‘Madness’ bigger than sports pages this year
Even if we don’t follow sports, this achievement by these cohesive groups of unselfish men and women transcends sport. I’m sure we could read a lot into it, but we can at least appreciate them and learn from their examples.
So the University of Dayton Flyers men are now No. 5 in the nation, first in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and on their way to the NCAA Tournament! The Big Dance. March Madness. This is more than sports news; it should be of great interest to everyone in the Dayton area.
It reminds me of the 1966-67 season, when I watched on TV their thrilling victory over North Carolina in the NCAA semifinal, and their respectable performance against eventual champion UCLA.
But while thinking of UD’s success this year I noticed my Wright State Raiders are first in their Horizon League with an overall 23-6 record. I have no doubt they will join the Flyers in the round of 64 this year. (I say “my Raiders” only because the family has five degrees from that institution.)
And the women! With lots of local talent from great area high school programs, the UD women are undefeated in the A-10 with a 20-7 overall record so far. And the WSU women are second in their league.
All league tournament winners are guaranteed a spot in the NCAA tournament, filling about half, and the remainder of the 64 are filled at large.
For some reason I don’t understand (probably having to do with money), leading a league does not guarantee a championship. There are postseason league playoffs, which both UD and WSU men and women will navigate.
So it’s not just the UD men. It’s all four teams. (FYI, both UD and WSU are among the 361 Division I schools in the country. Hundreds more make up Divisions II and III.)
I wouldn’t be surprised if all four teams made it to the NCAA tournament, but it’s undeniable that the main focus this year is on the deep and multi-talented UD men’s team. Thankfully, Dayton is on the national map for more than mass shootings and tornadoes.
So even if we’re not basketball fanatics, even if we don’t have a UD sweatshirt or a WSU ball cap, or know what NCAA stands for, or understand bracketology or what “in the paint” means, we really should pay attention at least for these few weeks. And maybe we’ll find it catches our interest and we’ll root for them regardless of future records.
Even if we don’t follow sports, this achievement by these cohesive groups of unselfish men and women transcends sport. I’m sure we could read a lot into it, but we can at least appreciate them and learn from their examples.
Yes, bracketology in the media, the sports pages, and in the office pools usually means the men’s Division I playoff bracket. But there are six such brackets; two each for Divisions I, II and III. And each individual team, and the community it represents, is proud and excited.
But none more so than Dayton. Go Flyers! Go Raiders!