This year’s March Madness production is filled with buzzer beaters, Cinderella stories, and thrilling upsets.
It’s also filled with inspiring stories of faith as superstars, role players, and head coaches alike proclaim the name of Christ. We’re featuring five such people, but there are definitely more (and we’ll probably find a few more this weekend).
The women’s Final Four will feature Friday night’s matchup between South Carolina and North Carolina State, followed by a showdown between Iowa and Connecticut. (The game is streamed on ESPN).
It’s the men’s turn on Saturday, with the Final Four games between Purdue and North Carolina State and Alabama and Connecticut. (Men’s semifinals will be on TBS).
The women’s championship will be held on ABC on Sunday afternoon, and the men’s championship will be on TBS on Monday night.
Introducing five Christians who are attracting attention.
Paige Backers of Connecticut
The All-American guard averaged a team-leading 22 points and four assists, leading the Connecticut women’s team back to the Final Four for the first time since 2022. Powerful school Connecticut State is aiming for its first national championship since 2016.
Ms. Bakkers has been vocal about her faith.
“I am a living witness. I give all glory to God.”@UConnWBB‘s @pagebacker1 He expressed his gratitude Monday night for making it to the Final Four once again.
(🎥ESPN) pic.twitter.com/kYU67g6Sax
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) April 2, 2024
“I’m just so grateful. I’m living proof,” Bakkers told ESPN after his team won the regional championship. “I give all the glory to God. He works in mysterious ways.”
She missed all of last season with a knee injury.
“Last year, I was praying to get back on this stage, and he gave me trials and tribulations, but it was to build my character. It was to test my faith to see if it was true. But I just kept believing. I did everything I could, as God would do everything I couldn’t do. It is.”
related: College star Paige Bueckers praises God while returning from injury
Mark Sears of Alabama
The All-SEC guard averaged a team-high 21.5 points per game and ranked ninth in the NCAA in 3-point percentage (43.4 percent), leading Alabama to its first-ever Final Four.
“Effort always wins. If it wasn’t for hard work, I wouldn’t be here,” Sears told CBS after his team defeated Clemson in the regional final. “…[I] Give all honor and glory to God. ”
“When you’re a kid, you want to be in moments like this. Today felt like a dream come true!”
—@AlabamaMBBmark sears pic.twitter.com/fOs3pr9M0c
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 31, 2024
Sears transferred from Ohio State to Alabama, where he led the team to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. He said his parents’ faith influenced who he was as a child.
“My mother and father were very supportive of me from an early age. I think that was one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life. “I just knew I could talk to God,” he said. Said “…I feel like I just need to be able to talk to God and tell him how I’m feeling and read His Word. That’s really helped my faith.”
Purdue’s Mason Gillis
The forward averaged 7 points and 3.8 rebounds, taking pressure off All-American center Zach Eady, who won the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award. This is Purdue’s first trip to the Final Four since 1980.
Gillis’ favorite Bible verse — Isaiah 40:31 –He has a tattoo on his left forearm.he said this purdue index This verse helped him endure in the valleys of life. (The Bible says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will spread their wings like eagles and fly; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint; There is no.”)
“This tattoo was the first one I ever got and it means a lot to me,” Gillis said.
As a child, he went to church with his mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt. Although he is not Catholic, he also has a rosary tattoo. News sites described him as a devout Christian.
“I thought the rosary was cool,” he said. “I didn’t know it was a Catholic thing.”
Connecticut coach Dan Hurley
The sixth-year head coach returned the men’s team to national prominence by making four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and winning a national title in 2023. UW is looking to become the first back-to-back title champion since the University of Florida in 2006-2007.
His faith has guided his life and career, he said last year.
“My foundation is very strong,” Hurley Said ed mylett show. “My foundation starts with faith, my faith in Jesus Christ. …That foundation that I have at home and my faith is the foundation that allows me to deal with anything that comes with this job, the criticism, the defeat.” , I can overcome tough challenges. Because of my background and foundation, I am built to handle everything that this job entails.”
He added that he goes to bed early every night so he can wake up and spend time with God.
“Spiritual reading and prayer and meditation practices,” Hurley said. “For me, a diary can be a free-writing journal or a gratitude journal.”
University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley
The Shamcocks coach led the women’s team to their fourth consecutive Final Four appearance and sixth championship in the last nine tournaments. South Carolina won national titles in 2022 and 2017 under Staley.
She has been vocal about her faith.
“If you don’t believe in God, there’s something wrong with you,” she told a national television audience after her team won the district final. “Seriously. I’m a believer because God makes things happen. When you’re at your worst, God is at your best.”
Ms. Staley continued her faith-filled testimony during media Q&A sessions.
“I think God has a funny way of dealing with humans. I’m one of his,” she said. “And to lose like we lost last year, [to Iowa] –And today, after hearing that God has brought us this far, I have come to believe a little more deeply. …We never want to give glory to God who has bestowed upon us extraordinary grace. ”
Her team won the regional finals on Easter Sunday.
“He is resurrected,” she said.
related: No. 1 South Carolina coach Dawn Staley testifies: “If you don’t believe in God, something is wrong.”
Image credit: ©Getty Images / Brandon Sumrall / stringer
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
