Overview
March Madness is a basketball simulation board game focused on NCAA Final Four teams. Players can re-play games between great Final Four teams from the past 40+ years, or create entire 64-team brackets for their own tournaments. The game uses rated player cards and dice to simulate possession-by-possession basketball action.
Components
- Team cards (historical Final Four teams)
- Player rating cards (individual skills rated AA to F)
- Dice
- Score sheets
- Court/play area
- Result charts
Setup
- Select two teams to play against each other.
- Set out each team’s player cards with individual ratings.
- Prepare the scoring sheet.
- Determine which team has home court or starts with the ball.
Turn Structure
Each possession:
- Offensive player selects an action (drive, shoot, pass, etc.).
- Roll dice and consult the result chart.
- Apply modifiers based on offensive and defensive player ratings.
- Resolve the possession (score, turnover, foul, rebound, etc.).
- Alternate possession (or continue if offensive rebound).
Game duration simulates a regulation basketball game with two halves.
Actions
Offensive Actions
- Outside shot: Roll dice, modified by shooter’s shooting rating.
- Drive to basket: Attempt to score inside, modified by speed/agility.
- Pass: Move the ball to a better-positioned teammate.
- Fast break: After a steal or turnover, attempt a quick score.
Defensive Actions
- Contest shot: Defensive player’s rating modifies the shooting difficulty.
- Steal attempt: Roll against offensive player’s ball-handling.
- Foul: Intentional or incidental fouls send players to the free-throw line.
Player Ratings
Each player is assessed for offensive skills on an AA-to-F scale. Team-level ratings cover defense quality, bench depth, coaching, and “power” levels.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The team with more points at the end of regulation wins. If tied, play overtime periods until a winner is determined. For tournament play, the winner advances through the bracket.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- Three games required for a Final Four (2 semi-finals + 1 final) can be completed in an evening.
- Team ratings reflect historical performance, allowing re-creation of classic matchups.
- Fatigue and foul trouble may force substitutions from the bench.
- Coaching ratings affect late-game strategy options.
- The advanced game includes more detailed possessions and play-calling options.
Player Reference
| Rating |
Skill Level |
| AA |
Elite |
| A |
Excellent |
| B |
Good |
| C |
Average |
| D |
Below average |
| F |
Poor |