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A European's view of US college basketball's March Madness A European's view of US college basketball's March Madness
(6 months later)
Ask the average European about March Madness and they'll probably think you're talking about some new economic crisis to hit the continent or some travelling rock music festival or something to do with St Patrick's Day.Ask the average European about March Madness and they'll probably think you're talking about some new economic crisis to hit the continent or some travelling rock music festival or something to do with St Patrick's Day.
But the largely untold story is that the NCAA tournament is growing in popularity in Europe among basketball and sports fans – thanks to a couple of reasons:But the largely untold story is that the NCAA tournament is growing in popularity in Europe among basketball and sports fans – thanks to a couple of reasons:
One is the expansion of the collegiate game on ESPN America, a sports television network which is part of the ESPN family and available throughout Europe. ESPN American shows NCAA games all season and will be airing March Madness all tournament long.One is the expansion of the collegiate game on ESPN America, a sports television network which is part of the ESPN family and available throughout Europe. ESPN American shows NCAA games all season and will be airing March Madness all tournament long.
Another reason for the increased popularity is the rise in the number of Europeans playing in the tournament. A total of 41 countries is represented in this edition of March Madness, with 19 European nations having players in the Big Dance. With this increased presence of Europeans in the American game, basketball's European ruling body, FIBA Europe, even commissioned a preview of the tournament for its website, focusing on how the tournament actually works, with a bit of background and how the seedings are arrived at, while noting some of the key Europeans in the tourney.Another reason for the increased popularity is the rise in the number of Europeans playing in the tournament. A total of 41 countries is represented in this edition of March Madness, with 19 European nations having players in the Big Dance. With this increased presence of Europeans in the American game, basketball's European ruling body, FIBA Europe, even commissioned a preview of the tournament for its website, focusing on how the tournament actually works, with a bit of background and how the seedings are arrived at, while noting some of the key Europeans in the tourney.
March Madness received a slight boost in public awareness in Germany, for example, in 2011 when German players Niels Giffey and Enosch Wolf were on the Connecticut team that won the Big Dance (even though neither played a big role in the team's success). This March, it wouldn't be a surprise if you saw Florida Gulf Coast jerseys on Swiss fans cheering on Christophe Varidel, or Davidson shirts in Sweden as they root for Chris Czerapowicz. Dutch fans will be throwing their support behind Valparaiso and Kevin Van Wijk, while the Italians will be hoping Ohio State and Amedeo Della Valle can go deep into the tournament.March Madness received a slight boost in public awareness in Germany, for example, in 2011 when German players Niels Giffey and Enosch Wolf were on the Connecticut team that won the Big Dance (even though neither played a big role in the team's success). This March, it wouldn't be a surprise if you saw Florida Gulf Coast jerseys on Swiss fans cheering on Christophe Varidel, or Davidson shirts in Sweden as they root for Chris Czerapowicz. Dutch fans will be throwing their support behind Valparaiso and Kevin Van Wijk, while the Italians will be hoping Ohio State and Amedeo Della Valle can go deep into the tournament.
Western Kentucky officials shouldn't be shocked if they see an increase in international hits on their website or orders from Turkey or Latvia, the homelands of Kevin Kaspar and Aleksejs Rostov, respectively. Germany could get another big boost if Elias Harris and Gonzaga can make good on their number one seed. A Gonzaga title would also do wonders for the popularity of college hoops in Poland, the home of Zags backup center Przemyslaw Karnowski, one of the biggest talents in Polish basketball.Western Kentucky officials shouldn't be shocked if they see an increase in international hits on their website or orders from Turkey or Latvia, the homelands of Kevin Kaspar and Aleksejs Rostov, respectively. Germany could get another big boost if Elias Harris and Gonzaga can make good on their number one seed. A Gonzaga title would also do wonders for the popularity of college hoops in Poland, the home of Zags backup center Przemyslaw Karnowski, one of the biggest talents in Polish basketball.
All of this exposure helps grow the interest in NCAA basketball in Europe – and to non-basketball fans or sports fans with only mild interest in hoops. It's up to the teams and players to catch those spectators' hearts and make them "mad".All of this exposure helps grow the interest in NCAA basketball in Europe – and to non-basketball fans or sports fans with only mild interest in hoops. It's up to the teams and players to catch those spectators' hearts and make them "mad".
Despite this growing interest, Europeans are miles from having bracket pools in their offices. That kind of stuff is saved for soccer World Cups or European Championships.Despite this growing interest, Europeans are miles from having bracket pools in their offices. That kind of stuff is saved for soccer World Cups or European Championships.
I sometimes get asked if something like March Madness might happen in Europe. First off, a collegiate-based tournament would never come about since sports in Europe are club-based – another reason many European players head to the states, for that chance to combine basketball and education.I sometimes get asked if something like March Madness might happen in Europe. First off, a collegiate-based tournament would never come about since sports in Europe are club-based – another reason many European players head to the states, for that chance to combine basketball and education.
Yet, some could argue that this kind of thing is actually in place in Europe – in a modified manner. The Nike International Junior Tournament is an Under-19 club competition, which has four qualifying tournaments with eight teams each. The tournaments are broken mainly by location with the qualifiers taking place in Rome, Italy; L'Hospitalet in the autonomous Catalonia region of Spain; Siauliai, Lithuania; and Belgrade, Serbia.Yet, some could argue that this kind of thing is actually in place in Europe – in a modified manner. The Nike International Junior Tournament is an Under-19 club competition, which has four qualifying tournaments with eight teams each. The tournaments are broken mainly by location with the qualifiers taking place in Rome, Italy; L'Hospitalet in the autonomous Catalonia region of Spain; Siauliai, Lithuania; and Belgrade, Serbia.
These events, however, do not have the luster of a competition like the NCAA's and are not particularly well-attended – save for the games with the local teams. The most interested observers at these qualifying tournaments are scouts and agents, looking for the next young stars of the game.These events, however, do not have the luster of a competition like the NCAA's and are not particularly well-attended – save for the games with the local teams. The most interested observers at these qualifying tournaments are scouts and agents, looking for the next young stars of the game.
The Euroleague's version of "March Madness" is "Devotion" – including a majestic-sounding theme song called "I feel Devotion", which pales in comparison to the emotional heartstrings tugged by "One Shining Moment". Still, it helps get the juices flowing when played before every Euroleague game.The Euroleague's version of "March Madness" is "Devotion" – including a majestic-sounding theme song called "I feel Devotion", which pales in comparison to the emotional heartstrings tugged by "One Shining Moment". Still, it helps get the juices flowing when played before every Euroleague game.
The biggest lure of March Madness is the do-or-die, win-or-go-home facet of the competition. But without a massive overhaul of every domestic league in Europe, as well as the Euroleague and the continent's two lower-ranked events, Eurocup and EuroChallenge, a competition like the NCAA tournament is basically impossible in Europe.The biggest lure of March Madness is the do-or-die, win-or-go-home facet of the competition. But without a massive overhaul of every domestic league in Europe, as well as the Euroleague and the continent's two lower-ranked events, Eurocup and EuroChallenge, a competition like the NCAA tournament is basically impossible in Europe.
In the meantime, the search for what Europeans think of March Madness continues. For the partners of NCAA basketball fans in Europe, the term actually is quite fitting. After all, tip-off for Round 64 action on Thursday is at 12.15pm (EDT), with the final game starting at 9.20pm. For those of you not familiar with the time difference, that means tip-off times of 5.15pm and 2.20am for fans in much of Europe. It definitely takes a "mad" fan to be watching hoops in the middle of the night – something that definitely makes it hard for Europeans to get into the US college game.In the meantime, the search for what Europeans think of March Madness continues. For the partners of NCAA basketball fans in Europe, the term actually is quite fitting. After all, tip-off for Round 64 action on Thursday is at 12.15pm (EDT), with the final game starting at 9.20pm. For those of you not familiar with the time difference, that means tip-off times of 5.15pm and 2.20am for fans in much of Europe. It definitely takes a "mad" fan to be watching hoops in the middle of the night – something that definitely makes it hard for Europeans to get into the US college game.
So, forget the beer, chips and bracket … who needs some more coffee and toothpicks for your eyes?So, forget the beer, chips and bracket … who needs some more coffee and toothpicks for your eyes?
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