After 1st day

After a slew of upsets in the morning 8 games, all 8 games in the evening session went according to the seeds.  Of course, the damage was already done in the morning to most of the brackets.  A lot of the games were pretty close, but no one seemed to push the game until time ran out.  Wofford probably had the best chance (if you don't count LSU), but they seemed to be in love with the long , contested 3-point shot for some reason.

76 people managed to go 4/4 over the last 4 games.  That's probably the way it should be.  I think that SF Austin and Eastern Washington were trendy picks to upset Georgetown and Utah, but neither of them were able to.  I think predicting upsets is a pretty tough challenge.  Someone will do it and wind up winning this thing, but for the most part, it seem impossible.  It's so impossible, it seems like a random bracket analyzer would do OK, but those never seem to do well either.  I guess it comes down to luck in a lot of cases.

We finished the day with 3 entries that hadn't lost at least 1 sweet 16 team.  Marissa W. #1 is currently in 2nd place.  Bhav R. #2 is in 16th, but Brandon H. is all the way down in 93rd place.  That means he missed 6 games, but none of the 6 teams he lost did he have winning another game.  That's some pretty good dodging in the incorrect pick minefield.

4 people lost champions on the first day (2: Baylor, 1: SMU, Iowa State).  We lost those pretty early, so that's not really new news.   We lost several Final 4 teams (35: Iowa State, 11: Baylor, 5: SMU, 2: VCU, 1: SF Austin).

We really rallied compliments of the 8/8 favorites winning at the end of the day.  We averaged 10.28 wins/16.  We also managed to lose 17.21 points.  I think that's a closer gap than it was earlier today.

Here are the standings overall:

1. Peter J. #6: 14 (-10)

2. Marissa W. #1: 13 (-3)

3. John M. #1: 13 (-5)

4. Irene H. #2: 13 (-7)

4. Kirt R. #1: 13 (-7)

4. Brent E. #4: 13 (-7)

4. Steve K. #1: 13 (-7)

4. Todd K. #2: 13 (-7)

9. Bhav R. #1: 13 (-9)

9. Ben S. #1: 13 (-9)

9. Bret K. #1: 13 (-9)

12. Daisy N. #1: 13 (-11)

13. Ron B.: 13 (-17)

14. Amber W.: 13 (-19)

15. Peter J. #2: 13 (-35)

16. Bhav R. #2: 12 (-4)

17. Scottt #2: 12 (-6)

17. Scottt #1: 12 (-6)

17. Michelle R. #1: 12 (-6)

17. Kirt R. #2: 12 (-6)

21. Szecho L.: 12 (-8)

21. Jonathan M. #2: 12 (-8)

21. Todd K. #4: 12 (-8)

21. Scott H. #2: 12 (-8)

21. Chun W. #3: 12 (-8)

21. Ken P.: 12 (-8)

21. Brandon B.: 12 (-8)

21. Kye G. #1: 12 (-8)

21. Steve H. #2: 12 (-8)

21. Todd K. #3: 12 (-8)

21. Brent E. #2: 12 (-8)

21. Daisy N. #4: 12 (-8)

21. James G. #1: 12 (-8)

21. Larry G. #2: 12 (-8)

21. Eric V. #3: 12 (-8)

21. Gigi Q.: 12 (-8)

37. Jessica B.: 12 (-10)

37. Steve H. #1: 12 (-10)

37. Kolton D.: 12 (-10)

40. Jay K.: 12 (-12)

40. John B.: 12 (-12)

40. Mike W.: 12 (-12)

40. Chad L. #2: 12 (-12)

44. James R.: 12 (-20)

44. Sue L.: 12 (-20)

46. Dylan B.: 12 (-36)

46. Paul W.: 12 (-36)

46. Mindi W.: 12 (-36)

46. Chun W. #2: 12 (-36)

46. Ben J. #4: 12 (-36)

46. Bret K. #2: 12 (-36)

52. Larry G. #4: 11 (-7)

53. Ally H.: 11 (-9)

53. Angie B.: 11 (-9)

53. James G. #2: 11 (-9)

53. Christy K. #1: 11 (-9)

53. Brent E. #3: 11 (-9)

53. Joe R.: 11 (-9)

53. Brent S. #3: 11 (-9)

53. Larry G. #1: 11 (-9)

53. Ben S. #2: 11 (-9)

53. Brent S. #2: 11 (-9)

53. Daisy N. #5: 11 (-9)

53. Mark N. #1: 11 (-9)

53. Chris La. #4: 11 (-9)

66. Dan S.: 11 (-11)

66. Jeff W.: 11 (-11)

66. Kansas C.: 11 (-11)

66. Jack Q. #4: 11 (-11)

70. Hutch H. #2: 11 (-13)

70. Irene H. #1: 11 (-13)

70. Steve K. #2: 11 (-13)

70. Chris La. #3: 11 (-13)

70. Jim D. #1: 11 (-13)

70. Rich F. #1: 11 (-13)

70. Rich F. #2: 11 (-13)

70. Justin L.: 11 (-13)

70. April K.: 11 (-13)

79. Eric V. #2: 11 (-15)

80. Alyssa B.: 11 (-17)

80. Matt N.: 11 (-17)

82. William G. #4: 11 (-21)

82. Daisy N. #2: 11 (-21)

82. Dan D. #2: 11 (-21)

82. Missy W. #1: 11 (-21)

82. Hutch H. #1: 11 (-21)

82. Ben J. #1: 11 (-21)

88. Chun W. #1: 11 (-25)

88. Peter J. #1: 11 (-25)

90. Shane B.: 11 (-37)

90. Harrell R. #1: 11 (-37)

92. Michelle R. #2: 11 (-99)

93. Brandon H.: 10 (-6)

94. Becky H.: 10 (-8)

94. Marissa W. #2: 10 (-8)

94. Kai Q.: 10 (-8)

94. Missy W. #2: 10 (-8)

94. Marissa W. #3: 10 (-8)

94. Jim K.: 10 (-8)

94. Dan D. #1: 10 (-8)

101. Michelle L. #2: 10 (-10)

101. Jack Q. #3: 10 (-10)

101. Joseph H.: 10 (-10)

101. Jack Q. #1: 10 (-10)

101. William G. #2: 10 (-10)

101. Dennis R. #2: 10 (-10)

101. Veronica A.: 10 (-10)

101. Bret K. #3: 10 (-10)

101. Todd K. #1: 10 (-10)

101. Jonathan M. #1: 10 (-10)

101. Brent E. #1: 10 (-10)

101. Dave M.: 10 (-10)

101. Jay H. #3: 10 (-10)

114. Steve D.: 10 (-12)

114. Brad E.: 10 (-12)

114. Jim D. #2: 10 (-12)

117. Jonathan O.: 10 (-14)

117. James G. #3: 10 (-14)

117. Ben J. #3: 10 (-14)

117. Jenny E.: 10 (-14)

117. Dennis R. #1: 10 (-14)

117. Larry G. #3: 10 (-14)

117. Daryl J.: 10 (-14)

117. Ryan W.: 10 (-14)

117. Carl B.: 10 (-14)

117. Damien R. #2: 10 (-14)

117. Chris L. #1: 10 (-14)

117. Chad L. #3: 10 (-14)

117. Scott H. #1: 10 (-14)

117. Harrell R. #2: 10 (-14)

131. Andrew D. #1: 10 (-16)

131. Andrew D. #2: 10 (-16)

133. Virginia L. #1: 10 (-18)

133. Bobby H.: 10 (-18)

135. Jason G.: 10 (-20)

136. Taima B. #1: 10 (-22)

137. Tomas L. #1: 10 (-24)

137. Tomas L. #2: 10 (-24)

137. Jack Q. #2: 10 (-24)

140. Brian G. #1: 10 (-38)

140. Julie S.: 10 (-38)

140. Mike G.: 10 (-38)

140. Jonathan M. #3: 10 (-38)

140. Gary W.: 10 (-38)

140. John E.: 10 (-38)

146. Irene H. #3: 10 (-70)

147. Ben J. #2: 9 (-9)

148. William G. #3: 9 (-11)

148. Jim W.: 9 (-11)

148. Brent S. #1: 9 (-11)

148. Kye G. #2: 9 (-11)

148. Chun W. #4: 9 (-11)

153. Scott K. #2: 9 (-13)

153. Chris La. #2: 9 (-13)

153. Howard S. #2: 9 (-13)

153. Luis B. #3: 9 (-13)

153. Mark N. #2: 9 (-13)

153. Taima B #2: 9 (-13)

153. Alex Q.: 9 (-13)

160. Roth W.: 9 (-15)

160. Michelle L. #3: 9 (-15)

160. Damian M. #3: 9 (-15)

160. Damian M. #2: 9 (-15)

160. John M. #2: 9 (-15)

160. Peter J. #3: 9 (-15)

160. John M. #3: 9 (-15)

167. Mason A. #2: 9 (-17)

168. Daisy N. #3: 9 (-23)

168. Howard S. #1: 9 (-23)

170. Michelle L. #1: 9 (-25)

170. William G. #1: 9 (-25)

172. Hutch H. #3: 9 (-27)

173. Brian G. #2: 9 (-31)

174. Mason A. #1: 9 (-39)

175. Klei R. #1: 9 (-41)

175. Tim N.: 9 (-41)

177. Jay H. #2: 9 (-61)

178. Virginia L. #2: 9 (-71)

179. Eric V. #1: 8 (-12)

179. Mike S. #1: 8 (-12)

179. Jax Q.: 8 (-12)

182. Damien R. #1: 8 (-14)

182. Luis B. #1: 8 (-14)

182. Peter J. #4: 8 (-14)

182. Dustin B.: 8 (-14)

182. Luis B. #2: 8 (-14)

187. Chris Lu. #1: 8 (-16)

187. Peter J. #5: 8 (-16)

187. Adam E.: 8 (-16)

190. Ray R.: 8 (-18)

190. Seth D.: 8 (-18)

190. Joe K. #1: 8 (-18)

193. Christy K. #2: 8 (-20)

194. Chad L. #1: 8 (-24)

195. Mike S. #2: 8 (-40)

196. Jay H. #1: 8 (-74)

197. Chris Lu. #2: 7 (-17)

198. Joe K. #2: 7 (-19)

198. Damian M. #1: 7 (-19)

198. Brett W.: 7 (-19)

198. Brad R.: 7 (-19)

202. Joe K. #3: 7 (-27)

203. Scott K. #1: 7 (-45)

204. Sally R.: 6 (-24)

205. Marc R.: 6 (-26)

206. Michelle L. #4: 6 (-42)

Good job to Peter J. #6.  He also happens to be the person that entered the most brackets, so maybe there's something to that.  At least one of his was bound to do well, right?  Still, 14/16 on a day like today is really good.  After the morning games, I wouldn't have bet that anyone could reach those levels.  I'm impressed.  I wish I could trade places.

So that's it for Day 1.  I get to sleep in tomorrow, which I will take advantage of.  I went to bed at midnight last night and woke up around 5 AM to enter brackets into spreadsheets.  Some rest is definitely warranted.

I'll be back before the games tomorrow morning with a breakdown of the upcoming games.  I'm hoping that there's at least as much excitement.  I hate chalk.  Good luck to everyone.  Don't despair if things didn't go your way today.  Only 1/12 of the total points were up for grabs today (16 out of 192).  There's all sorts of points still available.