Originally published on Pretty Girl’s Playbook on February 27, 2026.
If you’ve ever wanted to get into college basketball and always wondered what a “bracket” meant, then you’re at the right place. Four years ago, as a freshman at UConn, I felt the exact same way. I was enrolled at the “Basketball Capital of the World,” yet I had only ever watched a few NBA playoffs, always rooting for the Golden State Warriors (probably because of my tiny crush on Steph Curry). Everything changed when I stepped foot in Gampel Pavilion, UConn’s basketball arena, and watched the women’s team advance to the Sweet Sixteen. With every spirit finger and UConn Huskies chant, I marveled at the school spirit and finally understood how sports can build a sense of community. After just one game, I declared myself a basketball fan and realized it wasn’t intimidating whatsoever. Funnily enough, I never completed a March Madness bracket as an undergrad, so to cure my post-grad FOMO, let’s make one together!
What Is March Madness?
Starting with the basics, March Madness is an NCAA single-elimination men’s and women’s college basketball tournament, comprised of 68 teams. The teams are divided into regions, South, West, Midwest, and East, with 16 teams playing in each region after four preliminary games. They are ranked by their performance during the season, with the #1 seed being the overall best and the #16 seed being the weakest. The early games pair top seeds with lower seeds, giving the higher-ranked teams a better chance at advancing. You would think the top teams are guaranteed winners, right? Well, there’s actually something called a “Cinderella,” which is when a lower-ranked team unexpectedly wins. This causes dramatic upsets early in the tournament, hence why it’s dubbed “madness.”
What Is a March Madness Bracket?
To put it simply, a bracket is a visual representation of the tournament, which gets smaller and smaller as teams are eliminated. What appears to be a tangled web of lines is actually every single game, culminating with the last two teams facing off for the championship. Fans like to be in on the action, so they create brackets, filling in the gaps with their predictions. The goal isn’t to create a perfect bracket (fun fact: that’s actually never been accomplished), but to try to get as close as possible to the few remaining teams.
How To Make a Bracket?
There are countless platforms to submit your bracket, but since we’re all beginners here, let’s opt for the most straightforward ones. The NCAA, ESPN, and CBS Sports websites all have free bracket challenges, where you can actually win prizes!
There’s a specific window to submit your bracket, between Selection Sunday, when the participating teams are announced, and the first game of the tournament. This year, Selection Sunday is on March 15th, and the first men’s game lands on March 17th, and the women’s on March 18th. Once you’ve submitted your bracket, all that’s left is to sit back, tune in to the games, and hope you at least predicted one finalist correctly!
What Teams Should You Look Out For?
If you’re not in the mood to study a team’s season or use any type of scoring formula, you can use fun strategies, like choosing your favorite mascot, going by team colors, or purely basing it on vibes. However, I wouldn’t be fulfilling my alumni duty if I didn’t at least vouch for UConn. For the men’s, the Arizona Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, and Michigan Wolverines are all having good seasons and are predicted to be automatic qualifiers. The Huskies won the championship in 2023 and 2024, but fell behind in 2025, losing their chance for a three-peat. It seems like they’re having a better season than last year, though, so either the Elite Eight or Final Four could be a safe bet.
As for the women, you guessed it, UConn has got to be on top. From 2008 to 2022, they held a 14-year Final Four streak and are just coming off a 2025 national championship. With players like Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong, and KK Arnold, the Huskies are more than guaranteed to take home the trophy. Other top-tier teams include the South Carolina Gamecocks, UCLA Bruins, and Texas Longhorns, which could give the Huskies a run for their money. But alas, we’ll have to wait and see.
Let the Madness Begin!
Now that we’ve covered all the March Madness essentials and are ready to make your first bracket, you’re officially in on the fun! Keep in mind, there are no wrong picks, upsets are a part of the chaos, and don’t forget to trust your gut. Oh, and sorry in advance if basketball becomes your newest obsession — March Madness has a way of bringing out everyone’s inner fangirl.