- Henry V. Porter and Brent Musburger are credited with the March Madness nickname.
- Al McGuire referred to the NCAA Tournament as the “Big Dance” in 1977.
- The women’s tournament began using the March Madness branding in 2022.
March Madness is an intense, captivating period of basketball. Teams often defy the point spread odds, while people who may lack interest in college basketball betting lines during the regular season will commit to watching tournament showdowns.
Sportsbooks see a significant uptick in the number of college hoops live bets placed during March Madness, with multiple games played.
Why Is It Called March Madness?
“March Madness” was first used by high school official Henry V. Porter in an Illinois magazine in 1939, the earliest origin of the phrase.
Porter wrote, “A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel.”
At the time, Porter was referring to the excitement surrounding a state high school basketball tournament. March Madness now refers to the NCAA Tournament, which captures the attention of hoops fans worldwide.
How Did March Madness Get its Name?
While Porter is credited as the first to utter “March Madness,” it wasn’t paired with the NCAA Tournament until 1982. CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger heard the term on a car dealership commercial in Illinois, which he began using in his coverage.
Eventually using “March Madness” during his CBS coverage, Musburger brought the new name to the mainstream.
What Are Other Names for March Madness?
March Mayhem, the Big Dance, and the NCAA Tournament are other names for March Madness.
Why Do They Call March Madness the ‘Big Dance?’
Al McGuire, former Marquette head coach, is credited with coining “Big Dance” for the NCAA Tournament in 1977.
When asked if he would wear his lucky blue blazer at the tournament, McGuire said, “You gotta wear the blue blazer when you go to the big dance.”
McGuire donned the jacket throughout Marquette’s victorious NCAA Tournament run, cementing “Big Dance” as a commonly used nickname for March Madness.
What Did Women’s March Madness Used to be Called?
The women’s NCAA Tournament was called the “AIAW Women’s Basketball Tournament” from 1972 until 1982. Until 2022, the women’s tournament didn’t use the same branding as the men’s.
It was simply known as the “NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament.”
