NCAA - DAy II, 6 games in

So, Butler managed to pull away from Arkansas in the second half, as did North Carolina.  Since Butler was a 7/10, this was a bit of a coin flip.  It also means that we only have one bracket so far that is 6/6.  That reward goes to Bhav D. #2.  He has moved up 98 spots in the rankings since the end of the day yesterday as a result.  Great job Bhav.  That's the way to get back into the pool.

We have the West Virginia / Murray State and Texas / Nevada games on the big screens, and we'll send something out as soon as they are all done.  In the mean time, here are the updated standings:

1. Bosun S.: 19 (-5)

1. David W. #2: 19 (-5)

1. Taima #1: 19 (-5)

4. Irene H. #5: 19 (-23)

5. Brad R.: 19 (-67)

6. E Rucker #2: 18 (-4)

6. Scott Her. #2: 18 (-4)

8. Craig G.: 18 (-6)

8. Dan S. #1: 18 (-6)

8. Dan S. #2: 18 (-6)

8. David S.: 18 (-6)

8. Elizabeth N. #1: 18 (-6)

8. Irene H. #1: 18 (-6)

8. Missy W. #1: 18 (-6)

8. Tomas L. #1: 18 (-6)

16. Howard S. #1: 18 (-8)

16. Todd K. #1: 18 (-8)

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

18. Luis B. #3: 18 (-18)

20. Luis B. #1: 18 (-34)

21. Ava S.: 18 (-48)

22. Uproxx: 18 (-66)

23. Amaris S.: 17 (-5)

23. Jeff Sag. #1: 17 (-5)

23. Ken Pom: 17 (-5)

26. Barack O.: 17 (-7)

26. Ben P.: 17 (-7)

26. Brent E. #1: 17 (-7)

26. Brent E. #2: 17 (-7)

26. Brent E. #3: 17 (-7)

26. Dennis R.: 17 (-7)

26. Dustin B.: 17 (-7)

26. Eric V. #1: 17 (-7)

26. Gigi I.: 17 (-7)

26. Jeff M.: 17 (-7)

26. Kate G.: 17 (-7)

26. Kirt R. #1: 17 (-7)

26. Malcolm X #1: 17 (-7)

26. Nikolajs B.: 17 (-7)

26. Paul W.: 17 (-7)

26. Scott Has.: 17 (-7)

26. Suki I.: 17 (-7)

26. Tomas L. #2: 17 (-7)

26. Wayne D. #3: 17 (-7)

45. Alex N. #2: 17 (-9)

45. Ben S. #4: 17 (-9)

45. David W. #1: 17 (-9)

45. Irene H. #4: 17 (-9)

45. Jim D. #3: 17 (-9)

45. Joel S.: 17 (-9)

45. Larry G. #5: 17 (-9)

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

45. Michelle L. #3: 17 (-9)

45. Michelle L. #5: 17 (-9)

45. Ray W. #3: 17 (-9)

45. Scott K.: 17 (-9)

45. Virginia L.: 17 (-9)

58. Jeff Sag. #2: 17 (-11)

58. Mindi W.: 17 (-11)

60. Adam E.: 17 (-13)

60. Chad L. #4: 17 (-13)

60. Joe D. #1: 17 (-13)

63. John M. #3: 17 (-15)

64. Ray W. #2: 17 (-17)

65. Jay H. #2: 17 (-19)

65. Luis B. #2: 17 (-19)

67. Chad L. #3: 17 (-21)

67. Jared B.: 17 (-21)

67. Larry G. #2: 17 (-21)

70. Mike S. #2: 17 (-35)

70. Stefan K. #1: 17 (-35)

70. Taima #2: 17 (-35)

73. Brett G. #4: 17 (-37)

74. Kiah H.: 17 (-67)

74. Mike S. #1: 17 (-67)

76. Ben J. #3: 17 (-69)

77. Andrew D. #2: 16 (-6)

77. Becca T.: 16 (-6)

77. Irene H. #2: 16 (-6)

77. Irene H. #6: 16 (-6)

77. Josh D. #2: 16 (-6)

77. Matt N.: 16 (-6)

77. Scott Her. #1: 16 (-6)

77. Valerie D.: 16 (-6)

85. Ally H.: 16 (-8)

85. Ben J. #1: 16 (-8)

85. Brad E.: 16 (-8)

85. Damien R. #2: 16 (-8)

85. Josh D. #3: 16 (-8)

85. Mason A. #1: 16 (-8)

85. Michelle R.: 16 (-8)

85. Pete J. #3: 16 (-8)

85. Rob S. #1: 16 (-8)

85. Scott K. #2: 16 (-8)

85. Todd K. #2: 16 (-8)

85. Trent L.: 16 (-8)

97. Brett G. #3: 16 (-10)

97. Chad L. #2: 16 (-10)

97. CSU #1: 16 (-10)

97. Eric V. #2: 16 (-10)

97. Kirt R. #2: 16 (-10)

97. Larry G. #4: 16 (-10)

97. Matt M.: 16 (-10)

97. Pete J. #2: 16 (-10)

97. Stefan K. #2: 16 (-10)

106. Ben J. #2: 16 (-12)

106. Damien R. #1: 16 (-12)

106. Elizabeth N. #2: 16 (-12)

106. Hutch H. #1: 16 (-12)

106. Jay H. #1: 16 (-12)

106. Klei R.: 16 (-12)

106. Michelle L. #4: 16 (-12)

106. Missy W. #2: 16 (-12)

114. Ben S. #1: 16 (-14)

114. Hal R. #2: 16 (-14)

114. Jim D. #2: 16 (-14)

114. Max A. #1: 16 (-14)

118. Rob S. #2: 16 (-16)

119. Dan D. #2: 16 (-18)

119. Jim D. #1: 16 (-18)

121. Hutch H. #2: 16 (-20)

122. Chad L. #5: 16 (-26)

122. John M. #1: 16 (-26)

124. Adam S. #1: 16 (-30)

125. Max A. #3: 16 (-36)

125. Scott K. #1: 16 (-36)

127. William G.: 16 (-38)

128. Joe D. #3: 16 (-50)

129. Larry G. #3: 16 (-68)

130. Brett W.: 16 (-70)

130. Chris T. #2: 16 (-70)

130. Jay H. #3: 16 (-70)

133. Julie S.: 16 (-74)

134. Andrew D. #1: 15 (-7)

134. Jay C.: 15 (-7)

134. Joe D. #2: 15 (-7)

137. Becky H.: 15 (-9)

137. Brent S. #1: 15 (-9)

137. Chris M.: 15 (-9)

137. Daisy N. #13: 15 (-9)

137. Dylan B.: 15 (-9)

137. Jaxon S.: 15 (-9)

137. Miguel D.: 15 (-9)

137. Pete J. #5: 15 (-9)

145. Arianna S.: 15 (-11)

145. Brett K. #2: 15 (-11)

145. Chad L. #1: 15 (-11)

145. Chrissy I.: 15 (-11)

145. Daisy N. #7: 15 (-11)

145. Damien R. #3: 15 (-11)

145. Irene H. #3: 15 (-11)

145. Jim W.: 15 (-11)

145. Marc R.: 15 (-11)

145. Mike N.: 15 (-11)

145. Pete J. #1: 15 (-11)

145. Seth D.: 15 (-11)

157. Daisy N. #1: 15 (-13)

157. Daisy N. #3: 15 (-13)

157. Hal R. #1: 15 (-13)

157. Howard S. #2: 15 (-13)

157. Jackson I.: 15 (-13)

157. Josh C.: 15 (-13)

157. Josh D. #1: 15 (-13)

157. Kansas C.: 15 (-13)

157. Larry G. #1: 15 (-13)

166. Ben J. #4: 15 (-17)

166. Brett K. #3: 15 (-17)

166. Mike W.: 15 (-17)

166. Pete J. #4: 15 (-17)

166. Wayne D. #2: 15 (-17)

171. CSU #2: 15 (-23)

172. Adam S. #2: 15 (-35)

173. Andrzej R.: 15 (-37)

173. Brett G. #2: 15 (-37)

173. Wayne D. #1: 15 (-37)

176. John M. #2: 15 (-39)

177. Irene H. #7: 15 (-71)

178. Grant F.: 14 (-8)

178. Mike McQ.: 14 (-8)

180. April K.: 14 (-10)

180. Brett G. #1: 14 (-10)

180. Daniel C.: 14 (-10)

180. Sulbum H.: 14 (-10)

184. Alyssa B.: 14 (-12)

184. Daisy N. #2: 14 (-12)

184. Karen C.: 14 (-12)

184. Rob I.: 14 (-12)

184. Veronica A.: 14 (-12)

189. Michelle L. #1: 14 (-14)

190. Mason A. #2: 14 (-18)

191. Nick I.: 14 (-20)

192. Daisy N. #6: 14 (-22)

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

194. Daisy N. #5: 14 (-26)

195. Dane R.: 14 (-28)

196. Brett K. #1: 14 (-30)

197. Brent S. #2: 14 (-38)

198. Chris T. #1: 14 (-40)

199. Ray W. #1: 14 (-42)

200. Hal R. #3: 13 (-15)

201. Bhav D. #1: 13 (-17)

201. Jace D.: 13 (-17)

201. Michelle L. #2: 13 (-17)

204. Allison C.: 13 (-19)

205. Daisy N. #10: 13 (-21)

205. Ryan W.: 13 (-21)

207. Daisy N. #12: 13 (-23)

208. Tim N.: 13 (-25)

209. Alex N. #1: 13 (-27)

209. Roth W.: 13 (-27)

209. Szecho L. #2: 13 (-27)

212. E Rucker #1: 13 (-29)

213. Alex N. #3: 13 (-33)

214. Szecho L. #1: 13 (-51)

215. Daisy N. #11: 13 (-79)

216. Alex N. #4: 12 (-26)

216. Max A. #2: 12 (-26)

218. Joe D. #4: 12 (-30)

219. Daisy N. #9: 12 (-34)

220. Ben S. #3: 11 (-23)

221. Dan D. #1: 11 (-35)

222. Daisy N. #8: 11 (-37)

223. Stephen N.: 11 (-75)

224. Daisy N. #4: 10 (-62)

....and the net points:

1. Bosun S. (14)

1. David W. #2 (14)

1. E Rucker #2 (14)

1. Scott Her. #2 (14)

1. Taima #1 (14)

6. Amaris S. (12)

6. Craig G. (12)

6. Dan S. #1 (12)

6. Dan S. #2 (12)

6. David S. (12)

6. Elizabeth N. #1 (12)

6. Irene H. #1 (12)

6. Jeff Sag. #1 (12)

6. Ken Pom (12)

6. Missy W. #1 (12)

6. Tomas L. #1 (12)

17. Andrew D. #2 (10)

17. Barack O. (10)

17. Becca T. (10)

17. Ben P. (10)

17. Brent E. #1 (10)

17. Brent E. #2 (10)

17. Brent E. #3 (10)

17. Dennis R. (10)

17. Dustin B. (10)

17. Eric V. #1 (10)

17. Gigi I. (10)

17. Howard S. #1 (10)

17. Irene H. #2 (10)

17. Irene H. #6 (10)

17. Jeff M. (10)

17. Josh D. #2 (10)

17. Kate G. (10)

17. Kirt R. #1 (10)

17. Malcolm X #1 (10)

17. Matt N. (10)

17. Nikolajs B. (10)

17. Paul W. (10)

17. Scott Has. (10)

17. Scott Her. #1 (10)

17. Suki I. (10)

17. Todd K. #1 (10)

17. Tomas L. #2 (10)

17. Valerie D. (10)

17. Wayne D. #3 (10)

46. Alex N. #2 (8)

46. Ally H. (8)

46. Andrew D. #1 (8)

46. Ben J. #1 (8)

46. Ben S. #4 (8)

46. Brad E. (8)

46. Damien R. #2 (8)

46. David W. #1 (8)

46. Irene H. #4 (8)

46. Jay C. (8)

46. Jim D. #3 (8)

46. Joe D. #2 (8)

46. Joel S. (8)

46. Josh D. #3 (8)

46. Larry G. #5 (8)

46. Malcolm X #2 (8)

46. Mason A. #1 (8)

46. Michelle L. #3 (8)

46. Michelle L. #5 (8)

46. Michelle R. (8)

46. Pete J. #3 (8)

46. Ray W. #3 (8)

46. Rob S. #1 (8)

46. Scott K. (8)

46. Scott K. #2 (8)

46. Todd K. #2 (8)

46. Trent L. (8)

46. Virginia L. (8)

74. Becky H. (6)

74. Brent S. #1 (6)

74. Brett G. #3 (6)

74. Chad L. #2 (6)

74. Chris M. (6)

74. CSU #1 (6)

74. Daisy N. #13 (6)

74. Dylan B. (6)

74. Eric V. #2 (6)

74. Grant F. (6)

74. Jaxon S. (6)

74. Jeff Sag. #2 (6)

74. Kirt R. #2 (6)

74. Larry G. #4 (6)

74. Matt M. (6)

74. Miguel D. (6)

74. Mike McQ. (6)

74. Mindi W. (6)

74. Pete J. #2 (6)

74. Pete J. #5 (6)

74. Stefan K. #2 (6)

95. Adam E. (4)

95. April K. (4)

95. Arianna S. (4)

95. Ben J. #2 (4)

95. Brett G. #1 (4)

95. Brett K. #2 (4)

95. Chad L. #1 (4)

95. Chad L. #4 (4)

95. Chrissy I. (4)

95. Daisy N. #7 (4)

95. Damien R. #1 (4)

95. Damien R. #3 (4)

95. Daniel C. (4)

95. Elizabeth N. #2 (4)

95. Hutch H. #1 (4)

95. Irene H. #3 (4)

95. Jay H. #1 (4)

95. Jim W. (4)

95. Joe D. #1 (4)

95. Klei R. (4)

95. Marc R. (4)

95. Michelle L. #4 (4)

95. Mike N. (4)

95. Missy W. #2 (4)

95. Pete J. #1 (4)

95. Seth D. (4)

95. Sulbum H. (4)

122. Alyssa B. (2)

122. Ben S. #1 (2)

122. Daisy N. #1 (2)

122. Daisy N. #2 (2)

122. Daisy N. #3 (2)

122. Hal R. #1 (2)

122. Hal R. #2 (2)

122. Howard S. #2 (2)

122. Jackson I. (2)

122. Jim D. #2 (2)

122. John M. #3 (2)

122. Josh C. (2)

122. Josh D. #1 (2)

122. Kansas C. (2)

122. Karen C. (2)

122. Larry G. #1 (2)

122. Max A. #1 (2)

122. Rob I. (2)

122. Veronica A. (2)

141. Bhav D. #2 (0)

141. Luis B. #3 (0)

141. Michelle L. #1 (0)

141. Ray W. #2 (0)

141. Rob S. #2 (0)

146. Ben J. #4 (-2)

146. Brett K. #3 (-2)

146. Dan D. #2 (-2)

146. Hal R. #3 (-2)

146. Jay H. #2 (-2)

146. Jim D. #1 (-2)

146. Luis B. #2 (-2)

146. Mike W. (-2)

146. Pete J. #4 (-2)

146. Wayne D. #2 (-2)

156. Bhav D. #1 (-4)

156. Chad L. #3 (-4)

156. Hutch H. #2 (-4)

156. Irene H. #5 (-4)

156. Jace D. (-4)

156. Jared B. (-4)

156. Larry G. #2 (-4)

156. Mason A. #2 (-4)

156. Michelle L. #2 (-4)

165. Allison C. (-6)

165. Nick I. (-6)

167. CSU #2 (-8)

167. Daisy N. #10 (-8)

167. Daisy N. #6 (-8)

167. Ryan W. (-8)

171. Ben S. #2 (-10)

171. Chad L. #5 (-10)

171. Daisy N. #12 (-10)

171. John M. #1 (-10)

175. Ben S. #3 (-12)

175. Daisy N. #5 (-12)

175. Tim N. (-12)

178. Adam S. #1 (-14)

178. Alex N. #1 (-14)

178. Alex N. #4 (-14)

178. Dane R. (-14)

178. Max A. #2 (-14)

178. Roth W. (-14)

178. Szecho L. #2 (-14)

185. Brett K. #1 (-16)

185. E Rucker #1 (-16)

185. Luis B. #1 (-16)

188. Joe D. #4 (-18)

188. Mike S. #2 (-18)

188. Stefan K. #1 (-18)

188. Taima #2 (-18)

192. Adam S. #2 (-20)

192. Alex N. #3 (-20)

192. Brett G. #4 (-20)

192. Max A. #3 (-20)

192. Scott K. #1 (-20)

197. Andrzej R. (-22)

197. Brett G. #2 (-22)

197. Daisy N. #9 (-22)

197. Wayne D. #1 (-22)

197. William G. (-22)

202. Brent S. #2 (-24)

202. Dan D. #1 (-24)

202. John M. #2 (-24)

205. Chris T. #1 (-26)

205. Daisy N. #8 (-26)

207. Ray W. #1 (-28)

208. Ava S. (-30)

209. Joe D. #3 (-34)

210. Szecho L. #1 (-38)

211. Brad R. (-48)

211. Uproxx (-48)

213. Kiah H. (-50)

213. Mike S. #1 (-50)

215. Ben J. #3 (-52)

215. Daisy N. #4 (-52)

215. Larry G. #3 (-52)

218. Brett W. (-54)

218. Chris T. #2 (-54)

218. Jay H. #3 (-54)

221. Irene H. #7 (-56)

222. Julie S. (-58)

223. Stephen N. (-64)

224. Daisy N. #11 (-66)

It's a bit of a logjam at the top as David W. had Arkansas in the Sweet 16, bringing him back to the field a little bit.  We also are down to only 18 people that have managed not to lose a Sweet 16 team.  Amazingly, none of the top 5 teams in points right now is part of that 18.

As yesterday, as soon as the afternoon games go off , the format changes a little bit.  They go off 4 at a time (more or less).  Here's the details for the next 4 games:

Creighton vs Kansas State

Vegas Line: Creighton by 1

Creighton picks:  128

Kansas State: 95

Classic 8/9 game.  This is also the closest game by point spreads for the day.  I hope it turns out that way.  I know that my wife has a particular grudge against Creighton for when Doug McDermott was a #3 seed a few years ago and lost in the first round.  Good old Dougy McBuckets is gone, but I'm hoping that the reputation of disappointment continues as I took Kansas State.

Michigan State vs Bucknell

Vegas Line: Michigan State by 14.5

Michigan State picks: 217

Bucknell picks: 6

Michigan State is a super popular pick for the Championship game.  Consider that 28 people have them winning the whole thing, and the other #3 seeds this year have a grand total of 7 people picking them to win it all (5 for Michigan, 2 for Tennessee and 0 for Texas Tech).  I seem to recall Michigan State going out in the first round as a #2 a few years ago to Middle Tennessee State.  That may have only been 2 years ago.  MSU does have a pretty solid reputation for playing above their seed most years, and I still have a lot of friends that are MSU fans, so I'll be a little torn on this one.

Xavier vs Texas Southern

Vegas Line: Xavier by 19.5

Xavier picks:  221

Texas Southern picks: 2

This one seems destined to be a laptop game.  It's the biggest point spread in this batch of games.  Xavier is clearly the weakest of the #1 seeds, but that doesn't mean that they are in any danger of losing on this one.  Enjoy your time at the dance, Texas Southern.  I don't think you're going to be around long.

Auburn vs Charleston

Vegas line: Auburn by 9

Auburn picks: 200

Charleston: 23

I like this one as the upset special of the afternoon.  It seems like 4/13 has taken over for 5/12's as the upset de jour in this tournament.  We've already lost 2/3 that have played, and even Gonzaga almost lost in their game.  Auburn is a little vulnerable if I remember correctly, and Charleston is no slouch.  9 seems possible.

Good luck to everyone!!!!