When Does The First March Madness Game Start

The Eternal Question: When Does March Madness Really Start?

Ah, March Madness. That beautiful, bracket-busting, buzzer-beating time of year. We all love it, but let's be honest.

Figuring out when it actually starts can feel like deciphering ancient hieroglyphics.

Is it Selection Sunday?

Some say it kicks off with Selection Sunday. The day the brackets are revealed! The anticipation is palpable. The disappointment for bubble teams? Even more so.

But... is that really the start? I'm not so sure.

The "First Four" Conundrum

Then there's the "First Four." Those play-in games. Are those really March Madness games? They technically are. But, let’s be honest.

Does anyone truly care about those games beyond the teams involved and die-hard gamblers? I submit: not really.

My Hot Take (Prepare to be Offended)

Here's my unpopular opinion. Brace yourselves.

March Madness doesn't really start until that first Thursday. Yes, Thursday! The day everyone calls in sick.

The day productivity across the nation grinds to a halt. That's when the real madness begins.

Why Thursday? Let Me Explain (Kind Of)

Think about it. That's when the vast majority of the bracket gets busted. When your carefully considered picks go down in flames. When you yell at your TV like a lunatic.

That's when the Cinderella stories start to blossom. That's when 12-seeds become the bane of 5-seeds existence. That’s the true beginning.

Besides, nobody throws a March Madness party for the First Four. Do they? I rest my case.

The Thursday Frenzy

Thursday and Friday are a beautiful, chaotic mess. Games starting every two hours! Upsets galore!

Your bracket is likely in shambles by Friday afternoon. You're already planning next year's strategy. This is the pure distilled essence of March Madness.

"The first Thursday of March Madness should be a national holiday. I said what I said." - Me (probably)

But What About...

Okay, okay, I hear you. The purists are screaming. "The First Four are part of the tournament! They deserve respect!"

And, sure, technically you're right. But this is about the feeling. The vibe. The collective national obsession.

That feeling doesn't truly ignite until Thursday. It's science. (Okay, maybe not actual science.)

So, When Does It Start?

So, to recap: Selection Sunday is important. The First Four are... there. But March Madness, the real, soul-crushing, joy-inducing March Madness, starts on that first glorious Thursday.

Mark your calendars. Book your sick days. And get ready for the best (and most unpredictable) sporting event on the planet.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bracket to perfect (that will inevitably be wrong by lunchtime on Thursday).