A March Madness history lesson

Sunday, March 27, 2016 | 2 a.m.

March Madness 2016 has yet to disappoint. It has been a wild, bracket-busting spectacle and a perfect example of why we love the NCAA tournament so much. Many of us will be replaying Northern Iowa’s buzzer-beating, half-court shot against Texas for years to come. And there’s still a fair amount of disbelief over Michigan State’s loss to 15th-seeded Middle Tennessee State as a 17.5-point betting favorite.

While the unpredictable nature of March Madness continues to draw in viewers, it’s the history of the tournament that keeps the fandom alive. Here are some of the best traditions and great rivalries the tournament offers.

Where did the name come from?

The term “March Madness” first was used to refer to the NCAA Tournament in 1982 by sportscaster Brent Musburger. Prior to that, it had been used to describe the Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship. The entities went to court in 1996 to fight for the trademark.

Glass slippers and slingshots

During March Madness, commentators consistently reference teams’ “Cinderella” stories and compare battles featuring large underdogs to David vs. Goliath. There are few storylines NCAA revelers love more than those of an underdog — unless the team just busted their bracket.

The winning team keeps the net and court

Championship winners cut down the net after the final game in a symbolic moment of victory and long-standing NCAA tradition. Since 1986, winners also have been given the opportunity to keep the hardwood from the court. Some schools sell the pieces as memorabilia. Some convert them into their home court. And others stash away the pieces.

UNLV’s championship history

UNLV won the NCAA championship once, against Duke in 1990, by a 30-point margin, with the final score 103-73. It was the largest point discrepancy of any March Madness championship game and the only time any team has scored more than 100 points in the championship game.

Biggest NCAA rivalries

Choosing among the biggest and best NCAA rivalries is no easy feat. It seems as if everyone has a favorite, and college basketball fans will argue to the bitter end to defend their choice. The list could go on, but here are five of the oldest and most beloved rivalries.

• Duke vs. North Carolina: This is perhaps the most heated rivalry in NCAA history. Both schools have powerhouse programs and diehard fan bases, and their campuses sit just a few miles apart, creating the perfect environment for a truly sublime match-up.

• Michigan vs. Michigan State: Michigan continues to be a hotbed for some of the best college ball in the country, and these longtime rivals fuel that greatness. For more than 100 years, Michigan and Michigan State have been going head-to-head, making this one of the oldest rivalries. And there’s no sign that will change anytime soon.

• Kentucky vs. Louisville: Like Michigan, Kentucky is a hardcore basketball-loving state with legendary programs to match. This fierce in-state rivalry has been a staple in college sports for decades, and it continues to intensify. Kentucky holds the record for the most March Madness appearances; Louisville has the fifth-most.

• Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State: Continuing the in-state rivalry trend, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have even coined a term — and picked up corporate sponsors — for their rivalry. The Bedlam Series refers to the collision of the schools’ football, basketball and wrestling programs, and any Bedlam face-off pretty much guarantees a good show.

• UCLA vs. Arizona: This Pac-12 rivalry has been hitting heavy for 30 years, with one team or the other often favored for the title. While UCLA holds the record for the most NCAA championship wins (11) and Arizona has just one, these rivals continue to give each other a run for their money year after year.

Sources: Bleacher Report, History.com, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ESPN