March Madness - Day 2 - 4 games in

 I was hoping for some interesting games this morning, and with the exception of Eastern Washington looking good well into the second half, and a brief run by UN Greensboro in the second half, the games weren’t all that close at the ends of any of them.  It looked like Georgetown was given the Syracuse treatment by Colorado – in that Colorado didn’t seem to be able to miss from 3 all game long.  I didn’t think Georgetown would win, but I didn’t think they’d get killed that badly.  On the flip side, I made the comment yesterday that Florida State shoots a lot of 3s and then they go out and win a game without hitting a single 3.  I know nothing.

But, since the chalk won all 4 games, there were a lot of people that went 4/4, which I’m sure they will take.  Here’s the breakdown of the picks in the first 4 games:

4 wins: 49

3 wins: 79

2 wins: 48

1 win: 5

No one was shut out this morning, which is nice to see, especially considering there wasn’t a game with a #1 or #2 seed playing.  Here are the latest point standings:

1. Mason A. #2: 16 (-6) - Illinois

2. Adam E. #1: 16 (-8) - Oklahoma State

3. Jace D.: 16 (-10) - Florida

4. Brandon B.: 16 (-14) - Illinois

5. Tina H.: 16 (-40) - Michigan

5. Irene H. #4: 16 (-40) - Texas

7. James P.: 15 (-7) - Illinois

8. Peter J. #4: 15 (-9) - Baylor

9. Colston W.: 15 (-11) - Michigan

9. Scott K.: 15 (-11) - Baylor

9. Mark A. #1: 15 (-11) - Baylor

12. Daisy N. #2: 15 (-13) - Gonzaga

12. Hutch H. #2: 15 (-13) - Baylor

12. Howard S. #1: 15 (-13) - Baylor

15. Harrell R. #2: 15 (-15) - Iowa

15. Jared B.: 15 (-15) - Gonzaga

15. Klei R. #3 - Jay B.: 15 (-15) - Gonzaga

18. Dan Dz.: 15 (-17) - Illinois

19. Jackson I.: 15 (-19) - Baylor

20. Missy W.: 15 (-21) - Baylor

20. Gigi I.: 15 (-21) - Gonzaga

20. Dennis R. #2: 15 (-21) - Michigan

20. Owen R.: 15 (-21) - UC Santa Barbara

24. Dennis R. #1: 15 (-25) - Illinois

24. Dustin B.: 15 (-25) - Illinois

26. Brad R. #1: 15 (-27) - Illinois

26. Valerie D.: 15 (-27) - Gonzaga

28. Peter J. #3: 15 (-37) - Michigan

28. Alyssa B.: 15 (-37) - Gonzaga

30. Brad R. #4: 15 (-39) - Michigan

30. Harrell R. #1: 15 (-39) - Gonzaga

30. Harrell R. #3: 15 (-39) - Michigan

30. Rob I.: 15 (-39) - Gonzaga

34. Brandon H. #1: 15 (-43) - Gonzaga

35. Daisy N. #9: 15 (-45) - Texas

35. Mike N.: 15 (-45) - Gonzaga

37. Irene H. #3: 14 (-8) - Baylor

38. Elliot N.: 14 (-10) - Illinois

38. Tomas L. #1: 14 (-10) - Baylor

40. Mike Wi.: 14 (-12) - Iowa

40. Drew R.: 14 (-12) - Gonzaga

40. Chris T. #1: 14 (-12) - Gonzaga

40. Chris T. #2: 14 (-12) - Illinois

44. Hutch H. #1: 14 (-14) - Gonzaga

44. Hutch H. #3: 14 (-14) - Kansas

44. Peter J. #1: 14 (-14) - Gonzaga

44. Andrew D. #2: 14 (-14) - Illinois

44. Roth W.: 14 (-14) - Baylor

49. Jim D. #2: 14 (-16) - Gonzaga

49. Dianna A.: 14 (-16) - Arkansas

49. Scott H. #1: 14 (-16) - Gonzaga

52. Ann K.: 14 (-22) - Illinois

52. Irene H. #1: 14 (-22) - Illinois

52. Howard S. #2: 14 (-22) - Houston

52. Zach V.: 14 (-22) - Illinois

52. Nate R.: 14 (-22) - Gonzaga

57. Jaxon S.: 14 (-30) - Gonzaga

57. Michael Wh.: 14 (-30) - Illinois

59. Chun W. #4: 14 (-38) - Alabama

60. Bret K. #1: 14 (-50) - Gonzaga

61. Chad L.: 14 (-72) - Ohio State

62. Cicely K.: 14 (-76) - Ohio State

63. Tomas L. #2: 13 (-9) - Baylor

64. Adam E. #2: 13 (-11) - Illinois

64. Brain K. #3: 13 (-11) - Gonzaga

66. Elizabeth N. #2: 13 (-13) - Illinois

66. Tyler B.: 13 (-13) - Michigan

66. Karen C.: 13 (-13) - Gonzaga

66. Eric V.: 13 (-13) - Gonzaga

66. Jonathan J.: 13 (-13) - Gonzaga

66. Justin M.: 13 (-13) - Gonzaga

66. William G. #2: 13 (-13) - Illinois

73. Jim D. #1: 13 (-15) - Gonzaga

73. Craig G.: 13 (-15) - Baylor

73. Matt M.: 13 (-15) - Gonzaga

73. Ray M. #2: 13 (-15) - Kansas

73. Andrew D. #1: 13 (-15) - Baylor

73. Marc R.: 13 (-15) - Gonzaga

73. Brent E. #2: 13 (-15) - Michigan

80. Chris E.: 13 (-17) - Iowa

80. Jay H. #1: 13 (-17) - Gonzaga

80. Bret K. #2: 13 (-17) - Baylor

80. Klei R. - BO: 13 (-17) - Gonzaga

80. William G. #1: 13 (-17) - Baylor

80. Irene H. #2: 13 (-17) - Gonzaga

80. Brent E. #3: 13 (-17) - Illinois

80. Brent E. #4: 13 (-17) - Baylor

88. Jason S.: 13 (-19) - Gonzaga

89. Daisy N. #1: 13 (-21) - Gonzaga

89. Brain K. #1: 13 (-21) - Alabama

91. Dylan B.: 13 (-23) - Illinois

91. Peter J. #2: 13 (-23) - Illinois

91. Brandon H. #2: 13 (-23) - Houston

91. Alex I.: 13 (-23) - Gonzaga

95. Dave M.: 13 (-25) - Illinois

96. Damien R. #2: 13 (-27) - Illinois

97. Paul W.: 13 (-29) - Houston

98. Klei R. - WaPo: 13 (-31) - Illinois

99. JoJo D.: 13 (-35) - Oklahoma State

100. Brain K. #4: 13 (-39) - Florida State

101. Keal B.: 13 (-41) - Michigan

101. Daisy N. #4: 13 (-41) - Gonzaga

103. Eric G. #1: 13 (-43) - Gonzaga

104. Addie H.: 13 (-71) - Ohio State

104. John M. #4: 13 (-71) - Georgetown

106. Mike S.: 12 (-10) - Illinois

107. Virginia L.: 12 (-12) - Texas

107. Brain K. #2: 12 (-12) - Oklahoma State

107. Jay H. #3: 12 (-12) - Kansas

107. Ben W.: 12 (-12) - Gonzaga

107. Irene H. #6: 12 (-12) - Michigan

107. Michelle L. #2: 12 (-12) - Houston

113. Eric G. #2: 12 (-14) - Illinois

113. Brett G. #3: 12 (-14) - Illinois

115. Matt N.: 12 (-16) - Baylor

116. Brett G. #2: 12 (-18) - Gonzaga

116. Elizabeth N. #1: 12 (-18) - Gonzaga

116. Jim W.: 12 (-18) - Illinois

116. Noah N.: 12 (-18) - Illinois

120. Shawn M.: 12 (-20) - Illinois

121. Daniel E.: 12 (-22) - Illinois

121. Klei R. - Seth D.: 12 (-22) - Gonzaga

121. Gary W.: 12 (-22) - Gonzaga

124. Brett W.: 12 (-24) - Gonzaga

125. Mike McQ.: 12 (-26) - Texas

125. Clifton H. #2: 12 (-26) - Gonzaga

127. Daisy N. #6: 12 (-28) - Illinois

128. Becky H: 12 (-30) - Michigan

128. Chun W. #1: 12 (-30) - Illinois

130. Juju Suki I.: 12 (-32) - Oklahoma State

130. Dan C.: 12 (-32) - Gonzaga

132. Chrissy I.: 12 (-46) - Gonzaga

133. Kirt R. #1: 12 (-50) - Gonzaga

133. Daniel Du.: 12 (-50) - Oregon

135. Mark A. #2: 12 (-52) - Michigan

135. John M. #3: 12 (-52) - Florida State

137. Damien R. #4: 12 (-76) - Ohio State

137. Irene H. #5: 12 (-76) - Ohio State

137. Amanda R.: 12 (-76) - Ohio State

140. Peter J. #5: 11 (-13) - Oklahoma State

141. Klei R. #1: 11 (-15) - Gonzaga

141. Scott H. #2: 11 (-15) - Gonzaga

143. Jay H. #2: 11 (-17) - Baylor

143. Chun W. #3: 11 (-17) - Iowa

145. Brett G. #4: 11 (-19) - Baylor

145. Stefon K.: 11 (-19) - Gonzaga

145. Kirt R. #2: 11 (-19) - Gonzaga

145. Ally H.: 11 (-19) - Gonzaga

149. Chun W. #2: 11 (-21) - Gonzaga

149. Paul Kr.: 11 (-21) - Gonzaga

149. Ryan W.: 11 (-21) - Illinois

152. Daisy N. #5: 11 (-23) - West Virginia

153. John M. #1: 11 (-25) - Gonzaga

154. Clifton H. #1: 11 (-27) - Michigan

154. Brad R. #2: 11 (-27) - Gonzaga

154. Brent E. #1: 11 (-27) - Gonzaga

154. Josh C.: 11 (-27) - Baylor

158. Brett G. #1: 11 (-29) - Gonzaga

159. Steve D.: 11 (-35) - Illinois

160. Nick V.: 11 (-51) - Gonzaga

161. Daisy N. #7: 11 (-79) - Ohio State

162. Mason A. #1: 10 (-14) - Gonzaga

162. Molly R.: 10 (-14) - Michigan

164. Daisy N. #3: 10 (-20) - Baylor

165. Andy M.: 10 (-22) - Connecticut

166. Daisy N. #8: 10 (-34) - Iowa

166. Michelle L. #3: 10 (-34) - Illinois

168. Nick I.: 10 (-38) - Gonzaga

168. Avery S.: 10 (-38) - Gonzaga

170. Alyssa N.: 10 (-42) - Gonzaga

171. Michelle L. #1: 10 (-50) - Gonzaga

172. Cindy R.: 10 (-52) - Virginia

173. John M. #2: 10 (-62) - Connecticut

174. Brad R. #3: 10 (-78) - Ohio State

175. Klei R. #2: 9 (-17) - Illinois

176. Eric S.: 9 (-21) - Baylor

177. Damien R. #1: 9 (-25) - Gonzaga

178. Ray M. #1: 9 (-31) - Gonzaga

179. Tucker D.: 9 (-55) - Alabama

180. Damien R. #3: 8 (-22) - Gonzaga

181. Daisy N. #10: 8 (-28) - Kansas

 …and the net points rankings:

1. Mason A. #2 (10)

2. Adam E. #1 (8)

2. James P. (8)

4. Jace D. (6)

4. Peter J. #4 (6)

4. Irene H. #3 (6)

7. Colston W. (4)

7. Scott K. (4)

7. Mark A. #1 (4)

7. Elliot N. (4)

7. Tomas L. #1 (4)

7. Tomas L. #2 (4)

13. Brandon B. (2)

13. Daisy N. #2 (2)

13. Hutch H. #2 (2)

13. Howard S. #1 (2)

13. Mike Wi. (2)

13. Drew R. (2)

13. Chris T. #1 (2)

13. Chris T. #2 (2)

13. Adam E. #2 (2)

13. Brain K. #3 (2)

13. Mike S. (2)

24. Harrell R. #2 (0)

24. Jared B. (0)

24. Klei R. #3 - Jay B. (0)

24. Hutch H. #1 (0)

24. Hutch H. #3 (0)

24. Peter J. #1 (0)

24. Andrew D. #2 (0)

24. Roth W. (0)

24. Elizabeth N. #2 (0)

24. Tyler B. (0)

24. Karen C. (0)

24. Eric V. (0)

24. Jonathan J. (0)

24. Justin M. (0)

24. William G. #2 (0)

24. Virginia L. (0)

24. Brain K. #2 (0)

24. Jay H. #3 (0)

24. Ben W. (0)

24. Irene H. #6 (0)

24. Michelle L. #2 (0)

45. Dan Dz. (-2)

45. Jim D. #2 (-2)

45. Dianna A. (-2)

45. Scott H. #1 (-2)

45. Jim D. #1 (-2)

45. Craig G. (-2)

45. Matt M. (-2)

45. Ray M. #2 (-2)

45. Andrew D. #1 (-2)

45. Marc R. (-2)

45. Brent E. #2 (-2)

45. Eric G. #2 (-2)

45. Brett G. #3 (-2)

45. Peter J. #5 (-2)

59. Jackson I. (-4)

59. Chris E. (-4)

59. Jay H. #1 (-4)

59. Bret K. #2 (-4)

59. Klei R. - BO (-4)

59. William G. #1 (-4)

59. Irene H. #2 (-4)

59. Brent E. #3 (-4)

59. Brent E. #4 (-4)

59. Matt N. (-4)

59. Klei R. #1 (-4)

59. Scott H. #2 (-4)

59. Mason A. #1 (-4)

59. Molly R. (-4)

73. Missy W. (-6)

73. Gigi I. (-6)

73. Dennis R. #2 (-6)

73. Owen R. (-6)

73. Jason S. (-6)

73. Brett G. #2 (-6)

73. Elizabeth N. #1 (-6)

73. Jim W. (-6)

73. Noah N. (-6)

73. Jay H. #2 (-6)

73. Chun W. #3 (-6)

84. Ann K. (-8)

84. Irene H. #1 (-8)

84. Howard S. #2 (-8)

84. Zach V. (-8)

84. Nate R. (-8)

84. Daisy N. #1 (-8)

84. Brain K. #1 (-8)

84. Shawn M. (-8)

84. Brett G. #4 (-8)

84. Stefon K. (-8)

84. Kirt R. #2 (-8)

84. Ally H. (-8)

84. Klei R. #2 (-8)

97. Dennis R. #1 (-10)

97. Dustin B. (-10)

97. Dylan B. (-10)

97. Peter J. #2 (-10)

97. Brandon H. #2 (-10)

97. Alex I. (-10)

97. Daniel E. (-10)

97. Klei R. - Seth D. (-10)

97. Gary W. (-10)

97. Chun W. #2 (-10)

97. Paul Kr. (-10)

97. Ryan W. (-10)

97. Daisy N. #3 (-10)

110. Brad R. #1 (-12)

110. Valerie D. (-12)

110. Dave M. (-12)

110. Brett W. (-12)

110. Daisy N. #5 (-12)

110. Andy M. (-12)

110. Eric S. (-12)

117. Damien R. #2 (-14)

117. Mike McQ. (-14)

117. Clifton H. #2 (-14)

117. John M. #1 (-14)

117. Damien R. #3 (-14)

122. Jaxon S. (-16)

122. Michael Wh. (-16)

122. Paul W. (-16)

122. Daisy N. #6 (-16)

122. Clifton H. #1 (-16)

122. Brad R. #2 (-16)

122. Brent E. #1 (-16)

122. Josh C. (-16)

122. Damien R. #1 (-16)

131. Klei R. - WaPo (-18)

131. Becky H (-18)

131. Chun W. #1 (-18)

131. Brett G. #1 (-18)

135. Juju Suki I. (-20)

135. Dan C. (-20)

135. Daisy N. #10 (-20)

138. Peter J. #3 (-22)

138. Alyssa B. (-22)

138. JoJo D. (-22)

138. Ray M. #1 (-22)

142. Tina H. (-24)

142. Irene H. #4 (-24)

142. Brad R. #4 (-24)

142. Harrell R. #1 (-24)

142. Harrell R. #3 (-24)

142. Rob I. (-24)

142. Chun W. #4 (-24)

142. Steve D. (-24)

142. Daisy N. #8 (-24)

142. Michelle L. #3 (-24)

152. Brain K. #4 (-26)

153. Brandon H. #1 (-28)

153. Keal B. (-28)

153. Daisy N. #4 (-28)

153. Nick I. (-28)

153. Avery S. (-28)

158. Daisy N. #9 (-30)

158. Mike N. (-30)

158. Eric G. #1 (-30)

161. Alyssa N. (-32)

162. Chrissy I. (-34)

163. Bret K. #1 (-36)

164. Kirt R. #1 (-38)

164. Daniel Du. (-38)

166. Mark A. #2 (-40)

166. John M. #3 (-40)

166. Nick V. (-40)

166. Michelle L. #1 (-40)

170. Cindy R. (-42)

171. Tucker D. (-46)

172. John M. #2 (-52)

173. Chad L. (-58)

173. Addie H. (-58)

173. John M. #4 (-58)

176. Cicely K. (-62)

177. Damien R. #4 (-64)

177. Irene H. #5 (-64)

177. Amanda R. (-64)

180. Daisy N. #7 (-68)

180. Brad R. #3 (-68)

 It looks like Mason A. #2 is the last remaining entry that only has 1 Sweet 16 team out – hence the #1 spot at the top of the net point rankings.

Picks for Michigan: 180

Picks for Texas Southern: 1

Vegas Line: Michigan -25.5 

My guess is that a lot of people learned that Isiah Livers was out for the tournament and downgraded Michigan.  That’s part of the reason the East has the biggest range of picks for teams to win the region.  I think that may make a difference for them in later rounds (and maybe the next round against LSU), but I’ll be really surprised if it matters against Texas Southern.  One needs only look to Villanova yesterday to see that losing a key player isn’t a death sentence for the team.  I know nothing about Texas Southern except that they won the play-in game and Megan Thee Stallion went there.

Picks for Creighton: 115

Picks for UC Santa Barbara: 66

Vegas Line: Creighton -6.5

It’s everyone’s favorite upset special.  The 5/12 game that everyone loves to pick.  This is the last of them for this year.  So far, the 12 seeds are 1-2, with only Oregon State winning.  Winthrop and Georgetown didn’t come all that close to pulling of the upset, so this is our last chance.  I think UCSB is more in the Winthrop mold.  Even more so when you consider that Creighton and Villanova both are Big East teams.  The last time we saw Creighton, they were getting run out of the gym in the Big East tournament by Georgetown, and their head coach was get suspended for making some kind of comments about his athletes being “off the plantation”.  Yikes.  Definitely one worth watching.

Picks for Alabama: 175

Picks for Iona: 6

Vegas Line: Alabama -17

I have a ranking system that I use during the system, and my system identified Alabama as a really good time a few weeks before the actual AP voters did.  I’ve seen some stats that don’t look to good for high-seeded teams that started the season unranked, which would be the case for Alabama.  I’m not buying into that just yet.  Then again, Iona is coached by Rick Pitino, who may be in the basketball Hall of Fame.  My wife thinks he looks like a vampire, and he kind of does.  That makes Iona a dangerous #15 seed.

Picks for USC: 148

Picks for Drake: 33

Vegas Line: USC – 6.5

I always recommend picking the play-in winners to win a game in the first round.  Since they put them in, I think last year was the first time that the play-in winner didn’t win a first round game.  The nice bonus also is that you may have liked Wichita State, but you get Drake anyway.  The downside for the Drake Bulldogs is that the Pac 12 has looked really good in this tournament so far.  They were pretty well disparaged during the regular season, but UCLA, Colorado and Oregon State have all won games so far.  I thought USC was the 3^rd best team in the Pac-12 after Colorado and Oregon this season.  We’ll see what happens.  I won’t be disappointed if a mid-major like Drake wins.  I like mid-majors in this tournament.

Good luck everyone!!!