Au contraire, Arlene. You're in the lead going into the Sweet Sixteen weekend!

The second chance bracket is set up. Link: http://tournament.fantasysports.yah...tegroup_assign_team?GID=10051&P=ncaa

Group number: 10051
password: ncaa
Group name: LCT

You can make and change your picks as often as you like, but your final picks for each remaining round must be submitted by the scheduled tip-off time of 7pm EST on Thursday, March 24 2011. I asked the site to send an invite to all of you in the first group. Anyone else who wants to join in is more than welcome.

I don't know about the rest of you, but 'overthinking' is a pretty good description of what happened to my tourney pick 'em bracket. Ohio State, Florida State and VCU were on fire yesterday. Butler was the lone bright spot for Indiana as they are unexpectedly welcoming home today two of their native teams: Notre Dame and Purdue.

As we hoped (but didn't include in our brackets), the sweet sixteen has gone much deeper in the brackets than anytime in recent history and the games have been, by and large, consistently exciting:

Three #1 seeds (and just by a whisker, Coach K!);
Three #2 seeds (and just by a whisker, SDSU);
Two #3 seeds (no wonder Charles Barkley hates the Big East);
Two #4 seeds;
One #5 seed;
One #8 seed;
One #10 seed;
Two #11 seeds; and
One #12 seed.

Let's see if we can spot a trend:

2 teams each: States of Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin
City of Richmond, VA

One team each:
States of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio, Utah

standings as of 3/20/11:

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Arlene 32 of 48 40 120
2 Michele 31 of 48 39 147
2 Betty K 31 of 48 39 143
2 Gary 31 of 48 39 123
2 Anne 31 of 48 39 159
2 Kristin 31 of 48 39 147
2 Greg 31 of 48 39 159
8 Betty W 31 of 48 38 114
9 Dena 31 of 48 38 141
10 Gil 28 of 48 36 88
11 Paul 28 of 48 34 102
12 Jim b 27 of 48 33 113

We arrived an hour ago in University Park, PA. The DePaul-Penn State women's game tips off at 7:10 pm. Winner gets the berth in the Sweet Sixteen in Philadelphia. We are the higher seed, so theoretically we are the home team. Yea, right. Methinks the Nittany Lions fans will be out in force since their men's team is no longer in contention

GO BLUE DEMONS!

The Commish

Anne, I was only able to get in through the email. Happy you had Yahoo send it.
After my disastrous picks of last week - yes, red ink all over the board, I now have all my hopes on the women's tournament. Don't see a win it all in the future, but they are still one heck of a good team.
Spring football practice starts today! Boomer Sooner.
Thank you for all you have done.

And all this time, I thought you guys spoke English!!!

Lee, We have this feverish condition called March Madness. It's very much like a disease!!! We'll be cured on April 5th.

So true, Beth!

GO DePaul women!!!!!

The ESPN guy told our coach after the game that the last 10 minutes of the DePaul-Penn State game scored the highest viewer interest this season. We pulled it out in dramatic fashion, taking only the 3rd lead in the game, 75-73 with 4.9 seconds to go. Penn State will be one heck of a contender in the 2011-2012 season.

Our star for this game, Keisha Hampton, is taking us back to her home, Philadelphia, this coming Saturday. She grew up in the same neighborhood as Temple University, our Sweet Sixteen hosts.

:ch:

Cool :app:

Eight entries are in for the 2nd round. You've got until tomorrow to register if you want to participate.

http://tournament.fantasysports.yah...tegroup_assign_team?GID=10051&P=ncaa

Cheers, The Commish

Well, I'm pleased that my 3 favorites are in the Sweet 16 but I'm cautiously optimistic about them winning this round. Having just moved to the Eastern Time Zone, I'm wondering how we're going to stay up to watch our Badgers tonight!? They don't start until 10pm (or later, I'm sure, depending on the ending times of the earlier games).

Welcome to Eastern Daylight Time, Kristin! I stayed awake for part of the Badgers game last night.

More upsets last night - the only higher seed to survive for Sunday was Florida (go betty k! always a gator, never a traitor!). Translation for the non-basketball players? Points remaining is the key determinant for who wins this competition going forward. Betty K is the leader.

On the regular bracket front - standings as of 3/24/11:

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Betty K 33 of 52 47 131
1 Gary 33 of 52 47 63
3 Arlene 33 of 52 44 116
3 Gil 30 of 52 44 77
5 Betty W 31 of 52 42 114
6 Michele 31 of 52 39 127
6 Anne 31 of 52 39 83
6 Greg 31 of 52 39 71
6 Kristin 31 of 52 39 59
10 Paul 29 of 52 38 42
11 Dena 30 of 52 37 109
11 Jim b 28 of 52 37 109

Second Chance tournament: Arlene's in the best position for current and possible points; Gary's tied with her on current and Anne's on her heels for possible points.

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Arlene 3 of 4 3 31
1 Gary 3 of 4 3 17
3 PaulnMaddy 2 of 4 2 16
3 Betty W 2 of 4 2 24
3 Anne 2 of 4 2 30
6 Greg 1 of 4 1 15
6 Kristin 1 of 4 1 15
6 Michele 1 of 4 1 25
9 Gil 0 of 4 0 20

The Commish

WoooHooo !!!



GO GATORS!!!!

Needless to say, I was disappointed last night with both Wisconsin and San Diego State losing :( But we still have Marquette tonight...AND I am happy that Arizona beat Duke. I may get slammed here, but I am SO TIRED OF THEM being good. And I am happy for the Gators as well! Yay, Betty!!! :app:

Kristin,
You know you won't get slammed by Beth re: Duke! Even tho' #1 son is a Duke alum and we are fans, they were really outplayed last night!

Kristen, I'm with ya on the Arizona victory last night. My family bleeds Carolina Blue! When my mom was in dementia and asked if she liked Coach K (as a cognitive question) she would wrinkle her nose up. Gotta pull for Roy's Boys tonight!! Less than one hour till tip off!

Kathy, You know me so well!!! ;)

Aww, Beth - I love how your Mom didn't give in to those darn Blue Devils, even in her condition. We are still pulling for Marquette tonight but the Tar Heels are looking incredible. They deserve it.

Kristin, My mom was a fighter.

And how those Tar Heels rolled! Congrats, Beth.

Why did I pick Kentucky on my other tournament bracket and miss it - TWICE - in these two? It's madness, sheer madness. :D

On the regular bracket front - standings as of 3/25/11:

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Gary 34 of 56 51 51*
2 Gil 31 of 56 48 73
2 Arlene 34 of 56 48 56
4 Betty K 33 of 56 47 103
4 Anne 33 of 56 47 73
4 Kristin 33 of 56 47 47*
7 Betty W 32 of 56 46 54
8 Michele 32 of 56 43 67
8 Greg 32 of 56 43 67
10 Dena 31 of 56 41 97
10 Jim B 29 of 56 41 49
12 Paul 29 of 56 38 38*

* Max points achieved

Second Chance tournament: Arlene's holding the lead for current points; Anne's got the highest possible points.

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Arlene 6 of 8 6 16
2 Gary 5 of 8 5 13
3 PaulnMaddy 4 of 8 4 12
3 Betty W 4 of 8 4 8
3 Anne 4 of 8 4 22
6 Gil 3 of 8 3 19
6 Kristin 3 of 8 3 8
6 Michele 3 of 8 3 9
9 Greg 2 of 8 2 10

Cheers, The Commish

Looks like Ohio losing killed lots of people's brackets. LOL.

Betty k - are you breathing yet? What a shoot out!!

I chewed all my fake nails.....best team won....

what a couple of close games! We have a #3 and a #8 in the finals?? Brackets are pretty much busted for most of us

Read 'em and weep ..

Dena's got the highest # of possible points remaining.

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Arlene 35 of 58 56 56*
2 Betty W 32 of 58 54 54*
3 Gary 34 of 58 51 51*
4 Gil 31 of 58 48 73
5 Anne 33 of 58 47 71
5 Kristin 33 of 56 47 47*
5 Betty K 33 of 56 47 47*
8 Michele 32 of 56 43 67
8 Greg 32 of 56 43 67
10 Dena 31 of 56 41 97
10 Jim B 29 of 56 41 41*
12 Paul 29 of 56 38 38*

* Max points achieved

Second Chance tournament: It's a 3 way tie for current points; Anne and Gil have the highest possible points.

Rank Player # of picks points Total pts possible
1 Arlene 6 of 10 6 12
1 Anne 5 of 10 6 20
1 PaulnMaddy 5 of 10 6 12
4 Kristin 4 of 10 5 7
4 Gary 5 of 10 5 7
6 Betty W 4 of 10 4 6
7 Gil 3 of 10 3 19
7 Michele 3 of 10 3 9
9 Greg 2 of 10 2 4

Cheers, The Commish

Betty - you said it beautifully. This year's tournaments are the most exciting I can remember. One of the fallouts, though, is ALL of our brackets. Final scores follow. Thanks for playing along, and we'll be back come next Selection Sunday.

Congrats to Arlene for grabbing the virtual trophy this year for the regular bracket! Paul, Anne & Arlene shared top honors for the second chance bracket.

Final scores:

Rank Player # Total pts
1 Arlene 56
2 Betty W 54
3 Gary 51
4 Gil 48
5 Anne 47
5 Kristin 47
5 Betty K 47
8 Michele 43
8 Greg 43
10 Dena 41
10 Jim B 41
12 Paul 38

Rank Player Total pts
1 Arlene 6
1 Anne 6
1 PaulnMaddy 6
4 Kristin 5
4 Gary 5
6 Betty W 4
7 Gil 3
7 Michele 3
9 Greg 2

Cheers, The Commish

I will cherish my virtual trophy until next year when we get to try again and am thrilled to be sharing the second chance trophy. What an exciting set of games. Now I'm rooting for VCU. Who'd have thunk?

Congrats, Arlene! And I'm rooting for VCU too. Amazing!

Great job on your brackets, Arlene. I do love college basketball but just haven't given the time to fill out my fantasy Final Four.

As my Tar Heels are now out, the VCU Rams are my team, too. Virginia Cinderella University!!

Doesn't the last place finisher get something? It takes talent to be so bad. Let's see if this boosts my Harrah's application as a cooler.

Congrats Arlene! Good job.

Thanks again, Anne, for setting us up.

You're all most welcome. Paul, winning the second chance tourney negated all hope for the booby prize. :D

Cheers, The Commish

I was sorry VCU lost, a few of weeks ago I had never heard of them, now I'm feeling their disappointment. :mecry:

I was pulling for the Rams with you, Marcie. Now rooting with my Kentucky cousins for UK.

As the Hartford paper said, it was a Two Dog Night.

Which dog do we like? Huskies or Bulldogs? I should go with Huskies as a Big Easter; but I think the Bulldogs have more fire in the belly.

Speaking of silly Selection Committee decisions .. we have the also-rans in the Women's Final - Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Both of them played their #1 four times. It appears four is the charm as the underdogs both won ..

Selection Committee .. are you listening? Get rid of conference championship replays. Sheesh!!

I'm taking both teams from the State of Indiana

Butler for the men & Notre Dame for the women.

And you?

Cheers, Anne

My last entry under 'marketing missteps' during the tournament.

The ncaa sanctioned the mascots from Butler and Pitt for 'inappropriate interaction' because they did a two-step dance during their match-up.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2011-03-21-mascots-ncaa-tournament_N.htm

Let us hope UConn does not bring Husky II to meet up with Blue II for the Butler Bulldogs at the final. Where have you ever seen 2 live dogs leave each other alone?

Only the the Big Dance, kids .. Only in the Big Dance.

Cheers, Anne

Congrats to the UConn Huskies and the Texas A&M Aggies for winning their respective tournaments. My thanks for a wonderful tournament .. lots of spine-chilling, absolutely thrilling games.

And the good news? 340 days til Selection Sunday, 2012. Slow sports day today .. ESPN is hyping the re-broadcast of the 1986 Masters tournament as tonight's 'must watch' program (not in any way taking away Nicklaus' fantastic performance that day).

Cheers, The Commish