It is that magical time of year when the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments dominate the sports scene.

Unlike any other sport, the basketball tournament grabs the attention of both fans and non-fans alike for the next three weeks.

It all begins tonight with the West and East play-in games. The North and South play-in games will be contested Wednesday night.

Although I was not a fan of expanding the tournament, I have learned to live with it.

There are some familiar names in the four games, which will be trying to play their way into the field of 68 teams.

Fairleigh Dickinson, Belmont, Temple, Arizona State and St. John’s are familiar names to those who follow the tournament year in and year out.

Once the final four teams are added, my heart will start racing and my blood pressure will begin to rise as Thursday will be here before we know it, and the tournament “officially” gets under way.

I was not thrilled with the No. 1 seeds that were awarded on Sunday.

I have no problem with Duke, Virginia and North Carolina.

My real concern is Gonzaga.

I mean really? They have been here before and have nothing to show for it.

I would have taken Michigan State was the other No. 1 seed. The Big Ten Conference is strong and the Spartans won both the regular season and tournament championships.

Their records are comparable, but the West Coast Conference is no match for the Big Ten. That is just a fact.

The top-seed aside, there are some really interesting first-round match-ups I am looking forward to watching.

My top games of the opening round are Louisville vs. Minnesota, Wisconsin vs. Oregon, Iowa State vs. Ohio State, Syracuse vs. Baylor and Arizona State vs. St. John’s.

The women’s tournament field was announced Monday night.

Notre Dame will once again be a No. 1 seed and will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

I am looking forward to covering the Fighting Irish this weekend.

I am hoping that the bracket that ESPN’s Charlie Crème released Sunday is accurate.

That would mean both Central Michigan and Michigan would be traveling to South Bend, along with Bethune-Cookman.

It would be fun seeing the Chippewas and the Wolverines playing each other with a chance to face the Fighting Irish in the second round.

All in all, this is the greatest time of the year in sports.

Nothing matches the emotion, last-second finishes and miracle shots that the NCAA tournaments produce.

The men’s tournament has been doing it for decades.

The women’s tournament is getting better and better each year and I enjoy watching it just as much as I do the men’s tourney. But then again, that might has something to do with Notre Dame being so good.

So, sit back, grab some popcorn and your favorite cold beverage and let the games begin.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com