March is back, and with it, college basketball. The tournament draws over 30 million views per year, but it’s even more exceptional for the “superfan students” who have followed their teams all season.
“The entire atmosphere in McKale Center is so vibrant and full of support for the Wildcats. Watching Koa Peat slam a basket while 14,000 people chant “U of A” is something so special. There is truly nothing like watching my favorite players play an exhilarating sport while screaming at the top of my lungs with my best friends and the entire arena,” University of Arizona student and BHS alumna Aleea Lichtenberg ‘25 said.
For many, their love for college basketball did not start until they got to college, where they either attended a game on their own or were introduced to it.
“Back when I went to BHS, I actually had very little knowledge of college basketball. It wasn’t until I met my roommate, Emily, that I got really into it, going to games with her. She had season tickets for our freshman year, and I had so much fun going to the games that I bought season tickets this year, too,” University of Wisconsin-Madison student and BHS alumna Kate Femali, “24,” said.
What’s more important than simply watching the games is the experience of going to them. The adventures and memories pulled from the games are what really build the college experience.
“I have a running joke of a ‘second-quarter hot dog’ that I get in the last eight minutes of the first half. I’ve rushed the court at the Michigan State game, and I’ve grown to love the Wisconsin team so much,” Femali said. “My roommate and I try to get there sometimes an hour and a half early to get good seats in the lower section. There’s such a rush when your team is winning, or when you’re in the student section, throwing newspaper pieces into the air when the first basket is made. I could go on forever…”
Being a fan is also much easier when their team is elite, something that Lichtenburg and Femali don’t have to worry about this year.
“Watching the Arizona Wildcats win the Big 12 championship against #6 Iowa State was such an incredible experience. I have never seen a team so well-connected to each other, and so dedicated to the game,” Lichtenburg said.
Some alumni are even directly connected to the teams; Autumn Young ‘23 is a nutritionist at Iowa State University, and instead of going to the games, has been working to make sure that the players are able to perform at their highest ability.
“I am usually behind the scenes, fueling the athletes with our sports dieticians. As an aspiring dietician, working with D1 athletes has been a dream come true. I truly love the environment and passion of sports,” Young said.
It’s not just basketball, either; Lichtenburg, a self-styled Arizona superfan, goes to events from multiple different smaller and often underappreciated teams.
“I have done my best to attend a variety of UofA sports, such as football, lacrosse, volleyball, soccer, women’s basketball, hockey, baseball, and softball. My favorite sport to attend (other than basketball) is Arizona football,” Lichtenburg said.
March Madness will continue to draw millions of people year after year, but this year, for the dedicated students, it just means more.
“I could talk about basketball forever. It’s certainly the atmosphere in my apartment, too. My roommates and I are talking about putting up a bracket in our living room for March Madness. Our house is a little divided too; my other roommate is dating Will Hornseth of Northern Iowa, and they just guaranteed their spot in the bracket,” Femali said.
