Courtside at March Madness: Rice students go behind the scenes

The roar hit instantly.

As Nebraska sank its first basket in the Sweet 16, the crowd inside Toyota Center erupted, a wall of sound echoing with chants of “Go Big Red!” For Kyle Leung, a Rice University sophomore majoring in sport analytics and statistics, it was a moment that made everything feel real.

“I had never heard fans cheer that loudly before,” Jones College’s Leung said. “At that moment, it really struck me how significant the game and event were.”

This spring, Leung was one of several Rice students selected to work behind the scenes at the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament March 26-29, supporting operations for both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight - Rice served as the host institution of the South Regional in Houston. For students who grew up watching March Madness on television, stepping onto the court as part of the game day operation was unforgettable.

“It still feels surreal that I was able to be a part of the event,” Leung said.

On the floor of March Madness

Assigned as court attendants, students played a critical role in maintaining the pace and safety of the game, a job that required focus, speed and constant communication.

On game days, Leung arrived hours before tipoff to help prepare the court and team benches. Once play began, there was no downtime.

For fellow student Owen Marye, a junior from Wiess College, the intensity of the role became clear within seconds of the opening possession.

From courtside, students experienced the scale and emotion of March Madness in a way few ever do.

“There is no word to describe it,” Marye said. “When Nebraska hit their first 3, the hair on my body stood up, chills running through me.”

Jacob Lozano, a Hanszen College sophomore double-majoring in sport management and business, described the atmosphere in similar terms.

“It was truly an honor and a privilege,” Lozano said. “Being in the presence of a full-capacity stadium gave you chills.”

Late in one game, Marye watched a fast break play unfold just feet away, ending in a powerful dunk that left him stunned.

“I remember putting my hands on my head, completely shocked that I witnessed that moment firsthand,” he said.

The work behind the spectacle

While fans see the final product, students quickly learned the level of coordination required to execute an event of this scale.

“There is a lot of work that goes into the pregame, double-checking everything is ready to go,” Lozano said. “After the game, people assume things just disappear, but there is a lot that goes into resetting everything.”

Marye said one of the biggest surprises was the role Rice Athletics staff played in hosting the tournament.

“I didn’t realize how much the host institution does,” he said. “Seeing Rice staff involved in preparing every detail of the experience was eye-opening.”

For students in Rice’s sport management program, opportunities like this bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world.

Beyond the technical skills, the experience reinforced why many of the students chose the field in the first place.

“Watching this event from the floor reminded me how much I love basketball,” Marye said.

Moments that last

For Leung, one of the most memorable moments came after the final buzzer of the regional’s championship game, when he watched Illinois celebrate earning a berth to the Final Four, cutting down the net just feet away.

“It was an amazing experience to witness that up close,” he said, adding that he appreciated the chance to be part of something so impactful and so rare.

“Rice Athletics and the Department of Sport Management offer unparalleled opportunities to gain hands-on experience,” Leung said. “Take advantage of them as much as possible.”