The first NCAA men’s basketball tournament was organized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1939. The championship game – won by Oregon – was attended by 5,000 spectators and the tournament ran a deficit of $2,531.
Times change. March Madness is now a billion-dollar dream machine that thrives on images of greatness. Stories of past dynasties and teams for the ages are reverentially told with the promise of more to come. But in reality, men’s college basketball dynasties are a thing of the past. And we may not see a truly great men’s college basketball team again.
