MM2021 - I need to dig out my Oral Roberts t-shirt!!!

 I want to correct the record that I heard on TV after Oral Roberts beat Florida to make the Sweet 16.  This is not a record-setting event.  Florida Gulf Coast also made the Sweet 16 as a #15 seed.  The reason I bring it up is because it means that San Diego State no longer has the ignominy of being the only team to ever lose to a #15 seed in the second round.  They now have company.  As I mentioned in the last post, Owen R. gets all the credit in the world for being the only person in the pool to pick Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16.  He is going to need more of that Oral Roberts magic as he has the Golden Eagles going all the way to the Championship game, and he’s gonna need all those points, as he has UC Santa Barbara winning it all.  Still – bragging rights.  I always say that it’s terrible strategy to pick stuff like this, but I’m not calling out all of the more conservative brackets, so it all kind of depends on what you are in the pool for.

I also watched an incredible comeback from Houston.  I have a lot riding on Houston, and my wife and I were both well resigned to them losing that game.  They looked awful.  Then again, the Big 10 is 0-3 today.  I’ve said this before – the Big 10 may have been overrated.  They are down to 3 teams from 9 to start the tournament.  Ouch…

Here are the point standings:

1. Klei R. #3 - Jay B.: 31 (-55) - Gonzaga

2. Dennis R. #2: 31 (-63) - Michigan

3. Mason A. #2: 31 (-81) - Illinois

4. Howard S. #1: 30 (-26) - Baylor

5. Colston W.: 30 (-34) - Michigan

6. Harrell R. #1: 30 (-48) - Gonzaga

7. Amanda R.: 30 (-84) - Ohio State

8. William G. #1: 29 (-29) - Baylor

9. Scott K.: 29 (-31) - Baylor

10. Mark A. #1: 29 (-33) - Baylor

11. Jason S.: 29 (-37) - Gonzaga

11. Dianna A.: 29 (-37) - Arkansas

11. Jim D. #2: 29 (-37) - Gonzaga

11. Adam E. #1: 29 (-37) - Oklahoma State

15. Jared B.: 29 (-49) - Gonzaga

16. Peter J. #1: 29 (-53) - Gonzaga

17. Keal B.: 29 (-59) - Michigan

17. Peter J. #3: 29 (-59) - Michigan

19. Cicely K.: 29 (-89) - Ohio State

19. Brent E. #3: 29 (-89) - Illinois

21. Jace D.: 29 (-101) - Florida

21. Dennis R. #1: 29 (-101) - Illinois

23. Chad L.: 29 (-105) - Ohio State

24. Owen R.: 29 (-113) - UC Santa Barbara

25. Irene H. #4: 29 (-129) - Texas

26. Ben W.: 28 (-18) - Gonzaga

27. Roth W.: 28 (-30) - Baylor

27. Harrell R. #2: 28 (-30) - Iowa

29. Michelle L. #2: 28 (-32) - Houston

30. Mike Wi.: 28 (-34) - Iowa

31. Hutch H. #2: 28 (-36) - Baylor

32. Missy W.: 28 (-38) - Baylor

32. Brent E. #4: 28 (-38) - Baylor

32. Brandon H. #2: 28 (-38) - Houston

35. Karen C.: 28 (-44) - Gonzaga

36. Irene H. #3: 28 (-52) - Baylor

37. Daisy N. #2: 28 (-54) - Gonzaga

38. Brent E. #2: 28 (-56) - Michigan

38. Tina H.: 28 (-56) - Michigan

40. Hutch H. #1: 28 (-58) - Gonzaga

41. Jaxon S.: 28 (-64) - Gonzaga

42. Valerie D.: 28 (-68) - Gonzaga

43. Brandon B.: 28 (-88) - Illinois

44. Irene H. #1: 28 (-94) - Illinois

44. Dylan B.: 28 (-94) - Illinois

46. Zach V.: 28 (-102) - Illinois

47. Bret K. #2: 27 (-29) - Baylor

48. Matt M.: 27 (-33) - Gonzaga

49. Irene H. #6: 27 (-37) - Michigan

49. Chris E.: 27 (-37) - Iowa

49. Clifton H. #2: 27 (-37) - Gonzaga

52. Matt N.: 27 (-39) - Baylor

52. Chris T. #1: 27 (-39) - Gonzaga

54. Hutch H. #3: 27 (-43) - Kansas

54. Peter J. #4: 27 (-43) - Baylor

56. Ray M. #2: 27 (-45) - Kansas

57. Jackson I.: 27 (-53) - Baylor

58. Craig G.: 27 (-55) - Baylor

59. Jim D. #1: 27 (-59) - Gonzaga

60. Rob I.: 27 (-63) - Gonzaga

61. Mike N.: 27 (-65) - Gonzaga

62. Nate R.: 27 (-69) - Gonzaga

63. Chun W. #4: 27 (-71) - Alabama

64. James P.: 27 (-83) - Illinois

65. Chris T. #2: 27 (-85) - Illinois

66. Elizabeth N. #2: 27 (-93) - Illinois

67. Chun W. #1: 27 (-97) - Illinois

68. Peter J. #2: 27 (-99) - Illinois

69. Brian K. #3: 26 (-26) - Gonzaga

69. Brian K. #2: 26 (-26) - Oklahoma State

71. Ally H.: 26 (-32) - Gonzaga

72. Scott H. #1: 26 (-34) - Gonzaga

73. Chun W. #2: 26 (-42) - Gonzaga

73. Stefon K.: 26 (-42) - Gonzaga

75. Justin M.: 26 (-44) - Gonzaga

76. Eric V.: 26 (-52) - Gonzaga

77. Klei R. - BO: 26 (-58) - Gonzaga

78. Brad R. #4: 26 (-60) - Michigan

78. Kirt R. #1: 26 (-60) - Gonzaga

78. Chun W. #3: 26 (-60) - Iowa

81. Dan C.: 26 (-68) - Gonzaga

81. Brandon H. #1: 26 (-68) - Gonzaga

81. Tomas L. #1: 26 (-68) - Baylor

81. Alyssa B.: 26 (-68) - Gonzaga

81. Harrell R. #3: 26 (-68) - Michigan

86. John M. #4: 26 (-86) - Georgetown

87. Brett G. #3: 26 (-88) - Illinois

88. Elliot N.: 26 (-94) - Illinois

88. Ann K.: 26 (-94) - Illinois

90. Dan Dz.: 26 (-96) - Illinois

91. Addie H.: 26 (-100) - Ohio State

92. Dustin B.: 26 (-104) - Illinois

93. Mike S.: 26 (-110) - Illinois

94. Steve D.: 26 (-116) - Illinois

95. Daisy N. #9: 26 (-130) - Texas

96. Klei R. #1: 25 (-29) - Gonzaga

96. Irene H. #2: 25 (-29) - Gonzaga

98. Brian K. #1: 25 (-31) - Alabama

99. Alex I.: 25 (-33) - Gonzaga

100. Molly R.: 25 (-35) - Michigan

100. Howard S. #2: 25 (-35) - Houston

102. Jay H. #2: 25 (-39) - Baylor

103. Brett G. #4: 25 (-41) - Baylor

104. Brad R. #2: 25 (-43) - Gonzaga

104. Elizabeth N. #1: 25 (-43) - Gonzaga

104. Paul W.: 25 (-43) - Houston

104. Andrew D. #1: 25 (-43) - Baylor

104. Tomas L. #2: 25 (-43) - Baylor

104. Jay H. #3: 25 (-43) - Kansas

110. Kirt R. #2: 25 (-49) - Gonzaga

111. Jay H. #1: 25 (-59) - Gonzaga

111. Tyler B.: 25 (-59) - Michigan

113. Gigi I.: 25 (-63) - Gonzaga

114. Nick V.: 25 (-65) - Gonzaga

114. Brett W.: 25 (-65) - Gonzaga

116. Daisy N. #4: 25 (-67) - Gonzaga

117. Brian K. #4: 25 (-69) - Florida State

118. Bret K. #1: 25 (-77) - Gonzaga

119. Andrew D. #2: 25 (-91) - Illinois

120. Michael Wh.: 25 (-99) - Illinois

121. Irene H. #5: 25 (-101) - Ohio State

121. Shawn M.: 25 (-101) - Illinois

123. Daniel E.: 25 (-103) - Illinois

124. Brad R. #1: 25 (-105) - Illinois

125. William G. #2: 25 (-107) - Illinois

126. Dave M.: 25 (-113) - Illinois

127. Peter J. #5: 24 (-30) - Oklahoma State

128. Clifton H. #1: 24 (-34) - Michigan

129. Brett G. #2: 24 (-36) - Gonzaga

130. Jonathan J.: 24 (-42) - Gonzaga

131. Paul Kr.: 24 (-46) - Gonzaga

132. JoJo D.: 24 (-48) - Oklahoma State

133. Eric G. #1: 24 (-58) - Gonzaga

133. Scott H. #2: 24 (-58) - Gonzaga

135. John M. #1: 24 (-60) - Gonzaga

136. Gary W.: 24 (-62) - Gonzaga

136. Klei R. - Seth D.: 24 (-62) - Gonzaga

138. Marc R.: 24 (-66) - Gonzaga

139. Brent E. #1: 24 (-68) - Gonzaga

140. Daisy N. #1: 24 (-74) - Gonzaga

141. John M. #3: 24 (-80) - Florida State

142. Jim W.: 24 (-88) - Illinois

143. Klei R. - WaPo: 24 (-104) - Illinois

143. Adam E. #2: 24 (-104) - Illinois

145. Mason A. #1: 23 (-39) - Gonzaga

146. Juju Suki I.: 23 (-55) - Oklahoma State

147. Michelle L. #1: 23 (-67) - Gonzaga

148. Daniel Du.: 23 (-71) - Oregon

149. Mark A. #2: 23 (-81) - Michigan

150. Klei R. #2: 23 (-87) - Illinois

151. Eric G. #2: 23 (-91) - Illinois

152. Virginia L.: 23 (-97) - Texas

153. Brad R. #3: 23 (-99) - Ohio State

154. Noah N.: 23 (-103) - Illinois

155. Mike McQ.: 23 (-105) - Texas

156. Josh C.: 22 (-50) - Baylor

157. Chrissy I.: 22 (-76) - Gonzaga

158. Brett G. #1: 22 (-82) - Gonzaga

159. Ray M. #1: 22 (-84) - Gonzaga

160. Drew R.: 22 (-88) - Gonzaga

161. Andy M.: 22 (-92) - Connecticut

162. Michelle L. #3: 22 (-104) - Illinois

163. Ryan W.: 22 (-106) - Illinois

164. Damien R. #2: 22 (-122) - Illinois

165. Damien R. #4: 22 (-128) - Ohio State

166. Eric S.: 21 (-53) - Baylor

167. Damien R. #1: 21 (-69) - Gonzaga

168. Avery S.: 21 (-79) - Gonzaga

169. Daisy N. #3: 20 (-48) - Baylor

170. Daisy N. #8: 20 (-76) - Iowa

170. Becky H: 20 (-76) - Michigan

172. Daisy N. #7: 20 (-110) - Ohio State

173. Daisy N. #5: 20 (-112) - West Virginia

174. Cindy R.: 20 (-152) - Virginia

175. Daisy N. #10: 19 (-65) - Kansas

176. Damien R. #3: 19 (-79) - Gonzaga

177. Daisy N. #6: 19 (-125) - Illinois

178. John M. #2: 19 (-147) - Connecticut

179. Tucker D.: 18 (-72) - Alabama

180. Nick I.: 17 (-57) - Gonzaga

181. Alyssa N.: 17 (-97) - Gonzaga

 …and the net points rankings:

1. Ben W. (10)

2. Howard S. #1 (4)

3. William G. #1 (0)

3. Brian K. #3 (0)

3. Brian K. #2 (0)

6. Scott K. (-2)

6. Roth W. (-2)

6. Harrell R. #2 (-2)

6. Bret K. #2 (-2)

10. Colston W. (-4)

10. Mark A. #1 (-4)

10. Michelle L. #2 (-4)

10. Klei R. #1 (-4)

10. Irene H. #2 (-4)

15. Mike Wi. (-6)

15. Matt M. (-6)

15. Ally H. (-6)

15. Brian K. #1 (-6)

15. Peter J. #5 (-6)

20. Jason S. (-8)

20. Dianna A. (-8)

20. Jim D. #2 (-8)

20. Adam E. #1 (-8)

20. Hutch H. #2 (-8)

20. Scott H. #1 (-8)

20. Alex I. (-8)

27. Missy W. (-10)

27. Brent E. #4 (-10)

27. Brandon H. #2 (-10)

27. Irene H. #6 (-10)

27. Chris E. (-10)

27. Clifton H. #2 (-10)

27. Molly R. (-10)

27. Howard S. #2 (-10)

27. Clifton H. #1 (-10)

36. Matt N. (-12)

36. Chris T. #1 (-12)

36. Brett G. #2 (-12)

39. Jay H. #2 (-14)

40. Karen C. (-16)

40. Hutch H. #3 (-16)

40. Peter J. #4 (-16)

40. Chun W. #2 (-16)

40. Stefon K. (-16)

40. Brett G. #4 (-16)

40. Mason A. #1 (-16)

47. Harrell R. #1 (-18)

47. Ray M. #2 (-18)

47. Justin M. (-18)

47. Brad R. #2 (-18)

47. Elizabeth N. #1 (-18)

47. Paul W. (-18)

47. Andrew D. #1 (-18)

47. Tomas L. #2 (-18)

47. Jay H. #3 (-18)

47. Jonathan J. (-18)

57. Jared B. (-20)

58. Paul Kr. (-22)

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

59. Peter J. #1 (-24)

59. Irene H. #3 (-24)

59. Kirt R. #2 (-24)

59. JoJo D. (-24)

64. Daisy N. #2 (-26)

64. Jackson I. (-26)

64. Eric V. (-26)

67. Brent E. #2 (-28)

67. Tina H. (-28)

67. Craig G. (-28)

67. Josh C. (-28)

67. Daisy N. #3 (-28)

72. Keal B. (-30)

72. Peter J. #3 (-30)

72. Hutch H. #1 (-30)

75. Dennis R. #2 (-32)

75. Jim D. #1 (-32)

75. Klei R. - BO (-32)

75. Juju Suki I. (-32)

75. Eric S. (-32)

80. Brad R. #4 (-34)

80. Kirt R. #1 (-34)

80. Chun W. #3 (-34)

80. Jay H. #1 (-34)

80. Tyler B. (-34)

80. Eric G. #1 (-34)

80. Scott H. #2 (-34)

87. Jaxon S. (-36)

87. Rob I. (-36)

87. John M. #1 (-36)

90. Mike N. (-38)

90. Gigi I. (-38)

90. Gary W. (-38)

90. Klei R. - Seth D. (-38)

94. Valerie D. (-40)

94. Nick V. (-40)

94. Brett W. (-40)

94. Nick I. (-40)

98. Nate R. (-42)

98. Dan C. (-42)

98. Brandon H. #1 (-42)

98. Tomas L. #1 (-42)

98. Alyssa B. (-42)

98. Harrell R. #3 (-42)

98. Daisy N. #4 (-42)

98. Marc R. (-42)

106. Chun W. #4 (-44)

106. Brian K. #4 (-44)

106. Brent E. #1 (-44)

106. Michelle L. #1 (-44)

110. Daisy N. #10 (-46)

111. Daniel Du. (-48)

111. Damien R. #1 (-48)

113. Mason A. #2 (-50)

113. Daisy N. #1 (-50)

115. Bret K. #1 (-52)

116. Amanda R. (-54)

116. Chrissy I. (-54)

116. Tucker D. (-54)

119. James P. (-56)

119. John M. #3 (-56)

119. Daisy N. #8 (-56)

119. Becky H (-56)

123. Chris T. #2 (-58)

123. Mark A. #2 (-58)

123. Avery S. (-58)

126. Cicely K. (-60)

126. Brent E. #3 (-60)

126. Brandon B. (-60)

126. John M. #4 (-60)

126. Brett G. #1 (-60)

126. Damien R. #3 (-60)

132. Brett G. #3 (-62)

132. Ray M. #1 (-62)

134. Jim W. (-64)

134. Klei R. #2 (-64)

136. Irene H. #1 (-66)

136. Dylan B. (-66)

136. Elizabeth N. #2 (-66)

136. Andrew D. #2 (-66)

136. Drew R. (-66)

141. Elliot N. (-68)

141. Ann K. (-68)

141. Eric G. #2 (-68)

144. Chun W. #1 (-70)

144. Dan Dz. (-70)

144. Andy M. (-70)

147. Jace D. (-72)

147. Dennis R. #1 (-72)

147. Peter J. #2 (-72)

150. Zach V. (-74)

150. Addie H. (-74)

150. Michael Wh. (-74)

150. Virginia L. (-74)

154. Chad L. (-76)

154. Irene H. #5 (-76)

154. Shawn M. (-76)

154. Brad R. #3 (-76)

158. Dustin B. (-78)

158. Daniel E. (-78)

160. Brad R. #1 (-80)

160. Klei R. - WaPo (-80)

160. Adam E. #2 (-80)

160. Noah N. (-80)

160. Alyssa N. (-80)

165. William G. #2 (-82)

165. Mike McQ. (-82)

165. Michelle L. #3 (-82)

168. Owen R. (-84)

168. Mike S. (-84)

168. Ryan W. (-84)

171. Dave M. (-88)

172. Steve D. (-90)

172. Daisy N. #7 (-90)

174. Daisy N. #5 (-92)

175. Irene H. #4 (-100)

175. Damien R. #2 (-100)

177. Daisy N. #9 (-104)

178. Damien R. #4 (-106)

178. Daisy N. #6 (-106)

180. John M. #2 (-128)

181. Cindy R. (-132)

 It looks like Villanova is shellacking North Texas.  I’ll put up the stats, but just know that if you pciked Villanova, you are getting the points:

Picks for Villanova: 45

Picks for North Texas: 8

Other picks: 128

Vegas Line: Villanova -5.5

I think a lot of people discounted Villanova because their point guard is out with an ACL injury.  Guess they aren’t as bad as people thought.  Hmmm..  I’ll pull for North Texas to make it close, but I’m not holding my breath.

Picks for Oklahoma State: 111

Picks for Oregon State: 5

Other: 65

Vegas Line: Oklahoma State -6

I say that the Midwest may be the wacky bracket, but if you consider the Sweet 16 as supposed to be populated with the #1-#4 seeds, both the South and Midwest might wind up with the same number of lower seeds there – 2 each.  The South will have Villanova (#5) and Oral Roberts (#15).  The Midwest already has Loyola-Chicago (#8) and Syracuse (#11).  I don’t know what to make of this Oregon State squad.  They always struck me as a plucky team that would pull a small handful of upsets in the Pac 12, but nothing special.  Now they’ve gone on quite a run and have looked pretty good doing it.  I’ve seen Oklahoma State a bunch and they seem legit.  I’m curious about this one.  I also think this is a big game for the tiebreakers.  A lot of people are really hurting for points, and Oklahoma State may be a good chance to pick up some.   We will see.  Nothing seems predictable in this tournament so far.  Just the way I like it.

Good luck to everyone!!!!