NCAA Day III - UMBC Twitter feed edition

We've got one game down today, and it looks like Villanova got the message about #1 seeds potentially losing in the NCAA tournament.  They crept away from Alabama in the first half, and then pounded Alabama mercilessly in the second half to coast to an easy win, securing their place in the Sweet 16 and winning some 96% of people 2 points in the pool.  As a result, the standings haven't changed too much.

I spent a good chunk of this morning reading about the tournament on-line, and if you haven't had a chance to read about the UMBC Athletics twitter feed, do yourself a favor and seek that out.  I was almost crying from laughing so hard this morning.  Apparently, Seth Davis, a person I have loudly and consistently said should never make predictions, tweeted out that he was marking up a win for Virginia 1 minute into the game last night.  The UMBC Twitter feed spent the entire rest of the game trolling him with some weapons-grade snark that Twitter is so well known for.  I was reading through Twitter this morning, and it is fantastic.  My favorite tweets:

"UMBC is the biggest loss for Virginia since they lost half their state in 1863."

"Second Half about to start, no matter what happens we just want you all to remember......we are conveniently located just outside of Baltimore and have stellar academics"

 

I tell you, there are a ton more just like this.  They are fantastic.  This is why I watch the NCAA tournament every year, and also why I love college basketball.  Those UMBC kids are never going pro at basketball, but they beat the #1 team in the country, and we all got to experience the pure joy of watching that happen.  That is something that we get precious little of in life.  Enjoy it when you can.

Here are the updated standings.  They will look eerily similar to the standings I posted last night.

1. Brad R.: 29 (-73)

2. Bosun S.: 28 (-14)

3. David W. #2: 28 (-16)

4. Bhav D. #2: 28 (-22)

5. Irene H. #5: 28 (-28)

6. Mindi W.: 27 (-15)

7. Dan S. #1: 27 (-23)

7. Elizabeth N. #1: 27 (-23)

9. Missy W. #1: 27 (-25)

10. Jeff M.: 27 (-39)

11. Luis B. #1: 27 (-41)

12. Howard S. #1: 27 (-43)

13. Stefan K. #1: 27 (-45)

14. Ava S.: 27 (-53)

15. Amaris S.: 27 (-69)

16. Dan S. #2: 27 (-71)

16. David S.: 27 (-71)

16. Dennis R.: 27 (-71)

16. Irene H. #1: 27 (-71)

20. Malcolm X #2: 26 (-18)

21. Matt N.: 26 (-22)

22. Ben P.: 26 (-24)

22. Dustin B.: 26 (-24)

22. Jay H. #2: 26 (-24)

22. Kirt R. #1: 26 (-24)

26. Jared B.: 26 (-26)

26. Larry G. #2: 26 (-26)

26. Luis B. #2: 26 (-26)

26. Taima #1: 26 (-26)

30. Jim D. #2: 26 (-30)

31. Scott Her. #2: 26 (-38)

32. Barack O.: 26 (-40)

32. Kate G.: 26 (-40)

34. Joel S.: 26 (-42)

34. Todd K. #1: 26 (-42)

36. Ken Pom: 26 (-70)

37. Craig G.: 26 (-72)

37. Kiah H.: 26 (-72)

37. Scott Has.: 26 (-72)

40. Gigi I.: 26 (-74)

41. Wayne D. #3: 26 (-76)

42. Brent E. #1: 25 (-13)

42. Michelle R.: 25 (-13)

44. Irene H. #2: 25 (-15)

45. Brent E. #3: 25 (-17)

45. Chris M.: 25 (-17)

45. CSU #1: 25 (-17)

45. Malcolm X #1: 25 (-17)

45. Paul W.: 25 (-17)

45. Todd K. #2: 25 (-17)

51. Stefan K. #2: 25 (-19)

52. Jim D. #3: 25 (-21)

53. Irene H. #6: 25 (-23)

53. Jay C.: 25 (-23)

53. Jim D. #1: 25 (-23)

56. Brent E. #2: 25 (-25)

56. Daisy N. #13: 25 (-25)

56. Nikolajs B.: 25 (-25)

56. Pete J. #3: 25 (-25)

60. Alex N. #2: 25 (-27)

60. Irene H. #4: 25 (-27)

60. Kirt R. #2: 25 (-27)

60. Luis B. #3: 25 (-27)

64. Missy W. #2: 25 (-29)

65. Andrew D. #2: 25 (-39)

65. Jeff Sag. #1: 25 (-39)

67. Rob S. #1: 25 (-41)

68. Larry G. #5: 25 (-43)

68. Scott K. #1: 25 (-43)

70. Ben J. #1: 25 (-73)

70. E Rucker #2: 25 (-73)

70. Larry G. #3: 25 (-73)

73. Ben J. #3: 25 (-75)

73. Larry G. #4: 25 (-75)

73. Uproxx: 25 (-75)

76. Ben J. #2: 25 (-77)

76. Ben S. #4: 25 (-77)

76. Tomas L. #2: 25 (-77)

79. Joe D. #1: 25 (-79)

80. Tomas L. #1: 25 (-81)

80. Virginia L.: 25 (-81)

82. Mike N.: 24 (-16)

83. Brad E.: 24 (-18)

83. Daisy N. #1: 24 (-18)

83. Howard S. #2: 24 (-18)

83. Larry G. #1: 24 (-18)

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

87. Max A. #1: 24 (-20)

89. Josh C.: 24 (-22)

89. Marc R.: 24 (-22)

91. Joe D. #2: 24 (-24)

92. Chad L. #2: 24 (-26)

92. Hutch H. #2: 24 (-26)

92. Jaxon S.: 24 (-26)

92. Rob S. #2: 24 (-26)

96. Chad L. #3: 24 (-28)

97. Michelle L. #3: 24 (-30)

98. Suki I.: 24 (-42)

99. Brett G. #4: 24 (-44)

99. Eric V. #2: 24 (-44)

99. Taima #2: 24 (-44)

102. Hutch H. #1: 24 (-46)

102. Jackson I.: 24 (-46)

102. Wayne D. #1: 24 (-46)

105. Chad L. #4: 24 (-50)

106. Dan D. #2: 24 (-54)

107. Joe D. #3: 24 (-56)

108. Andrew D. #1: 24 (-72)

109. Becca T.: 24 (-74)

109. Dylan B.: 24 (-74)

111. Alyssa B.: 24 (-76)

111. David W. #1: 24 (-76)

111. Trent L.: 24 (-76)

114. Brett G. #3: 24 (-78)

114. Irene H. #7: 24 (-78)

114. Jay H. #3: 24 (-78)

117. Jay H. #1: 24 (-80)

118. Chris T. #2: 24 (-88)

119. Ray W. #2: 24 (-90)

120. Chad L. #5: 24 (-94)

121. Mike McQ.: 23 (-13)

122. Scott K. #2: 23 (-15)

123. Grant F.: 23 (-17)

124. Ally H.: 23 (-19)

124. Hal R. #1: 23 (-19)

126. Adam E.: 23 (-21)

126. Ben S. #1: 23 (-21)

126. Hal R. #2: 23 (-21)

126. Jeff Sag. #2: 23 (-21)

126. Klei R.: 23 (-21)

131. Michelle L. #4: 23 (-23)

131. Mike W.: 23 (-23)

133. Damien R. #1: 23 (-25)

133. Mason A. #2: 23 (-25)

135. Josh D. #2: 23 (-27)

135. Josh D. #3: 23 (-27)

137. CSU #2: 23 (-29)

137. Veronica A.: 23 (-29)

139. Elizabeth N. #2: 23 (-31)

139. Kansas C.: 23 (-31)

141. Nick I.: 23 (-37)

142. Scott Her. #1: 23 (-41)

143. Brett G. #2: 23 (-43)

143. Max A. #3: 23 (-43)

143. Miguel D.: 23 (-43)

143. Mike S. #2: 23 (-43)

147. Jim W.: 23 (-45)

147. William G.: 23 (-45)

149. John M. #2: 23 (-47)

150. Adam S. #1: 23 (-49)

151. Wayne D. #2: 23 (-51)

152. Mike S. #1: 23 (-75)

153. Chrissy I.: 23 (-77)

153. Daisy N. #7: 23 (-77)

153. Scott K.: 23 (-77)

156. Eric V. #1: 23 (-79)

157. Julie S.: 23 (-81)

158. Brett W.: 23 (-83)

159. Pete J. #2: 23 (-85)

160. Pete J. #5: 22 (-16)

161. Brett K. #2: 22 (-18)

162. Daisy N. #2: 22 (-20)

162. Michelle L. #5: 22 (-20)

164. Bhav D. #1: 22 (-22)

165. Daisy N. #10: 22 (-26)

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

167. Arianna S.: 22 (-32)

167. Chad L. #1: 22 (-32)

167. Valerie D.: 22 (-32)

170. Roth W.: 22 (-34)

171. Alex N. #1: 22 (-36)

171. Ben S. #2: 22 (-36)

171. John M. #3: 22 (-36)

171. Szecho L. #2: 22 (-36)

175. Adam S. #2: 22 (-42)

176. Andrzej R.: 22 (-44)

176. Brent S. #2: 22 (-44)

176. Brett G. #1: 22 (-44)

176. Mason A. #1: 22 (-44)

180. Sulbum H.: 22 (-46)

181. Seth D.: 22 (-48)

182. John M. #1: 22 (-60)

183. April K.: 22 (-76)

183. Becky H.: 22 (-76)

185. Brent S. #1: 22 (-78)

185. Damien R. #3: 22 (-78)

187. Hal R. #3: 22 (-80)

188. Jace D.: 21 (-25)

188. Michelle L. #2: 21 (-25)

190. Ben J. #4: 21 (-31)

191. Daisy N. #5: 21 (-33)

191. Ray W. #3: 21 (-33)

193. Dane R.: 21 (-37)

194. Pete J. #4: 21 (-39)

195. Brett K. #1: 21 (-43)

196. Matt M.: 21 (-45)

197. Brett K. #3: 21 (-47)

197. Damien R. #2: 21 (-47)

197. Ray W. #1: 21 (-47)

200. E Rucker #1: 21 (-53)

201. Michelle L. #1: 21 (-81)

202. Daniel C.: 21 (-83)

202. Josh D. #1: 21 (-83)

204. Daisy N. #11: 21 (-99)

205. Karen C.: 20 (-20)

206. Daisy N. #6: 20 (-34)

207. Rob I.: 20 (-36)

208. Alex N. #3: 20 (-40)

208. Pete J. #1: 20 (-40)

210. Allison C.: 20 (-44)

210. Daisy N. #12: 20 (-44)

212. Alex N. #4: 20 (-46)

213. Chris T. #1: 20 (-52)

214. Dan D. #1: 20 (-54)

215. Daisy N. #9: 19 (-43)

216. Daisy N. #8: 19 (-49)

217. Szecho L. #1: 19 (-65)

218. Stephen N.: 19 (-83)

219. Ryan W.: 19 (-91)

220. Joe D. #4: 19 (-99)

221. Tim N.: 18 (-40)

222. Max A. #2: 18 (-44)

223. Ben S. #3: 17 (-35)

224. Daisy N. #4: 17 (-75)

...and the net point rankings:

1. Bosun S. (14)

2. David W. #2 (12)

2. Mindi W. (12)

2. Brent E. #1 (12)

2. Michelle R. (12)

6. Irene H. #2 (10)

6. Mike McQ. (10)

8. Malcolm X #2 (8)

8. Brent E. #3 (8)

8. Chris M. (8)

8. CSU #1 (8)

8. Malcolm X #1 (8)

8. Paul W. (8)

8. Todd K. #2 (8)

8. Mike N. (8)

8. Scott K. #2 (8)

17. Bhav D. #2 (6)

17. Stefan K. #2 (6)

17. Brad E. (6)

17. Daisy N. #1 (6)

17. Howard S. #2 (6)

17. Larry G. #1 (6)

17. Grant F. (6)

17. Pete J. #5 (6)

25. Dan S. #1 (4)

25. Elizabeth N. #1 (4)

25. Matt N. (4)

25. Jim D. #3 (4)

25. Irene H. #3 (4)

25. Max A. #1 (4)

25. Ally H. (4)

25. Hal R. #1 (4)

25. Brett K. #2 (4)

34. Missy W. #1 (2)

34. Ben P. (2)

34. Dustin B. (2)

34. Jay H. #2 (2)

34. Kirt R. #1 (2)

34. Irene H. #6 (2)

34. Jay C. (2)

34. Jim D. #1 (2)

34. Josh C. (2)

34. Marc R. (2)

34. Adam E. (2)

34. Ben S. #1 (2)

34. Hal R. #2 (2)

34. Jeff Sag. #2 (2)

34. Klei R. (2)

34. Daisy N. #2 (2)

34. Michelle L. #5 (2)

51. Irene H. #5 (0)

51. Jared B. (0)

51. Larry G. #2 (0)

51. Luis B. #2 (0)

51. Taima #1 (0)

51. Brent E. #2 (0)

51. Daisy N. #13 (0)

51. Nikolajs B. (0)

51. Pete J. #3 (0)

51. Joe D. #2 (0)

51. Michelle L. #4 (0)

51. Mike W. (0)

51. Bhav D. #1 (0)

51. Karen C. (0)

65. Alex N. #2 (-2)

65. Irene H. #4 (-2)

65. Kirt R. #2 (-2)

65. Luis B. #3 (-2)

65. Chad L. #2 (-2)

65. Hutch H. #2 (-2)

65. Jaxon S. (-2)

65. Rob S. #2 (-2)

65. Damien R. #1 (-2)

65. Mason A. #2 (-2)

75. Jim D. #2 (-4)

75. Missy W. #2 (-4)

75. Chad L. #3 (-4)

75. Josh D. #2 (-4)

75. Josh D. #3 (-4)

75. Daisy N. #10 (-4)

75. Daisy N. #3 (-4)

75. Jace D. (-4)

75. Michelle L. #2 (-4)

84. Michelle L. #3 (-6)

84. CSU #2 (-6)

84. Veronica A. (-6)

87. Elizabeth N. #2 (-8)

87. Kansas C. (-8)

89. Arianna S. (-10)

89. Chad L. #1 (-10)

89. Valerie D. (-10)

89. Ben J. #4 (-10)

93. Jeff M. (-12)

93. Scott Her. #2 (-12)

93. Roth W. (-12)

93. Daisy N. #5 (-12)

93. Ray W. #3 (-12)

98. Luis B. #1 (-14)

98. Barack O. (-14)

98. Kate G. (-14)

98. Andrew D. #2 (-14)

98. Jeff Sag. #1 (-14)

98. Nick I. (-14)

98. Alex N. #1 (-14)

98. Ben S. #2 (-14)

98. John M. #3 (-14)

98. Szecho L. #2 (-14)

98. Daisy N. #6 (-14)

109. Howard S. #1 (-16)

109. Joel S. (-16)

109. Todd K. #1 (-16)

109. Rob S. #1 (-16)

109. Dane R. (-16)

109. Rob I. (-16)

115. Stefan K. #1 (-18)

115. Larry G. #5 (-18)

115. Scott K. #1 (-18)

115. Suki I. (-18)

115. Scott Her. #1 (-18)

115. Pete J. #4 (-18)

115. Ben S. #3 (-18)

122. Brett G. #4 (-20)

122. Eric V. #2 (-20)

122. Taima #2 (-20)

122. Brett G. #2 (-20)

122. Max A. #3 (-20)

122. Miguel D. (-20)

122. Mike S. #2 (-20)

122. Adam S. #2 (-20)

122. Alex N. #3 (-20)

122. Pete J. #1 (-20)

132. Hutch H. #1 (-22)

132. Jackson I. (-22)

132. Wayne D. #1 (-22)

132. Jim W. (-22)

132. William G. (-22)

132. Andrzej R. (-22)

132. Brent S. #2 (-22)

132. Brett G. #1 (-22)

132. Mason A. #1 (-22)

132. Brett K. #1 (-22)

132. Tim N. (-22)

143. John M. #2 (-24)

143. Sulbum H. (-24)

143. Matt M. (-24)

143. Allison C. (-24)

143. Daisy N. #12 (-24)

143. Daisy N. #9 (-24)

149. Ava S. (-26)

149. Chad L. #4 (-26)

149. Adam S. #1 (-26)

149. Seth D. (-26)

149. Brett K. #3 (-26)

149. Damien R. #2 (-26)

149. Ray W. #1 (-26)

149. Alex N. #4 (-26)

149. Max A. #2 (-26)

158. Wayne D. #2 (-28)

159. Dan D. #2 (-30)

159. Daisy N. #8 (-30)

161. Joe D. #3 (-32)

161. E Rucker #1 (-32)

161. Chris T. #1 (-32)

164. Dan D. #1 (-34)

165. John M. #1 (-38)

166. Amaris S. (-42)

167. Brad R. (-44)

167. Dan S. #2 (-44)

167. David S. (-44)

167. Dennis R. (-44)

167. Irene H. #1 (-44)

167. Ken Pom (-44)

173. Craig G. (-46)

173. Kiah H. (-46)

173. Scott Has. (-46)

173. Szecho L. #1 (-46)

177. Gigi I. (-48)

177. Ben J. #1 (-48)

177. E Rucker #2 (-48)

177. Larry G. #3 (-48)

177. Andrew D. #1 (-48)

182. Wayne D. #3 (-50)

182. Ben J. #3 (-50)

182. Larry G. #4 (-50)

182. Uproxx (-50)

182. Becca T. (-50)

182. Dylan B. (-50)

188. Ben J. #2 (-52)

188. Ben S. #4 (-52)

188. Tomas L. #2 (-52)

188. Alyssa B. (-52)

188. David W. #1 (-52)

188. Trent L. (-52)

188. Mike S. #1 (-52)

195. Joe D. #1 (-54)

195. Brett G. #3 (-54)

195. Irene H. #7 (-54)

195. Jay H. #3 (-54)

195. Chrissy I. (-54)

195. Daisy N. #7 (-54)

195. Scott K. (-54)

195. April K. (-54)

195. Becky H. (-54)

204. Tomas L. #1 (-56)

204. Virginia L. (-56)

204. Jay H. #1 (-56)

204. Eric V. #1 (-56)

204. Brent S. #1 (-56)

204. Damien R. #3 (-56)

210. Julie S. (-58)

210. Hal R. #3 (-58)

210. Daisy N. #4 (-58)

213. Brett W. (-60)

213. Michelle L. #1 (-60)

215. Pete J. #2 (-62)

215. Daniel C. (-62)

215. Josh D. #1 (-62)

218. Chris T. #2 (-64)

218. Stephen N. (-64)

220. Ray W. #2 (-66)

221. Chad L. #5 (-70)

222. Ryan W. (-72)

223. Daisy N. #11 (-78)

224. Joe D. #4 (-80)

There are some more games going off in about 2 hours, but by the time the second game is done, they will have already started, and I wanted to send something out before the tip, since I have the time.

Kentucky vs. Buffalo

Vegas Line: Kentucky by 6.

Kentucky picks:  69

Buffalo:  1

Other: 153

I always find this particular dynamic interesting in the tournament.  It is this:  If the team you picked to win gets upset, it almost always behooves you to root for the team that just knocked yours out to advance at least as far as the team you picked.  In this instance, if you picked Arizona to win the South region, you are going to be well served having Buffalo follow that exact same path.  That way, you limit the damage to your bracket and can still pick up points elsewhere.  It makes for strange bedfellows.  That also gives all people with Arizona a rooting interest in this game, since they could either lose ground to 69 people, or 1.  Speaking of which, much respect for Chad L. #4 for being the only person to take Buffalo to the Sweet 16.  As a grad of a MAC school, I kind of hope that happens, but also as someone that had Arizona in the Elite 8, I hope it happens.  Again, I am surprised by how low the point spread is.  Maybe Kentucky isn't that good, or the public likes to bet against them or something.  They were only giving 5 to Davidson.  Then again, the final point spread of that game was actually 5, so maybe Vegas knows what they are talking about.

Tennessee vs Loyola-Chicago

Vegas Line: Tennessee by 5.5

Tennessee picks:  168

Loyola - Chicago picks: 23

Other: 32

This seems reasonable to me.  23 people had Loyola-Chicago in the Sweet 16, and they were one of the trendy upset picks that actually materialized in the first round, compliments of a buzzer beater three against Miami.  I would caution any favorite in this South region, that this is shaping up to be the wacky bracket.  There is always one bracket that almost no one gets right.  This looks like the South this year.  I would be on high alert if I were Kentucky or Tennessee today.  We may be looking at a Kansas State or Nevada Final 4 run.

Enjoy the games.  I hope Duke loses in humiliating fashion.  I wish them nothing but ill.