NCAA Tournament. It was first associated with the tournament in 1982 by CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger, who used the term during his college basketball coverage.
Some simple and effective basketball moves that can be used to dance around the competition include the crossover, through-the-legs, and the hook shot. Mastering the basics is key to becoming a great basketball player.
