The month of March means many things to the average college student -- spring break, midterms and the end all, be all NCAA basketball tournament.
"It's March Madness, baby," said third-year College student Katie Ergen. "I mean, the NCAA Tournament is a huge thing for college students. Especially if your team is playing, although it is not the case with U.Va."
Fourth-year College student Dane Wisher said he is upset about the performance of the Cavaliers but that his passion for the tournament is still alive.
"Not only did U.Va. not go far, but they were never in it in the first place," Wisher said. "Their lackluster NIT performance was also disheartening. If I performed so poorly in my capacities at the University, I probably wouldn't be in school anymore."
Nevertheless, Wisher said he did not think the Cavaliers' absence impacted students' decision to follow the tournament.
"No matter who is in the field of 65 teams, it is exciting," Wisher said. "Fans will always follow it, and even those who don't normally follow college hoops get into the action."
Wisher is also involved in the traditional bracketing.
"I've been running my own pool for eight years now," Wisher said. "I don't take a cut. It's just fun for me. But for all these years, I've never won. You'd think luck would have struck by now but no dice."
Fourth-year Engineering student Henry Wittenzellner said he got in on the official Engineering School pool, which is free to participants.
"You just fill out a bracket and the first prize is an iPod, the second prize is a $75 Best Buy certificate and I don't know the third prize is," Wittenzellner said. "But I am kicking ass in it right now because my brackets are really good."
Wittenzellner said his excitement about the tournament is beyond just joining in on a pool.
"I actually got into a fight over watching the tournament with my girlfriend because I wasn't spending time with her," Wittenzellner said. "But I mean it is bigger than the Superbowl for a guy, especially in the first few days when there are games all day long."
Wisher said he also recognizes less enthusiasm on the part of University women but that it doesn't stop them from joining in on the pool.
"In this case, the stereotype is true, guys just care more about sports," Wisher said. "But girls do get into it. I have several girls in my pool, and they are doing well."
Second-year College student Melissa Hudson said she definitely sees a difference between the attention paid by males and females to the tournament.
"Guys are most definitely more interested in the tournament," she said. "My roommate didn't even know we weren't in it."
Hudson said she sees the University more oriented towards football than basketball.
"Football games are much more school-spirited here," Hudson said. "60,000 people wearing orange is much more overwhelming. But I guess it depends on which school you go to. My friend goes to Gonzaga and basketball is huge there."
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