March Madness - Day 1 (8 games in)

 Now that tons and tons of people have lost their Final 4 teams or even their champions, I want to take the time to remind you that you may not be out of the tournament.  I run the numbers at the end of the Sweet 16, and often times people that have their champions out are still mathematically alive.  They usually need total chaos to break out all over the bracket.  That’s more or less what I root for anyway, so come on over to my way of thinking.  It’s a fun place to be.  Final 4’s with Loyola-Chicago, George Mason and VCU as double digits are fun.  Everyone loves those seasons.  You know what people don’t love – chalk.  In the words of Wilt Chamberlain, “Nobody roots for Goliath”.  I think I break that quote out every year.

We also had Oregon State beat Tennessee.  It seems like just 2.5 hours ago, I was lobbying for them to be a #14 seed, and yet they beat Tennessee, so what do I know.  Plus, the 12/5 matchup is always a popular upset pick.  I just figured it would be Villanova / Winthrop (it still could be).

Baylor killed Hartford.  Nuff said about that.  Georgia Tech really missed their all-ACC center as they managed to shoot 60% from the field and lose by double digits compliments of 0 offensive rebounds.  It’s hard to win a game when you have to essentially make all your shots.  I’m not sure they would have won with him, but they would’ve had a much better chance.

So, you may be thinking that Ohio State and Tennessee going down would mean that no one went 4/4 in this run of games, and you’d be wrong.  Daniel Du. and Owen R. got all 4 games right.  In the grand scheme of things, it’s only 4 points, but it also means that they didn’t lose points in future rounds yet.  That’s almost more valuable as the main tiebreakers now are determined by how far you had Ohio State and Tennessee going.  Here was the breakdown of pick wins:

4 wins: 2

3 wins: 28

2 wins: 108

1 win: 42

0 wins: 1 ( Ouch for Cindy R.) 

Here are the updated standings:

1. Scott K.: 7 (-3) - Baylor

2. Hutch H. #3: 7 (-7) - Kansas

2. Dustin B.: 7 (-7) - Illinois

4. Tina H.: 7 (-31) - Michigan

5. Elliot N.: 6 (-4) - Illinois

5. Mark A. #1: 6 (-4) - Baylor

5. Mike S.: 6 (-4) - Illinois

5. Marc R.: 6 (-4) - Gonzaga

5. Rob I.: 6 (-4) - Gonzaga

5. Owen R.: 6 (-4) - UC Santa Barbara

5. Brad R. #4: 6 (-4) - Michigan

5. Colston W.: 6 (-4) - Michigan

5. Adam E. #1: 6 (-4) - Oklahoma State

5. William G. #2: 6 (-4) - Illinois

15. Dan Dz.: 6 (-6) - Illinois

15. Dianna A.: 6 (-6) - Arkansas

17. Brett G. #4: 6 (-8) - Baylor

17. Daisy N. #2: 6 (-8) - Gonzaga

17. Irene H. #4: 6 (-8) - Texas

17. Jim D. #1: 6 (-8) - Gonzaga

17. Hutch H. #1: 6 (-8) - Gonzaga

17. Jace D.: 6 (-8) - Florida

23. Jay H. #1: 6 (-10) - Gonzaga

23. Daniel Du.: 6 (-10) - Oregon

23. Brandon B.: 6 (-10) - Illinois

23. Jim D. #2: 6 (-10) - Gonzaga

23. Zach V.: 6 (-10) - Illinois

23. Harrell R. #2: 6 (-10) - Iowa

29. Ann K.: 6 (-16) - Illinois

29. Nate R.: 6 (-16) - Gonzaga

29. JoJo D.: 6 (-16) - Oklahoma State

29. Missy W.: 6 (-16) - Baylor

33. Michael Wh.: 6 (-18) - Illinois

34. Paul W.: 6 (-22) - Houston

35. Brandon H. #1: 6 (-32) - Gonzaga

35. Peter J. #3: 6 (-32) - Michigan

35. Daisy N. #4: 6 (-32) - Gonzaga

35. Keal B.: 6 (-32) - Michigan

39. Harrell R. #3: 6 (-34) - Michigan

39. Daisy N. #9: 6 (-34) - Texas

39. Harrell R. #1: 6 (-34) - Gonzaga

42. Addie H.: 6 (-64) - Ohio State

42. Chad L.: 6 (-64) - Ohio State

44. Drew R.: 5 (-3) - Gonzaga

44. Steve D.: 5 (-3) - Illinois

46. Ben W.: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. Chris T. #1: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. Chris T. #2: 5 (-5) - Illinois

46. Brett G. #3: 5 (-5) - Illinois

46. Mason A. #2: 5 (-5) - Illinois

46. Bret K. #2: 5 (-5) - Baylor

46. Eric V.: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. Peter J. #4: 5 (-5) - Baylor

46. Adam E. #2: 5 (-5) - Illinois

46. Brain K. #3: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. Eric G. #2: 5 (-5) - Illinois

46. Michelle L. #2: 5 (-5) - Houston

46. Chrissy I.: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. Gigi I.: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. James P.: 5 (-5) - Illinois

46. Peter J. #5: 5 (-5) - Oklahoma State

46. Tomas L. #1: 5 (-5) - Baylor

46. Tomas L. #2: 5 (-5) - Baylor

46. Jay H. #3: 5 (-5) - Kansas

46. Mason A. #1: 5 (-5) - Gonzaga

46. Molly R.: 5 (-5) - Michigan

67. Matt M.: 5 (-7) - Gonzaga

67. Mike Wi.: 5 (-7) - Iowa

67. Roth W.: 5 (-7) - Baylor

67. Andrew D. #1: 5 (-7) - Baylor

67. Andrew D. #2: 5 (-7) - Illinois

67. Daisy N. #6: 5 (-7) - Illinois

73. Paul Kr.: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Jason S.: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Ray M. #2: 5 (-9) - Kansas

73. John M. #2: 5 (-9) - Connecticut

73. Daisy N. #1: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Irene H. #2: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Tyler B.: 5 (-9) - Michigan

73. Chun W. #3: 5 (-9) - Iowa

73. Gary W.: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Howard S. #1: 5 (-9) - Baylor

73. Hutch H. #2: 5 (-9) - Baylor

73. Jackson I.: 5 (-9) - Baylor

73. Jonathan J.: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Justin M.: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Klei R. - BO: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Klei R. - Seth D.: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. Peter J. #1: 5 (-9) - Gonzaga

73. William G. #1: 5 (-9) - Baylor

91. Kirt R. #1: 5 (-11) - Gonzaga

91. Jared B.: 5 (-11) - Gonzaga

91. Ryan W.: 5 (-11) - Illinois

91. Alex I.: 5 (-11) - Gonzaga

91. Brent E. #2: 5 (-11) - Michigan

91. Brent E. #3: 5 (-11) - Illinois

91. Brent E. #4: 5 (-11) - Baylor

91. John M. #1: 5 (-11) - Gonzaga

91. Klei R. #3 - Jay B.: 5 (-11) - Gonzaga

91. Scott H.#1: 5 (-11) - Gonzaga

91. Tucker D.: 5 (-11) - Alabama

102. Daisy N. #5: 5 (-13) - West Virginia

103. Brain K. #1: 5 (-15) - Alabama

104. Dennis R. #1: 5 (-17) - Illinois

104. Dennis R. #2: 5 (-17) - Michigan

104. Brad R. #1: 5 (-17) - Illinois

104. Peter J. #2: 5 (-17) - Illinois

104. Ray M. #1: 5 (-17) - Gonzaga

104. Damien R. #2: 5 (-17) - Illinois

104. Brandon H. #2: 5 (-17) - Houston

104. Howard S. #2: 5 (-17) - Houston

104. Brett W.: 5 (-17) - Gonzaga

104. Chun W. #1: 5 (-17) - Illinois

104. Irene H. #1: 5 (-17) - Illinois

115. Juju Suki I.: 5 (-19) - Oklahoma State

115. Jaxon S.: 5 (-19) - Gonzaga

115. Brent E. #1: 5 (-19) - Gonzaga

115. Brett G. #1: 5 (-19) - Gonzaga

115. Dave M.: 5 (-19) - Illinois

115. Valerie D.: 5 (-19) - Gonzaga

121. Klei R. - WaPo: 5 (-21) - Illinois

122. Nick V.: 5 (-33) - Gonzaga

122. Eric G. #1: 5 (-33) - Gonzaga

122. Chun W. #4: 5 (-33) - Alabama

125. Alyssa B.: 5 (-35) - Gonzaga

125. Mike N.: 5 (-35) - Gonzaga

125. Brain K. #4: 5 (-35) - Florida State

128. Bret K. #1: 5 (-39) - Gonzaga

129. Cicely K.: 5 (-65) - Ohio State

130. Irene H. #5: 5 (-67) - Ohio State

131. Irene H. #6: 4 (-6) - Michigan

131. Brain K. #2: 4 (-6) - Oklahoma State

131. Noah N.: 4 (-6) - Illinois

131. Virginia L.: 4 (-6) - Texas

131. Brett G. #2: 4 (-6) - Gonzaga

131. Elizabeth N. #2: 4 (-6) - Illinois

131. Jim W.: 4 (-6) - Illinois

131. Klei R. #1: 4 (-6) - Gonzaga

131. John M. #4: 4 (-6) - Georgetown

131. Brad R. #2: 4 (-6) - Gonzaga

131. Irene H. #3: 4 (-6) - Baylor

142. Karen C.: 4 (-8) - Gonzaga

142. Shawn M.: 4 (-8) - Illinois

142. Chun W. #2: 4 (-8) - Gonzaga

142. Scott H. #2: 4 (-8) - Gonzaga

146. Craig G.: 4 (-10) - Baylor

146. Daisy N. #3: 4 (-10) - Baylor

146. Elizabeth N. #1: 4 (-10) - Gonzaga

146. Dan C.: 4 (-10) - Gonzaga

146. Matt N.: 4 (-10) - Baylor

151. Josh C.: 4 (-12) - Baylor

151. Stefon K.: 4 (-12) - Gonzaga

153. Chris E.: 4 (-14) - Iowa

154. Avery S.: 4 (-18) - Gonzaga

154. Dylan B.: 4 (-18) - Illinois

154. Daniel E.: 4 (-18) - Illinois

154. John M. #3: 4 (-18) - Florida State

158. Clifton H. #2: 4 (-20) - Gonzaga

158. Daisy N. #8: 4 (-20) - Iowa

160. Becky H: 4 (-24) - Michigan

161. Mark A. #2: 4 (-36) - Michigan

162. Brad R. #3: 4 (-66) - Ohio State

162. Amanda R.: 4 (-66) - Ohio State

162. Daisy N. #7: 4 (-66) - Ohio State

165. Damien R. #4: 4 (-70) - Ohio State

166. Damien R. #3: 3 (-7) - Gonzaga

166. Klei R. #2: 3 (-7) - Illinois

166. Mike McQ.: 3 (-7) - Texas

169. Kirt R. #2: 3 (-11) - Gonzaga

170. Eric S.: 3 (-13) - Baylor

170. Ally H.: 3 (-13) - Gonzaga

170. Daisy N. #10: 3 (-13) - Kansas

170. Jay H. #2: 3 (-13) - Baylor

170. Nick I.: 3 (-13) - Gonzaga

175. Andy M.: 3 (-15) - Connecticut

175. Damien R. #1: 3 (-15) - Gonzaga

175. Alyssa N.: 3 (-15) - Gonzaga

178. Clifton H. #1: 3 (-21) - Michigan

178. Michelle L. #3: 3 (-21) - Illinois

180. Michelle L. #1: 3 (-37) - Gonzaga

181. Cindy R.: 2 (-46) - Virginia

And here are the standings based on net points.  This is the ranking that is most closely correlated with the health of your bracket, so the one I pay the most attention to in the first few rounds:

1. Scott K. (4)

2. Elliot N. (2)

2. Mark A. #1 (2)

2. Mike S. (2)

2. Marc R. (2)

2. Rob I. (2)

2. Owen R. (2)

2. Brad R. #4 (2)

2. Colston W. (2)

2. Adam E. #1 (2)

2. William G. #2 (2)

2. Drew R. (2)

2. Steve D. (2)

14. Hutch H. #3 (0)

14. Dustin B. (0)

14. Dan Dz. (0)

14. Dianna A. (0)

14. Ben W. (0)

14. Chris T. #1 (0)

14. Chris T. #2 (0)

14. Brett G. #3 (0)

14. Mason A. #2 (0)

14. Bret K. #2 (0)

14. Eric V. (0)

14. Peter J. #4 (0)

14. Adam E. #2 (0)

14. Brain K. #3 (0)

14. Eric G. #2 (0)

14. Michelle L. #2 (0)

14. Chrissy I. (0)

14. Gigi I. (0)

14. James P. (0)

14. Peter J. #5 (0)

14. Tomas L. #1 (0)

14. Tomas L. #2 (0)

14. Jay H. #3 (0)

14. Mason A. #1 (0)

14. Molly R. (0)

39. Brett G. #4 (-2)

39. Daisy N. #2 (-2)

39. Irene H. #4 (-2)

39. Jim D. #1 (-2)

39. Hutch H. #1 (-2)

39. Jace D. (-2)

39. Matt M. (-2)

39. Mike Wi. (-2)

39. Roth W. (-2)

39. Andrew D. #1 (-2)

39. Andrew D. #2 (-2)

39. Daisy N. #6 (-2)

39. Irene H. #6 (-2)

39. Brain K. #2 (-2)

39. Noah N. (-2)

39. Virginia L. (-2)

39. Brett G. #2 (-2)

39. Elizabeth N. #2 (-2)

39. Jim W. (-2)

39. Klei R. #1 (-2)

39. John M. #4 (-2)

39. Brad R. #2 (-2)

39. Irene H. #3 (-2)

62. Jay H. #1 (-4)

62. Daniel Du. (-4)

62. Brandon B. (-4)

62. Jim D. #2 (-4)

62. Zach V. (-4)

62. Harrell R. #2 (-4)

62. Paul Kr. (-4)

62. Jason S. (-4)

62. Ray M. #2 (-4)

62. John M. #2 (-4)

62. Daisy N. #1 (-4)

62. Irene H. #2 (-4)

62. Tyler B. (-4)

62. Chun W. #3 (-4)

62. Gary W. (-4)

62. Howard S. #1 (-4)

62. Hutch H. #2 (-4)

62. Jackson I. (-4)

62. Jonathan J. (-4)

62. Justin M. (-4)

62. Klei R. - BO (-4)

62. Klei R. - Seth D. (-4)

62. Peter J. #1 (-4)

62. William G. #1 (-4)

62. Karen C. (-4)

62. Shawn M. (-4)

62. Chun W. #2 (-4)

62. Scott H. #2 (-4)

62. Damien R. #3 (-4)

62. Klei R. #2 (-4)

62. Mike McQ. (-4)

93. Kirt R. #1 (-6)

93. Jared B. (-6)

93. Ryan W. (-6)

93. Alex I. (-6)

93. Brent E. #2 (-6)

93. Brent E. #3 (-6)

93. Brent E. #4 (-6)

93. John M. #1 (-6)

93. Klei R. #3 - Jay B. (-6)

93. Scott H.#1 (-6)

93. Tucker D. (-6)

93. Craig G. (-6)

93. Daisy N. #3 (-6)

93. Elizabeth N. #1 (-6)

93. Dan C. (-6)

93. Matt N. (-6)

109. Daisy N. #5 (-8)

109. Josh C. (-8)

109. Stefon K. (-8)

109. Kirt R. #2 (-8)

113. Ann K. (-10)

113. Nate R. (-10)

113. JoJo D. (-10)

113. Missy W. (-10)

113. Brain K. #1 (-10)

113. Chris E. (-10)

113. Eric S. (-10)

113. Ally H. (-10)

113. Daisy N. #10 (-10)

113. Jay H. #2 (-10)

113. Nick I. (-10)

124. Michael Wh. (-12)

124. Dennis R. #1 (-12)

124. Dennis R. #2 (-12)

124. Brad R. #1 (-12)

124. Peter J. #2 (-12)

124. Ray M. #1 (-12)

124. Damien R. #2 (-12)

124. Brandon H. #2 (-12)

124. Howard S. #2 (-12)

124. Brett W. (-12)

124. Chun W. #1 (-12)

124. Irene H. #1 (-12)

124. Andy M. (-12)

124. Damien R. #1 (-12)

124. Alyssa N. (-12)

139. Juju Suki I. (-14)

139. Jaxon S. (-14)

139. Brent E. #1 (-14)

139. Brett G. #1 (-14)

139. Dave M. (-14)

139. Valerie D. (-14)

139. Avery S. (-14)

139. Dylan B. (-14)

139. Daniel E. (-14)

139. John M. #3 (-14)

149. Paul W. (-16)

149. Klei R. - WaPo (-16)

149. Clifton H. #2 (-16)

149. Daisy N. #8 (-16)

153. Clifton H. #1 (-18)

153. Michelle L. #3 (-18)

155. Becky H (-20)

156. Tina H. (-24)

157. Brandon H. #1 (-26)

157. Peter J. #3 (-26)

157. Daisy N. #4 (-26)

157. Keal B. (-26)

161. Harrell R. #3 (-28)

161. Daisy N. #9 (-28)

161. Harrell R. #1 (-28)

161. Nick V. (-28)

161. Eric G. #1 (-28)

161. Chun W. #4 (-28)

167. Alyssa B. (-30)

167. Mike N. (-30)

167. Brain K. #4 (-30)

170. Mark A. #2 (-32)

171. Bret K. #1 (-34)

171. Michelle L. #1 (-34)

173. Cindy R. (-44)

174. Addie H. (-58)

174. Chad L. (-58)

176. Cicely K. (-60)

177. Irene H. #5 (-62)

177. Brad R. #3 (-62)

177. Amanda R. (-62)

177. Daisy N. #7 (-62)

181. Damien R. #4 (-66)

Here is the next set of four games:

Oklahoma State picks: 160

Liberty: 21

Vegas Line: Oklahoma State -7.5

What’s the difference between this game and the Oral Roberts / Ohio State game?  Probably not much.  Both smaller schools are tiny Catholic schools going against Big 5 conference powerhouses.  In this case, Oklahoma State has the consensus #1 pick of the NBA draft, so people there are some people looking for Cade Cunningham to make some kind of Carmelo Anthony-type run to the Championship.  He could.  Then again, Liberty is actually a good team, even though I think the school itself is a money laundering operation masquerading as a school.  I’ll root for Oklahoma State, but I’d be lying if I said that I thought I had a good idea of this one was going to go.

North Carolina picks: 86

Wisconsin picks: 95

Vegas Line: North Carolina -1.5

I’m not sure what to make of this game.  I mentioned earlier that I thought the Big 10 was about 5 teams good.  I was probably right about that, but Ohio State losing is making me re-think that number.  Where that leaves Wisconsin confuses me.  Is the Big 10 any good?  They are 1-2 so far.  Honestly, I don’t think that record is a fair way to judge.  I think a conference should be judged based on how they do against the seeds.  For example, Illinois beating Drexel doesn’t make the Big 10 look any better since they were supposed to win that game.  Ohio State losing does make the Big 10 look bad because they weren’t supposed to win by the seeds.  Just my 2 cents.  Anyway, North Carolina has been playing better at the end of the season, minus that strange Marquette game they scheduled.  This seems like a coin toss to me, which means it will probably be a 20 point blowout one way or another.

Houston picks: 176

Cleveland State picks: 5

Vegas Line: Houston -20

Cleveland State is my t-shirt pick of the afternoon.  This is the biggest point spread of the late games.  It didn’t work too well for Hartford early on.  I should have worn my Oral Roberts t-shirt.  My t-shirt collection doesn’t seem to have any kind of talismanic effect, that’s for sure.  Anyway, I have Houston at 16-1 to win the tournament, so I know who I am rooting for, t-shirt be damned.  I’m guessing most people don’t know much about Houston.  Hopefully, this will be an easy game and a good introduction to the country about them.

Purdue picks: 164

North Texas picks: 17

Vegas Line: Purdue -7.5

This line seems pretty low to me.  I think Purdue actually finished 4^th in the Big 10 regular season.  North Texas is a decent team, but were about 4^th in Conference USA.  They just had a good run in their conference tournament.  Plus, Purdue is kind of playing at home.  Not that there are enough fans to make that worth while.  Still, the pick distribution would lead you to think this would be a blowout.  Then again, only 3 people picked Oral Roberts proving once again that nobody knows anything and the winner will inevitably retcon their reasons for picking the teams they picked when they win.  I’ll pull for the Mean Green.  They do have a pretty cool nickname (not that Boilermakers is bad.  It’s also cool).