NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Congratulations to ... Barack Obama. Yes, that's right, the President of the United States is schooling us all in our very first Ricochet NCAA hoops pool. No way around it.
But if there was ever any sort of How To Run the Country Pool, I'm pretty sure we know how Ricochet members would fare against our current POTUS. So there.
If you are entered into the contest, I think you can access the standings here.
I also must make mention of those folks who are breathing down the president's neck and may yet overtake him when Sunday night's games are through. Let's hope we can pull ahead for the Sweet Sixteen.
Props to M.D. Wenzel, who has 27 wins, just two behind Obama's 29. Michael Horn has 26 wins, and there's a cluster with 25 wins -- Peter Robinson, Ricochet, Blue Yeti, CitizenoftheRepublic, EJHill, Dittoheadadt, Pat in Obamaland, Jeff_Ditzler, and Halthouse1.
If you are following the games closely, what wins/losses have helped/hurt you the most?
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May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
I never got around to entering the pool, but I was at the Marquette/Xavier game last night in Cleveland, and holy smokes does Marquette look tough for an eleven seed.
If someone was smart enough to pick those guys to make a little run, they done good.
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
The downfall of the Xavier Proselytizers and my own beloved Vanderbilt Robber Barons cost me dear. Was able to strike back at Obama by knocking off the Michigan State Bailouts, but it's tough to land a solid blow.
This is because the President is a chalk-eating weasel with no cojones who voted present on his bracket, and the first round was unusually upset-free. If the next round returns to traditional wild n' wooly form, one of us who guessed the right upset should be able to jump up and knock him off. There's a formidable cluster within striking distance. Notably Peter Robinson, the elusive Logo, Mike LaRoche, Blue Yeti, Ottoman Umpire and Andrea Ryan.
PS, Alert the Marketing Dept. New slogan. "Ricochet: A Formidable Cluster"
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 6:44amOct '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
I would only caution that it's easy to look good after the first round (no, I don't subscribe to the NCAA brainiacs who say the "play-in" games were the first round; after all, that's the organization that also gives us the BCS).
The first round is like winning the nomination. Can be done with smoke and mirrors (as we well know, er, knew). The second round is like winning the presidency (can be done with opponents' poor decisions). Surviving to the fourth round is governing. Let's see how Chairman Maobama stands when there's 4 teams left.
Yes, that's completely overwrought. So what? Fits right in with March Madness. (do I owe a royalty to someone for using that phrase?)
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Mega-dittoes, Ditto. My cluster differs from Ursula's cluster by using the # of points left available rather than raw wins so far. And thus weights the loss of a Final Four team far more heavily than a Sweet Sixteen team. Even by that measure, though, the Prez is ahead, if not by much.
Oct '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Hey, folks, one of us just has to tie him. His tiebreaker total is 170 points. One hundred seventy! No championship game has seen that many points since Tarkanian's Runnin' Rebels in 1990. Ain't gonna happen this year, either. (Sorry, Mr. Ricochet...177 points?!)
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
dittoheadadt:
The first round is like winning the nomination. Can be done with smoke and mirrors (as we well know, er, knew). The second round is like winning the presidency (can be done with opponents' poor decisions). Surviving to the fourth round is governing. Let's see how Chairman Maobama stands when there's 4 teams left. · Mar 19 at 6:51am
Not to mention that he picked all #1 seeds. That just seems seems extraordinarily lazy to me. It's not like he's doing anything else right now...
Jun '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
On Thursday morning I realized I hadn't filled out my bracket, so I hurried, got enrolled, only to find out I was too late. I can only believe that my being blocked out was the result of some sexist, racist, ageist plot by the non-union help you have at Ricochet. Are they located in Wisconsin?
But make no mistake, as best I can recall my bracket would be perfect. Let me be clear, I had long ago known that Richmond and Morehead State were ready to roll.
I promise, for the remainder of the tournament to correctly report my progress.
So, Ursula, as of today, I believe old T.R. is in first place.
I must go now. I'm going to check to see if the level of the seas is still going down.
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Others in the Formidable Cluster (defined as within 10 potential points of the President), that snuck up on me last night ere doing final calculations this morning:
Grant Casteel, JustinC, Tripedis Canis, Anthony Kaiser, Rinks, Bill Waldron, Prof Juan Epstein, Nathan Baldwin, Maozehedgehog, EJ Hill, Ultra Vires, Citizen of the Republic, Jeff L, Marshall
I shall follow your brackets with considerable interest this weekend. Its should also be noted that our own Bill McGurn has done the impossible and beaten out FeliciaB for dead last, at an impressive 110 lengths behind Obama.
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 9:14amDec '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Ahh, for a few golden hours on Thursday, I had a slender hold on the 2nd place position. And then the eight evening games were played, and my ill-conceived idea that Wisconsin and Kansas State would both lose and Utah State would make the Sweet Sixteen ended my chances. My only chance now is if my really bold prediction (San Diego State and BYU in the Final Four) plays out.
Sep '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
That big dummy chose my alma mater Kansas to go all the way.
He's jinxed the Jayhawks--again.
Jun '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Over at DanPatrick.com, they have a celebrity bracket challenge. Don't know who will win, but thought it worth announcing that Charlie Sheen has Long Island and Akron in the final game. Bill McGurn and FeliciaB should have entered that bracket. Sheen would provide a lot of cover.
Oct '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
I'll tell ya what hurt me - my disdain for Notre Dame. As a BC guy I root for two teams - BC, and anyone who plays ND. Now, I kinda had to concede that ND would win their first 2 games. But I couldn't have ND get past the second round. So who would beat them, VCU or Georgetown (I have zero faith in Purdue)? I figured a fellow Big East team would be more familiar with them and would have a better chance of knocking them off. Hence, I went with Gtown over VCU and then Purdue. Ouch.
Not that anyone cares, of course! But the lesson is - unless you're picking your alma mater, don't let emotions influence your bracket. Or, don't overthink it. Yeah, maybe that's the lesson.
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
I was mentioned in the same sentence as Peter Robinson (albeit about basketball). I can die a happy conservative.
Jul '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
I'm not in last place.
Woo-Hoo!!
Oct '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
I'm still hanging in there!
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
BUTLER WINS! PITTSBURGH LOSES! OBAMA SUCKS!
And has lost his lead. His bracket lies in smoking ruin. Live by the chalk, die by the chalk. Rejoice, people. Ricochet shall prevail.
Oct '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
POTUS loses a Final Four pick. How sweet it is! (esp. because I had them losing earlier than He did!)
(I just noticed he picked all four top seeds to make the Final Four - what a gutless wonder. And not very bright - all four #1s making the Final Four has only happened once since they went to 64 teams a quarter century ago, and three of the #1s making it to the FF has only happened twice. I guess he knows basketball history, not to mention probabilities, as well as he knows the Austrian language and Mexican holidays.)
Edited on Mar 19, 2011 at 6:52pmSep '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
The cat came back.
May '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
The leader board dwindled considerably after Pittsburgh's welcome demise last night. Heading into Sunday, here's how I see those with a good shot at ultimate victory:
Ultra Vires, EJ Hill, Citizen of the Republic, Tripedis Canis, Jimmy Carter, Anthony Kaiser, Bell CPA, Kennedy Smith, Barack Hussein Obama (mmm, mmm, mmm).
And by good shot, I mean if your Final Four remains in its current state of health. Three #1 seeds at risk today (whoever came up with this year's schedule and venues should be fired), so seismic shifts could occur. I blame global warming.
And Bill McGurn tenaciously clings to dead last, fighting off a fierce challenge from Diane Ellis.
Edited on Mar 20, 2011 at 7:26amMay '10
Re: NCAA Hoops Pool -- Round of 32 Update
Just got back from OSU-George Mason. Buckeyes have got it all. Size, lights-out shooters, quickness, everything. Sorry.