The tournaments are coming! That’s right, you can’t stop them, they are on the way. Fast.

The Men’s and Women’s NCAA basketball tournaments are almost ready to tip off – and if you’ve got a partner that is obsessed, in love with, can’t get enough of, and can’t stop watching the action year after year, we’re here for you!

Since 2010, I’ve been trying to come up with great ideas that March Madness Widow(er)s can leverage while their partners are consumed by college basketball. And in 2024, we’re here again, with the 13th official edition of the March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide.

I hope it can be useful to you while Caitlin Clark, Zach Edey, JuJu Watkins, RJ Davis, Angel Reese et al are on the court from March 19 to April 8, 2024.

First though, the schedule so you know when your partner is most likely to be immersed in college basketball action.

Men’s March Madness

🏀 Selection Sunday – Sunday, March 17, 2024
🏀 First Four – Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20, 2024
🏀 NCAA Tournament Round 1 – Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22, 2024
🏀 NCAA Tournament Round 2 – Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, 2024
🏀 Sweet 16 – Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29, 2024
🏀 Elite 8 – Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31, 2024
🏀 Final Four – Saturday, April 6, 2024
🏀 2022 NCAA Championship Game – Monday, April 8, 2024

Women’s March Madness

🏀 Selection Sunday – Sunday, March 17, 2024
🏀 First Four – Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21, 2024
🏀 NCAA Tournament Round 1 – Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23, 2024
🏀 NCAA Tournament Round 2 – Sunday, March 24 and Monday, March 25, 2024
🏀 Sweet 16 – Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, 2024
🏀 Elite 8 – Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1, 2024
🏀 Final Four – Friday, April 5, 2024
🏀 2022 NCAA Championship Game – Sunday, April 7, 2024

Buckle up!

1) Listen to the 60 Songs That Explain The ’90s Podcast

Look, I’m a fan, and I’m biased, and at this very moment, a little emotional – but 60 Songs That Explains The ‘90s is a must-listen for music fans who lived through the 1990s, or want to learn more about the music from the era, or both.

The series has recently reached its conclusion, but the archive remains. With 120 song episodes, a live show, a mailbag, a guest-filled bonus, and a recap episode – there is a lot of content to get through. And you’ll love it.

Pop, rock, grunge, hip-hop, country, it’s all there. Rob took us through the whole darn thing.

And if you weren’t listening weekly during the run – there’s no better time than now to discover the show and enjoy it.

Find it here: theringer.com/60-songs-that-explain-the-90s

2) Watch Concerts on the CBC

Did ya’ll know that CBC Gem has concerts ready for you to watch, you just have to login and hit play?

The CBC Music Presents: Live at Massey Hall collection includes, The Beaches, Donovan Woods, July Talk, Charlotte Day Wilson and more. It’s all right there. At your fingertips.

Watch Now: gem.cbc.ca/cbc-music-presents-live-at-massey-hall

And the CBC Music Live series has seasons 3 & 4 on the app right now with The Reklaws, City & Colour, Tegan and Sara, Shawnee Kish, Chromeo and a bunch more ready just a push of the button away.

Watch Now: gem.cbc.ca/cbc-music-live

Live music, even recorded and watched back later, is some of my favourite music. It doesn’t matter the genre – the energy transcends that. And the CBC has a bunch of it that you can binge during the tournament if you’re looking for respite.

Thank you, CBC.

Sign-up, sign-in, start watching and listening.

3) Do Some Music Spring Cleaning

Does your record collection need re-arranging our cataloguing?
‣ Sort them by most-listened. Or by artist. Or by genre. Or by the feeling you get when you listen to them. Or by album cover colour. Whatever floats your boat!

Do you have way too many CDs in the house that you never ever listen to?
‣ I’ve been there. We all have. Our shelf now has a tidy stack of 10 CDs – the essentials and most beloved. The rest are out in the garage in a box with the old boombox where they are more useful and loved.

Are your playlists are 4 years old and in need of an update?
‣ Tastes change. Songs mean more or mean less or get dusty. Just have a look at your playlists and give them a little love. It’s worth it.

4) Go to Your Local Record Stores

In my humble opinion, there is something magical about record stores and bookstores. But you have to be there to feel the magic.

So, go!

Maybe you’ll just be window shopping (pick up a sticker or a pin or something to drop a little $$$ support while you’re there). Or maybe, after you’ve sorted and spring-cleaned your collection, you’ve got an album in mind that needs to be added to your shelf.

Walk through the store, flip through the records, find the artists you are looking for, talk to the folks behind the counter, do it all.

And then tell your friends about the store. We need to keep supporting them to keep them alive.

Note: Shout out to Kops Records and Another Spin Records in Oshawa, ON – my two local shops!

5) Play Along

I’ve been saying it since 2010, and I’ll keep saying it forever: Play Along!

You don’t have to watch every game. You don’t have to be obsessed. But you can still enjoy these tournaments.

Fall in love with Caitlin Clark’s limitless range and confidence. Cheer for a Cinderella team as they defy the odds and make their way deeper into the bracket. Hope for buzzer-beaters.

There will be so much action over three weeks. So much.

Start by filling out your brackets. This is where you’re going to get your bragging rights if you catch some breaks. And then, check in on ‘em. Watch some highlights. Eat a great snack and enjoy a game or two.

Dive in. Have fun.

Please remember though, it’s not nice too much fun of your S/O when their favourite team gets bounced, or their bracket gets busted. It hurts. Trust me.

And if you need more ideas, have a look back at the first 12 editions of the March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide!

2010 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide

2011 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 2.0

2012 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 3.0

2013 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 4.0

2014 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 5.0

2015 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 6.0

2016 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 7.0

2017 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 8.0

2018 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide  9.0

2019 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 10!

2021 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide 11!

2022 🏀 The March Madness Widow(er) Survival Guide v12!

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.