Calendars were marked. Brackets were printed off. Bets were made. The madness was about to begin.

Once the calendar flips from February to March, college basketball fans across the nation gather together to watch one of the biggest (and longest) tournaments in sports: the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Cue dramatic music, roaring crowds and the sound of a buzzer.

There is nothing like being part of March Madness. Teams wait on Selection Sunday hoping, praying, wishing that they proved to be a team worthy of the tournament. They wait, almost impatiently, to find out who their opponents are.

Once those games are announced, no team is safe. 68 teams competing for one title. Anything can happen.

And it did.

Second-seed Missouri, the team that analysts for ESPN were saying could beat Michigan State (MSU), was eliminated in the first round by 15-seed Norfolk State. It was a difference of only two points. Close games like this one make teams consider every missed shot, from the missed free throws to the jumper that just wouldn’t go in. Now fans and analysts don’t get the opportunity to see what the outcome would be of an Elite Eight Game pitting Missouri against MSU.

A similar situation occurred for one of the elite teams in the NCAA. Second-seed Duke was defeated by a 15-seed Lehigh University. Ever heard of them? Now they won’t be forgotten. They beat one of the best teams in college basketball by five points.

As of Wednesday, March 21, only one team from Michigan remained in the tournament, while four from Ohio: Ohio State, Ohio, Cincinnati and Xavier, were members of the Sweet Sixteen. This is a NCAA first.

Michigan lost to Ohio. Not their Big Ten Conference rival Ohio State, but Ohio University, a team seeded thirteenth in their division of the tournament.

Detroit faced another elite team, Kansas, but held their own. 15 points may seem like a lot, but Kansas could have had a margin of victory much larger than that.

MSU has remained in the tournament, defeating Long Island University-Brooklyn and Saint Louis to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. After the upset of Norfolk State over Missouri, it appeared as though MSU’s road to the Final Four was made a bit easier. If they defeat Louisville, their biggest competition will be third-seed Marquette.

It may be too late to fill out a bracket and compete with your friends, but it’s never too late to witness some of the madness. Game times and other information, including a live bracket, can be found at www.cbssports.com.

[WRITER’S NOTE: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON WWW.SAUPULSE.COM]