The annual Crossroads Classic Analytics Challenge (CCAC) brings together undergraduate and graduate students from top Indiana universities to apply data analytics to real-world business challenges. This year’s competition, designed by Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, culminates in final presentations at the NCAA Headquarters on March 7, 2025. 

This year, the CCAC focuses on NCAA Division I Basketball Championship bracket data. Student teams will work to uncover insights about the fans who predict the NCAA men’s basketball champion by completing brackets each year. Students will use advanced analytics tools and predictive modeling techniques to extract meaningful patterns from the data. 

Butler University students, led by the faculty in the Lacy School of Business, will put their analytical and problem-solving skills to the test while competing against students from Ball State University, Indiana University, Indiana University Southeast, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and the University of Indianapolis. 

“The Crossroads Classic Analytics Challenge is truly a unique opportunity for students,” Jason Davidson, Assistant Professor in the Lacy School of Business, said. “Not only do they get to apply their analytical skills to real-world data, but they also gain invaluable networking experience—connecting with peers from other universities, industry professionals, and potential employers. This competition has opened doors for students, leading to job placements, new collaborations, and an expanded understanding of how data drives decision-making in business.” 

The competition officially launched on January 31, 2025, at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. Students attended in person to learn about the case and explore the role of data mining in sports analytics. The event featured a keynote address from a NASA astronomer and professor of astrophysics and computational science, who offered insights into advanced data mining applications. 

Throughout the challenge, students can connect with industry leaders from Oracle and Salesforce while exploring graduate school pathways. Teams will create predictive models using Kaggle, with access to hands-on coding and Tableau training offered by Salesforce. 

The Crossroads Classic Analytics Challenge provides students with a distinctive, hands-on learning experience, equipping them with industry-relevant data analysis, business intelligence, and storytelling skills. Through this competition, Butler students continue to demonstrate their ability to tackle real-world challenges and innovate in the evolving field of analytics.