Editor’s note: This article is part of the Bracket Central series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s & women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.
Is there anything quite like February in college basketball? Listen, I love March. Watching conference tournaments, seeing the bracket unveiled, the NCAA Tournament starting up. You can’t go wrong. But I love the process of February.
Each game, no matter how small, can have a massive impact. A week night in Madison, Wis., can alter the course of the Big Ten. An off quarter in Tucson, Ariz., can rewrite the Big 12 season. Can your favorite SEC program get the job done on a rainy night in Columbia, Mo.?
There’s a beauty in the process as the possibilities dwindle and decline for teams. While the ending chapter is often the most remembered, that’s just a small percentage of the book that’s written, and the true appreciation in that end result for me tends to come from witnessing the entire journey.
February will bring us some special games in the least remarkable places, and I’m eager to soak in every minute. After all, that’s how the bracket is built.
| Last four in | Last four out | Next four out | Last four byes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Colorado |
Iowa State |
George Mason |
Mississippi… |
