It's March. Let the Madness begin.
You might know this, but "March Madness" was originally an Illinois term. The phrase goes back to 1939, and gained prominence in a 1942 poem written by H.V. Porter, an administrator with the Illinois High School Association.
"Basketball Ides of March", it was called, and it begins:
"The gym lights gleam like a beacon beam
And a million motors hum.
In a good will flight on a Friday night;
For basketball beckons, 'Come!'"
Porter wrote the poem to celebrate the respite that a community game brings, a temporary relief from the woes of the world — which, in 1942, included wars in both Europe and Asia, wars the players he was glorifying would end up fighting. But even in peace, that first stanza works. "The gym lights gleam like a beacon beam ... Basketball beckons, 'Come!'"
The IHSA formally adopted "March Madness" as a nickname for the state basketball tournament. Broadcaster Brent Musberger — a Newsradio WBBM alum, incidentally, early in his storied career — inadvertently stole the phrase in 1982, using it on CBS broadcasts after picking up the term during his time in Chicago. Lawsuits ensued, and it took until 2012, but the NCAA does now own the "March Madness" trademark.
This year's NCAA Tournament may end up as one of the maddest of all. Late last month the top six teams in the Associated Press poll lost on the same day, which has never happened before. Expert Ken Pomeroy and others have noted that this year's teams are, collectively, the oldest that college basketball has seen in decades, thanks to changes from the COVID-19 pandemic — experience that figures to make games tighter down the stretch. And while last year's mid-Pandemic tournament did have some fans in attendance, this year, expect to see the bands, the cheerleaders, the face-painted crazies, and the alums back in full force.
Illinois' Fighting Illini have a chance to make a real run. They're 20th in the AP poll and 2nd in the Big Ten at the time of this writing, and a decent showing in the Big Ten tournament will likely lock in a top-four seed in one of the tournament's regions. Coach Brad Underwood repeatedly says no player in the country is fouled more than 7'0", 285-pound behemoth Kofi Cockburm down low, even if all of those fouls aren't called. He's averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he's backed by a trio of senior guards who all sit in double-figure scoring. The Illini have won 20 games against one of the toughest schedules in the country, and since the start of February have only been held under 68 points once.
Loyola beat Illinois to reach the Sweet Sixteen last year, and isn't far removed from that miracle Final Four run. But they would have to at least reach the championship game of the Missouri Valley Tournament to get in — and truth be told, the Ramblers probably have to win it. They're 31st in the NET rankings as of this writing, one key measure the Tournament Committee uses to select at-large teams for the Big Dance. But only 36 'at-large' teams make the field, and the Ramblers have seven losses already against a middling schedule. Two-time Valley defensive player of the year Lucas Williamson leads Loyola in scoring, rebounding, steals, and charisma.
It's too soon for DePaul, under first-year coach Tony Stubblefield, though the Blue Demons might finish over .500 for only the second time since 2007. UIC did beat Milwaukee in round one of the Horizon League tournament but faces a daunting climb. And the rest of the state's programs would also need miracle conference tournament runs to grab tickets - it's happened before, but would be unlikely at best this time around.
Selection Sunday is March 13th. The "First Four" games begin on the 15th, the main draw itself on the 17th. It's just about time.
Basketball beckons. Come.