NCAA Day 1 - 6 games in

I will say that these games that are supposed to be close certainly are living up to the hype.  That Loyola-Chicago / Miami-Florida game gave me about the second or third time during the day that I yelled out loud.  I'm not sure if there is an established definition of a buzzer-beater, but this game certainly lived up to whatever definition there is.  Miami had a chance to put the game away if they could have made some free throws.  That's a recurring grudge for me.  I don't know how many times I've yelled at the TV, "Make your free throws!".  It always seems to happen as my team is struggling to put any distance between them and someone about to pull an upset, or when they are behind and trying to make a comeback.  Either way, Loyola hid an incredible three to give them the lead at the buzzer.  Fantastic.  First upset of the day.

It also knocks down the number of perfect brackets.  We are down to only 50 people that are 6/6.  Miami was a big loss for some people.  31 people had them in the Sweet 16, 12 had them in the Elite 8, and 4 people had them in the Final 4.  Those were risks, since Miami was only a 6 seed, so I like that people were trying to pick some upsets down the road.

Speaking of which, after years and years of badgering everyone in this pool, it looks like there isn't anyone that picked only by the seeds this year.  As a matter of fact, there are only 4 people that have all 4 1-seeds in the Final 4, and only one person that has that and Virginia over Villanova in the finals.  Even that bracket (Ben S. #4) has Rhode Island in the Elite 8, so everyone's picked some upsets somewhere.  Great job, everyone.

I don't have anything to say about the Duke game.  I was worried they might kill my under bet on the biggest margin, but they let up at the end - almost to the point where Iona covered the spread.  That game really meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.  Only one person took Iona, and that person only lost 1 point to the field (which is why I recommend not taking the #15 seed).

Anyway, here are the standings:

1. Adam E.: 6 (0)

1. Andrew D. #2: 6 (0)

1. Ben J. #1: 6 (0)

1. Ben S. #1: 6 (0)

1. Ben S. #2: 6 (0)

1. Ben S. #4: 6 (0)

1. Bhav D. #2: 6 (0)

1. Brad R.: 6 (0)

1. Chad L. #1: 6 (0)

1. Damien R. #1: 6 (0)

1. Damien R. #2: 6 (0)

1. Dan D. #2: 6 (0)

1. Dan S. #1: 6 (0)

1. Dan S. #2: 6 (0)

1. Dane R.: 6 (0)

1. David W. #1: 6 (0)

1. David W. #2: 6 (0)

1. E Rucker #2: 6 (0)

1. Eric V. #1: 6 (0)

1. Gigi I.: 6 (0)

1. Hal R. #1: 6 (0)

1. Hal R. #2: 6 (0)

1. Hal R. #3: 6 (0)

1. Irene H. #5: 6 (0)

1. Jay H. #1: 6 (0)

1. Jeff M.: 6 (0)

1. Jeff Sag. #2: 6 (0)

1. Jim D. #3: 6 (0)

1. Jim W.: 6 (0)

1. Josh D. #1: 6 (0)

1. Julie S.: 6 (0)

1. Kansas C.: 6 (0)

1. Klei R.: 6 (0)

1. Luis B. #3: 6 (0)

1. Malcolm X #1: 6 (0)

1. Michelle L. #1: 6 (0)

1. Michelle L. #4: 6 (0)

1. Michelle L. #5: 6 (0)

1. Mike S. #1: 6 (0)

1. Mike S. #2: 6 (0)

1. Roth W.: 6 (0)

1. Scott Has.: 6 (0)

1. Scott Her. #1: 6 (0)

1. Scott Her. #2: 6 (0)

1. Scott K.: 6 (0)

1. Scott K. #2: 6 (0)

1. Seth D.: 6 (0)

1. Taima #1: 6 (0)

1. Taima #2: 6 (0)

1. Wayne D. #3: 6 (0)

51. Alex N. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Ally H.: 5 (-1)

51. Amaris S.: 5 (-1)

51. Andrew D. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Andrzej R.: 5 (-1)

51. Arianna S.: 5 (-1)

51. Ava S.: 5 (-1)

51. Barack O.: 5 (-1)

51. Becca T.: 5 (-1)

51. Ben J. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Ben S. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Bosun S.: 5 (-1)

51. Brett G. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Brett G. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Brett K. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Brett K. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Brett K. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Chad L. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Chad L. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Chad L. #4: 5 (-1)

51. Chris T. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Chrissy I.: 5 (-1)

51. CSU #1: 5 (-1)

51. CSU #2: 5 (-1)

51. Daisy N. #13: 5 (-1)

51. Daisy N. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Damien R. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Dan D. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Daniel C.: 5 (-1)

51. David S.: 5 (-1)

51. Dennis R.: 5 (-1)

51. Dylan B.: 5 (-1)

51. Elizabeth N. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Eric V. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Grant F.: 5 (-1)

51. Howard S. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Hutch H. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Hutch H. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Irene H. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Irene H. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Irene H. #4: 5 (-1)

51. Jackson I.: 5 (-1)

51. Jared B.: 5 (-1)

51. Jaxon S.: 5 (-1)

51. Jay C.: 5 (-1)

51. Jay H. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Jay H. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Joe D. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Joel S.: 5 (-1)

51. John M. #1: 5 (-1)

51. John M. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Josh D. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Josh D. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Kate G.: 5 (-1)

51. Kiah H.: 5 (-1)

51. Kirt R. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Larry G. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Larry G. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Larry G. #5: 5 (-1)

51. Luis B. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Luis B. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Malcolm X #2: 5 (-1)

51. Mason A. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Matt N.: 5 (-1)

51. Max A. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Max A. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Michelle L. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Mindi W.: 5 (-1)

51. Missy W. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Paul W.: 5 (-1)

51. Pete J. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Pete J. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Pete J. #3: 5 (-1)

51. Pete J. #5: 5 (-1)

51. Ray W. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Rob I.: 5 (-1)

51. Rob S. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Rob S. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Scott K. #1: 5 (-1)

51. Suki I.: 5 (-1)

51. Tim N.: 5 (-1)

51. Tomas L. #2: 5 (-1)

51. Trent L.: 5 (-1)

51. Uproxx: 5 (-1)

51. Wayne D. #1: 5 (-1)

136. Ben J. #2: 5 (-3)

136. Brett G. #4: 5 (-3)

136. Chad L. #5: 5 (-3)

136. Elizabeth N. #2: 5 (-3)

136. Jim D. #1: 5 (-3)

136. Jim D. #2: 5 (-3)

136. Josh C.: 5 (-3)

136. Marc R.: 5 (-3)

136. Mason A. #2: 5 (-3)

136. Matt M.: 5 (-3)

136. Mike W.: 5 (-3)

136. Nick I.: 5 (-3)

136. Ray W. #3: 5 (-3)

136. Stefan K. #2: 5 (-3)

136. Todd K. #1: 5 (-3)

136. Tomas L. #1: 5 (-3)

136. Virginia L.: 5 (-3)

136. Wayne D. #2: 5 (-3)

154. Joe D. #1: 5 (-7)

154. John M. #3: 5 (-7)

154. Ray W. #2: 5 (-7)

157. Alex N. #1: 5 (-15)

158. Allison C.: 4 (-2)

158. Alyssa B.: 4 (-2)

158. April K.: 4 (-2)

158. Becky H.: 4 (-2)

158. Ben P.: 4 (-2)

158. Brad E.: 4 (-2)

158. Brent E. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Brent E. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Brent E. #3: 4 (-2)

158. Brent S. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Brent S. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Brett G. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Chris M.: 4 (-2)

158. Chris T. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Craig G.: 4 (-2)

158. Daisy N. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Daisy N. #10: 4 (-2)

158. Daisy N. #3: 4 (-2)

158. Daisy N. #7: 4 (-2)

158. Daisy N. #9: 4 (-2)

158. Dustin B.: 4 (-2)

158. Howard S. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Irene H. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Irene H. #6: 4 (-2)

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

158. Jace D.: 4 (-2)

158. Jeff Sag. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Joe D. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Ken Pom: 4 (-2)

158. Kirt R. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Larry G. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Larry G. #4: 4 (-2)

158. Michelle L. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Michelle R.: 4 (-2)

158. Miguel D.: 4 (-2)

158. Mike McQ.: 4 (-2)

158. Missy W. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Nikolajs B.: 4 (-2)

158. Stefan K. #1: 4 (-2)

158. Todd K. #2: 4 (-2)

158. Valerie D.: 4 (-2)

158. Veronica A.: 4 (-2)

158. William G.: 4 (-2)

201. Daisy N. #12: 4 (-4)

201. Daisy N. #6: 4 (-4)

201. Karen C.: 4 (-4)

201. Max A. #2: 4 (-4)

201. Mike N.: 4 (-4)

201. Stephen N.: 4 (-4)

201. Sulbum H.: 4 (-4)

201. Szecho L. #1: 4 (-4)

201. Szecho L. #2: 4 (-4)

210. Ryan W.: 4 (-6)

211. Adam S. #1: 4 (-8)

211. Adam S. #2: 4 (-8)

211. Alex N. #4: 4 (-8)

211. Bhav D. #1: 4 (-8)

211. Daisy N. #11: 4 (-8)

211. Daisy N. #8: 4 (-8)

211. Joe D. #4: 4 (-8)

218. Ben J. #4: 4 (-10)

218. Pete J. #4: 4 (-10)

220. Daisy N. #5: 4 (-16)

221. Alex N. #3: 4 (-18)

222. Daisy N. #4: 3 (-17)

222. E Rucker #1: 3 (-17)

...and the net point standings:

1. Adam E. (6)

1. Andrew D. #2 (6)

1. Ben J. #1 (6)

1. Ben S. #1 (6)

1. Ben S. #2 (6)

1. Ben S. #4 (6)

1. Bhav D. #2 (6)

1. Brad R. (6)

1. Chad L. #1 (6)

1. Damien R. #1 (6)

1. Damien R. #2 (6)

1. Dan D. #2 (6)

1. Dan S. #1 (6)

1. Dan S. #2 (6)

1. Dane R. (6)

1. David W. #1 (6)

1. David W. #2 (6)

1. E Rucker #2 (6)

1. Eric V. #1 (6)

1. Gigi I. (6)

1. Hal R. #1 (6)

1. Hal R. #2 (6)

1. Hal R. #3 (6)

1. Irene H. #5 (6)

1. Jay H. #1 (6)

1. Jeff M. (6)

1. Jeff Sag. #2 (6)

1. Jim D. #3 (6)

1. Jim W. (6)

1. Josh D. #1 (6)

1. Julie S. (6)

1. Kansas C. (6)

1. Klei R. (6)

1. Luis B. #3 (6)

1. Malcolm X #1 (6)

1. Michelle L. #1 (6)

1. Michelle L. #4 (6)

1. Michelle L. #5 (6)

1. Mike S. #1 (6)

1. Mike S. #2 (6)

1. Roth W. (6)

1. Scott Has. (6)

1. Scott Her. #1 (6)

1. Scott Her. #2 (6)

1. Scott K. (6)

1. Scott K. #2 (6)

1. Seth D. (6)

1. Taima #1 (6)

1. Taima #2 (6)

1. Wayne D. #3 (6)

51. Alex N. #2 (4)

51. Ally H. (4)

51. Amaris S. (4)

51. Andrew D. #1 (4)

51. Andrzej R. (4)

51. Arianna S. (4)

51. Ava S. (4)

51. Barack O. (4)

51. Becca T. (4)

51. Ben J. #3 (4)

51. Ben S. #3 (4)

51. Bosun S. (4)

51. Brett G. #2 (4)

51. Brett G. #3 (4)

51. Brett K. #1 (4)

51. Brett K. #2 (4)

51. Brett K. #3 (4)

51. Chad L. #2 (4)

51. Chad L. #3 (4)

51. Chad L. #4 (4)

51. Chris T. #2 (4)

51. Chrissy I. (4)

51. CSU #1 (4)

51. CSU #2 (4)

51. Daisy N. #13 (4)

51. Daisy N. #2 (4)

51. Damien R. #3 (4)

51. Dan D. #1 (4)

51. Daniel C. (4)

51. David S. (4)

51. Dennis R. (4)

51. Dylan B. (4)

51. Elizabeth N. #1 (4)

51. Eric V. #2 (4)

51. Grant F. (4)

51. Howard S. #1 (4)

51. Hutch H. #1 (4)

51. Hutch H. #2 (4)

51. Irene H. #1 (4)

51. Irene H. #3 (4)

51. Irene H. #4 (4)

51. Jackson I. (4)

51. Jared B. (4)

51. Jaxon S. (4)

51. Jay C. (4)

51. Jay H. #2 (4)

51. Jay H. #3 (4)

51. Joe D. #3 (4)

51. Joel S. (4)

51. John M. #1 (4)

51. John M. #2 (4)

51. Josh D. #2 (4)

51. Josh D. #3 (4)

51. Kate G. (4)

51. Kiah H. (4)

51. Kirt R. #1 (4)

51. Larry G. #2 (4)

51. Larry G. #3 (4)

51. Larry G. #5 (4)

51. Luis B. #1 (4)

51. Luis B. #2 (4)

51. Malcolm X #2 (4)

51. Mason A. #1 (4)

51. Matt N. (4)

51. Max A. #1 (4)

51. Max A. #3 (4)

51. Michelle L. #3 (4)

51. Mindi W. (4)

51. Missy W. #1 (4)

51. Paul W. (4)

51. Pete J. #1 (4)

51. Pete J. #2 (4)

51. Pete J. #3 (4)

51. Pete J. #5 (4)

51. Ray W. #1 (4)

51. Rob I. (4)

51. Rob S. #1 (4)

51. Rob S. #2 (4)

51. Scott K. #1 (4)

51. Suki I. (4)

51. Tim N. (4)

51. Tomas L. #2 (4)

51. Trent L. (4)

51. Uproxx (4)

51. Wayne D. #1 (4)

136. Ben J. #2 (2)

136. Brett G. #4 (2)

136. Chad L. #5 (2)

136. Elizabeth N. #2 (2)

136. Jim D. #1 (2)

136. Jim D. #2 (2)

136. Josh C. (2)

136. Marc R. (2)

136. Mason A. #2 (2)

136. Matt M. (2)

136. Mike W. (2)

136. Nick I. (2)

136. Ray W. #3 (2)

136. Stefan K. #2 (2)

136. Todd K. #1 (2)

136. Tomas L. #1 (2)

136. Virginia L. (2)

136. Wayne D. #2 (2)

136. Allison C. (2)

136. Alyssa B. (2)

136. April K. (2)

136. Becky H. (2)

136. Ben P. (2)

136. Brad E. (2)

136. Brent E. #1 (2)

136. Brent E. #2 (2)

136. Brent E. #3 (2)

136. Brent S. #1 (2)

136. Brent S. #2 (2)

136. Brett G. #1 (2)

136. Chris M. (2)

136. Chris T. #1 (2)

136. Craig G. (2)

136. Daisy N. #1 (2)

136. Daisy N. #10 (2)

136. Daisy N. #3 (2)

136. Daisy N. #7 (2)

136. Daisy N. #9 (2)

136. Dustin B. (2)

136. Howard S. #2 (2)

136. Irene H. #2 (2)

136. Irene H. #6 (2)

136. Irene H. #7 (2)

136. Jace D. (2)

136. Jeff Sag. #1 (2)

136. Joe D. #2 (2)

136. Ken Pom (2)

136. Kirt R. #2 (2)

136. Larry G. #1 (2)

136. Larry G. #4 (2)

136. Michelle L. #2 (2)

136. Michelle R. (2)

136. Miguel D. (2)

136. Mike McQ. (2)

136. Missy W. #2 (2)

136. Nikolajs B. (2)

136. Stefan K. #1 (2)

136. Todd K. #2 (2)

136. Valerie D. (2)

136. Veronica A. (2)

136. William G. (2)

197. Daisy N. #12 (0)

197. Daisy N. #6 (0)

197. Karen C. (0)

197. Max A. #2 (0)

197. Mike N. (0)

197. Stephen N. (0)

197. Sulbum H. (0)

197. Szecho L. #1 (0)

197. Szecho L. #2 (0)

206. Joe D. #1 (-2)

206. John M. #3 (-2)

206. Ray W. #2 (-2)

206. Ryan W. (-2)

210. Adam S. #1 (-4)

210. Adam S. #2 (-4)

210. Alex N. #4 (-4)

210. Bhav D. #1 (-4)

210. Daisy N. #11 (-4)

210. Daisy N. #8 (-4)

210. Joe D. #4 (-4)

217. Ben J. #4 (-6)

217. Pete J. #4 (-6)

219. Alex N. #1 (-10)

220. Daisy N. #5 (-12)

221. Alex N. #3 (-14)

221. Daisy N. #4 (-14)

221. E Rucker #1 (-14)

Here are the next set of games.

Villanova vs. Radford

Vegas Line: Villanova by 23.5

Villanova picks: 222

Radford: 1

Another game I probably won't spend much time watching.  Again, not sure why anyone would pick Radford here.  There doesn't seem to be much upside to doing it.  To each his/her own, I guess.

Kentucky vs. Davidson

Vegas Line: Kentucky by 5

Kentucky picks: 190

Davidson: 33

I was pretty surprised to see that Kentucky is only a 5 point favorite in the Vegas line.  Kentucky has been on a roll recently.  Davidson is as well, but I don't think they would've made the tournament if they didn't win the A-10 tournament.  Maybe Vegas knows something that we don't.  Given that only 33 people took Davidson, maybe the joke is on us.  This may wind up being a closer game than most of us suspected.

I haven't watched a second of the NC State / Seton Hall game.  It looks like Seton Hall was up pretty handily, but now it is down to 5.  I know a lot more people are counting on NC State than Seton Hall.  16 people have NC State in the Sweet 16, where only 3 people have Seton Hall there.

South Dakota State has been down high single digits most of the second half.  I keep hoping they'll work their way back into this game, but they haven't so far.  I can keep dreaming.