Like most college basketball fans, I enjoy March Madness. For me, though, March Madness ended Sunday night when Stanford beat Arizona. I am referring to the NCAA women’s tournament.

For the first time in several years, my DePaul Blue Demons did not make the tournament, a late-season collapse sealing their fate. After my next pick of Marquette got bounced early from the tourney, I was left without a real rooting interest, but that didn’t stop me from watching.

(Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

The tourney got off to a shaky start as several inequities between the men’s and women’s facilities and amenities were revealed. NCAA president Mark Emmert apologized and vowed changes would be made. The disconcerting part is someone actually made the decisions to have the differences. Changing the situation was great, but that mindset is what needs to be investigated and changed.

(Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Fortunately, the play on the court took over the spotlight. Three top seeds made it to the Final Four. While there weren’t a lot of upsets, there were plenty of close games. It culminated in the thrilling, one-point Stanford victory last night.

(Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

While I watched most of the games at various sports bars, with yesterday being Easter, I had to change that routine. I adjusted nicely by bringing a pizza home and watching the game from the comfort of my couch.

(Photo by Evert Nelson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Many great team and individual stories came from the tourney, but the most important one is that it was played. Last season abruptly ended due to the pandemic, and several teams survived temporary hiatuses this season, but the tournament played without any disruptions. That is the real victory.

— John Wroblewski, online writer