March Madness Day 2 - 1/2 way done.

That Gonzaga / Oklahoma State game took forever to finish.  The reason for that was because 61 total fouls were called in the game.  I don't know if that's a product of tight officiating or rugged play, but it made for a terrible game to watch, and an even more terrible game to endure if you are waiting to send something out once it is finished.  Mercifully, it ended with Gonzaga winning comfortably.  It also took out another pick du jour of some analysts I saw on TV this week on ESPN.  I'm never a big fan of teams that were supposed to be great, had mediocre years and then people pick them in the end because "Team X is finally going to put it together".  Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Kentucky certainly fit the mold this year.  So far, that model is 1-1, but considering all of those teams were also pre-season top 5 teams, 1-1 is not all that hot.

Anyway, picking was a little easier this time out.  Tennessee was the only upset by the seeds, and a lot of people had them advancing past Massachusetts.  Gonzaga was the better seeded team, but more people took Oklahoma State.  That's not really an upset as I count it, but it is in the standings.

Unlike this morning, a lot of people went 4/4.  Here's the breakdown of the picks:

4/4:  41 brackets
3/4: 128 brackets
2/4: 69 brackets
1/4: 7 brackets
0/4: 1 bracket

It was the best times and worst times in my family today.  My mother-in-law is still perched at the top of the standings, but my own Mom was the sole 0/4 entry in that last set of games.   Sorry Mom.  That's how it crumbles, cookie-wise.

The average total was 2.82 correct guesses, which is pretty solid.  As for the day, no one is perfect.  The best are 9 people that have managed 7/8.  Here are those people:

Virginia L. #2

Daisy N. #5

Howard S. #3

Michelle L. #1

Christina S. #1

Karen C. #1

Carl B.

Chad L. #1

John M. #1

Is it me, or is there a definite lean towards women in this pool?  5 of the 9 best pickers so far today are women and they certainly don't make >50% of the total pool entries.

Despite the lousy second slate of games, Gene B. #2 is the lone 2/8 entry so far today.

You may not have realized it, but the Gonzaga / Oklahoma State game also held the distinction of being the last of the West Regional games.  There were only 7 brackets that managed to go 8/8 in the West, despite 2 games where everyone picked the winner.  Here are the lucky 7 that pulled off this feat:

Virginia L. #2

Chad L. #2

Howard S. #3

Larry G. #1

Joseph H.

Jack K. #1

Klei R. #2

Without any further ado, here are the standings through 24 games:

1. Virginia L. #2: 21 (-3)

2. Jay H. #1: 20 (-4)

3. Adam E. #1: 20 (-6)

4. Chad L. #2: 20 (-8)

4. Ryan H.: 20 (-8)

6. Todd K. #2: 20 (-10)

6. Mason A. #4: 20 (-10)

6. Robert H. #2: 20 (-10)

9. Josh S. #2: 20 (-18)

10. David S. #1: 19 (-7)

10. Ally H.: 19 (-7)

10. Marissa W. #2: 19 (-7)

10. Rich F.: 19 (-7)

14. Daisy N. #2: 19 (-9)

14. Daisy N. #5: 19 (-9)

14. Hutch H. #2: 19 (-9)

14. Stephanie P. #3: 19 (-9)

14. Carrie P. #4: 19 (-9)

14. Ben W.: 19 (-9)

20. Amelia H.: 19 (-11)

20. KenPom: 19 (-11)

20. Josh C.: 19 (-11)

23. Damien R. #1: 19 (-13)

23. Howard S. #3: 19 (-13)

23. Daryl J.: 19 (-13)

23. Scott Her. #2: 19 (-13)

27. Mike L. #1: 19 (-15)

28. Michelle L. #1: 19 (-19)

29. Christina S. #1: 19 (-21)

29. Greg F.: 19 (-21)

29. Brian G.: 19 (-21)

32. Karen C. #1: 19 (-23)

33. Damien R. #3: 19 (-35)

33. Carrie P. #1: 19 (-35)

35. Carl B.: 19 (-37)

35. Chad L. #1: 19 (-37)

37. Brett K. #1: 19 (-41)

37. Carrie P. #3: 19 (-41)

39. Dan D. #1: 19 (-67)

40. Howard S. #2: 18 (-6)

41. Larry G. #1: 18 (-8)

41. Peter J. #2: 18 (-8)

41. Joseph H.: 18 (-8)

41. Paul W.: 18 (-8)

41. Mike San #2: 18 (-8)

41. Howard S. #1: 18 (-8)

41. Luis B. #2: 18 (-8)

41. Marc R. #2: 18 (-8)

41. Miguel D.: 18 (-8)

41. Ray W. #4: 18 (-8)

41. Robert H. #1: 18 (-8)

41. Mike L. #2: 18 (-8)

53. Christina S. #4: 18 (-10)

53. Daisy N. #4: 18 (-10)

53. Howard S. #4: 18 (-10)

53. Dennis R. #3: 18 (-10)

53. James K.: 18 (-10)

53. Mark N. #1: 18 (-10)

53. Brett W.: 18 (-10)

53. Jim W.: 18 (-10)

53. Marc R. #1: 18 (-10)

62. Stan C. #2: 18 (-12)

62. David S. #3: 18 (-12)

62. Christina S. #6: 18 (-12)

62. Luis B. #3: 18 (-12)

62. Brent S. #1: 18 (-12)

62. Gene B. #1: 18 (-12)

62. Karen C. #2: 18 (-12)

69. Chris M. #3: 18 (-14)

69. Eric V.: 18 (-14)

69. Jay H. #3: 18 (-14)

69. Josh S. #1: 18 (-14)

69. Klei R. #1: 18 (-14)

69. Matt N.: 18 (-14)

69. Ray W. #1: 18 (-14)

69. Amos W.: 18 (-14)

69. Chun W. #4: 18 (-14)

69. Jack K. #2: 18 (-14)

69. Ryan G.: 18 (-14)

69. Peter J. #1: 18 (-14)

81. Amy D.: 18 (-16)

81. Scott K. #1: 18 (-16)

81. Scott K. #2: 18 (-16)

84. Mike L. #3: 18 (-18)

84. Tomas L. #1: 18 (-18)

86. Irene L. #1: 18 (-20)

87. Chris M. #1: 18 (-22)

87. Justin G.: 18 (-22)

89. Damien R. #2: 18 (-24)

89. John M. #1: 18 (-24)

91. Meredith R.: 18 (-26)

92. Todd K. #1: 18 (-28)

92. Chris M. #2: 18 (-28)

94. Mike Sm.: 18 (-30)

95. Jack K. #1: 18 (-36)

95. Alex T.: 18 (-36)

97. Missy W. #2: 18 (-48)

98. Mike San #1: 18 (-68)

99. Steve M. #3: 17 (-9)

99. Andrea A.: 17 (-9)

99. Gutless Dimitris: 17 (-9)

99. Stephanie P. #2: 17 (-9)

99. Ben J. #3: 17 (-9)

99. Luis B. #1: 17 (-9)

99. Mason A. #1: 17 (-9)

99. Taima B. #1: 17 (-9)

99. Gary M. #2: 17 (-9)

99. James G. #2: 17 (-9)

99. John E.: 17 (-9)

99. Kansas C.: 17 (-9)

99. Tomas L. #4: 17 (-9)

99. Marissa W. #4: 17 (-9)

99. Virginia L. #1: 17 (-9)

114. Ava S.: 17 (-11)

114. Gary W.: 17 (-11)

114. Kirt R.: 17 (-11)

114. Joe K. #1: 17 (-11)

114. Daisy N. #1: 17 (-11)

114. Brent E. #3: 17 (-11)

120. Mark N. #2: 17 (-13)

120. Daisy N. #3: 17 (-13)

120. Taima B. #2: 17 (-13)

120. Abel R.: 17 (-13)

120. Josiah T. #5: 17 (-13)

120. Stephanie P. #4: 17 (-13)

120. Steve M. #2: 17 (-13)

127. Hal R. #1: 17 (-15)

127. Jeff D.: 17 (-15)

127. Jeff W.: 17 (-15)

127. Jim D. #1: 17 (-15)

127. William G. #4: 17 (-15)

127. Scott Her. #1: 17 (-15)

133. Scott Hass.: 17 (-17)

134. Michelle L. #3: 17 (-19)

134. Dennis R. #2: 17 (-19)

136. Chad C.: 17 (-21)

137. Marissa W. #1: 17 (-23)

137. Dimitris M. #5: 17 (-23)

139. Steve D.: 17 (-25)

139. Roth W.: 17 (-25)

139. Ray W. #3: 17 (-25)

142. Gary M. #1: 17 (-27)

143. Elena S.: 17 (-33)

144. Brett K. #2: 17 (-37)

144. Larry G. #2: 17 (-37)

146. Larry G. #4: 17 (-41)

147. Dominic M.: 17 (-45)

148. Bosun S.: 17 (-71)

149. Stephanie P. #1: 17 (-73)

150. Jack K. #4: 16 (-10)

150. Julie S.: 16 (-10)

150. Sarah G.: 16 (-10)

150. Stan C. #1: 16 (-10)

150. Zachary V.: 16 (-10)

150. Steve H.: 16 (-10)

156. Erica A.: 16 (-12)

156. April K.: 16 (-12)

156. Hal R. #2: 16 (-12)

159. Kyle V.: 16 (-14)

159. Chun W. #3: 16 (-14)

159. Jay K.: 16 (-14)

162. Chris L. #3: 16 (-16)

162. Carrie P. #2: 16 (-16)

162. Christina S. #3: 16 (-16)

162. Chris L. #2: 16 (-16)

162. Chun W. #1: 16 (-16)

162. Hutch H. #1: 16 (-16)

162. Christina S. #5: 16 (-16)

162. Dan D. #2: 16 (-16)

162. Chris L. #1: 16 (-16)

162. Shawn S.B.: 16 (-16)

172. James G. #1: 16 (-18)

172. William G. #2: 16 (-18)

174. Karen C. #3: 16 (-20)

174. Josiah T. #1: 16 (-20)

174. Karl K.: 16 (-20)

174. Tomas L. #3: 16 (-20)

178. Tomas L. #2: 16 (-22)

179. Klei R. #2: 16 (-24)

179. Chun W. #2: 16 (-24)

179. Todd K. #3: 16 (-24)

182. Matt J. #4: 16 (-26)

183. Josiah T. #3: 16 (-30)

183. Matt J. #2: 16 (-30)

183. Peter J. #4: 16 (-30)

186. Dan S.: 16 (-32)

187. Dimitris M. #3: 16 (-34)

188. David S. #2: 16 (-40)

189. William G. #1: 16 (-42)

190. Mason A. #2: 16 (-52)

191. Brent S. #2: 16 (-72)

192. Jack K. #3: 16 (-92)

193. Adam E. #2: 16 (-94)

194. Jim D. #2: 15 (-11)

194. Peter J. #3: 15 (-11)

194. Ray W. #2: 15 (-11)

194. Tracy V.: 15 (-11)

194. Esteban D.: 15 (-11)

194. Brent E. #2: 15 (-11)

200. Joe K. #2: 15 (-13)

200. Michelle L. #4: 15 (-13)

200. Andrzej R.: 15 (-13)

200. Bhav R.: 15 (-13)

200. Dennis R. #1: 15 (-13)

200. Brent E. #6: 15 (-13)

206. Terry F. #1: 15 (-15)

206. Michelle L. #2: 15 (-15)

206. Peter J. #5: 15 (-15)

209. Ben J. #2: 15 (-17)

209. Eric C.: 15 (-17)

211. Ben J. #1: 15 (-19)

211. Matt J. #3: 15 (-19)

211. Ron B.: 15 (-19)

211. Matt J. #1: 15 (-19)

211. Marissa W. #3: 15 (-19)

216. William G. #3: 15 (-23)

216. Brent E. #4: 15 (-23)

218. Sue L.: 15 (-29)

219. Mason A. #3: 15 (-31)

219. Missy W. #1: 15 (-31)

221. Kevin W.: 15 (-37)

222. Dimitris M. #2: 15 (-39)

223. Dimitris M. #4: 15 (-63)

224. John M. #2: 15 (-101)

225. Christina S. #2: 14 (-14)

225. Josiah T. #2: 14 (-14)

227. Tim N.: 14 (-18)

227. Larry G. #3: 14 (-18)

229. Chris M. #4: 14 (-20)

229. Brent E. #5: 14 (-20)

231. Steve M. #1: 14 (-22)

231. Terry F. #2: 14 (-22)

231. Brad R.: 14 (-22)

234. Irene L. #2: 14 (-24)

234. Stephanie P. #5: 14 (-24)

236. Josiah T. #4: 14 (-30)

237. Klei - Alex O.: 13 (-13)

238. Becky H.: 13 (-17)

238. Todd K. #4: 13 (-17)

240. Jay H. #2: 13 (-19)

241. Brent E. #1: 13 (-21)

242. David S. #4: 13 (-25)

243. Steve M. #4: 13 (-37)

244. Klei R. - RND: 13 (-77)

245. Sally R.: 12 (-22)

246. Gene B. #2: 12 (-56)

But there are 4 more games going on right now:

Memphis: 153
George Washington: 93

Wichita State: 244
Cal Poly: 2

North Carolina: 189
Providence: 57

VCU: 178
Stephen F Austin: 68

Good luck to everyone!!!!!