March Madness Recap: The Thrills, Heartbreak, and History Made

By: Andrea Aruino

From filling out your bracket to a team cutting the net, the most exciting time in college basketball has finally come to a close and this tournament was one for the books. If there’s one thing you can count on March Madness for it’s the pure terror, excitement, and anticipation of these games, and this year was no different.  

There were a handful of underdogs in this year’s tournament, but the top seeds proved why they were the top of the top. On the women’s side there were powerhouses like USC who arguably had the hardest No. 1 seed above all as they were in the same bracket as teams like UConn, Iowa, and Kansas State to name a few. Although there was no USC vs UConn rematch as many were looking forward to it since last year after UConn sent USC home. With Juju tearing her ACL in just the second round against Mississippi, USC had to work even harder but found their way to the Elite 8 until UConn defeated them with Paige Bueckers dropping 31 points. Although USC’s center/forward, Rayah Marshall led USC with 23 points despite the loss.  

In the other women’s region, there were many dominant groups including the reigning champs South Carolina (SC) who were expected to go back-to-back. Other notable teams included UCLA, Duke, and LSU. There were many upsets in this bracket as LSU had lost to UCLA in the Elite 8 led by Gabriele Jaquez dropping 18 points. No. 1 seed UCLA checked their ticket to the Final Four where they were faced with the Huskies ready to battle. Jaquez and the group had no response for the mighty Huskies as they lost 85-51. 

The Women’s National Championship matchup was no surprise to many and it was the third most watched championship of all time. SC beat Duke heading into their fourth national championship appearance. Meanwhile, UConn had their eyes set on revenge as SC had previously beaten them in the National Championship game in 2022. UConn was ready to fight tooth and nail which was apparent in each pass, steal, and basket made. The big three of Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and freshman Sarah Strong combined for 65 of their 82 points. They were unstoppable, freshman Strong is the first in March Madness history to have at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Her relentlessness on both sides of the court ultimately helped to win them the game by 23 points. Along with Fudd winning the Most Outstanding player. This win was the cherry on top for senior Bueckers as everyone anticipates she will be entering the WNBA draft this upcoming Monday. 

Just like the women’s games, the Men’s tournament brought excitement, disappointment, and celebration. Since the very beginning, there was no doubt who was going to make it far in this tournament. All of the number one seeds, low and behold, made it to the final four after some treacherous, some easier games. Those four included Duke, Houston, Florida, and Auburn all of which were many people’s final winners. Of all teams, Duke was the most anticipated to win with the highly touted Cooper Flagg on the roster, everyone looked to him to bring the trophy back to North Carolina. The Blue Devil was named the National Player of the Year, the youngest player ever to receive this award averaging 19 PTS, 7 REB, and 4 AST this season with these accolades, he is expected to declare for the NBA draft. Just like Duke, the three other teams were home to powerful rosters that had enough to take it all the way which is exactly what happened. 

For the first time since 2008, all of the No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four. Florida faced the mighty Auburn in what would serve as foreshadowing in the National Championship. Florida went on a 11-0 run to give them the lead, but the highlight was Walter Clayton Jr. who scored 34 points in a game keeping their season alive. Similar to that game, Houston found themselves working towards a comeback that solidified their win by a whopping three points. The Blue Devils were trailing 14 points with 12 minutes left in which Houson went on a 15-3 run. This victory propelled Houston to their first national championship appearance since 1984.​

​In a thrilling National Championship game on Monday, the Gators staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Cougars 65-63, clinching their first national title since 2007. Trailing was a common story in these games as Florida trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half. Florida's resilience was epitomized by Walter Clayton Jr., who, despite a scoreless first half, contributed 11 crucial points after halftime. Houston's Emanuel Sharp had an opportunity to reclaim the lead in the final seconds, but under intense defensive pressure from Clayton, he committed a pivotal turnover, securing the victory for Florida. Clayton's performance earned him the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award, and his sportsmanship was on display as he consoled a distraught Sharp post-game. This victory marks Florida's third national championship in program history.

UPB’s team also joined in on the bracket fun and we had two winners: Coach Joey and Coach V! Coach V’s approach to making her bracket came from attentively watching the men’s and women’s teams leading up to the NCAA tournament. What she was most focused on was what team could score on all three levels while staying consistent throughout their season. For men’s, she realized that Florida had come in with a chip on their shoulder considering they had lost in the first round during last year’s tournament against Colorado. On the other hand, she was set on UConn for winning the women’s tournament as the Huskies have maintained their momentum throughout the season.

This year’s March Madness delivered on all fronts. From huge upsets to powerhouse matchups, each game never failed to have us on the edge of our seats. On the women’s side, fans witnessed historic runs powered by some of the most powerful and talent-packed rosters these programs have ever assembled. UConn defeated the reigning champs South Carolina by a mile but there were still a handful of successes from both teams during the final game. On the men’s side, the stage was set with all four No. 1 seeds making it to the Final Four. Flagg lived up to the hype, while Florida and Houston showed true grit in comeback victories to reach the championship. In the end, it was Florida who rose above, fueled by Walter Clayton Jr.’s clutch second-half performance and poise under pressure, sealing their first national title in nearly two decades. This year’s tournament reminded us why March Madness is one of the greatest spectacles in sports—a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves fans counting down the days until next season.