The annual March Madness started Tuesday, March 14. The NCAA division I men’s basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament consisting of 68 teams that compete in seven rounds for the national championship. 

From the start, Houston has been the team projected to take home the championship. However, with many upsets and close games, people are anxiously anticipating the final four. According to predictions, Houston, Alabama, UCLA, and Gonzaga have the highest possibility of reaching the final four spots. 

“I had Alabama, Purdue, Houston, and UConn going all the way,” said Charlie Healy, senior.

However, this season has come with an unseasonably large amount of upsets. Starting off strong with Purdue versus Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (FDU). FDU won 63-58 in the first round, setting off brackets everywhere.

Looking back in history, this year does not have the greatest amount of upsets in general, but it has the largest amount of “big upsets.” For instance, No. 13 seeds or worse winning a game.

“I was shocked during the Arizona versus Princeton game,” said Aira Chaudhary, senior. “I really wasn’t expecting another underdog to win.”

The sweet 16 games will be a chance for teams to showcase themselves, as 12 of the 16 have never won a national championship, and seven have never been to a final four.

“I can’t wait to see what Princeton brings to the sweet 16,” said Joe Sofranko, junior.

 To follow along until the end, the sweet 16 starts with No. 5 San Diego State versus No. 1 Alabama on Friday, March 24.