Minnesota upset edition

Well, I got to watch the last few seconds of the Minnesota / Louisville game.  It turns out we played one game, and we had our first upset.  My rule of thumb is that I would like to see at least 25% upsets, so we are already ahead of schedule.  Granted, it was a 10 over a 7, so no great shakes, but it still counts.

I watched more of the Yale / LSU game and I was hoping that Yale could make a run at the end, and they kind of did as they kept making 3 after 3.  The only down side was that LSU never missed any free throws, which you kind of need them to do if you are going to come all the way back.

What all that means is that just 2 games in, we only have 63 perfect brackets out of 227.  That’s kind of what you get with a 7/10 game leading off, but it’s still surprising to see such a quick fall-off.  Not to despair, there are still a ton of points to go around.  Speaking of which, 25 people went 0/2 in this little group of games.  Ouch.  Not a great start, especially for J. Mack #3 who takes the honor of being the person to lose a final 4 team as Louisville went down.  No one had Yale even as far as the Elite 8.

So, for those new to the pool, for the first 2 rounds, I rank the teams based on two criteria.  The first criteria is points won.  The second criteria is how many points you have lost.  For example, say 2 people went 1-1 in these 2 games.  Person 1 only had Louisville going to the round of 32, while person 2 had Louisville going to the Sweet 16.  Person 1 would have a ranking and a score that looks like 1(-1), while person 2 would have a score that looks like 1(-3).  -3 = -1 for losing the 1^st round game, -2 for losing the Round of 32 game (worth 2 points).

After a few more games have been played, I’ll put out a net points ranking.  It’s a little more indicative of the health of your bracket.  For now, it’s just the way I described above:

1. Becky H.: 2 (0)

1. Ben W. #2: 2 (0)

1. Bhav R. #1: 2 (0)

1. Brent S. #3: 2 (0)

1. Bret K. #1: 2 (0)

1. Bret K. #2: 2 (0)

1. Bret K. #3: 2 (0)

1. Chad L.: 2 (0)

1. Chris T. #1: 2 (0)

1. Chris T. #2: 2 (0)

1. Chris T. #3: 2 (0)

1. Chris T. #4: 2 (0)

1. Daisy N. #11: 2 (0)

1. Daisy N. #12: 2 (0)

1. Daisy N. #13: 2 (0)

1. Daisy N. #6: 2 (0)

1. Dan D. #2: 2 (0)

1. David W.: 2 (0)

1. Dennis R. #1: 2 (0)

1. Dennis R. #2: 2 (0)

1. Hutch H. #2 : 2 (0)

1. Irene H. #2: 2 (0)

1. Irene H. #4: 2 (0)

1. Irene H. #5: 2 (0)

1. Irene H. #7: 2 (0)

1. J. Mack #2: 2 (0)

1. Jacob A.: 2 (0)

1. James G. #2: 2 (0)

1. Jaxon S.: 2 (0)

1. Jay K.: 2 (0)

1. Joel B. #5: 2 (0)

1. Josiah T. #4: 2 (0)

1. Karim D.: 2 (0)

1. Kevin F. #2: 2 (0)

1. Kirt R. #2: 2 (0)

1. Klei R. #1: 2 (0)

1. Luis B. #2: 2 (0)

1. Marc R.: 2 (0)

1. Mason A. #1: 2 (0)

1. Max A. #2: 2 (0)

1. Michelle L. #1: 2 (0)

1. Michelle L. #3: 2 (0)

1. Michelle L. #4: 2 (0)

1. Mike S. #1: 2 (0)

1. Mike S. #2: 2 (0)

1. Mike W.: 2 (0)

1. Nikolajs B.: 2 (0)

1. Noah N.: 2 (0)

1. Ray W. #1: 2 (0)

1. Ray W. #3: 2 (0)

1. Ray W. #5: 2 (0)

1. Regina L.: 2 (0)

1. Ryan P.: 2 (0)

1. Scott Her. #2: 2 (0)

1. Scott K. #1: 2 (0)

1. Scott K. #2: 2 (0)

1. Taima B. #1: 2 (0)

1. Taima B. #2: 2 (0)

1. Tim D.: 2 (0)

1. Todd K. #2: 2 (0)

1. Valerie D.: 2 (0)

1. Washington Post: 2 (0)

1. Zach T.: 2 (0)

64. Adam E. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Adam S.: 1 (-1)

64. Alex P.: 1 (-1)

64. Alexander N. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Alexander N. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Alexander N. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Alexander N. #4: 1 (-1)

64. Alexander N. #5: 1 (-1)

64. Ally H.: 1 (-1)

64. Alyssa B.: 1 (-1)

64. Andy P.: 1 (-1)

64. Ben P.: 1 (-1)

64. Ben S. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Ben W. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Brent E. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Brent E. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Brent E. #4: 1 (-1)

64. Brent S. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Brent S. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Brent S. #4: 1 (-1)

64. Brett W.: 1 (-1)

64. Bryce S.: 1 (-1)

64. Carlos B. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Carlos B. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Chris M.: 1 (-1)

64. Chrissy I: 1 (-1)

64. Craig G.: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #10: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #14: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #15: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #17: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #4: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #5: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #7: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #8: 1 (-1)

64. Daisy N. #9: 1 (-1)

64. Damien R. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Damien R. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Damien R. #4: 1 (-1)

64. Dan D.: 1 (-1)

64. Dan D. #1: 1 (-1)

64. David S.: 1 (-1)

64. Dustin B.: 1 (-1)

64. Dylan B.: 1 (-1)

64. E. Rucker #1: 1 (-1)

64. E. Rucker #2: 1 (-1)

64. Elizabeth N. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Elizabeth N. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Elizabeth N. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Gigi I: 1 (-1)

64. Harrell R. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Harrell R. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Harrell R. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Howard S.: 1 (-1)

64. Hutch H. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Irene H. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Irene H. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Irene H. #6: 1 (-1)

64. James G. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Janahan A.: 1 (-1)

64. Jared B.: 1 (-1)

64. Jason S.: 1 (-1)

64. Jay Bilas: 1 (-1)

64. Jay H. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Jeff Sagarin: 1 (-1)

64. Jessica McG.: 1 (-1)

64. Jim D. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Jim D. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Jim P.: 1 (-1)

64. Jim W.: 1 (-1)

64. Joe D. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Joe D. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Joel B. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Joel B. #6: 1 (-1)

64. Joel B. #7: 1 (-1)

64. Josh D. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Josh D. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Josh S. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Josh S. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Josiah T. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Josiah T. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Josiah T. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Kate G.: 1 (-1)

64. Ken Pom: 1 (-1)

64. Kevin F. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Kevin F. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Kiah H.: 1 (-1)

64. Kirt R. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Klei R. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Luis B. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Mark D.: 1 (-1)

64. Mason A. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Matt M.: 1 (-1)

64. Matt N.: 1 (-1)

64. Max A. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Michelle L. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Michelle R.: 1 (-1)

64. Nate S. - 538: 1 (-1)

64. Nick I: 1 (-1)

64. Niren D.: 1 (-1)

64. Pete J. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Pete J. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Pete J. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Pete J. #4: 1 (-1)

64. Rich W.: 1 (-1)

64. Ryan W.: 1 (-1)

64. Sagarin Plus: 1 (-1)

64. Scott Her. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Stefon K.: 1 (-1)

64. Stephanie P.: 1 (-1)

64. Stephen H.: 1 (-1)

64. Steve Dz.: 1 (-1)

64. Szecho L. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Szecho L. #2: 1 (-1)

64. Todd K. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Todd K. #3: 1 (-1)

64. Tomas L.: 1 (-1)

64. Tristan E.: 1 (-1)

64. Veronica A.: 1 (-1)

64. Wayne D. #1: 1 (-1)

64. Wayne D. #2: 1 (-1)

64. William G. #1: 1 (-1)

189. Ben J. #2: 1 (-3)

189. Brad R.: 1 (-3)

189. Craig McG.: 1 (-3)

189. Jackson I: 1 (-3)

189. Michelle L. #5: 1 (-3)

189. Nick V.: 1 (-3)

189. Pete J. #5: 1 (-3)

189. Ray W. #2: 1 (-3)

197. Brian K.: 1 (-7)

197. Josh D. #1: 1 (-7)

197. Molly R.: 1 (-7)

197. Rob I #1: 1 (-7)

197. Tim N.: 1 (-7)

197. Todd K. #4: 1 (-7)

203. Adam E. #1: 0 (-2)

203. Ben J. #1: 0 (-2)

203. Ben J. #4: 0 (-2)

203. Daisy N. #16: 0 (-2)

203. Damien R. #1: 0 (-2)

203. Jay H. #1: 0 (-2)

203. Joel B. #1: 0 (-2)

203. Wayne D. #3: 0 (-2)

211. Ben J. #3: 0 (-4)

211. Ben S. #1: 0 (-4)

211. Ben S. #2: 0 (-4)

211. Ben S. #4: 0 (-4)

211. Brent E. #1: 0 (-4)

211. Dan C.: 0 (-4)

211. Jason L.: 0 (-4)

211. Joel B. #3: 0 (-4)

211. Joel B. #4: 0 (-4)

211. Mike N.: 0 (-4)

211. Ray W. #4: 0 (-4)

211. Rob I #2: 0 (-4)

223. Alex I: 0 (-8)

223. Bhav R. #2: 0 (-8)

223. J. Mack #1: 0 (-8)

226. William G. #2: 0 (-10)

227. J. Mack #3: 0 (-16)

Here are the particulars for the next 2 games up:

Michigan State: 226

Bradley: 1

Vegas Line:  Michigan State -18.5

I was really tempted to wear my Bradley t-shirt this morning, but one key to choosing is that I actually have to want that team to win.  I can’t pick against Michigan State in the first round in good conscious.  Then again, when they were getting crushed by Middle Tennessee State a few years ago in the first round, I got on board with the Blue Raiders.  That was pretty fun.  Would be amazing if it happened again this year, but it seems doubtful.

Maryland: 112

Belmont: 115

Vegas Line: Maryland -3

Wow!!!  Who likes upsets?!?!?!  People really took my advice to not overlook the play-in winner to heart.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen an 11-seed outpick a #6 seed.  That’s amazing.  I’m here for it.  I saw an article that was trying to profile what teams win championships historically, and in this years field, most of them were #1 & #2 seeds, but Maryland was also listed.  I was tempted to take them as a dark horse Elite 8 team.  I’m truly amazed by this pick distribution.  I also read an article that of the 13 play-in winners that have won games in the round of 64, 12 of them were winners of the Friday play-in game, so that doesn’t bode well for Belmont.  I’m hoping this game becomes one of the better games in the tournament.  Part of me wants Belmont to win because small to mid-major teams routinely get screwed in getting bids at all.  Maybe a win here would help.

Again, here’s the link to the score sheet (if you want to play aloing at home):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zi_wTuDwtk0gz5CvmhywrD7PyELvzCHM