Magic Johnson Hails ‘Exciting’ March Madness Tournament for Unpredictability

Published 03/29/2021, 9:43 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

After the 2020 March Madness tournament got ruled out, fans were dejected. It is one of the most exhilarating events of the year that keeps everyone on their toes. However, the 2021 edition has been phenomenal, so far, and has made up for its absence last year.

There have been multiple upsets in each round, and fans are loving it. And along with fans, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is thrilled as well. Following the end of the Elite Eight, Johnson tweeted about the tournament and praised it for being so unpredictable. While congratulating all the qualifying teams, he expressed his excitement for the next round too.

Two double-digit seeds have reached the Elite Eight for only the third time in NCAA history. The UCLA Bruins and the Oregon State Beavers have stunned the fans as they have had upset after upset to reach this stage. Despite winning the Pac 12 conference tournament, the Beavers had few backers. Very few had faith in the Bruins as well, and now they are proving their critics wrong.

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Most of the upsets in the March Madness tournaments happen in the earlier rounds. Teams get more cautious as they advance to the crucial stages. Despite all the upsets, three out of the four #1 seeds are still in the hunt, but how many will survive?

Are more upsets in store for the 2021 March Madness tournament?

In the West Region, the #1 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs face off against the USC Trojans. It will be an exciting battle between the favorite and the current dark horse of the tournament. The odds favor the Bulldogs, but the Trojans’ form makes them a candidate to pull off an upset. It promises to be the most hyped game of this round.

USA Today via Reuters

In the East Region, the #1 seed Michigan Wolverines face off against the UCLA Bruins. After going under the radar in predictions, Pac-12 teams have proven their critics wrong with outstanding performances. The Wolverines will be on their toes during this game and will have to be careful to advance to the next round.

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In the Midwest Region, the #2 seed Houston Cougars face the Oregon State Beavers. The Cougars will know better than to underestimate their giant killer opposition and will be keen to avoid an upset.

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Finally, in the South Region, the #1 seed Baylor Bears face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks. This will be a battle between two of the most exciting guards as Bears’ Jared Butler goes head to head against Razorbacks’ Moses Moody. They have been good so far, but the Razorbacks’ journey could come to an end here.

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It has been a thrilling tournament so far, and it is only going to get better as we enter the final rounds.

WATCH: USC Trojans’ Evan Mobley Destroys Oregon Ducks’ Center With A Mean Poster

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Written by:

Aaron Mathew

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Aaron Mathew is a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Mass Media from Xavier’s College, Aaron has been a part of EssentiallySports since May 2020 where he covers both NBA and NCAA basketball news, and has also covered NBA 2K. In the past, Aaron has worked at the Sports Desk of Mumbai Mirror.
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