2 games - 2 upsets

 We are 2 games in the tournament, and we are 2/2 where the lower seed won.  I honestly had no idea Duquesne could pull off the upset of BYU.  That was a bit of a shocker to me.  I guess LeBron James’s High School basketball coach gets to play another game.  Crazy…  I guess we are all going to have to learn more about Duquesne.

Since the last post, I found another 3 brackets in a 4^th email address I used, so we are now up to 274 entries.  Probably not going to get any more.  There are still 6 brackets that have errors.  Please let me know how you want to fix those Ali A., Rob C. and Chris L.  If I don’t hear back soon, I am going to have to permanently mark the mistake picks as blanks.  It’s kind of not fair to everyone if the mistake pick may have involved someone that has already played.  Plus, I want to calculate probabilities for the regions, and I want complete brackets to do that.

OK, so 2 upsets.  That means that only 37 people have 2 points.  85 people have 0 points.  That seems about right for this tournament.  Just non-stop craziness.  Somewhat surprisingly, the bracket I entered wholly based on Defensive efficiency rankings is 2/2.  That’s a small sample size…

If you are unfamiliar with my rankings in the early rounds, first it’s by points, with the tiebreaker being points lost (for instance, if you had BYU in the Final 4, you are probably losing all the tiebreakers at this point).  The next one is net points.  That’s pretty much points won minus points lost.  This is a better indicator of your bracket health.  There’s a lot of people, so these lists will be long.

Here are the standings after 2 games:

1. Adam S.: 2 (0) - North Carolina

1. Ally H.: 2 (0) - Purdue

1. Amber D.: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. April K.: 2 (0) - Purdue

1. Becky H.: 2 (0) - Purdue

1. Bryce O.: 2 (0) - Houston

1. Colston W.: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. D. Mag #1: 2 (0) - Auburn

1. D. Mag #4: 2 (0) - Illinois

1. Dan Dug. #2: 2 (0) - North Carolina

1. Dawn T.: 2 (0) - North Carolina

1. Def Efficiency: 2 (0) - Iowa State

1. Derek B.: 2 (0) - North Carolina

1. Derek H.: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. Dylan B.: 2 (0) - Houston

1. Jackson I.: 2 (0) - Tennessee

1. John A. #2: 2 (0) - Houston

1. Josh V.: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. Karen C.: 2 (0) - Kentucky

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

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

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

1. Marc R.: 2 (0) - Arizona

1. Mark B.: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. Matt W.: 2 (0) - Arizona

1. Michael S. #1: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. Michael S. #2: 2 (0) - Purdue

1. Patrick McC. #1: 2 (0) - Connecticut

1. Paul K. #1: 2 (0) - North Carolina

1. Ryan G.: 2 (0) - Houston

1. Ryan G.: 2 (0) - Purdue

1. Ryan W.: 2 (0) - Kentucky

1. Scott H. #1: 2 (0) - Connecticut

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

1. Stephen C.: 2 (0) - Nebraska

1. Tim N.: 2 (0) - Marquette

1. Wayne D. #1: 2 (0) - North Carolina

38. Alyssa B.: 1 (-1) - Arizona

38. Amanda R.: 1 (-1) - Wisconsin

38. Andrew D. #1: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Andrew D. #2: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Andy L.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Baily T.: 1 (-1) - South Carolina

38. Brad E.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Brad R.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Brandon B. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Brent E. #1: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Brent E. #2: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Brent E. #3: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Brent E. #4: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Brent S. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Brett G. (Sleeper): 1 (-1) - Iowa State

38. Brian K.: 1 (-1) - Illinois

38. CAAT #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. CAAT #2: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. CAAT #3: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. CAAT #4: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. CAAT #5: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Chris E.: 1 (-1) - Marquette

38. Christopher K.: 1 (-1) - Illinois

38. Chun W. #2: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Connor W.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Craig G.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. D. Mag #2: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Daisy N. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Daisy N. #3: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Daisy N. #4: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Daisy N. #7: 1 (-1) - Kentucky

38. Daisy N. #8: 1 (-1) - Tennessee

38. Daisy N. #9: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Damien R. #1: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Damien R. #2: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Dan Dug. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Dan L. #1: 1 (-1) - Tennessee

38. Dan L. #2: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Danielle A.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Dave A.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. David F. #2: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Dennis R.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. DESGRU8 (Dan Dz.): 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Eric G.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Eric S. #2: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Eric V.: 1 (-1) - Auburn

38. Finn D.: 1 (-1) - Kansas

38. Gigi I.: 1 (-1) - Arizona

38. Greg R.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Howard S. #1: 1 (-1) - Auburn

38. Howard S. #2: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Hutch H. #1: 1 (-1) - Kansas

38. Irene H. #2: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Jared V.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Jaxon S.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Jim D. #2: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Joe C.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. John A. #1: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. John N.: 1 (-1) - San Diego State

38. Kealoha G.: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Ken Pom: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Kiah H. #1: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Kim F.: 1 (-1) - Creighton

38. Kirt R. #1: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Klei R. #2: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Kristin G.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Kristina H.: 1 (-1) - Kentucky

38. Legend of Zelli: 1 (-1) - Duke

38. Luis B. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Luis B. #3: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Mark A.: 1 (-1) - Arizona

38. Marshmellow (Nik B.): 1 (-1) - Howard / Wagner

38. Mason A. #2: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Matt N.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Michelle L. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Michelle L. #2: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Michelle L. #3: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Michelle L. #4: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Michelle L. #5: 1 (-1) - Alabama

38. Mike N.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Mike V.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Mike W.: 1 (-1) - Iowa State

38. Missy W. #1: 1 (-1) - Marquette

38. Mitchell S.: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Mustard (Nikolajs B.): 1 (-1) - Oregon

38. Nate R.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Niren D.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Noah G.: 1 (-1) - Kentucky

38. Off Efficiency: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Patrick McC. #2: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Paul K. #2: 1 (-1) - Illinois

38. Paul W.: 1 (-1) - North Carolina

38. Pete J. #2: 1 (-1) - Kentucky

38. Pete J. #3: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Pete J. #5: 1 (-1) - Auburn

38. Rich F.: 1 (-1) - Marquette

38. Scott H. #2: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Scott K. #1: 1 (-1) - Tennessee

38. Shanky G.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Shawn D.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Stefon K.: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Steve Dz. #2: 1 (-1) - Illinois

38. Szecho L.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Tim Dz. #1: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

38. Tomas L.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Veronica G.: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Wayne D. #2: 1 (-1) - Auburn

38. Wayne D. #3: 1 (-1) - Purdue

38. Wayne D. #5: 1 (-1) - Houston

38. Zach V.: 1 (-1) - Connecticut

148. Ali A. #1: 1 (-3) - Washington State

148. Ali A. #2: 1 (-3) - 0

148. Brandie H.: 1 (-3) - Nebraska

148. Brett G. (Upset): 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. Brooke M. #1: 1 (-3) - Houston

148. Brooke M. #2: 1 (-3) - Arizona

148. Chris M.: 1 (-3) - Houston

148. Constance McA.: 1 (-3) - Gonzaga

148. Daisy N. #10: 1 (-3) - Arizona

148. Daisy N. #11: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. Daisy N. #12: 1 (-3) - Tennessee

148. Daisy N. #2: 1 (-3) - Purdue

148. Daniel E.: 1 (-3) - Arizona

148. Deanna T.: 1 (-3) - Purdue

148. Elizabeth N. #2: 1 (-3) - North Carolina

148. Henry A.: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. Irene H. #1: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. James G.: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. Jay H. #1: 1 (-3) - Houston

148. Jim D. #1: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. John E. #1: 1 (-3) - Houston

148. Noah N.: 1 (-3) - Kentucky

148. Rob C.: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

148. Valerie D.: 1 (-3) - Connecticut

172. Beau H.: 1 (-7) - Alabama

172. Brandon H. #2: 1 (-7) - Arizona

172. Dianna A.: 1 (-7) - Kansas

172. Elizabeth N. #1: 1 (-7) - Connecticut

172. Elizabeth P. #3: 1 (-7) - Kentucky

172. Gary W.: 1 (-7) - Arizona

172. Grant F.: 1 (-7) - Houston

172. John Mack #1: 1 (-7) - Connecticut

172. John Mack #2: 1 (-7) - Purdue

172. Josh C.: 1 (-7) - Auburn

172. Klei R. #1: 1 (-7) - Houston

172. Klei R. #3: 1 (-7) - Purdue

172. Mason A. #1: 1 (-7) - Connecticut

172. Melissa M.: 1 (-7) - Connecticut

172. Missy W. #2: 1 (-7) - Tennessee

172. Moochie #3: 1 (-7) - James Madison

172. Moochie #5: 1 (-7) - Connecticut

189. Moochie #1: 1 (-15) - North Carolina

190. Adam E.: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Ben S.: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Brandon B. #2: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Brent S. #2: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Brett W.: 0 (-2) - Arizona

190. Brooklynn B.: 0 (-2) - Purdue

190. Bryce S.: 0 (-2) - Creighton

190. Charlotte N.: 0 (-2) - San Diego State

190. Chris L. #1: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Chris L. #2: 0 (-2) - Purdue

190. Chris L. #3: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Chris L. #4: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Chris T.: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Cicely K.: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. D. Mag #3: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Damien R. #3: 0 (-2) - Houston

190. Dan Mck.: 0 (-2) - Purdue

190. Dan P.: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Dustin B.: 0 (-2) - Creighton

190. Elliot N.: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Emily T.: 0 (-2) - Arizona

190. Faye N.: 0 (-2) - Texas A&M

190. Gutless Bracket: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Irene H. #4: 0 (-2) - Arizona

190. Irene H. #5: 0 (-2) - Tennessee

190. Irene H. #6: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Irene H. #7: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Jared B.: 0 (-2) - Iowa State

190. Jay B. - ESPN: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Jay H. #2: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. John E. #2: 0 (-2) - Purdue

190. Josiah T.: 0 (-2) - North Carolina

190. Kyle V.: 0 (-2) - Houston

190. Larry G. #2: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Larry G. #3: 0 (-2) - Purdue

190. Luis B. #2: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Luis B. #4: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Luis B. #5: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Mary Lou H.: 0 (-2) - Houston

190. Miles D.: 0 (-2) - Arizona

190. Moochie #4: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Pat K.: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Pete J. #1: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Pete J. #4: 0 (-2) - Tennessee

190. Seth D.: 0 (-2) - Connecticut

190. Vang L.: 0 (-2) - Iowa State

190. Wayne D. #4: 0 (-2) - Purdue

237. Brandon H. #1: 0 (-4) - Houston

237. Chrissy I.: 0 (-4) - Arizona

237. Daisy N. #6: 0 (-4) - Iowa State

237. Damien R. #4: 0 (-4) - Long Beach State

237. Dirk F.: 0 (-4) - Purdue

237. Eric S. #1: 0 (-4) - Houston

237. Guillermo V.: 0 (-4) - Connecticut

237. Harrell R. #1: 0 (-4) - North Carolina

237. Harrell R. #2: 0 (-4) - NC State

237. Harrell R. #4: 0 (-4) - Iowa State

237. Hutch H. #2: 0 (-4) - Houston

237. Irene H. #3: 0 (-4) - Purdue

237. Jacob A.: 0 (-4) - Iowa State

237. Jim W.: 0 (-4) - North Carolina

237. Larry G. #1: 0 (-4) - Purdue

237. Larry G. #4: 0 (-4) - Tennessee

237. Mario M.: 0 (-4) - Tennessee

237. Matt H.: 0 (-4) - Connecticut

237. Melody K.: 0 (-4) - Connecticut

237. Nick I.: 0 (-4) - Purdue

237. Steve Dz. #1: 0 (-4) - Iowa State

237. Tim Dz. #2: 0 (-4) - Arizona

237. Tyler C.: 0 (-4) - Houston

260. Brett G. (Devils): 0 (-8) - Houston

260. Carlo G.: 0 (-8) - Connecticut

260. Chun W. #1: 0 (-8) - Tennessee

260. Harrell R. #3: 0 (-8) - Tennessee

260. Kiah H. #2: 0 (-8) - Texas Tech

260. Matt M.: 0 (-8) - Auburn

260. Moochie #2: 0 (-8) - Tennessee

260. Pete J. #6: 0 (-8) - Connecticut

260. Rob I.: 0 (-8) - Arizona

260. Roth W.: 0 (-8) - Houston

260. Scarlett H.: 0 (-8) - Houston

271. Brett G. (Quinnie): 0 (-10) - Arizona

271. David F. #1: 0 (-10) - Purdue

273. Adalyn H.: 0 (-16) - Purdue

273. Daisy N. #5: 0 (-16) - North Carolina

…and the net points rankings:

1. Adam S. (2)

1. Ally H. (2)

1. Amber D. (2)

1. April K. (2)

1. Becky H. (2)

1. Bryce O. (2)

1. Colston W. (2)

1. D. Mag #1 (2)

1. D. Mag #4 (2)

1. Dan Dug. #2 (2)

1. Dawn T. (2)

1. Def Efficiency (2)

1. Derek B. (2)

1. Derek H. (2)

1. Dylan B. (2)

1. Jackson I. (2)

1. John A. #2 (2)

1. Josh V. (2)

1. Karen C. (2)

1. Kevin F. #1 (2)

1. Kevin F. #2 (2)

1. Kirt R. #2 (2)

1. Marc R. (2)

1. Mark B. (2)

1. Matt W. (2)

1. Michael S. #1 (2)

1. Michael S. #2 (2)

1. Patrick McC. #1 (2)

1. Paul K. #1 (2)

1. Ryan G. (2)

1. Ryan G. (2)

1. Ryan W. (2)

1. Scott H. #1 (2)

1. Scott K. #2 (2)

1. Stephen C. (2)

1. Tim N. (2)

1. Wayne D. #1 (2)

38. Alyssa B. (0)

38. Amanda R. (0)

38. Andrew D. #1 (0)

38. Andrew D. #2 (0)

38. Andy L. (0)

38. Baily T. (0)

38. Brad E. (0)

38. Brad R. (0)

38. Brandon B. #1 (0)

38. Brent E. #1 (0)

38. Brent E. #2 (0)

38. Brent E. #3 (0)

38. Brent E. #4 (0)

38. Brent S. #1 (0)

38. Brett G. (Sleeper) (0)

38. Brian K. (0)

38. CAAT #1 (0)

38. CAAT #2 (0)

38. CAAT #3 (0)

38. CAAT #4 (0)

38. CAAT #5 (0)

38. Chris E. (0)

38. Christopher K. (0)

38. Chun W. #2 (0)

38. Connor W. (0)

38. Craig G. (0)

38. D. Mag #2 (0)

38. Daisy N. #1 (0)

38. Daisy N. #3 (0)

38. Daisy N. #4 (0)

38. Daisy N. #7 (0)

38. Daisy N. #8 (0)

38. Daisy N. #9 (0)

38. Damien R. #1 (0)

38. Damien R. #2 (0)

38. Dan Dug. #1 (0)

38. Dan L. #1 (0)

38. Dan L. #2 (0)

38. Danielle A. (0)

38. Dave A. (0)

38. David F. #2 (0)

38. Dennis R. (0)

38. DESGRU8 (Dan Dz.) (0)

38. Eric G. (0)

38. Eric S. #2 (0)

38. Eric V. (0)

38. Finn D. (0)

38. Gigi I. (0)

38. Greg R. (0)

38. Howard S. #1 (0)

38. Howard S. #2 (0)

38. Hutch H. #1 (0)

38. Irene H. #2 (0)

38. Jared V. (0)

38. Jaxon S. (0)

38. Jim D. #2 (0)

38. Joe C. (0)

38. John A. #1 (0)

38. John N. (0)

38. Kealoha G. (0)

38. Ken Pom (0)

38. Kiah H. #1 (0)

38. Kim F. (0)

38. Kirt R. #1 (0)

38. Klei R. #2 (0)

38. Kristin G. (0)

38. Kristina H. (0)

38. Legend of Zelli (0)

38. Luis B. #1 (0)

38. Luis B. #3 (0)

38. Mark A. (0)

38. Marshmellow (Nik B.) (0)

38. Mason A. #2 (0)

38. Matt N. (0)

38. Michelle L. #1 (0)

38. Michelle L. #2 (0)

38. Michelle L. #3 (0)

38. Michelle L. #4 (0)

38. Michelle L. #5 (0)

38. Mike N. (0)

38. Mike V. (0)

38. Mike W. (0)

38. Missy W. #1 (0)

38. Mitchell S. (0)

38. Mustard (Nikolajs B.) (0)

38. Nate R. (0)

38. Niren D. (0)

38. Noah G. (0)

38. Off Efficiency (0)

38. Patrick McC. #2 (0)

38. Paul K. #2 (0)

38. Paul W. (0)

38. Pete J. #2 (0)

38. Pete J. #3 (0)

38. Pete J. #5 (0)

38. Rich F. (0)

38. Scott H. #2 (0)

38. Scott K. #1 (0)

38. Shanky G. (0)

38. Shawn D. (0)

38. Stefon K. (0)

38. Steve Dz. #2 (0)

38. Szecho L. (0)

38. Tim Dz. #1 (0)

38. Tomas L. (0)

38. Veronica G. (0)

38. Wayne D. #2 (0)

38. Wayne D. #3 (0)

38. Wayne D. #5 (0)

38. Zach V. (0)

148. Ali A. #1 (-2)

148. Ali A. #2 (-2)

148. Brandie H. (-2)

148. Brett G. (Upset) (-2)

148. Brooke M. #1 (-2)

148. Brooke M. #2 (-2)

148. Chris M. (-2)

148. Constance McA. (-2)

148. Daisy N. #10 (-2)

148. Daisy N. #11 (-2)

148. Daisy N. #12 (-2)

148. Daisy N. #2 (-2)

148. Daniel E. (-2)

148. Deanna T. (-2)

148. Elizabeth N. #2 (-2)

148. Henry A. (-2)

148. Irene H. #1 (-2)

148. James G. (-2)

148. Jay H. #1 (-2)

148. Jim D. #1 (-2)

148. John E. #1 (-2)

148. Noah N. (-2)

148. Rob C. (-2)

148. Valerie D. (-2)

148. Adam E. (-2)

148. Ben S. (-2)

148. Brandon B. #2 (-2)

148. Brent S. #2 (-2)

148. Brett W. (-2)

148. Brooklynn B. (-2)

148. Bryce S. (-2)

148. Charlotte N. (-2)

148. Chris L. #1 (-2)

148. Chris L. #2 (-2)

148. Chris L. #3 (-2)

148. Chris L. #4 (-2)

148. Chris T. (-2)

148. Cicely K. (-2)

148. D. Mag #3 (-2)

148. Damien R. #3 (-2)

148. Dan Mck. (-2)

148. Dan P. (-2)

148. Dustin B. (-2)

148. Elliot N. (-2)

148. Emily T. (-2)

148. Faye N. (-2)

148. Gutless Bracket (-2)

148. Irene H. #4 (-2)

148. Irene H. #5 (-2)

148. Irene H. #6 (-2)

148. Irene H. #7 (-2)

148. Jared B. (-2)

148. Jay B. - ESPN (-2)

148. Jay H. #2 (-2)

148. John E. #2 (-2)

148. Josiah T. (-2)

148. Kyle V. (-2)

148. Larry G. #2 (-2)

148. Larry G. #3 (-2)

148. Luis B. #2 (-2)

148. Luis B. #4 (-2)

148. Luis B. #5 (-2)

148. Mary Lou H. (-2)

148. Miles D. (-2)

148. Moochie #4 (-2)

148. Pat K. (-2)

148. Pete J. #1 (-2)

148. Pete J. #4 (-2)

148. Seth D. (-2)

148. Vang L. (-2)

148. Wayne D. #4 (-2)

219. Brandon H. #1 (-4)

219. Chrissy I. (-4)

219. Daisy N. #6 (-4)

219. Damien R. #4 (-4)

219. Dirk F. (-4)

219. Eric S. #1 (-4)

219. Guillermo V. (-4)

219. Harrell R. #1 (-4)

219. Harrell R. #2 (-4)

219. Harrell R. #4 (-4)

219. Hutch H. #2 (-4)

219. Irene H. #3 (-4)

219. Jacob A. (-4)

219. Jim W. (-4)

219. Larry G. #1 (-4)

219. Larry G. #4 (-4)

219. Mario M. (-4)

219. Matt H. (-4)

219. Melody K. (-4)

219. Nick I. (-4)

219. Steve Dz. #1 (-4)

219. Tim Dz. #2 (-4)

219. Tyler C. (-4)

242. Beau H. (-6)

242. Brandon H. #2 (-6)

242. Dianna A. (-6)

242. Elizabeth N. #1 (-6)

242. Elizabeth P. #3 (-6)

242. Gary W. (-6)

242. Grant F. (-6)

242. John Mack #1 (-6)

242. John Mack #2 (-6)

242. Josh C. (-6)

242. Klei R. #1 (-6)

242. Klei R. #3 (-6)

242. Mason A. #1 (-6)

242. Melissa M. (-6)

242. Missy W. #2 (-6)

242. Moochie #3 (-6)

242. Moochie #5 (-6)

259. Brett G. (Devils) (-8)

259. Carlo G. (-8)

259. Chun W. #1 (-8)

259. Harrell R. #3 (-8)

259. Kiah H. #2 (-8)

259. Matt M. (-8)

259. Moochie #2 (-8)

259. Pete J. #6 (-8)

259. Rob I. (-8)

259. Roth W. (-8)

259. Scarlett H. (-8)

270. Brett G. (Quinnie) (-10)

270. David F. #1 (-10)

272. Moochie #1 (-14)

273. Adalyn H. (-16)

273. Daisy N. #5 (-16)

But wait, there are 4 more games going off….  Here is the preview of those games:

Game 5:

North Carolina v Wagner

Vegas Line: North Carolina -24.5

Picks for North Carolina: 270

Picks for Wagner: 4

I know that a #16 beat a #1 last year, but my rule of thumb is that it’s not worth trying to pick that to happen.  The risk/reward is not in your favor, unless you care about things like bragging rights.  If you win, you get one point.  If you lose, you lose a ton of ground to the field, and you kind of have to pull for the #1 seed to lose every game from then on.  Still, 4 people did it.  The counter argument to that argument is that Charlotte N. picked FDU last year and she won the whole thing by a landslide.

The highlight for me, is that this is my t-shirt game.  For those that don’t know me, there are some 365 teams in D1 college basketball.  I have a T-shirt for probably 340 of them.  I don’t have any HBCU t-shirts because that would lead to some awkward conversations if I wore them out in public.  I also don’t have a Liberty University t-shirt.  There are about 4-5 teams that just entered D1 in the last two years like Stonehill or Southern Indiana.  So, every year I pick the longest shot team and wear their t-shirt.  This year, it’s Wagner.  Do they have a chance?  Probably not.  Do I know what state Wagner is in?  No.  Still, if they somehow manage to beat North Carolina, I was always a fan and always believed in them.

Game 6:

Illinois v Morehead State

Vegas Line: Illinois -12

Picks for Illinois: 249

Picks for Morehead State: 25

Remember when I mentioned that no one believed in #14 seeds.  This is the game that had the most picks on #14, and that’s not much.  I don’t know much about Morehead State, but I’ll learn pretty quickly if they pull this one out.

Illinois looks pretty good right now.  People were saying this region was the toughest.  That makes sense when you consider that Connecticut, Iowa State, Illinois and Auburn all won their conference tournament in Power 5 conferences.  That’s a lot of fire power.  I do remember hearing something about Terrance Shannon being investigated for sexual assault earlier this season, but he’s been playing for a while so they must have either cleared him or shamed someone into silence.  Not sure what happened there.

Game 7:

South Carolina v Oregon

Vegas Line: South Carolina -1.5

Picks for South Carolina: 106

Picks for Oregon: 168

I feel like people really like picking upsets, but there is a bit of a herd mentality as to what upsets they are going to take.  This seems like a lot of people jumping on the upset bandwagon.  That being said, I think the Oregon coach has never lost a 1^st round game and South Carolina is a little sketchy as a 6 seed.

Remember the old conventional wisdom that you should take a 12 over a 5 as an upset in the 1^st round every year.  I read an article that says that dynamic has changed to 11s over 6s.  In something like the last 5-10 tournaments, 11s have a winning record in the opening round.  That is already true of this tournament.  They are 1-0 (Thanks a lot, BYU!)  Maybe Oregon is the smart pick.  That pretty much just means a Gamecock blowout because the basketball gods have a sense of humor.

Game 8:

Dayton v Nevada

Vegas Line: Nevada -1

Picks for Dayton: 106

Picks for Nevada: 168

Look at that! It’s a 10/7 game and the distribution is exactly the same as the previous game.  Everyone is on the Wolfpack in this one.  By “everyone”, I mean 168 people.  It seems like a lot when the line is a toss-up.

As for me, I root for mid-majors, and this game features 2 of them.  I typically root for the Mountain West, but my heart goes out to Dayton.  When COVID cancelled the 2020 tournament, Dayton was certainly going to be a #1 seed.  So was San Diego State.  We were robbed of that one.  If Dayton wins, I’m good with it.  Plus, if they lose, they need to go back to Dayton.  I’m sure it’s really nice, but I’ve lived in the Midwest in the winter and I’m guessing a road trip doesn’t suck.

Good luck to everyone!!!