During a time when most people are thinking about spring flowers and warmer temperatures, I’ve only got one thing on my mind…basketball. There’s something about a little friendly competition and the chance at a championship title that makes you feel like a Division 1 coach. So, when the time came to fill out a bracket I laced up my J’s and went for the slam-dunk…or so I thought. This March Madness season turned out to be one giant shot in the dark, but it also turned out to be pretty inspirational.
#16 UMBC defeats #1 UVA
Let’s start with the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s shocking upset over the University of Virginia. Heading into this matchup, you didn’t need an analyst to tell you the winner because it was seemingly obvious. But with an early lead and impressive defense, UMBC held off UVA in what is now being called the greatest upset in college basketball history. So, here’s the life lesson: Regardless of the magnitude or how impossible a task, if you believe in yourself and work hard you truly can accomplish the impossible.
#1 UNC loses to #7 Texas A&M
As UNC took to the court, there was an undeniable amount of pressure to perform. The reigning champs had not lost a tournament game on their home turf in 39 years and were not looking to start now, however, the Aggies had a secret weapon. That weapon came in the shape of a 6’10, 264-pound beast named Tyler Davis who was absolutely unstoppable. Couple his amazing performance with the continuous ‘swish’ from the 3-point line and the game was a wrap. The lesson? There’s no such thing in life as a guarantee. There’s always someone out there whose bigger and better, but that’s more motivation to keep pushing.
#3 Michigan stuns #6 Houston
With my eyes glued to the TV and nails completely bitten, this game came down to mere seconds. With Michigan and Houston battling all night for the top spot, it was freshman Jordan Poole who stepped up to the plate. As the clock expired, the bold rookie nailed a buzzer beater leaving the sports world in shock. The takeaway? You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Take a chance, you might be surprised at the outcome.
I could list about 10 other scenarios during March Madness that were mini life lessons, but then I might as well turn this blog into a book. So to be brief here is the biggest lesson March Madness left me with. In life, you win some and you lose some, but it’s the fight to get to where you are that is the most admirable.
