NCAA Day IV - I hate Syracuse AND Duke

Well, we got another pretty huge upset.  Michigan State missed roughly their last 49 shots of the game to go down to Syracuse.  On the one hand, I like the play-in winner to make the Sweet 16 most years, so that's pretty cool, and it is a big upset, which is usually pretty cool also.  However, my gripe against Syracuse still stands.  I like the Dike Vitale rule: If you can't finish .500 or better in your conference, you don't belong in the tournament.  Syracuse finished 8-10.  Compliments of some cold shooting and a gimmicky defense that's tough to prepare for in a tournament environment, they are in the Sweet 16, and they are going to  get their heads handed to them by Duke, which is another reason to not like this outcome.

So, 2 games in and we only have 8 people that have managed to go 2/2.  We also have some pretty huge shakeups in the net point rankings.  Fun fact: Only 23 people have their entire Final 4 still intact.  Oddly enough, none of those 23 brackets are in the top 30 in actual points.  I guess as long as you gather up points late, how you do in the early going means less.  With Michigan State going out added to Virginia and Arizona, almost 40% of all brackets are missing their champion.  Only 88 brackets have both of their finalists alive, and we still have 6 more games to go today, so this may not be the end of it.  I tell you, if you are North Carolina, Cincinnati or Xavier today, you best be on your game.  Popular picks seem to be vulnerable this year.

Here is the point standings:

1. Brad R.: 43 (-87)

2. Bosun S.: 42 (-46)

3. Matt N.: 42 (-84)

4. Dennis R.: 41 (-75)

5. Kirt R. #1: 40 (-36)

6. David W. #2: 40 (-48)

7. Ken Pom: 40 (-74)

8. Gigi I.: 40 (-76)

9. Irene H. #2: 39 (-31)

10. Missy W. #1: 39 (-37)

11. Andrew D. #2: 39 (-43)

11. Jeff Sag. #1: 39 (-43)

13. Luis B. #1: 39 (-49)

14. Ava S.: 39 (-61)

15. Ben J. #1: 39 (-75)

16. Mindi W.: 39 (-79)

17. David S.: 39 (-83)

18. Pete J. #3: 39 (-89)

19. Dan S. #2: 39 (-103)

20. Ben P.: 38 (-30)

21. Larry G. #2: 38 (-38)

22. Dustin B.: 38 (-40)

23. Taima #1: 38 (-42)

24. Eric V. #2: 38 (-46)

25. Scott Has.: 38 (-80)

26. Wayne D. #3: 38 (-84)

27. Andrew D. #1: 38 (-92)

28. Barack O.: 38 (-104)

28. Kate G.: 38 (-104)

30. Scott Her. #2: 38 (-112)

31. Michelle R.: 37 (-19)

32. CSU #1: 37 (-21)

32. Grant F.: 37 (-21)

34. Stefan K. #2: 37 (-27)

35. Daisy N. #13: 37 (-29)

35. Jay C.: 37 (-29)

37. Alex N. #2: 37 (-31)

38. Elizabeth N. #1: 37 (-33)

38. Nikolajs B.: 37 (-33)

40. Brent E. #2: 37 (-35)

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

40. Klei R.: 37 (-35)

43. Luis B. #3: 37 (-43)

43. Missy W. #2: 37 (-43)

45. Jeff M.: 37 (-45)

46. Hal R. #1: 37 (-49)

46. Howard S. #1: 37 (-49)

48. Rob S. #1: 37 (-51)

48. Stefan K. #1: 37 (-51)

50. Irene H. #6: 37 (-57)

51. Scott K. #1: 37 (-59)

52. Amaris S.: 37 (-77)

53. Brent E. #1: 37 (-79)

54. Irene H. #1: 37 (-81)

54. Virginia L.: 37 (-81)

56. Tomas L. #1: 37 (-87)

57. Dan S. #1: 37 (-93)

57. Joe D. #1: 37 (-93)

59. E Rucker #2: 37 (-95)

60. Mike S. #2: 37 (-105)

61. Pete J. #5: 36 (-20)

62. Howard S. #2: 36 (-22)

63. Hutch H. #2: 36 (-30)

63. Joe D. #2: 36 (-30)

65. Bhav D. #2: 36 (-34)

65. Daisy N. #1: 36 (-34)

65. Daisy N. #2: 36 (-34)

68. Brad E.: 36 (-36)

68. Max A. #1: 36 (-36)

70. Jay H. #2: 36 (-44)

71. Andrzej R.: 36 (-46)

72. Suki I.: 36 (-48)

72. Valerie D.: 36 (-48)

74. Taima #2: 36 (-60)

75. Wayne D. #1: 36 (-62)

76. Irene H. #5: 36 (-68)

77. Irene H. #7: 36 (-84)

77. Marc R.: 36 (-84)

79. Craig G.: 36 (-86)

80. Jay H. #3: 36 (-90)

81. Luis B. #2: 36 (-92)

82. Alyssa B.: 36 (-108)

82. Jackson I.: 36 (-108)

84. Jay H. #1: 36 (-110)

85. Chris M.: 35 (-23)

85. Malcolm X #1: 35 (-23)

87. Michelle L. #4: 35 (-25)

88. Mike McQ.: 35 (-31)

89. Jeff Sag. #2: 35 (-33)

89. Kansas C.: 35 (-33)

91. Josh D. #3: 35 (-35)

92. Adam E.: 35 (-37)

92. Josh D. #2: 35 (-37)

94. Paul W.: 35 (-39)

95. Kirt R. #2: 35 (-41)

95. Veronica A.: 35 (-41)

97. Max A. #3: 35 (-49)

98. Larry G. #5: 35 (-53)

98. Miguel D.: 35 (-53)

100. Jim D. #3: 35 (-55)

101. Scott K. #2: 35 (-81)

102. Larry G. #3: 35 (-83)

102. Mike S. #1: 35 (-83)

104. Ally H.: 35 (-85)

104. Ben S. #4: 35 (-85)

106. Tomas L. #2: 35 (-89)

107. Eric V. #1: 35 (-93)

108. Julie S.: 35 (-97)

109. Brett W.: 35 (-99)

110. Ben J. #2: 35 (-109)

111. Uproxx: 35 (-113)

112. Pete J. #2: 35 (-123)

113. Malcolm X #2: 34 (-26)

114. Josh C.: 34 (-30)

115. Chad L. #2: 34 (-32)

116. Jim D. #2: 34 (-34)

117. Jaxon S.: 34 (-36)

117. Michelle L. #3: 34 (-36)

119. Roth W.: 34 (-38)

120. Rob S. #2: 34 (-42)

121. Jared B.: 34 (-48)

121. Michelle L. #5: 34 (-48)

123. Brent S. #2: 34 (-52)

124. Hutch H. #1: 34 (-58)

125. Joe D. #3: 34 (-70)

126. Dylan B.: 34 (-80)

127. Damien R. #3: 34 (-82)

128. Kiah H.: 34 (-84)

129. Trent L.: 34 (-86)

130. Brett G. #3: 34 (-88)

131. Becca T.: 34 (-90)

132. Brent S. #1: 34 (-110)

133. Todd K. #1: 34 (-112)

134. Chad L. #5: 34 (-124)

135. Hal R. #2: 33 (-25)

135. Todd K. #2: 33 (-25)

137. Ben S. #1: 33 (-27)

138. Damien R. #1: 33 (-29)

139. Elizabeth N. #2: 33 (-35)

140. Damien R. #2: 33 (-59)

141. Scott Her. #1: 33 (-61)

142. Brett G. #2: 33 (-65)

142. Matt M.: 33 (-65)

144. Daisy N. #7: 33 (-91)

144. Daniel C.: 33 (-91)

146. Irene H. #4: 33 (-97)

147. Ben J. #3: 33 (-99)

148. Daisy N. #11: 33 (-105)

149. Scott K.: 33 (-111)

150. Wayne D. #2: 33 (-115)

151. Irene H. #3: 32 (-28)

152. Brett K. #2: 32 (-36)

152. Karen C.: 32 (-36)

152. Mike N.: 32 (-36)

155. Ben S. #2: 32 (-40)

156. Daisy N. #3: 32 (-42)

157. Larry G. #1: 32 (-46)

158. Chad L. #3: 32 (-48)

159. Seth D.: 32 (-52)

160. Mason A. #1: 32 (-54)

161. Brett G. #1: 32 (-58)

161. Chad L. #4: 32 (-58)

163. Joel S.: 32 (-68)

164. Pete J. #1: 32 (-76)

165. David W. #1: 32 (-82)

166. Hal R. #3: 32 (-88)

167. April K.: 32 (-90)

168. Becky H.: 32 (-98)

169. Arianna S.: 32 (-102)

170. Brett G. #4: 32 (-114)

171. Dan D. #2: 32 (-120)

171. Sulbum H.: 32 (-120)

173. Jim D. #1: 31 (-29)

174. Ben J. #4: 31 (-33)

175. Mike W.: 31 (-39)

176. Nick I.: 31 (-41)

177. Michelle L. #2: 31 (-47)

178. William G.: 31 (-55)

179. John M. #2: 31 (-57)

180. Jim W.: 31 (-59)

181. Chrissy I.: 31 (-95)

182. Larry G. #4: 31 (-111)

183. Bhav D. #1: 30 (-28)

184. Chad L. #1: 30 (-66)

185. Daisy N. #10: 30 (-90)

186. Szecho L. #2: 30 (-98)

187. Alex N. #1: 30 (-100)

188. Alex N. #3: 30 (-102)

189. John M. #3: 30 (-106)

190. Chris T. #2: 30 (-128)

191. John M. #1: 30 (-140)

192. Daisy N. #5: 29 (-47)

193. Pete J. #4: 29 (-55)

194. Adam S. #1: 29 (-59)

195. Ray W. #1: 29 (-83)

196. Mason A. #2: 29 (-95)

197. CSU #2: 29 (-103)

198. Dane R.: 29 (-105)

199. Jace D.: 29 (-107)

200. Josh D. #1: 29 (-117)

201. Michelle L. #1: 29 (-119)

202. Daisy N. #6: 28 (-36)

203. Rob I.: 28 (-42)

204. Adam S. #2: 28 (-48)

205. Allison C.: 28 (-54)

206. Chris T. #1: 28 (-58)

207. Alex N. #4: 28 (-76)

208. Ray W. #2: 28 (-128)

209. Ray W. #3: 27 (-55)

210. Daisy N. #9: 27 (-75)

211. Szecho L. #1: 27 (-79)

212. Ryan W.: 27 (-123)

213. Tim N.: 26 (-54)

214. Dan D. #1: 26 (-60)

215. Daisy N. #12: 26 (-112)

216. Daisy N. #8: 25 (-53)

217. Brett K. #1: 25 (-61)

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

219. Daisy N. #4: 25 (-77)

220. Joe D. #4: 25 (-103)

221. Stephen N.: 23 (-97)

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

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

224. Ben S. #3: 21 (-47)

...and the net points:

1. Michelle R. (18)

2. CSU #1 (16)

2. Grant F. (16)

2. Pete J. #5 (16)

5. Howard S. #2 (14)

6. Chris M. (12)

6. Malcolm X #1 (12)

8. Stefan K. #2 (10)

8. Michelle L. #4 (10)

10. Irene H. #2 (8)

10. Ben P. (8)

10. Daisy N. #13 (8)

10. Jay C. (8)

10. Malcolm X #2 (8)

10. Hal R. #2 (8)

10. Todd K. #2 (8)

17. Alex N. #2 (6)

17. Hutch H. #2 (6)

17. Joe D. #2 (6)

17. Ben S. #1 (6)

21. Kirt R. #1 (4)

21. Elizabeth N. #1 (4)

21. Nikolajs B. (4)

21. Mike McQ. (4)

21. Josh C. (4)

21. Damien R. #1 (4)

21. Irene H. #3 (4)

28. Missy W. #1 (2)

28. Brent E. #2 (2)

28. Brent E. #3 (2)

28. Klei R. (2)

28. Bhav D. #2 (2)

28. Daisy N. #1 (2)

28. Daisy N. #2 (2)

28. Jeff Sag. #2 (2)

28. Kansas C. (2)

28. Chad L. #2 (2)

28. Jim D. #1 (2)

28. Bhav D. #1 (2)

40. Larry G. #2 (0)

40. Brad E. (0)

40. Max A. #1 (0)

40. Josh D. #3 (0)

40. Jim D. #2 (0)

45. Dustin B. (-2)

45. Adam E. (-2)

45. Josh D. #2 (-2)

45. Jaxon S. (-2)

45. Michelle L. #3 (-2)

45. Elizabeth N. #2 (-2)

45. Ben J. #4 (-2)

52. Bosun S. (-4)

52. Andrew D. #2 (-4)

52. Jeff Sag. #1 (-4)

52. Taima #1 (-4)

52. Paul W. (-4)

52. Roth W. (-4)

52. Brett K. #2 (-4)

52. Karen C. (-4)

52. Mike N. (-4)

61. Luis B. #3 (-6)

61. Missy W. #2 (-6)

61. Kirt R. #2 (-6)

61. Veronica A. (-6)

65. David W. #2 (-8)

65. Eric V. #2 (-8)

65. Jeff M. (-8)

65. Jay H. #2 (-8)

65. Rob S. #2 (-8)

65. Ben S. #2 (-8)

65. Mike W. (-8)

65. Daisy N. #6 (-8)

73. Luis B. #1 (-10)

73. Andrzej R. (-10)

73. Daisy N. #3 (-10)

73. Nick I. (-10)

77. Hal R. #1 (-12)

77. Howard S. #1 (-12)

77. Suki I. (-12)

77. Valerie D. (-12)

81. Rob S. #1 (-14)

81. Stefan K. #1 (-14)

81. Max A. #3 (-14)

81. Jared B. (-14)

81. Michelle L. #5 (-14)

81. Larry G. #1 (-14)

81. Rob I. (-14)

88. Chad L. #3 (-16)

88. Michelle L. #2 (-16)

90. Larry G. #5 (-18)

90. Miguel D. (-18)

90. Brent S. #2 (-18)

90. Daisy N. #5 (-18)

94. Irene H. #6 (-20)

94. Jim D. #3 (-20)

94. Seth D. (-20)

94. Adam S. #2 (-20)

98. Ava S. (-22)

98. Scott K. #1 (-22)

98. Mason A. #1 (-22)

101. Taima #2 (-24)

101. Hutch H. #1 (-24)

101. William G. (-24)

104. Wayne D. #1 (-26)

104. Damien R. #2 (-26)

104. Brett G. #1 (-26)

104. Chad L. #4 (-26)

104. John M. #2 (-26)

104. Pete J. #4 (-26)

104. Allison C. (-26)

104. Ben S. #3 (-26)

112. Scott Her. #1 (-28)

112. Jim W. (-28)

112. Ray W. #3 (-28)

112. Tim N. (-28)

112. Daisy N. #8 (-28)

117. Adam S. #1 (-30)

117. Chris T. #1 (-30)

119. Irene H. #5 (-32)

119. Brett G. #2 (-32)

119. Matt M. (-32)

122. Dennis R. (-34)

122. Ken Pom (-34)

122. Dan D. #1 (-34)

125. Gigi I. (-36)

125. Ben J. #1 (-36)

125. Joe D. #3 (-36)

125. Joel S. (-36)

125. Chad L. #1 (-36)

125. Brett K. #1 (-36)

125. E Rucker #1 (-36)

132. Mindi W. (-40)

132. Amaris S. (-40)

134. Matt N. (-42)

134. Scott Has. (-42)

134. Brent E. #1 (-42)

134. Max A. #2 (-42)

138. Brad R. (-44)

138. David S. (-44)

138. Irene H. #1 (-44)

138. Virginia L. (-44)

138. Pete J. #1 (-44)

143. Wayne D. #3 (-46)

143. Scott K. #2 (-46)

143. Dylan B. (-46)

146. Irene H. #7 (-48)

146. Marc R. (-48)

146. Larry G. #3 (-48)

146. Mike S. #1 (-48)

146. Damien R. #3 (-48)

146. Alex N. #4 (-48)

146. Daisy N. #9 (-48)

153. Pete J. #3 (-50)

153. Tomas L. #1 (-50)

153. Craig G. (-50)

153. Ally H. (-50)

153. Ben S. #4 (-50)

153. Kiah H. (-50)

153. David W. #1 (-50)

160. Trent L. (-52)

160. Szecho L. #1 (-52)

160. Daisy N. #4 (-52)

163. Andrew D. #1 (-54)

163. Jay H. #3 (-54)

163. Tomas L. #2 (-54)

163. Brett G. #3 (-54)

163. Ray W. #1 (-54)

168. Dan S. #1 (-56)

168. Joe D. #1 (-56)

168. Luis B. #2 (-56)

168. Becca T. (-56)

168. Hal R. #3 (-56)

173. E Rucker #2 (-58)

173. Eric V. #1 (-58)

173. Daisy N. #7 (-58)

173. Daniel C. (-58)

173. April K. (-58)

178. Daisy N. #10 (-60)

179. Julie S. (-62)

180. Dan S. #2 (-64)

180. Brett W. (-64)

180. Irene H. #4 (-64)

180. Chrissy I. (-64)

184. Barack O. (-66)

184. Kate G. (-66)

184. Ben J. #3 (-66)

184. Becky H. (-66)

184. Mason A. #2 (-66)

189. Mike S. #2 (-68)

189. Szecho L. #2 (-68)

191. Arianna S. (-70)

191. Alex N. #1 (-70)

193. Alyssa B. (-72)

193. Jackson I. (-72)

193. Daisy N. #11 (-72)

193. Alex N. #3 (-72)

197. Scott Her. #2 (-74)

197. Jay H. #1 (-74)

197. Ben J. #2 (-74)

197. CSU #2 (-74)

197. Stephen N. (-74)

202. Brent S. #1 (-76)

202. John M. #3 (-76)

202. Dane R. (-76)

202. Brett K. #3 (-76)

206. Uproxx (-78)

206. Todd K. #1 (-78)

206. Scott K. (-78)

206. Jace D. (-78)

206. Joe D. #4 (-78)

211. Larry G. #4 (-80)

212. Wayne D. #2 (-82)

212. Brett G. #4 (-82)

214. Daisy N. #12 (-86)

215. Pete J. #2 (-88)

215. Dan D. #2 (-88)

215. Sulbum H. (-88)

215. Josh D. #1 (-88)

219. Chad L. #5 (-90)

219. Michelle L. #1 (-90)

221. Ryan W. (-96)

222. Chris T. #2 (-98)

223. Ray W. #2 (-100)

224. John M. #1 (-110)

I would say the next 2 games are throwaway games, but they may make a difference in tie-breakers down the stretch.

Auburn vs Clemson

Vegas Line: Auburn by 1

Auburn picks: 112

Clemson picks: 63

Other: 49

A lot of people had New Mexico State winning this game, since I don't think most people were that wild about either of these teams.  Someone is going to get 2 points out of this game though, and that probably will shake up the rankings a little bit.  Honestly, I feel like these teams would put on a more interesting football game.  Neither is particularly well known for basketball.  I'll root for Clemson because I still want an upset.

Kansas State vs UMBC

Vegas Line: Kansas State by 10.5

Kansas State picks:  1

  UMBC picks: 0

Other picks: 223

Sit back and relax on this one everybody.  This game could not mean less to the overall standings.  Only 2 points are even up for grabs the entire pool-wide.  Hardly any changes to the standings will happen regardless of the outcome of this game.  I hope UMBC wins, because that would be the talk of the sporting world for a long time.  People still remember Florida Gulf Coast when they went on a run to the Sweet 16, and they were a #15 seed.  UMBC could do them one better.  Remember, #16 seeds are undefeated in the second round, so it's possible!!!  Enjoy this one as a basketball purist.  There are no points on the line.

Good luck everyone!