With March Madness just around the corner, many fans are busy trying to find the best matchups for the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments. Some people fill out a single bracket, while others prefer to go all in, crafting multiple brackets in hopes of hitting the jackpot.
NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton has a strong opinion on the matter—he believes that filling out multiple brackets just doesn’t cut it.
Haliburton recently expressed his views on social media, saying, “Make one bracket and stand on it.” When asked by FOX News Digital why he felt so passionately about this, he shared his frustration about the trend of creating several brackets. “It’s kind of lame,” he said. He emphasized the importance of making a single choice: “You have to make one choice and live with it.”
As Haliburton interacts with fans and reads their perspectives, he notices that there are various valid approaches to building brackets during this period. Some fans argue for political loyalty to their alma mater, even if it feels unrealistic. Haliburton acknowledged this sentiment, saying, “I get it. But if you really believe your school can’t win, then maybe don’t pick them.” This year, he opted to back Iowa State to take home the championship.
His support for the Cyclones aligns with their impressive season; the team posted a 27-7 record and secured a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region.
“It can happen,” he shared. “Those making brackets too timidly have to learn to own that decision.” Iowa State is set to face No. 15 Tennessee State in their opening game, and Haliburton feels good about their chances, remarking that the team has been tested through tough competitions.
“I didn’t hesitate when I made my pick,” he noted. “We’re not intimidated. We’ve played in the best conference, and while Arizona might have dominated, they barely squeaked by us.”
Haliburton has faith in Iowa State’s capability to perform well on neutral grounds and is sticking to his plan of participating in just one bracket among millions.
On a fun note, Haliburton is teaming up with Reese’s for a campaign tied to March Madness. He understands the inevitability of brackets being shattered but suggests that fans share their broken brackets on social media. This could even earn them a chance to win some Reese’s Cups and tickets to the Final Four.
“It’s like a sweet twist on a tough situation,” he remarked. “If we’re all going to face bracket disasters, we might as well have some fun and gain something from it.” He mentioned the collaboration is exciting for him.
Haliburton, along with other stars like Brianna Stewart and analysts Richard Jefferson and Andraya Carter, participated in a bracket summit to share their picks for both tournaments. While he’s aware that his bracket could potentially fail, his main hope is that Iowa State comes out on top.
