I have suggested on this blog that college sports are hard to follow, overseas. They are. The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world where the notion of “sports” affiliated with “college” does not seem ridiculous.

Thus, once you leave the U.S., you are confronted with confusion and disinterest, as pertains to the U.S. college scene, and you can count on international media pretty much ignoring college sports, having nothing of their own with which to compare it.

So, three-plus years out of the U.S., I can refine this a bit more. The “major” sport it’s really hard to keep up with is … college basketball.

First, let’s note what college football has that college basketball does not: A limited number of games; most games played on the same day of the week; and barely 100 schools playing at the top level. By the time we get to the BCS Championship Game, even on this side of the planet we care. A little.

Contrast that with college basketball. Everyone plays 30 games. They play every day of the week. A defeat or four doesn’t really matter, so the regular season is not as vital as it is for college football. And no fewer than 347 colleges play Division I hoops. Keeping track of them is a challenge when you are living among them. From the other side of the world … forget about it.

Thus, I remember the term March Madness. But it means nothing to those around me, and no longer much of anything to me, either. We here at The National are unlikely to print a word on the NCAA tournament, and we will not get a complaint.

I have seen that Gonzaga is ranked No. 1, which is really hard to fathom. They may have a glittering record, but I give them no chance of winning this.

But, then, what do I know? College basketball spun out of my life from the moment I got on a plane for Abu Dhabi in October of 2009.