NCAA Day 2 - Heart breaking buzzer beater edition

I can't think of a better way to finish the first round than what I just saw.  Within about five minutes, Northern Iowa beat Texas on a half court heave, and then Cincinnati missed forcing overtime because the dunk at the buzzer was on the guy's hand for a fraction of a second too long.  That was a couple of wild finishes.  Even the Michigan / Notre Dame came down to the last few minutes.

19 people went 4/4 on the last set of games, including the current leader in the standings.  He may look familiar because he was the leader after Day 1.  I think he dipped a little in the standings throughout the day, but rallied at the end to retake the lead.  Good job to Dan Du. #1.

For the entire first round, our little group averaged 21.28 points.  Today the average was 9.74.  That shouldn't be too surprising, as today was considerably less predictable than yesterday.  There was a 4 way tie for high points on the day between Kazelli3, Dylan B., Jay H. #1 & Jeff D.  They all had 13 points.  Sadly, Marissa O. took it hardest going 6/16.  Yikes.

The big winner for the day as far as standings goes is Jeff D.  He started off the day in 202nd place and finished today in 62nd, for a move up of 140 places.  He was bitten by the same Michigan State bug as a lot of others, but otherwise, he managed to avoid a lot of the other big upsets.

The big loser in the rankings today was Jim D. #1.  He started off the day in 52nd place and finished in 180th, for a downward spiral of 128 places.  Only going 7/16 was the largest contributor.

Just for kicks, I wanted to see if there was any correlation between how well people did picking games yesterday and picking games today.  Below is a scatterplot:

The correlation is 0.066.  That is essentially zero.  I really expected the correlation to be stronger.  Seems like people that pick crazy stuff always do poorly, while others do well.  I guess the data doesn't back that up.  What that means is that everyone still has a chance, since no one really knows anything.  It also goes to one of my pet theories, which is that the correct system for winning these pools is whatever one works.  There are no rules.

Here are the total points standings:

1. Dan Du. #1: 27 (-19)

2. Harrell R. #3: 27 (-37)

3. Kazelli3: 27 (-69)

4. John M. #2: 26 (-14)

5. Chris T.: 26 (-26)

6. Taran B.: 26 (-82)

7. Jackson I.: 25 (-15)

8. Brian S.: 25 (-29)

9. Kazelli2: 25 (-31)

10. Chad L. #1: 25 (-61)

11. Jay K.: 25 (-75)

11. John E. #1: 25 (-75)

13. Danny H.: 24 (-14)

14. Howard S. #1: 24 (-18)

15. Michelle R.: 24 (-20)

16. Ken P.: 24 (-26)

17. John M. #1: 24 (-30)

17. Klei R. #1: 24 (-30)

19. Joe K. #2: 24 (-40)

20. Matt N.: 24 (-46)

21. Dylan B.: 24 (-76)

22. Ray W. #7: 24 (-96)

23. Julie S.: 23 (-17)

24. Alex I.: 23 (-19)

24. Chris M. #1: 23 (-19)

24. Wayne D. #2: 23 (-19)

27. Tim N.: 23 (-21)

28. Jim D. #3: 23 (-27)

28. Larry G. #1: 23 (-27)

30. Mike C. #1: 23 (-29)

31. Joel B. #4: 23 (-31)

32. Pete J. #3: 23 (-33)

32. Scott K. #1: 23 (-33)

34. Hutch H. #1: 23 (-37)

35. Chad L. #3: 23 (-39)

35. Tomas L. #1: 23 (-39)

37. Adam E.: 23 (-43)

37. Gary W.: 23 (-43)

39. Jay H. #1: 23 (-47)

39. Pete J. #2: 23 (-47)

39. Ray W. #5: 23 (-47)

42. Chun W. #4: 23 (-49)

42. Plsczor Team: 23 (-49)

44. Szecho L. #2: 23 (-61)

45. Chad L. #2: 23 (-79)

45. Joel B. #5: 23 (-79)

47. Brent E. #2: 23 (-83)

48. Brent E. #1: 23 (-91)

49. Joe K. #3: 23 (-95)

49. Ryan W.: 23 (-95)

51. Irene H. #1: 22 (-12)

52. Ava S.: 22 (-16)

53. Daisy N. #5: 22 (-20)

53. Mindi W.: 22 (-20)

55. Gigi I.: 22 (-22)

55. Missy W. #1: 22 (-22)

57. Joel B. #2: 22 (-24)

58. Carl B.: 22 (-26)

58. Daisy N. #3: 22 (-26)

60. Dustin B.: 22 (-28)

61. Chun W. #3: 22 (-30)

62. Daisy N. #2: 22 (-32)

62. Jeff D.: 22 (-32)

64. Ben J. #2: 22 (-34)

64. Michelle L. #2: 22 (-34)

64. Szecho L. #1: 22 (-34)

67. Karen C.: 22 (-36)

67. Wayne D. #1: 22 (-36)

69. Brandon H.: 22 (-38)

69. Craig G.: 22 (-38)

71. Hutch H. #2: 22 (-40)

71. Jason G. #1: 22 (-40)

71. Mike S. #1: 22 (-40)

74. Howard S. #2: 22 (-42)

75. Brian K.: 22 (-48)

75. Missy W. #2: 22 (-48)

77. Jeff S.: 22 (-50)

77. Joe K. #1: 22 (-50)

77. Joel B. #3: 22 (-50)

77. John B.: 22 (-50)

77. Josh C.: 22 (-50)

82. Wayne D. #3: 22 (-52)

83. Chrissy I.: 22 (-54)

84. Michelle L. #1: 22 (-58)

85. Kazelli1: 22 (-64)

85. Mike S. #2: 22 (-64)

87. Ben J. #3: 22 (-74)

88. Brett K. #2: 22 (-80)

88. Harrell R. #2: 22 (-80)

88. Lisa M.: 22 (-80)

88. Taima B. #2: 22 (-80)

92. Brent S. #2: 22 (-82)

92. William G. #1: 22 (-82)

94. Scott H. #1: 22 (-84)

95. Brad R. #1: 22 (-86)

95. Roth W.: 22 (-86)

97. Becky H.: 22 (-88)

98. Brent E. #3: 22 (-90)

99. Brett K. #1: 22 (-92)

99. Joe D. #1: 22 (-92)

101. Mason A. #1: 22 (-98)

102. April K.: 22 (-102)

103. Daisy N. #4: 21 (-15)

104. Kristina H.: 21 (-19)

105. Arianna S.: 21 (-27)

105. Jonathan O.: 21 (-27)

105. Mike C. #2: 21 (-27)

108. Chun W. #1: 21 (-29)

108. Dennis R.: 21 (-29)

108. Jim D. #2: 21 (-29)

108. Scott K. #2: 21 (-29)

112. James R.: 21 (-31)

112. Mike W.: 21 (-31)

114. Joe D. #2: 21 (-33)

114. Pete J. #4: 21 (-33)

116. Bosun S.: 21 (-35)

116. Brent S. #1: 21 (-35)

116. Mason A. #2: 21 (-35)

119. Klei R. #2: 21 (-37)

119. Michelle D.: 21 (-37)

119. Rob I. #1: 21 (-37)

122. Chad L. #4: 21 (-41)

122. Michelle L. #4: 21 (-41)

124. Eric R. #2: 21 (-43)

125. Daisy N. #1: 21 (-45)

125. Luis B. #1: 21 (-45)

127. Angie Bow.: 21 (-49)

127. Kye G. #2: 21 (-49)

127. Ray W. #3: 21 (-49)

130. Jason G. #2: 21 (-53)

130. Ray W. #1: 21 (-53)

132. Dave M.: 21 (-57)

133. Presley J.: 21 (-65)

134. Kansas C. #2: 21 (-67)

135. Irene H. #2: 21 (-77)

136. Ray W. #8: 21 (-79)

137. Larry G. #2: 21 (-81)

138. Luis B. #2: 21 (-85)

138. Paul W.: 21 (-85)

138. Todd K. #2: 21 (-85)

141. Chris M. #4: 21 (-87)

142. Jenny E.: 21 (-89)

142. Michelle L. #3: 21 (-89)

144. Chris M. #2: 21 (-95)

144. Harrell R. #4: 21 (-95)

146. Irene H. #3: 20 (-24)

147. Adam S.: 20 (-26)

147. Ray W. #6: 20 (-26)

147. Steve H.: 20 (-26)

150. Alyssa B.: 20 (-28)

150. Dan Du. #2: 20 (-28)

152. Tomas L. #2: 20 (-30)

153. Irene H. #5: 20 (-32)

153. Jim D. #4: 20 (-32)

155. Eric R. #1: 20 (-34)

155. Ron B.: 20 (-34)

157. Dan Dz: 20 (-36)

158. Kirt R.: 20 (-52)

159. Leslie S.: 20 (-54)

160. Jay H. #2: 20 (-56)

160. Kansas C. #1: 20 (-56)

162. Chris L. #1: 20 (-58)

163. Stan C.: 20 (-60)

164. Stephanie P. #2: 20 (-62)

165. Chun W. #2: 20 (-64)

166. Stephanie P. #1: 20 (-82)

167. Ally H.: 20 (-84)

167. Todd K. #1: 20 (-84)

169. Pete J. #1: 20 (-86)

170. Joel B. #1: 20 (-88)

171. Chris L. #2: 20 (-90)

171. Daisy N. #6: 20 (-90)

173. Rob I. #2: 19 (-21)

174. Ben J. #4: 19 (-23)

174. Gutless Kye: 19 (-23)

174. Gutless Missy: 19 (-23)

174. Gutless Ray: 19 (-23)

178. Stefan K.: 19 (-25)

179. Hutch H. #3: 19 (-29)

180. Jim D. #1: 19 (-31)

180. Larry G. #3: 19 (-31)

182. Angie B.: 19 (-33)

182. Ben J. #1: 19 (-33)

182. Elizabeth N.: 19 (-33)

185. Jonathan V.: 19 (-41)

186. Virginia L. #1: 19 (-43)

187. Damien R. #1: 19 (-47)

187. William G. #2: 19 (-47)

189. Jim K.: 19 (-53)

190. Taima B. #1: 19 (-55)

191. Brad R. #2: 19 (-73)

192. Virginia L. #2: 19 (-77)

193. Chris M. #3: 19 (-79)

194. Damien R. #3: 19 (-89)

195. Damien R. #2: 19 (-105)

196. Todd K. #3: 19 (-111)

197. Carin C.: 18 (-20)

198. Irene H. #4: 18 (-32)

199. Brett W.: 18 (-42)

200. Ray W. #9: 18 (-44)

201. Harrell R. #1: 18 (-52)

202. Jay H. #3: 18 (-56)

202. John E. #2: 18 (-56)

204. Bella S.: 18 (-88)

205. Jim W.: 18 (-90)

206. Chris M. #5: 18 (-94)

207. Ray W. #2: 17 (-35)

208. Brent E. #4: 17 (-43)

209. Dan S.: 17 (-89)

210. Marissa O.: 17 (-99)

211. Jeremy C.: 17 (-103)

212. Scott H. #2: 16 (-42)

213. Marc R.: 16 (-60)

...and the all-important net points rankings:

1. John M. #2 (12)

2. Jackson I. (10)

2. Danny H. (10)

2. Irene H. #1 (10)

5. Dan Du. #1 (8)

6. Howard S. #1 (6)

6. Julie S. (6)

6. Ava S. (6)

6. Daisy N. #4 (6)

10. Michelle R. (4)

10. Alex I. (4)

10. Chris M. #1 (4)

10. Wayne D. #2 (4)

14. Tim N. (2)

14. Daisy N. #5 (2)

14. Mindi W. (2)

14. Kristina H. (2)

18. Chris T. (0)

18. Gigi I. (0)

18. Missy W. #1 (0)

21. Ken P. (-2)

21. Joel B. #2 (-2)

21. Rob I. #2 (-2)

21. Carin C. (-2)

25. Brian S. (-4)

25. Jim D. #3 (-4)

25. Larry G. #1 (-4)

25. Carl B. (-4)

25. Daisy N. #3 (-4)

25. Irene H. #3 (-4)

25. Ben J. #4 (-4)

25. Gutless Kye (-4)

25. Gutless Missy (-4)

25. Gutless Ray (-4)

35. Kazelli2 (-6)

35. John M. #1 (-6)

35. Klei R. #1 (-6)

35. Mike C. #1 (-6)

35. Dustin B. (-6)

35. Arianna S. (-6)

35. Jonathan O. (-6)

35. Mike C. #2 (-6)

35. Adam S. (-6)

35. Ray W. #6 (-6)

35. Steve H. (-6)

35. Stefan K. (-6)

47. Joel B. #4 (-8)

47. Chun W. #3 (-8)

47. Chun W. #1 (-8)

47. Dennis R. (-8)

47. Jim D. #2 (-8)

47. Scott K. #2 (-8)

47. Alyssa B. (-8)

47. Dan Du. #2 (-8)

55. Harrell R. #3 (-10)

55. Pete J. #3 (-10)

55. Scott K. #1 (-10)

55. Daisy N. #2 (-10)

55. Jeff D. (-10)

55. James R. (-10)

55. Mike W. (-10)

55. Tomas L. #2 (-10)

55. Hutch H. #3 (-10)

64. Ben J. #2 (-12)

64. Michelle L. #2 (-12)

64. Szecho L. #1 (-12)

64. Joe D. #2 (-12)

64. Pete J. #4 (-12)

64. Irene H. #5 (-12)

64. Jim D. #4 (-12)

64. Jim D. #1 (-12)

64. Larry G. #3 (-12)

73. Hutch H. #1 (-14)

73. Karen C. (-14)

73. Wayne D. #1 (-14)

73. Bosun S. (-14)

73. Brent S. #1 (-14)

73. Mason A. #2 (-14)

73. Eric R. #1 (-14)

73. Ron B. (-14)

73. Angie B. (-14)

73. Ben J. #1 (-14)

73. Elizabeth N. (-14)

73. Irene H. #4 (-14)

85. Joe K. #2 (-16)

85. Chad L. #3 (-16)

85. Tomas L. #1 (-16)

85. Brandon H. (-16)

85. Craig G. (-16)

85. Klei R. #2 (-16)

85. Michelle D. (-16)

85. Rob I. #1 (-16)

85. Dan Dz (-16)

94. Hutch H. #2 (-18)

94. Jason G. #1 (-18)

94. Mike S. #1 (-18)

94. Ray W. #2 (-18)

98. Adam E. (-20)

98. Gary W. (-20)

98. Howard S. #2 (-20)

98. Chad L. #4 (-20)

98. Michelle L. #4 (-20)

103. Matt N. (-22)

103. Eric R. #2 (-22)

103. Jonathan V. (-22)

106. Jay H. #1 (-24)

106. Pete J. #2 (-24)

106. Ray W. #5 (-24)

106. Daisy N. #1 (-24)

106. Luis B. #1 (-24)

106. Virginia L. #1 (-24)

106. Brett W. (-24)

113. Chun W. #4 (-26)

113. Plsczor Team (-26)

113. Brian K. (-26)

113. Missy W. #2 (-26)

113. Ray W. #9 (-26)

113. Brent E. #4 (-26)

113. Scott H. #2 (-26)

120. Jeff S. (-28)

120. Joe K. #1 (-28)

120. Joel B. #3 (-28)

120. John B. (-28)

120. Josh C. (-28)

120. Angie Bow. (-28)

120. Kye G. #2 (-28)

120. Ray W. #3 (-28)

120. Damien R. #1 (-28)

120. William G. #2 (-28)

130. Wayne D. #3 (-30)

131. Chrissy I. (-32)

131. Jason G. #2 (-32)

131. Ray W. #1 (-32)

131. Kirt R. (-32)

135. Leslie S. (-34)

135. Jim K. (-34)

135. Harrell R. #1 (-34)

138. Chad L. #1 (-36)

138. Michelle L. #1 (-36)

138. Dave M. (-36)

138. Jay H. #2 (-36)

138. Kansas C. #1 (-36)

138. Taima B. #1 (-36)

144. Szecho L. #2 (-38)

144. Chris L. #1 (-38)

144. Jay H. #3 (-38)

144. John E. #2 (-38)

148. Stan C. (-40)

149. Kazelli3 (-42)

149. Kazelli1 (-42)

149. Mike S. #2 (-42)

149. Stephanie P. #2 (-42)

153. Presley J. (-44)

153. Chun W. #2 (-44)

153. Marc R. (-44)

156. Kansas C. #2 (-46)

157. Jay K. (-50)

157. John E. #1 (-50)

159. Dylan B. (-52)

159. Ben J. #3 (-52)

161. Brad R. #2 (-54)

162. Taran B. (-56)

162. Chad L. #2 (-56)

162. Joel B. #5 (-56)

162. Irene H. #2 (-56)

166. Brett K. #2 (-58)

166. Harrell R. #2 (-58)

166. Lisa M. (-58)

166. Taima B. #2 (-58)

166. Ray W. #8 (-58)

166. Virginia L. #2 (-58)

172. Brent E. #2 (-60)

172. Brent S. #2 (-60)

172. William G. #1 (-60)

172. Larry G. #2 (-60)

172. Chris M. #3 (-60)

177. Scott H. #1 (-62)

177. Stephanie P. #1 (-62)

179. Brad R. #1 (-64)

179. Roth W. (-64)

179. Luis B. #2 (-64)

179. Paul W. (-64)

179. Todd K. #2 (-64)

179. Ally H. (-64)

179. Todd K. #1 (-64)

186. Becky H. (-66)

186. Chris M. #4 (-66)

186. Pete J. #1 (-66)

189. Brent E. #1 (-68)

189. Brent E. #3 (-68)

189. Jenny E. (-68)

189. Michelle L. #3 (-68)

189. Joel B. #1 (-68)

194. Brett K. #1 (-70)

194. Joe D. #1 (-70)

194. Chris L. #2 (-70)

194. Daisy N. #6 (-70)

194. Damien R. #3 (-70)

194. Bella S. (-70)

200. Ray W. #7 (-72)

200. Joe K. #3 (-72)

200. Ryan W. (-72)

200. Jim W. (-72)

200. Dan S. (-72)

205. Chris M. #2 (-74)

205. Harrell R. #4 (-74)

207. Mason A. #1 (-76)

207. Chris M. #5 (-76)

209. April K. (-80)

210. Marissa O. (-82)

211. Damien R. #2 (-86)

211. Jeremy C. (-86)

213. Todd K. #3 (-92)

Compliments of all the upsets today, the average net points for us as a group after one round is -29.22.  That hurts, but when you lose a 4, 3, & 2 seed in the same day, it shouldn't be too surprising.

So, I change work stations tomorrow, as I take up residence back at my house for the rest of the tournament.  I had a fun time at my brothers place.  As usual, the 4 TV set up he has is really ideal for these first round games.  I had fun hanging out over here, and I was glad my Dad came down to watch with us yesterday, but now I'll get out of his hair.

Tomorrow starts the second round, which means the stakes go up.  Every game tomorrow is worth 2 points.  The rule of thumb is the team you picked has already been eliminated is for you to pull for the team that has the fewest people pulling for it.  That actually is the rule of thumb throughout.  For instance, my chances would be greatly improved id Middle Tennessee made a miraculous run to the Final 4, since no one has them doing anything, and I can't get many points in that region anyway.  I want everyone to share my pain.

Good luck and see everyone tomorrow!!!!!!