March Madness

gatorbob · Mar 14, 2011

Okay, who do you like? I haven't examined the brackets fully yet, so I'm not ready to make my picks. But heck, they're just going to be shots in the dark anyway. This year seems really wide open, without any dominant teams. I like Ohio State as much as anyone, so they might end up being my pick to win it all. But we'll see. This might be another year where some low seed comes out of nowhere and makes the Final Four.
 
I like my Gators' draw. I know nothing about UC-Santa Barbara, but they're a 15-seed, so we'd better beat them. It sets us up with an interesting second round, against either UCLA (who we faced in the Final Four in both our national championship seasons of 2006 and 2007) or Michigan State (who beat us in the championship game in 2000). And if we make the Sweet Sixteen, we might meet BYU, who Jimmered the hell out of us in the first round last year in double overtime. Then maybe a date with the top seed in the Southeast, Pitt, who didn't exactly set the world on fire at the end of the season. Basically, I think we have a halfway decent chance of making the Final Four. But I won't bet on it...
 
So, what say you?

wherestheportojohn · Mar 14, 2011

Badgers are a 4 seed? <snort> I had 'em around a 7...or lower...
 
I see us going out first round.
 
Sorry boys, but I've got no confidence in a team with no inside game and NO BENCH.
 
 
<img alt="dontknow.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/dontknow.gif" style="width:37px;height:15px;">

runfishhunt · Mar 14, 2011

Go Bucks!

gatorbob · Mar 14, 2011

Yeah, I've seen a lot of people pick Wisconsin as a possible first round upset victim. Of course, that in itself probably means Wisconsin will go to the Finsl Four...

gatorbob · Mar 14, 2011

Dick Vitale went really far out on a limb, like he always does, by picking three #1 seeds for the Final Four: Ohio St, Duke, and Pitt. Louisville is his 4th choice, so at least he picks one non-1. Sheesh.

jcumming · Mar 15, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by wherestheportojohn <a href="/forum/thread/73007/march-madness#post_1988620"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 
I see us going out first round.
 
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But they don't have to play TCU .

Hanging Jury · Mar 15, 2011

I like SDSU because DS does. My Father in Law is a riot. Every year he studies everything and spends forever going over his picks and then when I see them all I see is favorites. This year is no different. He has four #1 in his Final Four and has OSU beating Kansas. As if that isn't bad enough, his Sweet Sixteen is 4 1's, 4 2's, 4 3's and 4 4's. Sheeesh!
 
DD has Oakland advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. We cover the whole spectrum in my family!
 
Go Aztecs!

wherestheportojohn · Mar 15, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by jcumming <a href="/forum/thread/73007/march-madness#post_1988824"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 
But they don't have to play TCU .
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wherestheportojohn · Mar 15, 2011

I just filled out two somewhat different pick 'em sheets for the staff hoops pool.
(I'm not betting the pension on them...but would like to win enough for a dinner out with the Big Unit)
 
 
A few upsets [the BU hearts Princeton] going to sweet 16....and yes, *sigh* even the Badgers are going to the 16 in my dreamworld pick 'ems
 
On one sheet, my elite eight has a three, a four, and a seven seed in with the required 1s 'n' 2s
 
on the other sheet, my elite eight includes a 6 seed [St. John's over BYU....so sue me...]
 
 
Heck, if I'm feeling free 'n' easy with my $, I still may fill out a pick 'em sheet based only on the coolness of the mascots.
In that case, Bucky Badger will be the new NCAA mens hoops champ. <img alt="biggrin.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_5_130022221640651" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">

Hanging Jury · Mar 16, 2011

My Elite 8 is (seeds) 1, 2, 4, 2, 1, 3, 6, 2
 
I have OSU (1) Purdue (3) SDSU (2) and K St (6) in my Final Four. Ii am dreading my K State picks as possibly the worst ever. They're a little like St. Johns in that I think either could make a deep run but either could lose early.
 
HJ

kerfwango · Mar 16, 2011

kerfwango · Mar 16, 2011

Keep in mind that I have no idea what I'm doing.

wherestheportojohn · Mar 17, 2011

<img alt="shock.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_7_130040298925029" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/shock.gif" style="width:15px;height:15px;">
 
I already have a bajillion Xs slashed across my bracket picks
 
 
<img alt="tongue3.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_7_130040298925066" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">

coachie · Mar 18, 2011

I'm a moron who picked North Carolina to win it all. Probably because they are my favorite team, outside of South Dakota State.
 
I did call the Richmond win yesterday, and I nearly took Morehead State to beat Louisville. 
 
But I also picked Oakland to win two games, and they won't win one. I was drinking the Summit League Kool aid, I guess.

wherestheportojohn · Mar 19, 2011

<img alt="biggrin.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_7_130057239540629" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"> when VCU beat Georgetown in the round of 64, the little community of Oregon, WI went NUTS
 
 
Why?
 
 
because VCU's head coach, Shaka Smart, is a local legend [as a young'un, he attended the elementary school where I teach]...not only a great coach, but a POLITE, INTELLIGENT young man
 
 
 
 
<a href="http://host.madison.com/sports/college/basketball/men/article_34fd229a-51e2-11e0-b5a1-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank">http://host.madison.com/sports/college/basketball/men/article_34fd229a-51e2-11e0-b5a1-001cc4c03286.html</a>

wherestheportojohn · Mar 20, 2011

<img alt="headbang.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_7_130062124635929" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/headbang.gif" style="width:26px;height:28px;"> Thank you, Jordan Taylor!
 
 
Go, 'Sconnie Nation!
 
 
*gulp* next up: Butler *gulp*

Floridaboiler · Mar 20, 2011

Purdue plays VCU tonight. I am a little worried about that one!
 
I need to go see how my bracket is doing.

jcumming · Mar 20, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by wherestheportojohn <a href="/forum/thread/73007/march-madness#post_1989607"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> <img alt="headbang.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_7_130062124635929" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/headbang.gif" style="width:26px;height:28px;"> Thank you, Jordan Taylor!
 
 
Go, 'Sconnie Nation!
 
 
*gulp* next up: Butler *gulp*
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Wait a second....you expected them to be gone by now. No gulps....every game should be a bonus for you.

gatorbob · Mar 21, 2011

I filled out 10 brackets on ESPN.com's Tournament Challenge, because they allow you to. I did my "real picks", and then a bunch of other alternatives. Every year, I always fill out one bracket that is straight chalk, all the way. In other words, it's got the higher-seed winning every game, all four #1 seeds making the Final Four, and then the champ being the tournament's overall #1 seed. This year that's Ohio State, of course. 
 
The other 8 brackets are a variety of alternative guesses and really wild wacky upset picks. One of them actually has VCU going to the Final Four, which doesn't seem quite as wacky now. 
 
My "real" bracket is at the 68.9 percentile. Okay, I guess that's not terrible. I had picked Texas for the Final Four, and oh well, I guess that won't happen. But I did also pick against Pitt, so I still have 3 FF teams alive, like most people, I guess.
 
But of the 10 brackets I filled out, the one that is doing the best (85.4 percentile) is the All Chalk bracket. So in other words, I filled out 9 brackets where I tried to pick upsets, and not a single one of them is doing better than mindlessly picking the favorite in every game. And it's not just me, since the All Chalk bracket is beating 85% of everybody! That All Chalk bracket won't win the pool after all is said and done, but it'll do pretty good. 
 
So I guess there's the lesson. If you want to win the office pool, you need to pick a few upsets (but not too many!) and get a little lucky. But if you just want to do well in the office pool (2nd place? 3rd place?), go with All Chalk and you'll be right there...

wherestheportojohn · Mar 21, 2011

the right side of my pick 'em sheet is almost completely lost...other than 'Sconnie getting to the round of 16

March Madness

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