Microsoft-owned internet search engine provider Bing has reached a deal with the National Collegiate Athletics Association to partner its March Madness basketball showpiece.
Bing becomes the official bracket data partner of the tournament under the agreement, the terms for which were not disclosed.
As part of the agreement, NCAA has provided 10 years of data on its teams and tournaments to Microsoft principal for applied science Walter Sun, who will analyse and review the statistics.
By using Bing’s technologies, Sun and his team will be able to identify key patterns in NCAA results over recent seasons and showcase this information using the company’s new NCAA bracket building tool to help fans complete their brackets.
Keith Martin, NCAA managing director of marketing and broadcast alliances, said: “Bing’s search services will allow fans to have some fun as they access data for their bracket selections. This new technology provides information that allows our fans to be more analytical after Selection Sunday.”
March Madness begins on March 15.