With Round One Now Complete……

Well, March Madness isn’t quite the March Craziness of last year. All of the One and Two seeds survived intact, some with a little less comfort than others, but all have lived to play another day so far. Of the Three’s and Four’s only one of each was eliminated, the latest being Auburn, crumbling many a bracket.

Below that, however it was the usual mix of 11 and 12 seeds overcoming their favored opponent. At present four entries lead the way with 25 correct picks, with another eight right behind with 24 correct picks. However, in the Possible Score sort, XXGoodBracket seems to have secured a monopoly on top spots. RaleighGoodBracket, HillyGoodBracket and DurhamGoodBracket, rank one, two, three, respectively, each with vastly different Final Four picks. Now that’s covering your bases – as well as the entire Research Triangle area.

So the previous post brought you the strange case of Teardrops On My Bracket, the selection that simultaneously occupied both first and (next to) last place at the same time, depending on the sort. Well, now we have the opposite, a selection so horrendously bad that it occupies last place no matter which sort criteria one uses. Making a strong early bid for the Brandy Award is Nathan Detroit, with four of the entry’s Elite Eight picks having already been eliminated, including Nathan’s projected winner, Auburn. Sharing that dubious accomplishment is Karma is a Cat, whose chosen winner, Wisconsin, also is heading home from competition. Also making a bid for consideration in ineptness recognition is perennial bottom dweller, Pope’s Picks. Nathan and the Pope each failed on 17 matchups, which believe it or not is actually pretty good considering Brandy Award History. Still a long way to go though.

The fun continues tomorrow and the point values for correct picks increase, so look for some separation as we move through the round of 32.

Posted in 2024, Director's Notes.