With 3/4 of the first round games complete we have a new leader! Big 10 Love (which ironically has no Big Ten teams in the Final Four) was rewarded for maintaining faith in the conference that nobody, certainly the Tournament Committee, seems to love. One of the few to pick the USC upset over SMU, Big 10 Love stands alone at the top (as ranked by current points – hint, hint) with only two incorrect picks. Four more are right on the B1G’s heels with a mere three whiffs. Former lead dogs Ren and Stimpy have fallen into a massive slump, having missed on three of the most recent eight games, but they hang in there, only four points back of the leader.
Speaking of the SMU upset, several entries were dealt near-death blows as a result of the loss, two of which had them going all the way to the Final Four. Leaping into the race for the Brandy Award, joining Rather Be Knitting and Monk Madness (and the omnipresent DDx), are Jumbos and Bloodhound. Welcome to the race! It should be noted that Jumbos is a past tournament champion, and you have to wonder where it all went wrong. Another tragic story of riches to rags.