NCAA Day IV - One Game Down

Hmmm...This tournament is starting to get a little chalky for my tastes.  Every region but the South has all chalk in the Sweet 16.  I was hoping for an upset from Butler today, and they seemed like they could do it, but Purdue just had enough to hang on at the end.  In a lot of way, this type of game was a bit of a no-lose situation for me (and probably a lot of other people).  If Purdue wins, I get two points.  If Butler wins, I gain ground on the people that had Purdue going 1 or 2 or more rounds than I did.  Once we get the Sweet 16 established, we'll b able to know with more certainty which way is better, but for now, it seems like a win-win.

Not much changes to the standings after one game.  David W. #2 had Arkansas winning this game, so he dropped a little off the top line, but he's still in great shape.

1. Brad R.: 43 (-73)

2. Bosun S.: 42 (-16)

3. Matt N.: 42 (-22)

4. Dennis R.: 41 (-73)

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

6. Kirt R. #1: 40 (-30)

7. Ken Pom: 40 (-72)

8. Gigi I.: 40 (-76)

9. Mindi W.: 39 (-17)

10. Pete J. #3: 39 (-27)

11. Irene H. #2: 39 (-29)

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

13. Andrew D. #2: 39 (-41)

13. Jeff Sag. #1: 39 (-41)

15. Luis B. #1: 39 (-47)

16. Ava S.: 39 (-59)

17. Dan S. #2: 39 (-73)

18. David S.: 39 (-77)

19. Dustin B.: 38 (-26)

20. Ben P.: 38 (-28)

20. Taima #1: 38 (-28)

22. Larry G. #2: 38 (-32)

23. Barack O.: 38 (-42)

23. Kate G.: 38 (-42)

25. Eric V. #2: 38 (-44)

26. Scott Her. #2: 38 (-50)

27. Scott Has.: 38 (-74)

28. Andrew D. #1: 38 (-78)

29. Wayne D. #3: 38 (-82)

30. Brent E. #1: 37 (-17)

30. Michelle R.: 37 (-17)

32. CSU #1: 37 (-19)

32. Grant F.: 37 (-19)

32. Hal R. #1: 37 (-19)

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

35. Klei R.: 37 (-21)

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

38. Daisy N. #13: 37 (-27)

38. Irene H. #6: 37 (-27)

38. Jay C.: 37 (-27)

41. Alex N. #2: 37 (-29)

41. Brent E. #2: 37 (-29)

41. Luis B. #3: 37 (-29)

44. Dan S. #1: 37 (-31)

44. Elizabeth N. #1: 37 (-31)

44. Nikolajs B.: 37 (-31)

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

48. Jeff M.: 37 (-43)

48. Mike S. #2: 37 (-43)

50. Scott K. #1: 37 (-45)

51. Rob S. #1: 37 (-49)

52. Amaris S.: 37 (-75)

52. Ben J. #1: 37 (-75)

54. Irene H. #1: 37 (-79)

54. Joe D. #1: 37 (-79)

56. E Rucker #2: 37 (-81)

56. Virginia L.: 37 (-81)

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

59. Pete J. #5: 36 (-18)

60. Daisy N. #2: 36 (-20)

60. Howard S. #2: 36 (-20)

62. Brad E.: 36 (-22)

62. Marc R.: 36 (-22)

62. Max A. #1: 36 (-22)

65. Hutch H. #2: 36 (-28)

65. Joe D. #2: 36 (-28)

67. Luis B. #2: 36 (-30)

68. Bhav D. #2: 36 (-32)

69. Valerie D.: 36 (-34)

70. Irene H. #5: 36 (-38)

71. Jay H. #2: 36 (-42)

72. Andrzej R.: 36 (-44)

73. Jackson I.: 36 (-46)

73. Suki I.: 36 (-46)

73. Taima #2: 36 (-46)

76. Wayne D. #1: 36 (-48)

77. Alyssa B.: 36 (-78)

78. Craig G.: 36 (-80)

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

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

80. Jay H. #3: 36 (-84)

82. Mike McQ.: 35 (-17)

83. Scott K. #2: 35 (-19)

84. Chris M.: 35 (-21)

84. Malcolm X #1: 35 (-21)

86. Adam E.: 35 (-23)

86. Ally H.: 35 (-23)

88. Jim D. #3: 35 (-25)

88. Paul W.: 35 (-25)

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

91. Josh D. #3: 35 (-33)

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

92. Kirt R. #2: 35 (-35)

92. Veronica A.: 35 (-35)

95. Miguel D.: 35 (-47)

96. Howard S. #1: 35 (-49)

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

98. Larry G. #5: 35 (-51)

98. Stefan K. #1: 35 (-51)

100. Ben J. #2: 35 (-79)

101. Larry G. #3: 35 (-81)

101. Mike S. #1: 35 (-81)

103. Julie S.: 35 (-83)

103. Uproxx: 35 (-83)

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

105. Brett W.: 35 (-85)

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

108. Eric V. #1: 35 (-91)

109. Pete J. #2: 35 (-93)

110. Josh C.: 34 (-24)

110. Malcolm X #2: 34 (-24)

112. Chad L. #2: 34 (-30)

113. Jim D. #2: 34 (-32)

114. Daisy N. #1: 34 (-34)

114. Jaxon S.: 34 (-34)

114. Michelle L. #5: 34 (-34)

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

117. Roth W.: 34 (-36)

119. Rob S. #2: 34 (-40)

120. Brent S. #2: 34 (-50)

120. Todd K. #1: 34 (-50)

122. Hutch H. #1: 34 (-52)

123. Joe D. #3: 34 (-64)

124. Dylan B.: 34 (-78)

125. Brent S. #1: 34 (-80)

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

127. Kiah H.: 34 (-82)

128. Becca T.: 34 (-84)

128. Trent L.: 34 (-84)

130. Brett G. #3: 34 (-86)

131. Chad L. #5: 34 (-94)

132. Hal R. #2: 33 (-23)

132. Todd K. #2: 33 (-23)

134. Ben S. #1: 33 (-25)

134. Michelle L. #4: 33 (-25)

136. Damien R. #1: 33 (-27)

137. Elizabeth N. #2: 33 (-33)

137. Kansas C.: 33 (-33)

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

140. Scott Her. #1: 33 (-47)

141. Brett G. #2: 33 (-51)

142. Damien R. #2: 33 (-53)

142. Wayne D. #2: 33 (-53)

144. Matt M.: 33 (-59)

145. Scott K.: 33 (-81)

146. Ben J. #3: 33 (-85)

147. Daisy N. #7: 33 (-89)

147. Daniel C.: 33 (-89)

149. Brett K. #2: 32 (-22)

149. Karen C.: 32 (-22)

149. Mike N.: 32 (-22)

152. Irene H. #3: 32 (-26)

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

153. Daisy N. #3: 32 (-40)

155. Chad L. #3: 32 (-42)

156. Larry G. #1: 32 (-44)

157. Pete J. #1: 32 (-46)

158. Jared B.: 32 (-48)

159. Seth D.: 32 (-50)

160. Brett G. #4: 32 (-52)

160. Mason A. #1: 32 (-52)

162. Brett G. #1: 32 (-56)

162. Chad L. #4: 32 (-56)

164. Dan D. #2: 32 (-58)

164. Sulbum H.: 32 (-58)

166. Joel S.: 32 (-62)

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

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

169. Becky H.: 32 (-84)

170. April K.: 32 (-88)

171. Arianna S.: 32 (-100)

172. Mike W.: 31 (-25)

173. Jim D. #1: 31 (-27)

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

175. Nick I.: 31 (-39)

176. Michelle L. #2: 31 (-41)

177. William G.: 31 (-53)

178. John M. #2: 31 (-55)

179. Jim W.: 31 (-57)

180. Larry G. #4: 31 (-81)

181. Chrissy I.: 31 (-93)

182. Daisy N. #11: 31 (-105)

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

184. Chad L. #1: 30 (-36)

184. Szecho L. #2: 30 (-36)

186. Alex N. #1: 30 (-38)

187. Alex N. #3: 30 (-40)

188. John M. #1: 30 (-78)

189. Daisy N. #10: 30 (-88)

190. Chris T. #2: 30 (-98)

191. John M. #3: 30 (-104)

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

193. CSU #2: 29 (-41)

193. Pete J. #4: 29 (-41)

195. Dane R.: 29 (-43)

196. Daisy N. #5: 29 (-45)

197. Adam S. #1: 29 (-53)

197. Ray W. #1: 29 (-53)

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

200. Michelle L. #1: 29 (-89)

201. Jace D.: 29 (-107)

202. Daisy N. #6: 28 (-34)

203. Rob I.: 28 (-40)

204. Adam S. #2: 28 (-46)

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

206. Allison C.: 28 (-52)

207. Chris T. #1: 28 (-56)

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

209. Ray W. #3: 27 (-49)

210. Daisy N. #9: 27 (-73)

211. Ryan W.: 27 (-93)

212. Daisy N. #12: 26 (-50)

213. Tim N.: 26 (-54)

214. Dan D. #1: 26 (-58)

215. Daisy N. #8: 25 (-51)

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

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

218. Daisy N. #4: 25 (-75)

219. Szecho L. #1: 25 (-79)

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

221. Stephen N.: 23 (-95)

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

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

224. Ben S. #3: 21 (-41)

...and the net points:

1. Bosun S. (26)

2. David W. #2 (22)

2. Mindi W. (22)

4. Matt N. (20)

4. Brent E. #1 (20)

4. Michelle R. (20)

7. CSU #1 (18)

7. Grant F. (18)

7. Hal R. #1 (18)

7. Pete J. #5 (18)

7. Mike McQ. (18)

12. Brent E. #3 (16)

12. Klei R. (16)

12. Stefan K. #2 (16)

12. Daisy N. #2 (16)

12. Howard S. #2 (16)

12. Scott K. #2 (16)

18. Brad E. (14)

18. Marc R. (14)

18. Max A. #1 (14)

18. Chris M. (14)

18. Malcolm X #1 (14)

23. Pete J. #3 (12)

23. Dustin B. (12)

23. Adam E. (12)

23. Ally H. (12)

27. Kirt R. #1 (10)

27. Irene H. #2 (10)

27. Ben P. (10)

27. Taima #1 (10)

27. Daisy N. #13 (10)

27. Irene H. #6 (10)

27. Jay C. (10)

27. Jim D. #3 (10)

27. Paul W. (10)

27. Josh C. (10)

27. Malcolm X #2 (10)

27. Hal R. #2 (10)

27. Todd K. #2 (10)

27. Brett K. #2 (10)

27. Karen C. (10)

27. Mike N. (10)

43. Alex N. #2 (8)

43. Brent E. #2 (8)

43. Luis B. #3 (8)

43. Hutch H. #2 (8)

43. Joe D. #2 (8)

43. Jeff Sag. #2 (8)

43. Ben S. #1 (8)

43. Michelle L. #4 (8)

51. Larry G. #2 (6)

51. Dan S. #1 (6)

51. Elizabeth N. #1 (6)

51. Nikolajs B. (6)

51. Luis B. #2 (6)

51. Damien R. #1 (6)

51. Irene H. #3 (6)

51. Mike W. (6)

59. Bhav D. #2 (4)

59. Chad L. #2 (4)

59. Jim D. #1 (4)

59. Bhav D. #1 (4)

63. Missy W. #1 (2)

63. Valerie D. (2)

63. Josh D. #3 (2)

63. Jim D. #2 (2)

67. Missy W. #2 (0)

67. Josh D. #2 (0)

67. Kirt R. #2 (0)

67. Veronica A. (0)

67. Daisy N. #1 (0)

67. Jaxon S. (0)

67. Michelle L. #5 (0)

67. Elizabeth N. #2 (0)

67. Kansas C. (0)

67. Ben J. #4 (0)

77. Andrew D. #2 (-2)

77. Jeff Sag. #1 (-2)

77. Irene H. #5 (-2)

77. Michelle L. #3 (-2)

77. Roth W. (-2)

77. Irene H. #4 (-2)

83. Barack O. (-4)

83. Kate G. (-4)

83. Mason A. #2 (-4)

86. Eric V. #2 (-6)

86. Jeff M. (-6)

86. Mike S. #2 (-6)

86. Jay H. #2 (-6)

86. Rob S. #2 (-6)

86. Chad L. #1 (-6)

86. Szecho L. #2 (-6)

86. Daisy N. #6 (-6)

94. Luis B. #1 (-8)

94. Scott K. #1 (-8)

94. Andrzej R. (-8)

94. Ben S. #2 (-8)

94. Daisy N. #3 (-8)

94. Nick I. (-8)

94. Alex N. #1 (-8)

101. Jackson I. (-10)

101. Suki I. (-10)

101. Taima #2 (-10)

101. Chad L. #3 (-10)

101. Michelle L. #2 (-10)

101. Alex N. #3 (-10)

107. Scott Her. #2 (-12)

107. Rob S. #1 (-12)

107. Wayne D. #1 (-12)

107. Miguel D. (-12)

107. Larry G. #1 (-12)

107. CSU #2 (-12)

107. Pete J. #4 (-12)

107. Rob I. (-12)

115. Howard S. #1 (-14)

115. Max A. #3 (-14)

115. Scott Her. #1 (-14)

115. Pete J. #1 (-14)

115. Dane R. (-14)

120. Larry G. #5 (-16)

120. Stefan K. #1 (-16)

120. Brent S. #2 (-16)

120. Todd K. #1 (-16)

120. Jared B. (-16)

120. Daisy N. #5 (-16)

126. Hutch H. #1 (-18)

126. Brett G. #2 (-18)

126. Seth D. (-18)

126. Adam S. #2 (-18)

126. Alex N. #4 (-18)

131. Ava S. (-20)

131. Damien R. #2 (-20)

131. Wayne D. #2 (-20)

131. Brett G. #4 (-20)

131. Mason A. #1 (-20)

131. Ben S. #3 (-20)

137. William G. (-22)

137. Ray W. #3 (-22)

139. Brett G. #1 (-24)

139. Chad L. #4 (-24)

139. John M. #2 (-24)

139. Adam S. #1 (-24)

139. Ray W. #1 (-24)

139. Allison C. (-24)

139. Daisy N. #12 (-24)

146. Matt M. (-26)

146. Dan D. #2 (-26)

146. Sulbum H. (-26)

146. Jim W. (-26)

146. Daisy N. #8 (-26)

151. Chris T. #1 (-28)

151. Tim N. (-28)

153. Brad R. (-30)

153. Joe D. #3 (-30)

153. Joel S. (-30)

156. Dennis R. (-32)

156. Ken Pom (-32)

156. Dan D. #1 (-32)

159. Dan S. #2 (-34)

159. Brett K. #1 (-34)

161. Gigi I. (-36)

161. Scott Has. (-36)

161. E Rucker #1 (-36)

164. David S. (-38)

164. Amaris S. (-38)

164. Ben J. #1 (-38)

167. Andrew D. #1 (-40)

168. Irene H. #1 (-42)

168. Joe D. #1 (-42)

168. Alyssa B. (-42)

168. Max A. #2 (-42)

172. Wayne D. #3 (-44)

172. E Rucker #2 (-44)

172. Virginia L. (-44)

172. Craig G. (-44)

172. Jay H. #1 (-44)

172. Ben J. #2 (-44)

172. Dylan B. (-44)

179. Larry G. #3 (-46)

179. Mike S. #1 (-46)

179. Brent S. #1 (-46)

179. Damien R. #3 (-46)

179. Daisy N. #9 (-46)

184. Irene H. #7 (-48)

184. Jay H. #3 (-48)

184. Julie S. (-48)

184. Uproxx (-48)

184. Kiah H. (-48)

184. Scott K. (-48)

184. David W. #1 (-48)

184. John M. #1 (-48)

192. Tomas L. #1 (-50)

192. Ben S. #4 (-50)

192. Brett W. (-50)

192. Becca T. (-50)

192. Trent L. (-50)

192. Hal R. #3 (-50)

192. Larry G. #4 (-50)

192. Daisy N. #4 (-50)

200. Brett G. #3 (-52)

200. Ben J. #3 (-52)

200. Becky H. (-52)

203. Tomas L. #2 (-54)

203. Szecho L. #1 (-54)

205. Eric V. #1 (-56)

205. Daisy N. #7 (-56)

205. Daniel C. (-56)

205. April K. (-56)

209. Pete J. #2 (-58)

209. Daisy N. #10 (-58)

209. Josh D. #1 (-58)

212. Chad L. #5 (-60)

212. Michelle L. #1 (-60)

214. Chrissy I. (-62)

215. Ryan W. (-66)

216. Arianna S. (-68)

216. Chris T. #2 (-68)

218. Stephen N. (-72)

219. Daisy N. #11 (-74)

219. John M. #3 (-74)

221. Joe D. #4 (-76)

221. Brett K. #3 (-76)

223. Jace D. (-78)

224. Ray W. #2 (-100)

Before we get into the Michigan State game, let's preview the 2 games after that:

North Carolina vs Texas A&M

Vegas Line: North Carolina by 6.5

North Carolina picks: 204

Texas A&M picks: 11

Other: 9

I kind of need this one to happen to set up my Championship re-match, so I'm pulling for the Tar Heels.  As some of you could probably guess, I come down on the North Carolina side of the great UNC/Duke divide.  Even though I went to Georgia Tech and wanted to beat them, I don't bear them the same ill will I do for Duke.  They are a team I can actually pull for.

Cincinnati vs Nevada

Vegas Line: Cincinnati by 8

Cincinnati picks:  191

Nevada picks: 19

Other picks: 14

This is the one a lot of people probably need to worry about.  Since Cincinnati is the highest remaining seed in the South region, it looks like they have a pretty good path to the Final 4.  What that means for people that have Cincinnati going to the Final 4 is that they potentially can pick up a lot of points on the field in this region.  That makes this game really important, not just for those people, but for anyone that had Virginia, Arizona or Tennessee going to the final 4.  You can't be losing upwards of 14 points to the Cincinnati people, so you should be big Wolf Pack fans right about now.  Even if you have Cincinnati winning this game, you are probably better served having them unless you had them going to the Final 4.  As we've seen so far, no one is safe in the South region.  I'm crossing my fingers that Cincinnati can pull this one out.  I need all the points I can get.