March Madness wrap-up

Every year I try to do some light recruiting of people for the March Madness pool because I like to see it grow.  Part of that is talking to people that might not know anything about college basketball, but see that they could make $600 on a $5 bet and thing “why not?”.  Often times, they ask me about specific teams or who I like or some other basketball-specific thing.  There is the occasional person that asks me a good strategy for winning the pool.  I actually have 4 pieces of advice.

1. Don’t ever picks a #15 seed over a #2 seed or a #16 over a #1.  The cost / benefit of that makes no sense.  If you are right, you get one point up on the field.  If you are wrong, you just sacrificed as many points as that #1 or #2 seed winds up getting, which could be a ton.  It’s just not worth the bragging rights.
2. Pick teams you like.  If you went to Michigan and can’t stand Michigan State, don’t pick them to go real far.  At some point, you may wind up having to root for them to win, and that will leave you in an uncomfortable place.
3. My typical advice is to pick some upsets.  Most normal years, there is a standout upset that the winners of the pool got and no one else did.  This is SDSU a few years back or Wichita State even further back.  So, pick some upsets and if those upsets win, you will be in great shape.
4. The single most important piece of advice to make sure you get the Champion correct.  The 2^nd most important thing is getting the other team in the Championship game correct.  The last 3 games count for as many points as the entire opening 4 days’ worth of games.  You have to do well in those last 3 games.

Point #4 was especially important this year.  The best fun fact I found in this years pool is this:  30 people managed to get all 4 of the Final 4 teams correct.  Of those 30, 2 of them had Florida v Houston in the finals, and those 2 picked Houston to win.  What that means is that 30/30 of those teams that nailed all Final 4 finished out of the money.  That’s how important getting not just the Champion right, but the runner-up.  12 people got all of the last 3 games right, and 9 of them finished in the top 14.

Which brings us to our winner.  The winner this year won by 1 point.  Here’s where he was in the standings after each day:

Day 1: 126^th (12 points)

Day 2: 78^th (25 points)

Day 3: 123^rd (33 points)

Day 4: 118^th (45 points)

Day 5: 40^th (61 points)

Day 6: 67^th (73 points)

Day 7: 36^th (89 points)

Day 8: 50^th (97 points)

When I calculated everyone’s chances of winning after the Sweet 16, his chances were 0.169%, or about 1/6 of 1%.

From there, he did something quite remarkable – and probably whoever won this would have had to do – His odds never went down as a result of any of the last 15 games.  There were some games where his odds were unaffected, but every game that could have improved his odds, he won.

Not only that, but there were 7 “must win” games that would have knocked him out of 1^st place contention had he lost:

Florida / Maryland

Houston / Purdue

Florida / Texas Tech

Houston / Tennessee

Florida / Auburn

Houston / Duke

Florida / Houston

Those all make sense in retrospect, but most people had a similar path, and they didn’t go 7/7.

So, congratulations to Tyler C.  I think he also broke my record for most points in 1 pool.  I think the previous high as about 151, and he easily cleared that.

Proving my earlier point, if you look at where all of Tyler’s points came from, here’s how he amassed his points:

South Region: 16 points

West Region: 32 points

East Region: 29 points

Midwest Region: 20 points

Final 4: 64 points

So, he did kind of lousy in the South, but nailed every game in the West, and most importantly, nailed every game in the Final 4.

Here are the Final Standings:

Name	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place	5th Place
1. Tyler C.: 161 (-31) - Florida	1st Place	Kentucky	Kentucky	Michigan	Kentucky
2. Hutch H. #2: 160 (-32) - Florida	Alabama	2nd place	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
3. Pat Forde - SI: 158 (-34) - Florida	Arkansas	Mich St.	3rd Place	Ole Miss	Alabama
4. Mario Muc: 157 (-35) - Florida	Ole Miss	Alabama	Kentucky	4th Place	Tie-Break
4. Stan Ch.: 157 (-35) - Florida	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Tie-Break	5th Place
6. Pete J. #2: 156 (-36) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Alabama	Arkansas	Kentucky
7. Chris L. #1: 155 (-37) - Florida	Duke	Duke	Michigan	Mich St.	Mich St.
7. Daisy N. #9: 155 (-37) - Florida	Duke	Duke	Michigan	Mich St.	Mich St.
9. Danielle A. #2: 154 (-38) - Florida	Initial	BYU	BYU	Arkansas	Alabama
9. Mike Lu #1: 154 (-38) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Duke	Duke	Michigan
9. Wayne D. #2: 154 (-38) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Duke	Duke	Michigan
12. Elizabeth N. #3: 153 (-39) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Duke
12. Brett K. #3: 153 (-39) - Florida	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Michigan	Michigan	Kentucky
14. Mike Lu #5: 151 (-41) - Florida	Mich St.	Tennessee	Mich St.	Alabama	Alabama
14. CAAT #2: 151 (-41) - Florida	BYU	BYU	BYU	BYU	Arkansas
14. Max70 #1: 151 (-41) - Florida	Initial	BYU	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Michigan
14. Jared Bock: 151 (-41) - Florida	Tennessee	Tennessee	Purdue	Tennessee	Purdue
18. Larry G. #1: 150 (-42) - Florida	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Alabama
18. Larry G. #3: 150 (-42) - Florida	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Alabama
20. Brent E. #2: 149 (-43) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
21. Eric V.: 147 (-45) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Arkansas
21. Max70 #2: 147 (-45) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Kentucky	Mich St.	Michigan
21. Pat K.: 147 (-45) - Florida	Arkansas	Arkansas	Tennessee	Kentucky	Tennessee
24. Wayne D. #3: 146 (-46) - Florida	Initial	Mich St.	Purdue	Purdue	Mich St.
25. My Sister is Skibidy: 145 (-47) - Florida	Initial	Arkansas	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Ole Miss
25. Niren D.: 145 (-47) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Tennessee	Ole Miss
27. Ally H.: 144 (-48) - Florida	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
27. Dennis R. #2: 144 (-48) - Florida	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
27. Pete J. #1: 144 (-48) - Florida	Alabama	Alabama	Tennessee	Alabama	Tennessee
27. Irene H. #1: 144 (-48) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Tennessee
31. Jeff W.: 143 (-49) - Florida	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Alabama	Purdue	Alabama
32. Brayden R.: 142 (-50) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU
33. Mike Bar: 141 (-51) - Florida	Arkansas	Alabama	Purdue	Tennessee	Purdue
34. Michelle L. #2: 140 (-52) - Florida	Initial	Tennessee	Mich St.	Purdue	Purdue
35. Szecho L #1: 139 (-53) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Arkansas	Mich St.	Mich St.
35. Rich F.: 139 (-53) - Florida	Initial	BYU	BYU	BYU	Tennessee
35. Chris L. #2: 139 (-53) - Houston	Houston	Michigan	Mich St.	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
38. Andrew S.: 138 (-54) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Michigan	Michigan	Ole Miss
38. Scott Koh #2: 138 (-54) - Florida	Tennessee	Purdue	Alabama	Purdue	Purdue
40. Colston W.: 137 (-55) - Florida	Purdue	Michigan	Purdue	Purdue	Purdue
40. Howard S. #1: 137 (-55) - Houston	Alabama	Houston	Michigan	Mich St.	Alabama
42. Luis B. #2: 136 (-56) - Florida	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Purdue
42. Paint It Black and Gold: 136 (-56) - Florida	Initial	Arkansas	Tennessee	Michigan	Purdue
44. Adalyn H.: 135 (-57) - Florida	Alabama	Ole Miss	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
44. CAAT #4: 135 (-57) - Houston	BYU	Arkansas	Houston	Alabama	Mich St.
46. John Mack #2: 133 (-59) - Florida	Initial	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arkansas
46. Roth W.: 133 (-59) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
48. Off Eff: 132 (-60) - Florida	Initial	Kentucky	Kentucky	Purdue	Michigan
48. Elizabeth N. #1: 132 (-60) - Houston	Mich St.	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Houston	Mich St.
50. Carolyn: 131 (-61) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
50. Paul K. #3: 131 (-61) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
50. Chris T.: 131 (-61) - Florida	BYU	Arkansas	Michigan	Michigan	Tennessee
53. Daisy N. #1: 130 (-62) - Florida	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
54. Ken Pom: 129 (-63) - Duke	Duke	Kentucky	Mich St.	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
55. Gary W.: 127 (-65) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
56. Michelle L. #4: 126 (-66) - Houston	Arizona	Mich St.	Alabama	Michigan	Houston
57. Michael Vill #3: 125 (-67) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU
57. Tim N.: 125 (-67) - Houston	Arkansas	Alabama	Kentucky	Michigan	Kentucky
59. Jon L.: 124 (-68) - Houston	Auburn	Alabama	Tx Tech	Michigan	Michigan
60. Chris L. #3: 123 (-69) - Duke	Initial	Duke	Duke	Tennessee	Tennessee
60. Chris L. #4: 123 (-69) - Duke	Initial	Duke	Duke	Tennessee	Tennessee
62. Andrew D. #2: 122 (-70) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Duke	Kentucky
62. Pete J. #5: 122 (-70) - Houston	Ole Miss	Auburn	Alabama	Tx Tech	Ole Miss
64. Carl B.: 121 (-71) - Duke	Initial	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Duke
64. Billy E.: 121 (-71) - Florida	Initial	Kentucky	Purdue	Alabama	Alabama
66. TJ Val: 120 (-72) - Auburn	Auburn	Alabama	Purdue	Purdue	Tx Tech
66. Regina L.: 120 (-72) - Florida	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
68. CAAT #1: 119 (-73) - Auburn	BYU	Auburn	Alabama	Kentucky	Kentucky
68. CAAT #3: 119 (-73) - Duke	Initial	BYU	BYU	BYU	Arkansas
68. Brent Sw.: 119 (-73) - Duke	Initial	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss
71. Jace D.: 118 (-74) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
71. Scott H. #1: 118 (-74) - Houston	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama	Michigan	Alabama
73. Damien R. #2: 116 (-76) - Houston	Initial	Initial	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama
73. Matt Mei: 116 (-76) - Houston	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
73. Brandon B. #2: 116 (-76) - Houston	Mich St.	Alabama	Tx Tech	Mich St.	Tx Tech
73. Kirt R. #2: 116 (-76) - Texas Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Purdue	Michigan
77. Seth Davis: 115 (-77) - Duke	Mich St.	Mich St.	Mich St.	Tennessee	Michigan
77. Hutch H. #1: 115 (-77) - Kansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
77. Brent E. #6: 115 (-77) - Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Kentucky	Michigan	Michigan
80. Mike Lu #3: 114 (-78) - Duke	Michigan	Mich St.	Michigan	Mich St.	Mich St.
80. Zachary V.: 114 (-78) - Houston	Initial	Initial	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
82. Jason S.: 113 (-79) - Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
82. Jay H. #1: 113 (-79) - Florida	BYU	BYU	Arizona	Arizona	Arkansas
82. Luis B. #4: 113 (-79) - Houston	Initial	Arkansas	Auburn	Auburn	Alabama
82. John Erick: 113 (-79) - Houston	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Auburn	Auburn	Alabama
86. Matt N. #4: 112 (-80) - Houston	Alabama	Tx Tech	Purdue	Tx Tech	Auburn
87. Pete J. #6: 111 (-81) - Alabama	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Tx Tech
88. Wayne D. #4: 110 (-82) - Auburn	Auburn	Tennessee	Auburn	Tennessee	Alabama
88. Shawn D.: 110 (-82) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
88. Harrell #1: 110 (-82) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
88. Chris Elm: 110 (-82) - Florida	Arkansas	Kentucky	Kentucky	Michigan	Michigan
88. Paul K. #4: 110 (-82) - Houston	Initial	Initial	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
88. Sam MG #2: 110 (-82) - Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Alabama	Alabama
94. Sacrificial Gutless Bracket: 109 (-83) - Auburn	Initial	Auburn	Tennessee	Auburn	Tennessee
94. Irene H. #10: 109 (-83) - Duke	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Mich St.	Tx Tech
94. Luis B. #1: 109 (-83) - Duke	Auburn	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
94. Mark Sp #2: 109 (-83) - Houston	Initial	Mich St.	Alabama	Michigan	Tx Tech
94. Irene H. #3: 109 (-83) - Tennessee	Purdue	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee
99. Irene H. #8: 108 (-84) - Alabama	Alabama	Tx Tech	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
99. Derek H.: 108 (-84) - Duke	Kentucky	Tennessee	Purdue	Purdue	Mich St.
99. Elliot N.: 108 (-84) - Houston	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
102. Charlotte N: 107 (-85) - Auburn	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Auburn	Tennessee	Auburn
102. Adam S. #1: 107 (-85) - Duke	Michigan	Michigan	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee
102. Daisy N. #3: 107 (-85) - Florida	Arkansas	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Kentucky
102. COOL GUY: 107 (-85) - Houston	Tx Tech	Michigan	Mich St.	Alabama	Tx Tech
102. Ben Silv: 107 (-85) - St. John's	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
102. Irene H. #6: 107 (-85) - Texas Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
108. Jackson I.: 106 (-86) - Florida	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
108. Alysimoso B.: 106 (-86) - Houston	Alabama	Tx Tech	Alabama	Mich St.	Tx Tech
110. Daisy N. #4: 105 (-87) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU
110. Luis B. #5: 105 (-87) - Michigan State	Mich St.	Tx Tech	Mich St.	Mich St.	Mich St.
112. Josiah Tr: 104 (-88) - Auburn	Alabama	Alabama	Kentucky	Tx Tech	Purdue
112. Klei R. #1: 104 (-88) - Duke	Initial	Auburn	Kentucky	Tx Tech	Kentucky
112. Erica H.: 104 (-88) - Houston	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU	Maryland
115. Cicely Koh: 103 (-89) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Kentucky	Auburn	Purdue
115. Flagg Day: 103 (-89) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
115. Rob I. #2: 103 (-89) - Florida	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
115. Missy W.: 103 (-89) - Florida	Arizona	Arizona	Arkansas	Arizona	Ole Miss
119. Stephen C.: 102 (-90) - Duke	Initial	Kentucky	Auburn	Kentucky	Tx Tech
119. Pete J. #4: 102 (-90) - Tennessee	Arizona	Alabama	Tennessee	Alabama	Tennessee
121. Kirt R. #1: 101 (-91) - Auburn	Tx Tech	Purdue	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Auburn
121. Andrew Spr: 101 (-91) - Duke	Initial	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Auburn	Kentucky
121. Brent E. #7: 101 (-91) - Michigan State	Michigan	Mich St.	Alabama	Alabama	Purdue
124. Dan McK #1: 100 (-92) - Auburn	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tx Tech	Alabama	Tx Tech
124. Craig Ger: 100 (-92) - Duke	BYU	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
124. Andrew D. #3: 100 (-92) - Houston	Arkansas	Tx Tech	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
124. Brandon B. #3: 100 (-92) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Arkansas
128. Mike Lu #2: 99 (-93) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Kentucky	Auburn
128. Luis B. #3: 99 (-93) - Duke	Tx Tech	Mich St.	Mich St.	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
130. Irene H. #4: 97 (-95) - Auburn	Initial	BYU	BYU	Arkansas	Tx Tech
130. Irene H. #2: 97 (-95) - Houston	Initial	Initial	Michigan	Michigan	Tx Tech
132. Greg Ru: 96 (-96) - Auburn	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Alabama	Alabama
132. Mary Lou H.: 96 (-96) - Auburn	Alabama	Kentucky	Tennessee	Alabama	Alabama
132. Thomas Val: 96 (-96) - Duke	Tennessee	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Purdue	Tx Tech
135. Brian Ker: 95 (-97) - Tennessee	Tennessee	Tennessee	Alabama	Tennessee	Tx Tech
136. Valerie D.: 94 (-98) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU	Maryland
136. Steve Muc #5: 94 (-98) - Duke	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU	BYU
136. Harrell #3: 94 (-98) - Tennessee	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU	Tennessee
139. Kyle V.: 93 (-99) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU	Ole Miss
139. Scott H. #2: 93 (-99) - Duke	Initial	Tx Tech	Michigan	Kentucky	Ole Miss
139. Michelle L. #3: 93 (-99) - Duke	Initial	Tennessee	Tennessee	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
139. Mike San: 93 (-99) - Houston	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
139. Dustin B.: 93 (-99) - Tennessee	Tennessee	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tennessee	Tennessee
139. Michelle L. #5: 93 (-99) - Texas Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Purdue
145. Pete J. #3: 92 (-100) - Auburn	Arizona	Alabama	Alabama	Michigan	Alabama
145. Adam S. #2: 92 (-100) - Auburn	Kentucky	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Tx Tech
145. Scott Koh #1: 92 (-100) - Auburn	Arizona	Arizona	Kentucky	Ole Miss	Tx Tech
145. Mark Sp #1: 92 (-100) - Duke	Initial	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Arkansas
145. Brad R.: 92 (-100) - Houston	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
145. Daisy N. #5: 92 (-100) - Tennessee	Initial	Initial	Arizona	Arizona	Purdue
145. Dawn Tr: 92 (-100) - Tennessee	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tennessee	Tx Tech
152. Andrew D. #4: 91 (-101) - Auburn	Arkansas	Arkansas	Tx Tech	Tennessee	Tennessee
152. Szecho L #2: 91 (-101) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
152. Larry G. #2: 91 (-101) - Duke	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Tennessee	Purdue
152. Jay H. #2: 91 (-101) - Houston	Michigan	Michigan	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
152. Jacob A. #1: 91 (-101) - Kansas	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Arkansas
157. John Lea: 90 (-102) - Alabama	Initial	Alabama	Tx Tech	Alabama	Michigan
157. Dennis R. #1: 90 (-102) - Auburn	Arizona	Kentucky	Kentucky	Alabama	Alabama
157. Green Machine: 90 (-102) - Auburn	Arizona	Kentucky	Kentucky	Alabama	Alabama
157. Wayne D. #1: 90 (-102) - Duke	Initial	Arkansas	Purdue	Ole Miss	Tennessee
157. Ryan Gar: 90 (-102) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Arizona
162. Jaxon S.: 89 (-103) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Maryland	Maryland	Arkansas
162. Bryce S.: 89 (-103) - Tennessee	Initial	Alabama	Purdue	Tennessee	Alabama
164. Def Eff: 87 (-105) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
165. Andrew D. #5: 86 (-106) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
166. Irene H. #5: 85 (-107) - Michigan State	Mich St.	Tennessee	Mich St.	Tennessee	Alabama
167. Brent E. #1: 84 (-108) - Alabama	Alabama	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Alabama
167. Daisy N. #6: 84 (-108) - Auburn	Tennessee	Tennessee	Alabama	Purdue	Arkansas
167. Ray Min: 84 (-108) - Auburn	Kentucky	Kentucky	Alabama	Alabama	Tx Tech
167. Bryce O.: 84 (-108) - Duke	Mich St.	Tx Tech	Michigan	Purdue	Purdue
167. Brandon B. #1: 84 (-108) - Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
172. Michelle R.: 83 (-109) - Houston	BYU	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland
172. Andrew D. #1: 83 (-109) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
174. Hero R. - Cats Only: 82 (-110) - Auburn	BYU	BYU	Arizona	Maryland	Arizona
174. Bryan K.: 82 (-110) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Maryland	Maryland
174. Ely A.: 82 (-110) - Duke	Kentucky	Purdue	Purdue	Mich St.	Mich St.
174. Mike Nie: 82 (-110) - Duke	Initial	Kentucky	Tx Tech	Mich St.	Mich St.
178. Lucid Dreams: 81 (-111) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
178. Tim Dz #3: 81 (-111) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
180. Dylan B.: 80 (-112) - Duke	BYU	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland
180. Irene H. #9: 80 (-112) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Arkansas	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
180. Dan McK #2: 80 (-112) - Duke	Maryland	Maryland	Arkansas	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
180. Brent E. #3: 80 (-112) - St. John's	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
180. Brent E. #4: 80 (-112) - Tennessee	Tennessee	Arkansas	Alabama	Michigan	Tx Tech
185. Howard S. #2: 79 (-113) - Auburn	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Purdue
185. Dave A.: 79 (-113) - Michigan State	Tennessee	Alabama	Arkansas	Tx Tech	Mich St.
185. Jim Ten: 79 (-113) - Tennessee	Michigan	Purdue	Alabama	Alabama	Michigan
188. Paul K. #1: 78 (-114) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU
188. Noah N.: 78 (-114) - Duke	Kentucky	Purdue	Tx Tech	Kentucky	Michigan
188. Elizabeth N. #2: 78 (-114) - Duke	Tx Tech	Tennessee	Purdue	Michigan	Tx Tech
188. Linvansanity: 78 (-114) - Michigan State	Tennessee	Mich St.	Tennessee	Michigan	Purdue
188. Daisy N. #10: 78 (-114) - St. John's	Arkansas	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Michigan
193. Brandon H. #2: 77 (-115) - Connecticut	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
193. Daniel E.: 77 (-115) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
193. Klei R. #2 - Upset Special: 77 (-115) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
196. Kylee Tr: 76 (-116) - Alabama	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Purdue	Tx Tech	Alabama
196. Ryan W.: 76 (-116) - Duke	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Kentucky	Kentucky
196. Brent E. #5: 76 (-116) - Michigan State	Arizona	Arkansas	Michigan	Alabama	Tennessee
199. Mike Lu #4: 75 (-117) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU	Maryland
199. Doug H.: 75 (-117) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
199. Mark Bar: 75 (-117) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
199. Harrell #4: 75 (-117) - VCU	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
203. Klei R CR: 74 (-118) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
203. Danielle A. #1: 74 (-118) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
203. John Mack #1: 74 (-118) - Connecticut	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Michigan
203. Jo Jo D.: 74 (-118) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
203. Jim W.: 74 (-118) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Purdue
203. Michael Vill #1: 74 (-118) - Gonzaga	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
209. WaPo: 73 (-119) - Duke	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland
209. Tim Dz #2: 73 (-119) - Houston	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU
209. Brandon H. #1: 73 (-119) - Michigan State	Arkansas	Purdue	Mich St.	Mich St.	Mich St.
209. Jon Fen: 73 (-119) - Michigan State	Tx Tech	Purdue	Mich St.	Mich St.	Mich St.
209. Daisy N. #2: 73 (-119) - Tennessee	Initial	Alabama	Ole Miss	Tx Tech	Tennessee
214. Michelle L. #1: 72 (-120) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
214. Stefon K.: 72 (-120) - Auburn	Arkansas	Ole Miss	Purdue	Purdue	Tx Tech
214. Karen C.: 72 (-120) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU
214. Klei R US: 72 (-120) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
214. Brett K. #1: 72 (-120) - Texas Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech
219. Brad E.: 71 (-121) - Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
220. Doobie1: 70 (-122) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Tx Tech	Ole Miss	Purdue
220. Chris M: 70 (-122) - Duke	Michigan	Michigan	Kentucky	Tx Tech	Purdue
220. Dan Dz.: 70 (-122) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
223. Nick Vos: 69 (-123) - Duke	BYU	Arkansas	Kentucky	Kentucky	Ole Miss
223. Brent E. #8: 69 (-123) - Michigan State	Alabama	Tennessee	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
223. Michael Vill #2: 69 (-123) - Michigan State	BYU	BYU	BYU	Arkansas	Kentucky
226. Matt H.: 68 (-124) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU	BYU
226. Mark Sp #3: 68 (-124) - Duke	Kentucky	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
226. Mark Sp #4: 68 (-124) - Duke	Kentucky	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
226. April Koh: 68 (-124) - Duke	Arkansas	Michigan	Michigan	Purdue	Tennessee
230. Mustard: 67 (-125) - Oregon	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
231. Brett K. #2: 64 (-128) - Alabama	Maryland	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Kentucky
231. Adam Elm: 64 (-128) - Alabama	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
231. Sam MG #1: 64 (-128) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
231. Rob I. #1: 64 (-128) - Duke	Maryland	Arkansas	Arkansas	Kentucky	Kentucky
235. Becky H.: 63 (-129) - Alabama	Kentucky	Arkansas	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
235. Doobie2: 63 (-129) - Auburn	Maryland	Maryland	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
235. Tim Dz #1: 63 (-129) - Auburn	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Kentucky
235. Irene H. #7: 63 (-129) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
235. Gigi I.: 63 (-129) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
235. Alex I.: 63 (-129) - St. John's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Maryland
241. Harrell #5: 62 (-130) - UC San Diego	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
242. Damien R. #1: 60 (-132) - Alabama	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Tx Tech	Alabama
242. Kiah H.: 60 (-132) - Michigan State	Initial	Arizona	Arizona	Kentucky	Tx Tech
244. Brandie H.: 59 (-133) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
244. Daisy N. #11: 59 (-133) - UC San Diego	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
246. Faye N.: 58 (-134) - Duke	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
246. Chrissy S.: 58 (-134) - St. John's	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona	Arizona
248. Jacob A #2: 57 (-135) - Duke	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
249. Beau H.: 56 (-136) - Georgia	BYU	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland
250. Daisy N. #7: 55 (-137) - Alabama	Arkansas	Kentucky	Kentucky	Michigan	Kentucky
250. Harrell #2: 55 (-137) - St. John's	BYU	BYU	BYU	BYU	BYU
252. Dirk F.: 54 (-138) - Alabama	Initial	Ole Miss	Arkansas	Arkansas	Kentucky
253. Paul K. #2: 53 (-139) - Auburn	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
254. Tucker D.: 51 (-141) - Michigan State	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
254. Tina H.: 51 (-141) - Wisconsin	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	BYU
256. Steve Muc #3: 50 (-142) - Creighton	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
257. Daisy N. #8: 48 (-144) - Michigan State	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
258. Steve Muc #4: 46 (-146) - UC San Diego	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
259. Harrell #6: 45 (-147) - Missouri	Initial	BYU	BYU	BYU	BYU
260. Steve Muc #2: 41 (-151) - Alabama	Initial	Maryland	Maryland	Maryland	Arizona
261. Steve Muc #1: 40 (-152) - Mississippi State	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
261. Scarlett H.: 40 (-152) - Wisconsin	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
263. Leighton N.: 39 (-153) - Georgia	BYU	BYU	Maryland	Arizona	Arizona
263. Erin Muc: 39 (-153) - Kentucky	Maryland	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky	Kentucky
265. Dianna A.: 35 (-157) - Mississippi State	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
266. Amber Dolly: 33 (-159) - North Carolina	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
266. Zoe W.: 33 (-159) - UCLA	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
268. PV: 32 (-160) - UCLA	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
269. Reid D.: 31 (-161) - Texas Tech	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Maryland
270. Laura Muc: 30 (-162) - St. Mary's	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial
271. Otis L.: 28 (-164) - Purdue	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Ole Miss	Michigan
272. Marshmallow: 23 (-169) - UCLA	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial	Initial

There was one tie in the payouts.  I checked both brackets and they both had tiebreakers, so I used those to determine that Mario Muc. was closest to the final score.  You both are getting money, so I’m a little less bothered about that than if someone got shutout as a result.

So, here’s the money situation:

Remember that I was giving out $50 to whoever did best in each of the 4 regions.  As a result the payouts for 1^st – 5^th are slightly less than last year.  Still, the payouts are still pretty good for a $5 investment.

Entry	Regional	Final	Total
Tyler C.	$16.67	$522.00	$538.67
Hutch H. #1	$10.00	$290.00	$300.00
Pat Forde - SI		$174.00	$174.00
Mario Muc.		$116.00	$116.00
Stan Ch.	$50.00	$58.00	$108.00
Dawn Tr	$25.00		$25.00
Pat K.	$25.00		$25.00
Billy E.	$16.67		$16.67
Howard S. #1	$16.67		$16.67
April Koh	$10.00		$10.00
Luis B. #3	$10.00		$10.00
Thomas Val	$10.00		$10.00
TJ Val	$10.00		$10.00

For those that are curious, I put in the bracket that I copied from Pat Forde from Sports Illustrated, so I’m OK with 3^rd.  I was really worried about winning with Ken Pom or the Sacrificial Gutless Bracket.  I thought that would look bad if I wound up winning 2 years in a row….  The lesson is that stealing from people or rankings you find on-line is a legit way to win.  Anyone can do it if they want.

I’ll be in touch with everyone to work out payments.  I hope everyone tried to enjoy this years Madness.  I’ll admit that the tournament was a little void of excitement most days, but the ending turned out to be interesting and the Gutless bracket still wound up finishing around 94^th, which seems about right – although I’d love to have seen it even lower.

I hope to see everyone next year!!!!!!

Klei