Never mind Christmas… for college basketball fans, this month is the most wonderful season of all — NCAA tournament season. 

It’s that time of the year filled with brackets, fadeaways, alley-oops, full-court presses — and hopefully a few buzzer-beaters! Plus, the mood in East Tennessee this year is electric, with the University of Tennessee men’s team projected as a possible No. 1 seed in the tournament.

Tennessee fan or not, if you and your friends are viewing the magic of the NCAA tournament from the Knoxville area, Dead End’s BBQ can take your gatherings to the next level.

Check out these three ways to enjoy our award-winning BBQ during tournament season: 

1. Pregames

Hosting a big crowd before the big game? We’ve got you covered! 

Dead End BBQ catering lets you soak in the pregame hype instead of worrying about how to feed those people. We work with groups and budgets of all sizes and offer all-inclusive packages or custom orders for your particular party palate. 

Some pregame fan favorites include: 

• St. Louis cut ribs – 1/2 racks and full racks 
• Tender pulled pork with your choice of Dead End sauce
• Signature sides — think southern comfort food with a twist!

Check out the full catering menu here and select some mouthwatering eats to energize your group for game day!

Pro tip: Plan ahead based on the size of your gathering. Catering orders for more than 50 people must be placed at least 7 days in advance, but orders for 50 or less can be placed within 24 hours here.

2. Tailgates

Tailgating instead? On top of dining in and catering, Dead End also offers delicious grab-and-go options in bulk portions:

• Award-winning BBQ by the pound
• Party platters of smoked, crispy wings & dipping sauces
• Shareable southern sides in bulk
• Buns and cornbread muffins
• Fresh desserts like a whole peanut butter pie or ol’ fashioned banana pudding

When you’re looking for delicious BBQ to feed a big tailgate crowd, our large order menu has all you need!

Pro tip: To save time and ensure your tailgate is stress-free, go ahead and order online (for smaller group orders) or give us a call at (865) 212-5655.

3. Watch Parties

If your March Madness gathering is a classic watch party centered around a spread of shareable snacks and finger foods, you might want to opt for: 

• BBQ sliders — hearty but perfectly portioned to save room for other snacks
• Bar-b-queso — the perfect marriage of tender BBQ and everyone’s favorite appetizer
• Nachos, with three size options depending on how willing you feel to share
• Perfectly-crisp wings, served with cool ranch or bleu cheese dressing (or both!)

Pro tip: If you’re also prepping DIY game snacks for a watch party, try pairing them with one of Dead End’s house-made sauces or signature rubs for a unique twist and extra kick! 

Fueling Your Fandom This March

However you’re gathering for the tournaments with fellow Knoxville basketball fans, Dead End BBQ has many options to help make March Madness tasty.

In fact, we can’t resist recommending one more “win” to add to your tournament menu: our Idaho Spuds — tender baked potatoes smothered in your choice of BBQ pulled pork, pulled brisket, pulled chicken, or meatless chili then topped with cheese, scallions, and our signature red sauce!

Check out all of our menus for more ideas or place an order online when you’re ready. We can’t wait to help you serve up neighborhood BBQ for the NCAA tournament!