End of 1st round

Finally!  We finally had a team wearing the road jersey's win a game, and it was the last game of the 1st round (I will never call that the second round.  There aren't 60 byes in the first round.  Those are play-in games).  I was happy to see Dayton knock off Providence, mostly because Dayton didn't deserve to be in the play-in game to begin with, but also because we finally got to award someone for having a little bit of courage taking an underdog to win.

Despite the win by Dayton, there were still 60 people that went 4/4 on the last 4 games.  After all that chalk winning today, we wound up with only person going 16/16.  Maybe if you take 15 favorites, you probably have a hard time talking yourself into taking an underdog after that.  The amazing thing about the one person that went 16/16 is that he only moved up to 117th.  Brett W. came into today going 7/16 on Thursday and in 198th place.  That's quite a recovery.  Good job Brett W.

So only one person went 16/16, but the rest of the day went like this:

15/16:  35 brackets

14/16:  40 brackets

13/16:  57 brackets

12/16:  46 brackets

11/16:  18 brackets

10/16:  5 brackets

9/16:  2 brackets

8/16:  1 bracket (Tim N.)

6/16:  1 bracket (Jonathan O. - I love this guy.  He's like a folk hero to me now)

We also finished the day with only 2 brackets that can still get all remaining points.  Marissa W. #1 (6th place) and Bhav R. #2 (60th place) didn't lose a single Sweet 16 team.  That bodes well for them in upcoming games.  It's no guarantee, but I'd rather have a dog in every game than to hope for the lesser of two evils most of the time.

The biggest mover up the rankings today was Kye G. #2.  He shot up 86 places from 148th to 62nd after going 15/16.  The only game he missed today was Davidson.  That's pretty good and probably puts him squarely in contention going forward.  On the flip side, Michelle R. #1 dropped all the way from 17th to 143rd today after going 10/16.  Normally 10/16 wouldn't crush your bracket like that, but given all the high scores today, 10 just doesn't look as good.

Despite the Midwest being all chalk, only 21 people went 8/8 in that region.  Only 1 person managed to go 8/8 in the West, due in large part to Baylor.  Congrats to Scottt #1.  Georgia State was a good call, as was Ohio State.  Dayton was the only upset in the East region, but only 19 people managed to get 8/8 there.  Compliments of Iowa State and SMU, no one went 8/8 in the South.

Speaking of Iowa State, SMU and Baylor:  How bad are they?!  Considering virtually all favorites won in the first round this year, how bad must those teams have been to lose?  Don't get me wrong, I like that they did, but relatively-speaking, if you were a fan of those teams, you have to be deeply disappointed in their run the way the rest of this tournament has gone so far.

Here's the standings:

1. Brent E. #4: 28 (-8)

2. Bhav R. #1: 28 (-10)

2. Bret K. #1: 28 (-10)

4. Peter J. #6: 28 (-12)

4. Daisy N. #1: 28 (-12)

6. Marissa W. #1: 27 (-5)

7. Brent E. #2: 27 (-9)

7. Daisy N. #4: 27 (-9)

7. Irene H. #2: 27 (-9)

7. Kye G. #1: 27 (-9)

11. Steve H. #1: 27 (-11)

12. Mike W.: 27 (-13)

13. Ron B.: 27 (-19)

14. Dylan B.: 27 (-37)

14. Bret K. #2: 27 (-37)

16. Larry G. #1: 26 (-10)

16. Brent S. #2: 26 (-10)

16. Chun W. #3: 26 (-10)

16. Gigi Q.: 26 (-10)

16. James G. #2: 26 (-10)

16. Ken P.: 26 (-10)

16. Larry G. #2: 26 (-10)

23. Kansas C.: 26 (-12)

23. Kolton D.: 26 (-12)

23. Szecho L.: 26 (-12)

23. Jonathan M. #2: 26 (-12)

27. Jeff W.: 26 (-14)

27. Rich F. #1: 26 (-14)

27. Rich F. #2: 26 (-14)

27. Chris La. #3: 26 (-14)

27. Hutch H. #2: 26 (-14)

27. Ben S. #1: 26 (-14)

33. Daisy N. #2: 26 (-22)

33. Missy W. #1: 26 (-22)

35. Ben J. #4: 26 (-38)

35. Peter J. #2: 26 (-38)

37. Kai Q.: 25 (-9)

37. John M. #1: 25 (-9)

39. Scott H. #2: 25 (-11)

39. Angie B.: 25 (-11)

39. Mark N. #1: 25 (-11)

39. Todd K. #2: 25 (-11)

39. Brandon B.: 25 (-11)

39. Kirt R. #1: 25 (-11)

39. Steve K. #1: 25 (-11)

46. Jonathan M. #1: 25 (-13)

46. Dan S.: 25 (-13)

46. Jessica B.: 25 (-13)

49. Irene H. #1: 25 (-15)

49. Jim D. #1: 25 (-15)

49. Scott H. #1: 25 (-15)

49. Chad L. #2: 25 (-15)

53. James G. #3: 25 (-17)

54. Amber W.: 25 (-23)

55. Ben J. #1: 25 (-25)

55. James R.: 25 (-25)

57. Chun W. #2: 25 (-39)

58. Mindi W.: 25 (-41)

59. Michelle R. #2: 25 (-101)

60. Bhav R. #2: 24 (-8)

61. Larry G. #4: 24 (-10)

62. Jack Q. #3: 24 (-12)

62. Kye G. #2: 24 (-12)

62. Steve D.: 24 (-12)

62. Ally H.: 24 (-12)

62. Veronica A.: 24 (-12)

62. Christy K. #1: 24 (-12)

62. James G. #1: 24 (-12)

62. Steve H. #2: 24 (-12)

62. Todd K. #3: 24 (-12)

62. Scottt #1: 24 (-12)

62. Scottt #2: 24 (-12)

73. Jack Q. #4: 24 (-14)

73. Jim D. #2: 24 (-14)

73. Ben S. #2: 24 (-14)

76. Chris La. #2: 24 (-16)

76. Damian M. #2: 24 (-16)

76. Larry G. #3: 24 (-16)

76. Chad L. #3: 24 (-16)

76. April K.: 24 (-16)

76. Dennis R. #1: 24 (-16)

76. Harrell R. #2: 24 (-16)

76. Steve K. #2: 24 (-16)

84. Eric V. #2: 24 (-18)

84. Jay K.: 24 (-18)

84. Ben J. #3: 24 (-18)

84. Justin L.: 24 (-18)

88. Matt N.: 24 (-20)

88. Bobby H.: 24 (-20)

90. Daisy N. #3: 24 (-24)

90. Dan D. #2: 24 (-24)

90. Hutch H. #1: 24 (-24)

93. Chun W. #1: 24 (-28)

94. Gary W.: 24 (-40)

94. Julie S.: 24 (-40)

94. Harrell R. #1: 24 (-40)

97. Paul W.: 24 (-42)

97. Shane B.: 24 (-42)

99. Dan D. #1: 23 (-11)

99. Jim K.: 23 (-11)

99. Marissa W. #2: 23 (-11)

99. Kirt R. #2: 23 (-11)

103. Marissa W. #3: 23 (-13)

103. Joseph H.: 23 (-13)

103. Chun W. #4: 23 (-13)

103. Jay H. #3: 23 (-13)

103. Todd K. #4: 23 (-13)

103. Bret K. #3: 23 (-13)

103. Todd K. #1: 23 (-13)

110. Dustin B.: 23 (-15)

110. Alex Q.: 23 (-15)

110. Dave M.: 23 (-15)

110. Eric V. #3: 23 (-15)

114. Chris Lu. #1: 23 (-17)

114. John M. #2: 23 (-17)

114. Brad E.: 23 (-17)

117. Brett W.: 23 (-19)

117. Damien R. #2: 23 (-19)

117. Chris La. #4: 23 (-19)

117. Michelle L. #3: 23 (-19)

117. Carl B.: 23 (-19)

122. Virginia L. #1: 23 (-21)

122. Alyssa B.: 23 (-21)

122. Andrew D. #2: 23 (-21)

125. Jason G.: 23 (-25)

126. Jack Q. #2: 23 (-27)

126. William G. #4: 23 (-27)

126. Tomas L. #1: 23 (-27)

126. Tomas L. #2: 23 (-27)

126. Chad L. #1: 23 (-27)

131. Hutch H. #3: 23 (-29)

132. Peter J. #1: 23 (-31)

133. John E.: 23 (-41)

133. Jonathan M. #3: 23 (-41)

135. Missy W. #2: 22 (-12)

136. Eric V. #1: 22 (-14)

136. Becky H.: 22 (-14)

136. Brent S. #1: 22 (-14)

136. Brent S. #3: 22 (-14)

136. Daisy N. #5: 22 (-14)

136. Dennis R. #2: 22 (-14)

136. Joe R.: 22 (-14)

143. Mark N. #2: 22 (-16)

143. Brent E. #3: 22 (-16)

143. Michelle R. #1: 22 (-16)

146. Chris Lu. #2: 22 (-18)

146. Ryan W.: 22 (-18)

146. Chris L. #1: 22 (-18)

146. Daryl J.: 22 (-18)

146. Jenny E.: 22 (-18)

151. Damian M. #1: 22 (-20)

151. Damian M. #3: 22 (-20)

151. Brent E. #1: 22 (-20)

151. John B.: 22 (-20)

155. Mason A. #2: 22 (-22)

155. Jack Q. #1: 22 (-22)

155. Taima B #2: 22 (-22)

158. Sue L.: 22 (-28)

158. Andrew D. #1: 22 (-28)

158. Taima B. #1: 22 (-28)

161. William G. #1: 22 (-30)

162. Mike G.: 22 (-42)

163. Brian G. #1: 22 (-44)

164. Jay H. #1: 22 (-76)

165. Brandon H.: 21 (-13)

166. William G. #2: 21 (-15)

166. Ben J. #2: 21 (-15)

168. Howard S. #2: 21 (-17)

168. Luis B. #1: 21 (-17)

170. Damien R. #1: 21 (-19)

170. Peter J. #3: 21 (-19)

172. Brad R.: 21 (-21)

172. Joe K. #1: 21 (-21)

172. Jim W.: 21 (-21)

172. Michelle L. #2: 21 (-21)

172. Scott K. #2: 21 (-21)

177. Seth D.: 21 (-23)

178. Michelle L. #1: 21 (-33)

179. Mike S. #2: 21 (-43)

179. Mason A. #1: 21 (-43)

181. Klei R. #1: 21 (-45)

182. Scott K. #1: 21 (-49)

183. Irene H. #3: 21 (-75)

183. Virginia L. #2: 21 (-75)

185. Jax Q.: 20 (-16)

185. Mike S. #1: 20 (-16)

187. Peter J. #4: 20 (-18)

188. Adam E.: 20 (-20)

188. Roth W.: 20 (-20)

188. Luis B. #2: 20 (-20)

188. Luis B. #3: 20 (-20)

192. Joe K. #2: 20 (-22)

192. Ray R.: 20 (-22)

192. John M. #3: 20 (-22)

195. Jay H. #2: 20 (-68)

196. Peter J. #5: 19 (-23)

197. Howard S. #1: 19 (-31)

198. Joe K. #3: 19 (-33)

198. Christy K. #2: 19 (-33)

200. Michelle L. #4: 19 (-49)

201. William G. #3: 18 (-20)

202. Brian G. #2: 18 (-42)

203. Marc R.: 17 (-33)

204. Tim N.: 17 (-53)

205. Sally R.: 16 (-52)

206. Jonathan O.: 16 (-60)

Brent E. #4 is the only person that has won both my March Madness pool as well as my College Bowl pool, so he's a formidable opponent.  Sitting at a tie for #2 is another former champion, Bhav R. #1.  I'd say that those guys seem to know what they are doing in this March Madness - picking of brackets, but it goes against my central premise that a huge percentage of winning these things is luck.

So, starting tomorrow, games count for 2 points.  I'll be sending things out just like today, except this time I'll be doing it from the comfort of my apartment in Cardiff.  Much thanks to my brother for hosting the opening round games for me again this year.  His 4 TV set up really came in handy.  Maybe tomorrow I'll even have time to go running.  God knows I need to after all the couch sitting and eating of bad food.

Good luck everyone!!!  Madness starts up again tomorrow, with even higher stakes.  Good times!!!!!