Ernie Johnson: NCAA tournament brings people together

Practically everybody fills out a bracket come NCAA tournament time, which can lead to some fun discussions around the country.

NBA on TNT host Ernie Johnson, who also hosts the network's NCAA studio show, says the tournament came at the perfect time for a divided population.

"It's such a good thing for our country, because it bring people together at a time when everybody is so stinking confrontational these days," Johnson told Michael McCarthy of The Sporting News. "I mean, it just seems to me that everybody wants to get on each other, everybody wants to attack each other."

As Johnson noted, one of the best parts of the tournament is the local office bracket, where everyone fills out their picks no matter how much they know about college basketball.

"This is one of those things where you can go to the water cooler and talk to somebody you may not have talked to before," Johnson said. "Suddenly, you're having a discussion about whether you think Michigan has a chance to move on, or whether North Dakota can make a run. That's what I've always loved about the tournament."