NCAA Day II, 26 games in

This one will be an update of the standings and a preview of the final 4 games in the first round.  Kansas State pretty much lead from the beginning of the game and slowly pulled away at the end.  That served as an upset, since they were the 9 seed.  It also served to spread the field out a little, since this was another one of those coin flip games that most people didn't have winning more than just the one game.

The second game was Michigan State.  It looks like the final score will look good for Bucknell, but this game was a double digit lead most of the game.  Bucknell closed the gap in garbage time, but this was all Michigan State in the second half after a relatively close first half.

David W. #2 moved back into solo possession of first place with these 2 games, as most of the top people had Creighton.  In the other recurring theme of the day, Bhav D.  still has yet to lose a game.  He's 10/10.  Also, 14 people have all of their Sweet 16 teams still alive.  Surprisingly, Mike McQ is one of those people, and he currently is in 194th place in points.  That's some amazing running through the minefield.  That means he's lost a lot of first round games, but everyone he's lost were only supposed to win one game (he's 16/26 so far).  It looks like a lot of those people could be in jeopardy as Auburn is in a dogfight with Charleston.

Here are the standings so far:

1. David W. #2: 23 (-5)

2. Irene H. #5: 23 (-23)

3. Brad R.: 23 (-67)

4. Bosun S.: 22 (-6)

4. David S.: 22 (-6)

4. Missy W. #1: 22 (-6)

4. Taima #1: 22 (-6)

8. Bhav D. #2: 22 (-18)

9. Luis B. #1: 22 (-34)

10. Dan S. #1: 21 (-7)

10. Dan S. #2: 21 (-7)

10. Elizabeth N. #1: 21 (-7)

10. Gigi I.: 21 (-7)

10. Irene H. #1: 21 (-7)

10. Scott Has.: 21 (-7)

10. Wayne D. #3: 21 (-7)

17. Howard S. #1: 21 (-9)

17. Malcolm X #2: 21 (-9)

17. Todd K. #1: 21 (-9)

20. Luis B. #2: 21 (-19)

20. Luis B. #3: 21 (-19)

22. Jared B.: 21 (-21)

22. Larry G. #2: 21 (-21)

24. Ava S.: 21 (-49)

25. Uproxx: 21 (-67)

26. Ben J. #3: 21 (-69)

27. Amaris S.: 20 (-6)

27. Irene H. #6: 20 (-6)

27. Ken Pom: 20 (-6)

27. Matt N.: 20 (-6)

27. Scott Her. #2: 20 (-6)

32. Barack O.: 20 (-8)

32. Ben P.: 20 (-8)

32. Brent E. #1: 20 (-8)

32. Brent E. #2: 20 (-8)

32. Brent E. #3: 20 (-8)

32. Craig G.: 20 (-8)

32. Dennis R.: 20 (-8)

32. Dustin B.: 20 (-8)

32. E Rucker #2: 20 (-8)

32. Jeff M.: 20 (-8)

32. Kate G.: 20 (-8)

32. Kirt R. #1: 20 (-8)

32. Malcolm X #1: 20 (-8)

32. Nikolajs B.: 20 (-8)

32. Paul W.: 20 (-8)

32. Suki I.: 20 (-8)

48. Alex N. #2: 20 (-10)

48. David W. #1: 20 (-10)

48. Irene H. #4: 20 (-10)

48. Joel S.: 20 (-10)

48. Kirt R. #2: 20 (-10)

48. Larry G. #5: 20 (-10)

48. Michelle L. #3: 20 (-10)

48. Tomas L. #2: 20 (-10)

48. Virginia L.: 20 (-10)

57. Jeff Sag. #2: 20 (-12)

57. Klei R.: 20 (-12)

57. Mindi W.: 20 (-12)

60. Chad L. #4: 20 (-14)

60. Joe D. #1: 20 (-14)

62. Dan D. #2: 20 (-18)

62. Jim D. #1: 20 (-18)

64. Hutch H. #2: 20 (-20)

64. Jay H. #2: 20 (-20)

66. John M. #3: 20 (-30)

67. Taima #2: 20 (-36)

68. Brett G. #4: 20 (-38)

69. Stefan K. #1: 20 (-42)

70. Kiah H.: 20 (-68)

71. Julie S.: 20 (-74)

72. Andrew D. #2: 19 (-7)

72. Irene H. #2: 19 (-7)

72. Jeff Sag. #1: 19 (-7)

75. Ben J. #1: 19 (-9)

75. Pete J. #3: 19 (-9)

75. Rob S. #1: 19 (-9)

75. Todd K. #2: 19 (-9)

75. Trent L.: 19 (-9)

80. Ben S. #4: 19 (-11)

80. Chad L. #2: 19 (-11)

80. Chrissy I.: 19 (-11)

80. CSU #1: 19 (-11)

80. Eric V. #1: 19 (-11)

80. Eric V. #2: 19 (-11)

80. Irene H. #3: 19 (-11)

80. Jim D. #3: 19 (-11)

80. Larry G. #4: 19 (-11)

80. Marc R.: 19 (-11)

80. Michelle L. #5: 19 (-11)

80. Mike N.: 19 (-11)

80. Pete J. #2: 19 (-11)

80. Scott K.: 19 (-11)

80. Stefan K. #2: 19 (-11)

95. Ben J. #2: 19 (-13)

95. Brett G. #3: 19 (-13)

95. Jackson I.: 19 (-13)

95. Jay H. #1: 19 (-13)

95. Missy W. #2: 19 (-13)

95. Ray W. #3: 19 (-13)

101. Adam E.: 19 (-15)

101. Jim D. #2: 19 (-15)

101. Max A. #1: 19 (-15)

101. Tomas L. #1: 19 (-15)

105. Rob S. #2: 19 (-17)

106. Ray W. #2: 19 (-19)

107. Chad L. #3: 19 (-23)

108. Chad L. #5: 19 (-27)

109. Max A. #3: 19 (-37)

109. Mike S. #2: 19 (-37)

109. Scott K. #1: 19 (-37)

109. Wayne D. #1: 19 (-37)

113. Joe D. #3: 19 (-51)

114. Larry G. #3: 19 (-69)

114. Mike S. #1: 19 (-69)

116. Jay H. #3: 19 (-71)

117. Andrew D. #1: 18 (-8)

117. Jay C.: 18 (-8)

117. Joe D. #2: 18 (-8)

117. Scott Her. #1: 18 (-8)

121. Ally H.: 18 (-10)

121. Becca T.: 18 (-10)

121. Brad E.: 18 (-10)

121. Brent S. #1: 18 (-10)

121. Chris M.: 18 (-10)

121. Daisy N. #13: 18 (-10)

121. Damien R. #2: 18 (-10)

121. Dylan B.: 18 (-10)

121. Jaxon S.: 18 (-10)

121. Josh D. #3: 18 (-10)

121. Mason A. #1: 18 (-10)

121. Michelle R.: 18 (-10)

121. Scott K. #2: 18 (-10)

134. Chad L. #1: 18 (-12)

134. Matt M.: 18 (-12)

134. Rob I.: 18 (-12)

134. Veronica A.: 18 (-12)

138. Daisy N. #3: 18 (-14)

138. Damien R. #1: 18 (-14)

138. Elizabeth N. #2: 18 (-14)

138. Hal R. #1: 18 (-14)

138. Hutch H. #1: 18 (-14)

138. Josh C.: 18 (-14)

138. Josh D. #1: 18 (-14)

138. Larry G. #1: 18 (-14)

138. Michelle L. #4: 18 (-14)

138. Valerie D.: 18 (-14)

148. Ben S. #1: 18 (-16)

148. Daisy N. #1: 18 (-16)

148. Hal R. #2: 18 (-16)

151. Mike W.: 18 (-18)

151. Wayne D. #2: 18 (-18)

153. Nick I.: 18 (-20)

154. CSU #2: 18 (-24)

155. John M. #1: 18 (-28)

156. Adam S. #1: 18 (-32)

157. William G.: 18 (-40)

158. John M. #2: 18 (-42)

159. Brett W.: 18 (-72)

159. Chris T. #2: 18 (-72)

159. Irene H. #7: 18 (-72)

162. Daisy N. #7: 18 (-74)

163. Grant F.: 17 (-9)

164. Becky H.: 17 (-11)

164. Brett G. #1: 17 (-11)

164. Josh D. #2: 17 (-11)

164. Miguel D.: 17 (-11)

164. Pete J. #5: 17 (-11)

164. Sulbum H.: 17 (-11)

170. Alyssa B.: 17 (-13)

170. Brett K. #2: 17 (-13)

170. Daisy N. #2: 17 (-13)

170. Damien R. #3: 17 (-13)

170. Jim W.: 17 (-13)

170. Pete J. #1: 17 (-13)

170. Seth D.: 17 (-13)

177. Arianna S.: 17 (-15)

177. Hal R. #3: 17 (-15)

177. Howard S. #2: 17 (-15)

177. Michelle L. #1: 17 (-15)

181. Ben J. #4: 17 (-19)

181. Brett K. #3: 17 (-19)

183. Mason A. #2: 17 (-21)

183. Pete J. #4: 17 (-21)

185. Ben S. #2: 17 (-25)

186. Daisy N. #5: 17 (-27)

186. Roth W.: 17 (-27)

188. E Rucker #1: 17 (-29)

189. Adam S. #2: 17 (-37)

190. Andrzej R.: 17 (-39)

190. Brent S. #2: 17 (-39)

190. Brett G. #2: 17 (-39)

193. Chris T. #1: 17 (-41)

194. Mike McQ.: 16 (-10)

195. April K.: 16 (-12)

195. Daniel C.: 16 (-12)

197. Karen C.: 16 (-14)

198. Kansas C.: 16 (-16)

199. Daisy N. #10: 16 (-22)

199. Ryan W.: 16 (-22)

201. Daisy N. #12: 16 (-24)

201. Daisy N. #6: 16 (-24)

203. Alex N. #1: 16 (-28)

203. Szecho L. #2: 16 (-28)

205. Dane R.: 16 (-30)

206. Brett K. #1: 16 (-38)

207. Ray W. #1: 16 (-44)

208. Szecho L. #1: 16 (-52)

209. Daisy N. #11: 16 (-80)

210. Bhav D. #1: 15 (-19)

211. Allison C.: 15 (-21)

211. Jace D.: 15 (-21)

213. Alex N. #4: 15 (-27)

214. Daisy N. #9: 15 (-35)

214. Dan D. #1: 15 (-35)

216. Alex N. #3: 15 (-37)

217. Michelle L. #2: 14 (-22)

218. Max A. #2: 14 (-30)

218. Tim N.: 14 (-30)

220. Joe D. #4: 14 (-34)

221. Daisy N. #8: 14 (-38)

222. Daisy N. #4: 13 (-69)

223. Stephen N.: 13 (-77)

224. Ben S. #3: 12 (-26)

...and the net points are:

1. David W. #2 (18)

2. Bosun S. (16)

2. David S. (16)

2. Missy W. #1 (16)

2. Taima #1 (16)

6. Dan S. #1 (14)

6. Dan S. #2 (14)

6. Elizabeth N. #1 (14)

6. Gigi I. (14)

6. Irene H. #1 (14)

6. Scott Has. (14)

6. Wayne D. #3 (14)

6. Amaris S. (14)

6. Irene H. #6 (14)

6. Ken Pom (14)

6. Matt N. (14)

6. Scott Her. #2 (14)

18. Howard S. #1 (12)

18. Malcolm X #2 (12)

18. Todd K. #1 (12)

18. Barack O. (12)

18. Ben P. (12)

18. Brent E. #1 (12)

18. Brent E. #2 (12)

18. Brent E. #3 (12)

18. Craig G. (12)

18. Dennis R. (12)

18. Dustin B. (12)

18. E Rucker #2 (12)

18. Jeff M. (12)

18. Kate G. (12)

18. Kirt R. #1 (12)

18. Malcolm X #1 (12)

18. Nikolajs B. (12)

18. Paul W. (12)

18. Suki I. (12)

18. Andrew D. #2 (12)

18. Irene H. #2 (12)

18. Jeff Sag. #1 (12)

40. Alex N. #2 (10)

40. David W. #1 (10)

40. Irene H. #4 (10)

40. Joel S. (10)

40. Kirt R. #2 (10)

40. Larry G. #5 (10)

40. Michelle L. #3 (10)

40. Tomas L. #2 (10)

40. Virginia L. (10)

40. Ben J. #1 (10)

40. Pete J. #3 (10)

40. Rob S. #1 (10)

40. Todd K. #2 (10)

40. Trent L. (10)

40. Andrew D. #1 (10)

40. Jay C. (10)

40. Joe D. #2 (10)

40. Scott Her. #1 (10)

58. Jeff Sag. #2 (8)

58. Klei R. (8)

58. Mindi W. (8)

58. Ben S. #4 (8)

58. Chad L. #2 (8)

58. Chrissy I. (8)

58. CSU #1 (8)

58. Eric V. #1 (8)

58. Eric V. #2 (8)

58. Irene H. #3 (8)

58. Jim D. #3 (8)

58. Larry G. #4 (8)

58. Marc R. (8)

58. Michelle L. #5 (8)

58. Mike N. (8)

58. Pete J. #2 (8)

58. Scott K. (8)

58. Stefan K. #2 (8)

58. Ally H. (8)

58. Becca T. (8)

58. Brad E. (8)

58. Brent S. #1 (8)

58. Chris M. (8)

58. Daisy N. #13 (8)

58. Damien R. #2 (8)

58. Dylan B. (8)

58. Jaxon S. (8)

58. Josh D. #3 (8)

58. Mason A. #1 (8)

58. Michelle R. (8)

58. Scott K. #2 (8)

58. Grant F. (8)

90. Chad L. #4 (6)

90. Joe D. #1 (6)

90. Ben J. #2 (6)

90. Brett G. #3 (6)

90. Jackson I. (6)

90. Jay H. #1 (6)

90. Missy W. #2 (6)

90. Ray W. #3 (6)

90. Chad L. #1 (6)

90. Matt M. (6)

90. Rob I. (6)

90. Veronica A. (6)

90. Becky H. (6)

90. Brett G. #1 (6)

90. Josh D. #2 (6)

90. Miguel D. (6)

90. Pete J. #5 (6)

90. Sulbum H. (6)

90. Mike McQ. (6)

109. Bhav D. #2 (4)

109. Adam E. (4)

109. Jim D. #2 (4)

109. Max A. #1 (4)

109. Tomas L. #1 (4)

109. Daisy N. #3 (4)

109. Damien R. #1 (4)

109. Elizabeth N. #2 (4)

109. Hal R. #1 (4)

109. Hutch H. #1 (4)

109. Josh C. (4)

109. Josh D. #1 (4)

109. Larry G. #1 (4)

109. Michelle L. #4 (4)

109. Valerie D. (4)

109. Alyssa B. (4)

109. Brett K. #2 (4)

109. Daisy N. #2 (4)

109. Damien R. #3 (4)

109. Jim W. (4)

109. Pete J. #1 (4)

109. Seth D. (4)

109. April K. (4)

109. Daniel C. (4)

133. Luis B. #2 (2)

133. Luis B. #3 (2)

133. Dan D. #2 (2)

133. Jim D. #1 (2)

133. Rob S. #2 (2)

133. Ben S. #1 (2)

133. Daisy N. #1 (2)

133. Hal R. #2 (2)

133. Arianna S. (2)

133. Hal R. #3 (2)

133. Howard S. #2 (2)

133. Michelle L. #1 (2)

133. Karen C. (2)

146. Irene H. #5 (0)

146. Jared B. (0)

146. Larry G. #2 (0)

146. Hutch H. #2 (0)

146. Jay H. #2 (0)

146. Ray W. #2 (0)

146. Mike W. (0)

146. Wayne D. #2 (0)

146. Kansas C. (0)

155. Nick I. (-2)

155. Ben J. #4 (-2)

155. Brett K. #3 (-2)

158. Chad L. #3 (-4)

158. Mason A. #2 (-4)

158. Pete J. #4 (-4)

158. Bhav D. #1 (-4)

162. CSU #2 (-6)

162. Daisy N. #10 (-6)

162. Ryan W. (-6)

162. Allison C. (-6)

162. Jace D. (-6)

167. Chad L. #5 (-8)

167. Ben S. #2 (-8)

167. Daisy N. #12 (-8)

167. Daisy N. #6 (-8)

167. Michelle L. #2 (-8)

172. John M. #3 (-10)

172. John M. #1 (-10)

172. Daisy N. #5 (-10)

172. Roth W. (-10)

176. Luis B. #1 (-12)

176. E Rucker #1 (-12)

176. Alex N. #1 (-12)

176. Szecho L. #2 (-12)

176. Alex N. #4 (-12)

181. Adam S. #1 (-14)

181. Dane R. (-14)

181. Ben S. #3 (-14)

184. Taima #2 (-16)

184. Max A. #2 (-16)

184. Tim N. (-16)

187. Brett G. #4 (-18)

187. Max A. #3 (-18)

187. Mike S. #2 (-18)

187. Scott K. #1 (-18)

187. Wayne D. #1 (-18)

192. Adam S. #2 (-20)

192. Daisy N. #9 (-20)

192. Dan D. #1 (-20)

192. Joe D. #4 (-20)

196. Stefan K. #1 (-22)

196. William G. (-22)

196. Andrzej R. (-22)

196. Brent S. #2 (-22)

196. Brett G. #2 (-22)

196. Brett K. #1 (-22)

196. Alex N. #3 (-22)

203. John M. #2 (-24)

203. Chris T. #1 (-24)

203. Daisy N. #8 (-24)

206. Ava S. (-28)

206. Ray W. #1 (-28)

208. Joe D. #3 (-32)

209. Szecho L. #1 (-36)

210. Brad R. (-44)

211. Uproxx (-46)

212. Ben J. #3 (-48)

212. Kiah H. (-48)

214. Larry G. #3 (-50)

214. Mike S. #1 (-50)

216. Jay H. #3 (-52)

217. Julie S. (-54)

217. Brett W. (-54)

217. Chris T. #2 (-54)

217. Irene H. #7 (-54)

221. Daisy N. #7 (-56)

221. Daisy N. #4 (-56)

223. Daisy N. #11 (-64)

223. Stephen N. (-64)

Here are the last 4 games of the first round.

Virginia vs UMBC

Vegas line: Virginia by 21

Virginia picks: 223

UMBC: 0

This is the one and only game of the entire first round where no one took the underdog.  As such, this game only means something if Virginia happens to lose, which they won't.

TCU vs Syracuse

Vegas line: TCU by 4.5

TCU picks: 157

Syracuse: 66

This is my last chance to have my play-in theory work out, as Syracuse beat Arizona State in the play-in game on Wednesday.  I think both of these schools kind of fit the same profile for me.  They are middle of the pack, or even lower-middle of the pack schools in power conferences that I don't expect to do anything in the tournament.  But, a point is a point so it's worth paying attention to.

Florida State vs Missouri

Vegas Line: Florida State by 1.5

Florida State picks: 97

Missouri picks: 126

What was I just saying about lower-middle of the pack schools from power conferences?  This is another game just like TCU/Syracuse.  I'm not sure why the committee rewards schools like this.  I am convinced that smaller schools are better than these, but because of the conference schedule they play, they have more opportunity to play or beat top-rated teams.  As such, they can rack up Quadrant 1 wins that smaller schools just have no opportunity at.  That seems pretty unfair to smaller schools, and, in my opinion makes the tournament less enjoyable for people that don't want to cheer for 20-13 teams.

Clemson vs New Mexico State

Vegas line: Clemson by 5

Clemson picks: 127

New Mexico State: 96

This was Seth Davis's "Upset Lock of the Day", which is already ridiculous, since yesterday's "Upset Lock of the Day" was Penn over Kansas - a #16 over a #1.  Since that has never happened in history, it makes me question why Seth Davis is qualified to be making picks on television. He's a pretty good analyst, but his picks are currently in 170th place in our pool, so I'm not sure why anyone would listen to him on picks.  Looking at the distribution, it's easy to see that this was a lot of people's upset special.  I hope it happens.  I would like to see an upset in at least 1 out of every 4 games.