NCAA Day III - Complete day wrap-up

We had some pretty exciting games (especially the last one), but it was all chalk this afternoon.  4 games, 4 higher seeds winning.  At one point, I was rooting for Florida until I looked at my picks and saw that I had Texas Tech making the Elite 8 and quickly changed my tune.

The big winner on the day by points was Matt N.  He managed to get all 16 points available, which is pretty good since you had to nail both Kentucky and Loyola-Chicago, yet have the presence to take mostly chalk otherwise.  I think that's a winning formula.  Often times, you don't have to worry about the brackets that predict crazy things to happen because they go overboard and have craziness all over.  So, even though they may hit Marshall on one side, they also have 5 or 6 other double digit seeds winning somewhere else and they aren't really in contention.

Since it was a pretty chalky day, 25 people got 14/16 points on the day.  The average points gained was 10.4.  The biggest mover up the standings on the day was Damien R. #3, who moved up from 190th to 80th.  Sometimes, this is a product of starting off in a really bad position, so you have a lot of spaces to move up if you start hitting games.  His bracket has Virginia winning it all, so this might be as good as it gets for that sheet.  It's something. Good job today, Damien.  The flip side was Jared B., who started the day in 26th place and dropped all the way down to 166th after only netting 6 points.  At least 26th was a good place to start from, so he must have had a good first round.

Not many people wound up losing teams that were supposed to go far in the tournament today, especially with the only real upset being Tennessee.  As a result, we still have the strange case of Mike McQ.  He currently has the cleanest remaining bracket, only missing Virginia in the Sweet 16.  He managed to get 12/16 today, so he moved slightly in the points standings to 86th, but he still is in the top 10 on net points.  That's the problem sometimes.  Just because you can win points, doesn't mean you actually will win points.  Still, I'd rather my bracket looked as clean as his.

All right, her are the new standings:

1. Brad R.: 41 (-73)

2. Bosun S.: 40 (-16)

3. David W. #2: 40 (-18)

4. Matt N.: 40 (-22)

5. Dennis R.: 39 (-73)

6. Kirt R. #1: 38 (-30)

7. Ken Pom: 38 (-72)

8. Gigi I.: 38 (-76)

9. Mindi W.: 37 (-17)

10. Pete J. #3: 37 (-27)

11. Irene H. #2: 37 (-29)

12. Missy W. #1: 37 (-37)

13. Andrew D. #2: 37 (-41)

13. Jeff Sag. #1: 37 (-41)

15. Scott K. #1: 37 (-43)

16. Luis B. #1: 37 (-47)

17. Ava S.: 37 (-59)

18. Dan S. #2: 37 (-73)

19. David S.: 37 (-77)

20. Dustin B.: 36 (-26)

21. Ben P.: 36 (-28)

21. Taima #1: 36 (-28)

23. Larry G. #2: 36 (-32)

24. Barack O.: 36 (-42)

24. Kate G.: 36 (-42)

26. Eric V. #2: 36 (-44)

27. Scott Her. #2: 36 (-50)

28. Scott Has.: 36 (-74)

29. Andrew D. #1: 36 (-78)

30. Jay H. #1: 36 (-80)

31. Wayne D. #3: 36 (-82)

32. Brent E. #1: 35 (-17)

32. Michelle R.: 35 (-17)

34. CSU #1: 35 (-19)

34. Grant F.: 35 (-19)

34. Hal R. #1: 35 (-19)

37. Brent E. #3: 35 (-21)

37. Klei R.: 35 (-21)

37. Stefan K. #2: 35 (-21)

40. Daisy N. #13: 35 (-27)

40. Irene H. #6: 35 (-27)

40. Jay C.: 35 (-27)

40. Jeff Sag. #2: 35 (-27)

44. Alex N. #2: 35 (-29)

44. Brent E. #2: 35 (-29)

44. Luis B. #3: 35 (-29)

47. Dan S. #1: 35 (-31)

47. Elizabeth N. #1: 35 (-31)

47. Nikolajs B.: 35 (-31)

50. Kirt R. #2: 35 (-33)

51. Missy W. #2: 35 (-37)

52. Jeff M.: 35 (-43)

52. Mike S. #2: 35 (-43)

54. Rob S. #1: 35 (-49)

55. Amaris S.: 35 (-75)

55. Ben J. #1: 35 (-75)

57. Irene H. #1: 35 (-79)

57. Joe D. #1: 35 (-79)

59. E Rucker #2: 35 (-81)

59. Virginia L.: 35 (-81)

61. Tomas L. #1: 35 (-87)

62. Pete J. #5: 34 (-18)

63. Daisy N. #2: 34 (-20)

63. Howard S. #2: 34 (-20)

65. Brad E.: 34 (-22)

65. Marc R.: 34 (-22)

65. Max A. #1: 34 (-22)

68. Hutch H. #2: 34 (-28)

68. Joe D. #2: 34 (-28)

70. Luis B. #2: 34 (-30)

71. Bhav D. #2: 34 (-32)

72. Valerie D.: 34 (-34)

73. Irene H. #5: 34 (-38)

74. Jay H. #2: 34 (-42)

75. Andrzej R.: 34 (-44)

76. Jackson I.: 34 (-46)

76. Suki I.: 34 (-46)

76. Taima #2: 34 (-46)

79. Wayne D. #1: 34 (-48)

80. Alyssa B.: 34 (-78)

80. Damien R. #3: 34 (-78)

82. Craig G.: 34 (-80)

82. Kiah H.: 34 (-80)

84. Irene H. #7: 34 (-84)

84. Jay H. #3: 34 (-84)

86. Mike McQ.: 33 (-17)

87. Scott K. #2: 33 (-19)

88. Chris M.: 33 (-21)

88. Malcolm X #1: 33 (-21)

90. Adam E.: 33 (-23)

90. Ally H.: 33 (-23)

92. Jim D. #3: 33 (-25)

92. Paul W.: 33 (-25)

94. Josh D. #3: 33 (-33)

95. Irene H. #4: 33 (-35)

95. Josh D. #2: 33 (-35)

95. Veronica A.: 33 (-35)

98. Scott Her. #1: 33 (-45)

99. Miguel D.: 33 (-47)

100. Howard S. #1: 33 (-49)

100. Max A. #3: 33 (-49)

102. Larry G. #5: 33 (-51)

102. Stefan K. #1: 33 (-51)

104. Ben J. #2: 33 (-79)

105. Larry G. #3: 33 (-81)

105. Mike S. #1: 33 (-81)

107. Daisy N. #7: 33 (-83)

107. Julie S.: 33 (-83)

107. Uproxx: 33 (-83)

110. Ben S. #4: 33 (-85)

110. Brett W.: 33 (-85)

112. Tomas L. #2: 33 (-89)

113. Eric V. #1: 33 (-91)

114. Pete J. #2: 33 (-93)

115. Josh C.: 32 (-24)

115. Malcolm X #2: 32 (-24)

117. Chad L. #2: 32 (-30)

118. Jim D. #2: 32 (-32)

119. Daisy N. #1: 32 (-34)

119. Jaxon S.: 32 (-34)

119. Michelle L. #5: 32 (-34)

122. Michelle L. #3: 32 (-36)

122. Roth W.: 32 (-36)

124. Rob S. #2: 32 (-40)

125. Joel S.: 32 (-48)

126. Brent S. #2: 32 (-50)

126. Brett G. #4: 32 (-50)

126. Seth D.: 32 (-50)

126. Todd K. #1: 32 (-50)

130. Hutch H. #1: 32 (-52)

131. Joe D. #3: 32 (-64)

132. Dylan B.: 32 (-78)

133. Brent S. #1: 32 (-80)

133. David W. #1: 32 (-80)

135. Hal R. #3: 32 (-82)

136. Becca T.: 32 (-84)

136. Trent L.: 32 (-84)

138. Brett G. #3: 32 (-86)

139. Chad L. #5: 32 (-94)

140. Hal R. #2: 31 (-23)

140. Todd K. #2: 31 (-23)

142. Ben S. #1: 31 (-25)

142. Michelle L. #4: 31 (-25)

144. Damien R. #1: 31 (-27)

145. Elizabeth N. #2: 31 (-33)

145. Kansas C.: 31 (-33)

147. William G.: 31 (-47)

148. Brett G. #2: 31 (-51)

148. Jim W.: 31 (-51)

150. Damien R. #2: 31 (-53)

150. Wayne D. #2: 31 (-53)

152. Matt M.: 31 (-59)

153. Scott K.: 31 (-81)

154. Ben J. #3: 31 (-85)

155. Daniel C.: 31 (-89)

156. Brett K. #2: 30 (-22)

156. Karen C.: 30 (-22)

156. Mike N.: 30 (-22)

159. Bhav D. #1: 30 (-26)

159. Irene H. #3: 30 (-26)

161. Ben S. #2: 30 (-40)

161. Daisy N. #3: 30 (-40)

163. Chad L. #3: 30 (-42)

164. Larry G. #1: 30 (-44)

165. Pete J. #1: 30 (-46)

166. Jared B.: 30 (-48)

167. Mason A. #1: 30 (-52)

168. Brett G. #1: 30 (-56)

168. Chad L. #4: 30 (-56)

170. Dan D. #2: 30 (-58)

170. Sulbum H.: 30 (-58)

172. Becky H.: 30 (-84)

173. April K.: 30 (-88)

174. Arianna S.: 30 (-100)

175. Mike W.: 29 (-25)

176. Jim D. #1: 29 (-27)

177. Ben J. #4: 29 (-31)

178. Mason A. #2: 29 (-33)

179. CSU #2: 29 (-39)

179. Daisy N. #5: 29 (-39)

179. Nick I.: 29 (-39)

182. Michelle L. #2: 29 (-41)

183. John M. #2: 29 (-55)

184. Larry G. #4: 29 (-81)

185. Josh D. #1: 29 (-87)

186. Chrissy I.: 29 (-93)

186. Jace D.: 29 (-93)

188. Daisy N. #11: 29 (-105)

189. Chad L. #1: 28 (-36)

189. Szecho L. #2: 28 (-36)

191. Alex N. #1: 28 (-38)

192. Alex N. #3: 28 (-40)

193. Adam S. #2: 28 (-44)

194. Alex N. #4: 28 (-46)

195. John M. #1: 28 (-78)

196. Daisy N. #10: 28 (-88)

197. Chris T. #2: 28 (-98)

198. John M. #3: 28 (-104)

199. Ray W. #2: 28 (-126)

200. Pete J. #4: 27 (-41)

201. Dane R.: 27 (-43)

202. Ray W. #3: 27 (-47)

203. Adam S. #1: 27 (-53)

203. Ray W. #1: 27 (-53)

205. Michelle L. #1: 27 (-89)

206. Daisy N. #6: 26 (-34)

207. Rob I.: 26 (-40)

208. Allison C.: 26 (-52)

209. Chris T. #1: 26 (-56)

209. Dan D. #1: 26 (-56)

211. Brett K. #1: 25 (-59)

212. E Rucker #1: 25 (-61)

213. Szecho L. #1: 25 (-65)

214. Daisy N. #9: 25 (-73)

215. Ryan W.: 25 (-93)

216. Joe D. #4: 25 (-101)

217. Daisy N. #12: 24 (-50)

218. Tim N.: 24 (-54)

219. Daisy N. #8: 23 (-51)

220. Daisy N. #4: 23 (-75)

221. Stephen N.: 23 (-89)

222. Brett K. #3: 23 (-99)

223. Max A. #2: 22 (-64)

224. Ben S. #3: 21 (-39)

...and the net point standings:

1. Bosun S. (24)

2. David W. #2 (22)

3. Mindi W. (20)

4. Matt N. (18)

4. Brent E. #1 (18)

4. Michelle R. (18)

7. CSU #1 (16)

7. Grant F. (16)

7. Hal R. #1 (16)

7. Pete J. #5 (16)

7. Mike McQ. (16)

12. Brent E. #3 (14)

12. Klei R. (14)

12. Stefan K. #2 (14)

12. Daisy N. #2 (14)

12. Howard S. #2 (14)

12. Scott K. #2 (14)

18. Brad E. (12)

18. Marc R. (12)

18. Max A. #1 (12)

18. Chris M. (12)

18. Malcolm X #1 (12)

23. Pete J. #3 (10)

23. Dustin B. (10)

23. Adam E. (10)

23. Ally H. (10)

27. Kirt R. #1 (8)

27. Irene H. #2 (8)

27. Ben P. (8)

27. Taima #1 (8)

27. Daisy N. #13 (8)

27. Irene H. #6 (8)

27. Jay C. (8)

27. Jeff Sag. #2 (8)

27. Jim D. #3 (8)

27. Paul W. (8)

27. Josh C. (8)

27. Malcolm X #2 (8)

27. Hal R. #2 (8)

27. Todd K. #2 (8)

27. Brett K. #2 (8)

27. Karen C. (8)

27. Mike N. (8)

44. Alex N. #2 (6)

44. Brent E. #2 (6)

44. Luis B. #3 (6)

44. Hutch H. #2 (6)

44. Joe D. #2 (6)

44. Ben S. #1 (6)

44. Michelle L. #4 (6)

51. Larry G. #2 (4)

51. Dan S. #1 (4)

51. Elizabeth N. #1 (4)

51. Nikolajs B. (4)

51. Luis B. #2 (4)

51. Damien R. #1 (4)

51. Bhav D. #1 (4)

51. Irene H. #3 (4)

51. Mike W. (4)

60. Kirt R. #2 (2)

60. Bhav D. #2 (2)

60. Chad L. #2 (2)

60. Jim D. #1 (2)

64. Missy W. #1 (0)

64. Valerie D. (0)

64. Josh D. #3 (0)

64. Jim D. #2 (0)

68. Missy W. #2 (-2)

68. Irene H. #4 (-2)

68. Josh D. #2 (-2)

68. Veronica A. (-2)

68. Daisy N. #1 (-2)

68. Jaxon S. (-2)

68. Michelle L. #5 (-2)

68. Elizabeth N. #2 (-2)

68. Kansas C. (-2)

68. Ben J. #4 (-2)

78. Andrew D. #2 (-4)

78. Jeff Sag. #1 (-4)

78. Irene H. #5 (-4)

78. Michelle L. #3 (-4)

78. Roth W. (-4)

78. Mason A. #2 (-4)

84. Scott K. #1 (-6)

84. Barack O. (-6)

84. Kate G. (-6)

87. Eric V. #2 (-8)

87. Jeff M. (-8)

87. Mike S. #2 (-8)

87. Jay H. #2 (-8)

87. Rob S. #2 (-8)

87. Chad L. #1 (-8)

87. Szecho L. #2 (-8)

87. Daisy N. #6 (-8)

95. Luis B. #1 (-10)

95. Andrzej R. (-10)

95. Ben S. #2 (-10)

95. Daisy N. #3 (-10)

95. CSU #2 (-10)

95. Daisy N. #5 (-10)

95. Nick I. (-10)

95. Alex N. #1 (-10)

103. Jackson I. (-12)

103. Suki I. (-12)

103. Taima #2 (-12)

103. Scott Her. #1 (-12)

103. Chad L. #3 (-12)

103. Michelle L. #2 (-12)

103. Alex N. #3 (-12)

110. Scott Her. #2 (-14)

110. Rob S. #1 (-14)

110. Wayne D. #1 (-14)

110. Miguel D. (-14)

110. Larry G. #1 (-14)

110. Pete J. #4 (-14)

110. Rob I. (-14)

117. Howard S. #1 (-16)

117. Max A. #3 (-16)

117. Joel S. (-16)

117. William G. (-16)

117. Pete J. #1 (-16)

117. Adam S. #2 (-16)

117. Dane R. (-16)

124. Larry G. #5 (-18)

124. Stefan K. #1 (-18)

124. Brent S. #2 (-18)

124. Brett G. #4 (-18)

124. Seth D. (-18)

124. Todd K. #1 (-18)

124. Jared B. (-18)

124. Alex N. #4 (-18)

124. Ben S. #3 (-18)

133. Hutch H. #1 (-20)

133. Brett G. #2 (-20)

133. Jim W. (-20)

133. Ray W. #3 (-20)

137. Ava S. (-22)

137. Damien R. #2 (-22)

137. Wayne D. #2 (-22)

137. Mason A. #1 (-22)

141. Brett G. #1 (-26)

141. Chad L. #4 (-26)

141. John M. #2 (-26)

141. Adam S. #1 (-26)

141. Ray W. #1 (-26)

141. Allison C. (-26)

141. Daisy N. #12 (-26)

148. Matt M. (-28)

148. Dan D. #2 (-28)

148. Sulbum H. (-28)

148. Daisy N. #8 (-28)

152. Chris T. #1 (-30)

152. Dan D. #1 (-30)

152. Tim N. (-30)

155. Brad R. (-32)

155. Joe D. #3 (-32)

157. Dennis R. (-34)

157. Ken Pom (-34)

157. Brett K. #1 (-34)

160. Dan S. #2 (-36)

160. E Rucker #1 (-36)

162. Gigi I. (-38)

162. Scott Has. (-38)

164. David S. (-40)

164. Amaris S. (-40)

164. Ben J. #1 (-40)

164. Szecho L. #1 (-40)

168. Andrew D. #1 (-42)

168. Max A. #2 (-42)

170. Jay H. #1 (-44)

170. Irene H. #1 (-44)

170. Joe D. #1 (-44)

170. Alyssa B. (-44)

170. Damien R. #3 (-44)

175. Wayne D. #3 (-46)

175. E Rucker #2 (-46)

175. Virginia L. (-46)

175. Craig G. (-46)

175. Kiah H. (-46)

175. Ben J. #2 (-46)

175. Dylan B. (-46)

182. Larry G. #3 (-48)

182. Mike S. #1 (-48)

182. Brent S. #1 (-48)

182. David W. #1 (-48)

182. Daisy N. #9 (-48)

187. Irene H. #7 (-50)

187. Jay H. #3 (-50)

187. Daisy N. #7 (-50)

187. Julie S. (-50)

187. Uproxx (-50)

187. Hal R. #3 (-50)

187. Scott K. (-50)

187. John M. #1 (-50)

195. Tomas L. #1 (-52)

195. Ben S. #4 (-52)

195. Brett W. (-52)

195. Becca T. (-52)

195. Trent L. (-52)

195. Larry G. #4 (-52)

195. Daisy N. #4 (-52)

202. Brett G. #3 (-54)

202. Ben J. #3 (-54)

202. Becky H. (-54)

205. Tomas L. #2 (-56)

206. Eric V. #1 (-58)

206. Daniel C. (-58)

206. April K. (-58)

206. Josh D. #1 (-58)

210. Pete J. #2 (-60)

210. Daisy N. #10 (-60)

212. Chad L. #5 (-62)

212. Michelle L. #1 (-62)

214. Chrissy I. (-64)

214. Jace D. (-64)

216. Stephen N. (-66)

217. Ryan W. (-68)

218. Arianna S. (-70)

218. Chris T. #2 (-70)

220. Daisy N. #11 (-76)

220. John M. #3 (-76)

220. Joe D. #4 (-76)

220. Brett K. #3 (-76)

224. Ray W. #2 (-98)

Bosun is still in the lead for net points, which I will say again is very good for a dog.

Compliments of Virginia giving us the biggest choke job in NCAA tournament history, no one tomorrow can get all 16 points.  I think I mentioned this yesterday, but only one person can get any points in that game, and that person also has TCU in the Sweet 16, so he even he can't have a perfect day.  There are 69 people that can go 7/8 though, and that would be a very good showing.  The average number of games that brackets still have alive tomorrow is 5.96, which means that the average tomorrow will be somewhat lower than that once games are played.

I hope there are upsets.  We were pretty upset-free today, so we need something good to happen on that front.  Unfortunately, the point spreads for tomorrow's games look to be bigger on average than today's (they are about 1.25 points higher on average than today's).  I hope that doesn't mean that all the favorites win.  That would violate my 1/4 upsets rule.  Booo....

Here are the first two games of tomorrow:

Purdue vs Butler

Vegas line: Purdue by 3.5

Purdue picks: 188

Butler picks: 20

Other picks: 16

If you didn't like Purdue before, you aren't going to like them now that Isaac Haas might be out with a broken elbow.  I see that they are trying to see if he can go tomorrow, but I'll believe it when I see it.  That's a huge loss.  7'2" centers don't grow on trees and he'll be tough to replace.  These two teams should be pretty familiar with each other though, since they aren't located too far from one another.  I don't think they play each other regularly, but maybe they should.  They are both perennially good teams, and maybe it could start to be a good rivalry.  Maybe this game would be a good start to that.

Michigan State vs Syracuse

Vegas Line: Michigan State by 9

Michigan State picks: 199

Syracuse: 9

Other: 16

Can we just disabuse ourselves that Syracuse is good enough to win this tournament.  They've been kind of sleepwalking through regular seasons after Jim Boeheim said he was going to retire a few years ago, and they only make into the tournament because they finish 8-8 in the ACC every year (they finished 10th in the ACC.  10th!!).  They win some games in the tournament because they play that weird matchup zone that no one seems to be able to prepare for, but they aren't any kind of serious threat.  I especially don't like the idea of them playing Duke.  Michigan State could conceivably beat Duke.  Syracuse already played Duke and lost by 16.  Enough.  Sparty should just mop the floor with the Orange and get on with the tournament. We'll see though.  That's why they play the games.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow!!!