Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, a former Iowa State Cyclones standout and three-time NBA All-Star, posted on X ahead of the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, advising fans to "Make one bracket and stand on it."[1]
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Haliburton criticized the practice of entering multiple brackets, saying it shows indecision. "I think it’s just so lame that people are like, ‘Oh, I made this many brackets.’ Like, dang, how many brackets do you get?" he said, adding, "You have to make one choice and stand on it."[1]
Haliburton, who played one season at Iowa State in 2019-20, said he accepts separate brackets for an alma mater pick and a realistic one but still prefers commitment. He selected Iowa State to win the national championship in his bracket.[1]
The Cyclones, coached by T.J. Otzelberger, finished the 2023-24 season 27-10 overall and 16-4 in Big 12 play, earning a No. 2 seed in the East Region.[2][3] They faced No. 15 seed South Dakota State in the first round on March 21, 2024, at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.[2][4]
Haliburton cited Iowa State's strength in the Big 12 Conference and performance on neutral courts as reasons for his confidence, referencing their 93-81 win over then-No. 4 Arizona on January 6, 2024.[1][3]
Haliburton is partnering with Reese's on its March Madness Bracket Busting Campaign, which encourages fans to share busted brackets on social media with #ForAReesesSweeps for prizes including Final Four tickets. "If it’s going to bust, might as well win something out of it," he said.[1]
He also participated in a Bracket Summit with New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart and analysts Richard Jefferson and Andraya Carter, sharing picks for the men's and women's tournaments.[1]
Sources
- Fox News. "Tyrese Haliburton tells college hoops fans: 'Make one bracket and stand on it'". March 20, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/tyrese-haliburton-tells-college-hoops-fans-make-one-bracket-stand-it
- NCAA. "2024 NCAA printable bracket - Men's Division I". March 17, 2024. https://www.ncaa.com/bracket/mens-college-basketball/2024
- Iowa State University Athletics. "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Accessed October 2024. https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2023-24
- NCAA. "Iowa State vs. South Dakota State Game Details". March 21, 2024. https://www.ncaa.com/game/6336802
