“My bracket was completely done after the first day,” said Peter Stefanov, an Honors Business Administration student. “Next year, though.”
For students at the University at Buffalo, March Madness isn't just about basketball. Instead, it's about the competition, chaos and community engagement that builds with it. From quickly busted brackets to packed dorm room watch parties, this tournament has become a shared experience across campus, even for some who may not typically follow the sport.
While some students closely follow the matchups and watch the statistics, others take a more relaxed approach when filling out their brackets.
“I usually just pick teams that sound cool or have a cool logo,” Stefanov said.
Even with a casual mindset, the unpredictability of the tournament is what keeps fans engaged. The single-elimination format — where a single loss ends the season — can create an intense level of excitement that attracts both dedicated fans and more casual viewers.
“A lot of the excitement really comes from those underdog teams, the ‘Cinderella’ stories,” Stefanov said.
For other students, the experience goes beyond brackets and into more social settings. “I don’t fill out a bracket, but I still love watching the games, especially with other people, it’s just more fun that way,” Freshman biology major Brianna Warmington said.
“I love watch parties,” Warmington said. “Even if you don't know every single team, it's just very exciting to be surrounded by people who are into it”.
While some people take a more relaxed approach, like Stefanov and Warmington, others experience March Madness more competitively. Justice Caldwell, a data analytics and scouting intern for the football team, said he participates in many brackets, including one with friends that involves both money and a punishment.
“I’m stressed the entire time during March Madness because of the league I’m in with my friends,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell also spoke about how the social aspect of the tournament plays a very important role in its popularity. Despite not featuring any Western New York teams, Buffalo’s KeyBank Center hosted games in the opening rounds of the tournament. This closeness of the games adds to the overall excitement, giving students the opportunity to watch the tournament live.
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