BasketballOrganizedbasketballinvolves2teamsof5playerseach.Theplayersscorepointsbythrowingalargeroundballintoaraisedgoalcalledabasket.Onebasketisateachendoftheplayingarea,orcourt.Playersmaymovetheballtowardthebasketonlybybouncingitonthefloororpassingittoanotherteammember.Eachteamalsotriestopreventtheotherteamfromscoring.Theteamthatscoresthemostpointsisthewinner.JamesNaismithinventedthegameofbasketballin1891.HewasaphysicaleducationteacherinSpringfield,Massachusetts.Hewantedtocreateateamsportthatcouldbeplayedindoorsduringthewinter.Peopleimmediatelyenjoyedbasketball’sexcitementandfastaction.Injustafewyears,bothmenandwomenwereplayingbasketballatschoolsorsportscentersthroughoutNorthAmerica.Itbecamesopopularthatpeoplestartedpayingmoneytowatchbasketballgames.AmericansoldierstookthegametoEuropeduringWorldWarI.In1936,basketballbecamepartofthecompetitionattheOlympicGames.Aboutthesmetime,collegebasketballwasbecomingamajornationalsportintheUnitedStates.Thebestcollegeplayerswentontoplayforprofessionalteams.Thatisstilltruetoday.HundredsofAmericancollegesanduniversitieshavemen’sandwomen’sbasketballteams.TheNationalCollegicAthleticAssociationisagroupofcollegesanduniversitiesthattakespartinorganizedsportsprograms.TheNCAAmen’schampionshipisdecidedbyaseriesofgamesplayedattheendoftheseason.ThisseriestakesplaceinthemonthofMarchandisknownas“MarchMadness”.Thenumberofteamswasexpandedthisyearfrom64to65.Theywillcontinuetoplayuntil1teamhaswonallitsgamesandisdeclaredthechampion.MarchMadnessthisyearbeganlastweek.ItwillcontinueuntilthefinalgameisplayedinMinnegolisMinnesotaonApril2.