March Madness begins today, with scores of women’s and men’s teams battling to make the national title games April 7 and April 8.
The cultural phenomenon grips the nation every year, partly because you don’t need to be a basketball fan to fill out a bracket and enjoy the drama, the heartbreak, and the inevitable “Cinderella” quests of the titans of college hoops.
The Triangle, stuffed to the brim with colleges, may very well be the best place in the country to celebrate this year’s mayhem. Here are four stories we’re watching as the NCAA basketball tournaments kick off.
It’s the first time since 2014 that the Triangle has had six teams in the big dance
Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State are all sending their men’s and women’s basketball teams to vie for a championship title. Back in 2014, the Triangle actually had seven teams in the tournament, with NC Central’s men’s team making a brief appearance with a round of 64 loss to Iowa State. (The Eagles have since made some first-four appearances, but didn’t advance to the true madness of the round of 64).
This year, at No. 1, the UNC men’s team has the best Triangle seed, followed by the No. 3 Wolfpack women’s team. Duke’s No. 4 men’s and No. 7 Duke women’s teams are solidly placed, and UNC’s No. 8 women’s team and State’s No. 11 men’s team round out the group with mid-tier spots.
Women’s basketball is on the rise
“College basketball” has often been synonymous with “men’s college basketball” with the league often air-balling on its commitment to its women’s programs. In 2021, the NCAA got dragged on social media for its inequitable facilities—the women’s “weight room” was, basically, a few dumbbells and some yoga mats. And until the 2022 season, the women’s tournament couldn’t even use the signature “march madness” branding.
There’s still a huge gap in funding, facilities, and cultural respect between men’s and women’s basketball, but circumstances seem to be improving. Some have referred to the “Caitlin Clark effect,”—in reference to the record-breaking Iowa player—that has drawn unprecedented interest and attention to games. For years, women’s college basketball has had the talent and the compelling narratives necessary to draw viewers but lacked institutional and financial support.
At a grassroots level in the Triangle, Groups like the upstart Durham League, which started as a women-only league in 2016, are changing the conversation through competition and excellence.
Sports betting may impact the tournament for years to come
You need only turn on your TV or glance at a city bus to see advertisements for online sports betting.
On March 11, the day before the ACC men’s tournament started, gambling went live across North Carolina. The eight legal sites have been bombarding North Carolinians with promotional deals, exclusive opportunities, and any other combination of buzzy words that will get people to “sign up NOW!”
The incentives at the state level are clear: The Assembly reported that the government may take in $100 million in tax revenue in coming years, and some of that money will go to underfunded sports programs across the state (although notably not UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State).
But it’s not yet clear what impact the rampant sports betting may have on the Triangle. Experts warn that college-age audiences are ripe for gambling addiction, especially when apps and websites make placing bets feel like a game of Candy Crush instead of a risky financial decision.
NC State’s Men’s basketball team is looking to keep its hot streak going
The Wolfpack men’s victory in the ACC tournament was a real underdog story—Duke and UNC each beat NC State twice in the regular season—but State breezed past both blue squads to take the ACC tournament title for its first conference victory since 1987.
No matter which Triangle school you root for, it’s hard to be mad at a team that plays and celebrates with as much heart as Mohamed Diarra and DJ Burns Jr., whose big smiles smooth over any hard feelings.
But does the Wolfpack have what it takes to make a deep drive this month? If they beat No. 6 Texas Tech, they’ll face a tough challenge in the round of 32, likely against blue-blooded No.3 Kentucky.
Reach Reporter Chase Pellegrini de Paur at [email protected]. Comment on this story at [email protected].