CREDIT: LJWORLD.COM
Former Creighton and current London Lightning guard DeAnthony Bowden, left, shoots past Indiana State’s Lamar Green in 2003.

Have you ever grown up in awe of the phenomenon of March Madness? Sixty-eight of the top American College basketball teams battling it out with each other in a single-game elimination tournament vying to be the number- one basketball team in the country.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a player in this tournament? These players and teams are under intense media pressure and scouting scrutiny on top of it all.

“It's a great experience, just being a part of it all,” said London Lightning guard DeAnthony Bowden, who played for Creighton University. “It's when you realize you're part of one of the best teams in the country.”

Bowden has been a member of the London Lightning for the past two seasons and when asked about his NCAA days with the Creighton Bluejays (2001 to 2003), he remembered it fondly.

“That's my alma mater, man. I'll always watch and follow them wherever I play basketball,” he said. “This season they had a good record (28-8), but we still hold the record for best season.”

During Bowden's senior year in Creighton, the Bluejays posted a school record of 29-5 under head coach Dana Altman. They finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference and won the conference tournament, earning a bid to March Madness 2003. The team featured All-American and repeat Missouri Valley Player of the Year Kyle Korver, who now plays for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.

While Bowden always hopes that his alma mater comes out on top, the format of the March Madness tournament makes it a lot harder on the court than it seems on paper.

“It's bittersweet, you push for them to do well, but at the same time you don't (want) to see your record broken,” he said.

“You always want to see your university to do well. It's where you came from.”

As a college basketball player trying to make it to the top, there's often nothing more nerve-wracking than the innate fear that you're not going to be on top of your game.

“You try to not let the pressure get to you, and just have fun,” said Bowden.

And while Bowden and his teammates didn't come close to the final stages when they made the tournament in 2002 and 2003, he still walked away from the tournament with good memories.

“Just being out there in front of all those people and representing your university,” he said. “That's such a nice feeling. Only a few people go to the Division I championships out of a ton of universities in the country.”

Now as a seasoned professional and a fan favourite in London, Bowden and his London Lightning teammate Tim Ellis (who played for Kansas State University from 2002 to 2004) weigh in on this year's tournament. With Creighton falling to one of the favourites Duke University in round 32, Bowden turned his attention to the Oregon Ducks, coached by Dana Altman. “I always want to see him do well,” said Bowden. “He's a good coach.”

Ellis, on the other hand, fancies Louisville to go all the way. But just like Bowden, Louisville is his second pick. “I have to pick Kansas State, because they're my alma mater,” he said. “You want to see your school do well, especially since you were a part of the organization at one time.”

Now here's a reason why sports can be so fascinating: both Louisville and Oregon met in round 16 on March 29, which just goes to show how unpredictable this entire tournament can be. “Right now we play as pros,” added Ellis. “But these college players are playing to make it to the pro leagues. It's not exactly the same, but playoffs are hard whichever level you might be at.”

One thing is certain about March Madness in particular: it's exciting and a lot of fun, whether you're a player, a coach, a hardcore fan or just someone treading uncharted waters.

To describe the entire experience in one word: madness!