First of all, I have to say that I’m a little disappointed in the turnout on the official Full Court Press tournament challenge. Just 16 people signed up? Lame. Even my stupid TUP bracket challenge has 15 competitors, and the only people who read that are my friends and my dad. Anyways, after the first full round of competition, our leader is Rick Bracket by rd22dan. I have no idea who this is (though the name would suggest that it’s me- it isn’t), but nice job nailing 26 of the first 32 games.
Unfortunately for Mr. rd22dan, their reign atop the leader board will likely to short lived. Despite losing only six games, he (she?) had Georgia in the Elite Eight and Clemson ticketed for the Final Four.
The person with the most possible points available after one round? None other than Roman S. Modrowski! I’m sure he can’t wait to potentially claim the grand prize of authoring this blog for an entire day...
I was solid on Friday, but fell on hard times yesterday by losing two Elite Eight teams (Vanderbilt and UConn). Of course, the big points don’t come out until the later rounds, and almost everyone entered in the pool has all of their Final Four teams remaining.
Tomorrow’s second round games offer some nice intrigue with trips to the Sweet 16 on the line. Joe Alexander and West Virginia try to take out second seeded Duke, while Julie B’s Spartans face a Pittsburgh team that many think can go to the Final Four.
Personally, I’ll be rooting for Bob Huggins to lead the Mountaineers all the way, just because of the awesome t-shirts they got after their NIT championship last season.
Everyone loves a Spartan girl! I have a t-shirt that says so. BTW, Ricardo - 2nd round games start today, not tomorrow. Your post was from 7:00 this morning. Are you just getting home? I'm going to ground you for staying out too late young man.
Ricky responds: Ha, ok so I write all these posts at like 2 am, mainly because I work for the Sun-Times helping manage the new high school sports website, and I generally get off work around 1 am. Well I figured having a 2 am time stamp on all of these probably doesn't look too good, so there is a way to write the post, put it in the system, and set it on a timer for when you want it to show up. That's what I did for this and what I'll probably be doing from now on.
I was just too lazy to keep up with more than one board and I was already registered with a local tv station here in Charlotte which is both local and national. What surprized me is there is one person nationally that nailed 30 games and 13 that nailed 29. I had missed one each of the first 2 days then yesterday hit. Who could have predicted a full card of upsets in Tampa? Then Indiana and Clemson tanked so I'm sitting on 24 of 32 right now. On the bright side I'm ahead of 3 of the 4 stations sports casters. The one that is ahead of me was 25 of 32 and she's covers the college games for the station and is the week-end sports anchor so I don't feel to bad about that.
Huggs-Thuggs-and Druggs, Baby...I used to love the UC teams Huggins had...Bob Huggins....good choice, Ricky
Well..my bracket is done...Indiana University is a shambles since Bob Knights boys led Mike Davis to the championship...and Sampson's boys displayed the Heart and Integrity of his recently fired majesty....none...excluding DJ White, tho
Go Butler...
I'm feeling pretty good about my bracket. I think I nailed 20 out of the 32, and my Final Four is still intact.
Go K State!!!!
Bculz sez: "Go K State!!!!"
Your wish is granted.
They're gone.
Yo Hitman!
Looks like you must picked your teams after having eaten the right side of the menu at the Waffle House.
Lay off the syrup, pal.
WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Sweet 16, Baby!!!!!!
Mark...I drink lots of syrup and I'm fine...I drive on syrup
It's the Hoosier Kool Ade...who needs Guyanna when ya have Bloomington?...Myles Brand is a homo
and Ricky...so tell me....and us...just how stupid are the people in your TUP bracket?...you've already thrown your dad and friends under the short bus...nice to point out they can at least read, tho....so please...do tell
Do you look at people and say "derdeeder der der?"....I do
Butler Bulldogs...the most unfair seeding and placement ever...and the reason to root for 'em.....Tenn/Louvlle/NC/and Kansas...and then they still have to win another game?....and against Memphis or UCLA?
wow
Well Hitman, I can't personally verify what your blood / syrup level was when you filled out your bracket, but at least you didn't do it with a piece of chalk.
Okay, Mark. 4:20 to go in the Villanova game. Quit gloating already. It's unattractive.
Villanova, Villanova, Villanova ......
It kinda rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
Looks like I'm banking on Kansas and Texas. UCLA looks way2shaky right now. CCCCMMMMOOOONNNNNNN CCCCCOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLIIISSSSOOOOONNN
so far ...my bracket is perfect..........now, if I could only of filled my perfect bracket with the teams that won.......
Texas really gave me a scare, and now Tennessee is doing the same thing.
My pipe dream of Villanova notwithstanding, Texas looks to be the weakest link for me, and I think that Stanford will prove to be more than a handfull for them in the next round.
Et tu Georgetown?
I know I'll be toast when Kansas spanks my beloved, but it's been a great ride so far.
I'm seeing a lot of green in my bracket, and that's enough to get me through the weekend with a smile.
Hope springs ...
I suppose the biggest question is can Davidson continue their unbeaten streak? Stephen Curry has cored 70 points in the 2 games they've played and 55 of those 70 in the second half sparking comebacks from double digit deficits in both games. I wouldn't bet against them making the elite 8 but their streak will end there when they will face Kansas. Look for a final four of Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA and Texas. Memphis barely got by Miss. St. I look for Mich St to eliminate them only to get eliminated by Texas.
Mark Vanillo is sucking all the fun out of this!!!
I'm enjoying the Mark Villano ride. Kind of reminds me of how satisfying it was to see Kyle QB the Bears to 2 wins in 3 games.
Here's to Julie B and Culzie in hopes they have someone... anyone left that might make the final four.
Thanks Seedy, but I have a sinking feeling that the ride will be, "ovah fo' 'Nova" after they play Kansas. I'll be peeking through my fingers while I'm watching that game.
Seeing as my beloved, poor free throw shooting, over-rated coaching, Big Least champion Hoyas choked big-time, I'm just gonna sit back and watch the others battle it out for blog supremacy.
Also curious to see if Izzo eats his pride and plays some zone against a poor shooting Memphis squad.
The Pac 10 is softer than I expected.
Didn't see the Notre Dame game but is Washington State that good?
Watch out for Louisville. Streeeeeeeeeeeeeaky.
North Carolina has some thoroughbreds, but I've seen them stumble at the gate before and struggle to get back in the race. Won't work here.
U.C.L.A.- U.nderachieving C.alifornians with L.ackadaisical A.ttitudes. Isn't this the same reason the Sox sent Garland packing?
Looks like it may be Texas and Kansas.
Who woulda thunk it.
Hey Seedy - thanks for the support, albeit sarcastic, I'll take it. BTW, all 4 of my final four teams are still alive. Although, if I could change my bracket right now I would put Michigan State through to the elite 8. Me and Dicky V. are predicting an upset, baby!
Anthony;
I think that win or lose, this is enjoyable, and it doesn't cost a dime to participate.
I also had your Hoyas, and never thought that Davidson would win, or that they'd be ousted this early in the compitition by any team. Luckily for me, I didn't have them in my Final Four.
This is the first bracket that I've ever filled out in my entire life, although I have followed the college game for many years. From my meager experience I've learned this much; almost every year there's a Cinderella team that advances further than expected, so it's prudent to try and identify this underdog, and put them into the mix.
It's rare that the four top seeds all advance to the Finals, so if you can pick that one wild hare, and a few of the big dogs blow a gasket along the way, you have a better chance of being the last man (or woman) standing.
On the other hand, you stand a much better chance of being finished early when employing such a strategy, but I never liked betting on favorites at the track either.
Mark,
Actually, I enjoyed this too. I picked West Virginia as my Elite Eight surprise, and was hoping Georgetown and Memphis would overcome their poor free throw shooting with tenacious defense and coaching. Oh well. But I'll tell you one thing, that not "betting on favorites at the track either" sounds inviting. Haven't been to the track all year and Hawthorne is close by. I think they still might be running thoroughbreds. Who knows, maybe I'll run into a horse named Markys Mark.
Sounds like a winner to me!
nAVAROO AND mArkO NEED to GET A ROOM!!
bculz says; nAVARRO AND mArkO NEED to GET A ROOM!!
Come on Culzie, you know damn well us tough guys from Pilsen don't swing that way.
Oh yeah. That's right. You only lived in this neighborhood for a few months before you FLED.
My bad!
Wow, Culzie getting b-slapped to the curb.
Is Hitman around to enjoy this?
I'm enjoying it.......
I never lived in Pilsen....cause...my Checko-Ukran-Hungarian wasnt up to snuff!!
I've lived in Wicker Park,Winnetka,Bucktown,Highland Park,NB,Glenview,Evanston,Grayslake,ChicagoAve,FosterAve,Kenosha,Racine,DoorCounty,Louisville,Golden Colorado,Walnut Creek, SF,Tucson,Scottsdale,Flaggstaff,...to name a few...homeskillet.
29 years I lived in Chicagoland...I was swimming for gold medals at UIC' circle's aguatic center on cold sunday mornings getting hot dogs from that One Armed dude.....while you were sitting on the couch thinking about wheter you wanted to watch Charles Karalt or GiggleSnorts Hotel.
Dont act like you know me BRosephanie!!
Culzie you are young, so how in the world did you do all of that moving around! You are right behind Barack Obama in diversity.