March Madness is upon us! Basketball fans across the country are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. To help you keep track of the action, we’ve put together a collection of printable brackets for you to use.
Printable Brackets
Whether you’re an avid fan or just looking to join in on the fun, these printable brackets are a great way to keep track of the tournament. Simply print them out, fill in your predictions, and follow along as each game unfolds.
We’ve included brackets for the full tournament, as well as for each individual region. That way, you can keep track of your predictions on a game-by-game basis and see how well you’re doing as the tournament progresses.
Understanding the Bracket
If you’re new to the world of NCAA tournament brackets, don’t worry! They’re actually quite simple once you get the hang of them. Here’s a quick rundown of how the bracket works:
The tournament is divided into four regions, each with 16 teams. The top four teams in each region are given a higher seed (number one through four) based on their performance during the regular season. The remaining 12 teams in each region are given a seed based on a combination of their regular season performance and their performance in their conference tournament.
At the start of the tournament, each team is placed into a bracket based on their seed. The top seed in each region plays the lowest seed in that region, with the second-highest seed playing the second-lowest seed, and so on. This creates a bracket that progresses from the first round to the championship.
Throughout the tournament, teams are eliminated through a single-elimination format. That means that if a team loses, they’re out of the tournament and can’t play again until next year.
The Cinderellas
One of the most exciting things about the NCAA tournament is the possibility of a “Cinderella” team. These are the teams that are seeded lower than most of their opponents but manage to make a deep run in the tournament anyway.
In the past, we’ve seen teams like George Mason, Butler, and VCU make improbable runs to the Final Four, proving that anything can happen during March Madness. So if you’re filling out your bracket this year, don’t be afraid to take a chance on a lower-seeded team. You never know what might happen!
The Favorites
Of course, there are also plenty of favorites in the tournament each year. These are the teams that are expected to make a deep run based on their regular season performance, seeding, and overall talent level.
This year, the top overall seed is the Kansas Jayhawks, who finished the regular season with a record of 30-4. Other top contenders include the Michigan State Spartans, the North Carolina Tar Heels, and the Virginia Cavaliers.
But as we’ve seen in the past, anything can happen during the NCAA tournament. So while these teams are certainly favorites, there’s still plenty of room for surprises and upsets along the way.
The Road to the Final Four
At the end of the day, the ultimate goal for each team is to reach the Final Four, the penultimate round of the tournament. This year’s Final Four will be held in Houston, Texas, on April 2nd and 4th.
With 68 teams competing for the title, the road to the Final Four is never easy. But for the fans who fill out their brackets and follow along with each game, there’s nothing more thrilling than the excitement and unpredictability of March Madness.
So print out your brackets, make your predictions, and get ready for one of the most exciting events in all of sports. It’s time for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament!
