MARCH MADNESS
In Most Anticipated Game, Baylor Routes to Championship
From literally, the opening tip, Baylor took control of the game and dominated their way to the school's first ever Men's Basketball National Championship. Baylor's 86-70 over previously unbeaten Gonzaga still does not show justice to how dominant the Bears actually were.
Baylor caused 14 turnovers (the majority of which were steals) and more impressively, had 16 offensive rebounds. If scoring 30 points inside the paint wasn't impressive enough, the Bears added 10 three-pointers to aid the route.
Coming into the season, it was a 2-horse race by most basketball enthusiasts of who would be the nation's best player - Iowa's Luca Garza or Baylor's Jared Butler. I'm not saying Garza wasn't brilliant for Iowa, because he was, but at the end of the day, Butler scored a game high 22 points and led his team to the national championship.
Baylor caused 14 turnovers (the majority of which were steals) and more impressively, had 16 offensive rebounds. If scoring 30 points inside the paint wasn't impressive enough, the Bears added 10 three-pointers to aid the route.
Coming into the season, it was a 2-horse race by most basketball enthusiasts of who would be the nation's best player - Iowa's Luca Garza or Baylor's Jared Butler. I'm not saying Garza wasn't brilliant for Iowa, because he was, but at the end of the day, Butler scored a game high 22 points and led his team to the national championship.
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Final Picks Standings:
1. Andrew Depcryski 2. Bobby Krausse 3t. Jason Sipe 3t. Jonathan Duncan |
Sister Jean Spotted at National Championship Game:
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PREVUOUS CHAMPIONS
Leaderboard: Through Sweet 16
After the Sweet 16, regardless of how ugly the average person's bracket looks, we do still have a leaderboard. And more impressively, some still have 3 of their Final Four teams remaining. Much less, both teams in their Championship Game. Only two people have the possibility of having all 4 Final 4's advance (Mary Kirwan and Ed Kirwan). I see a conspiracy theory forming! Before we start speculating and before the Kirwan family goes shopping, here is the current leaderboard after ALL Sweet 16 matchups:
1. Jason Sipe 6. Bobby Krausse
2. Leslie Maples 7. Zach Turner
3. Cassie Parker 8. Mike Zito
4. Nick Riordan 9. Chris Zablo
5. Chris Borton 10. Keith Costner
Payout will be the following: 1st = 50%; 2nd = 25%; 3rd = 15%; 4th = 10%
If you haven't paid yet, most have (thank you) please do so ASAP! Venmo = @charlie-krausse
I will pay out the winners realistically Tuesday morning after the championship game on next Monday night.
Elite 8 Matchups:
WEST = Gonzaga vs. USC (Tuesday)
EAST = Michigan vs. UCLA (Tuesday)
SOUTH = Baylor vs. Arkansas (Monday)
MIDWEST = Houston vs. Oregon State (Monday)
1. Jason Sipe 6. Bobby Krausse
2. Leslie Maples 7. Zach Turner
3. Cassie Parker 8. Mike Zito
4. Nick Riordan 9. Chris Zablo
5. Chris Borton 10. Keith Costner
Payout will be the following: 1st = 50%; 2nd = 25%; 3rd = 15%; 4th = 10%
If you haven't paid yet, most have (thank you) please do so ASAP! Venmo = @charlie-krausse
I will pay out the winners realistically Tuesday morning after the championship game on next Monday night.
Elite 8 Matchups:
WEST = Gonzaga vs. USC (Tuesday)
EAST = Michigan vs. UCLA (Tuesday)
SOUTH = Baylor vs. Arkansas (Monday)
MIDWEST = Houston vs. Oregon State (Monday)
UCLA Defeats Bama in Game of the Tournament So Far
The PAC-12 continues to succeed in the NCAA Tournament. And now that UCLA knocked off 2-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide, the PAC-12 will have 3 of the final 8. The Bruins used an big first half to establish a 12 point halftime lead. Bama came charging back. And that's when this game got good. UCLA looked to have the game sealed with three seconds and a 3-point lead, but Bama's Alex Reese nailed a tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. That was Reece's only made basket of the game, no less.
It was in overtime, Mick Cronin's crew took it the next level. The Bruins outscored the Tide by 10 points in the bonus period to advance to the Elite 8. The two happiest people in the planet right now are 1) Bill Walton. Because if I have to explain, you don't follow basketball. And 2) Charles Barkley. Now he doesn't have to go on air with a hound's-tooth hat.
As an 11-seed who was in the First Four, the Bruins are now one of two schools to ever go from the First Four to the Elite 8. The other, back in 2011 were the VCU Rams, who knocked off the Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite 8 by 10 to advance to Houston in that year's Final Four.
It was in overtime, Mick Cronin's crew took it the next level. The Bruins outscored the Tide by 10 points in the bonus period to advance to the Elite 8. The two happiest people in the planet right now are 1) Bill Walton. Because if I have to explain, you don't follow basketball. And 2) Charles Barkley. Now he doesn't have to go on air with a hound's-tooth hat.
As an 11-seed who was in the First Four, the Bruins are now one of two schools to ever go from the First Four to the Elite 8. The other, back in 2011 were the VCU Rams, who knocked off the Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite 8 by 10 to advance to Houston in that year's Final Four.
Beavers Take Bite Out of Loyola
Bill Walton embraces him inner beaver
The twelve seed from the Midwest Region has advanced to the Elite 8. NO ONE had the Oregon State Beavers advancing to the Elite 8. Most had Tennessee beating them in the first round. Only fulltime hippie and parttime basketball analyst, Bill Walton, had Oregon State advancing.
Ethan Thompson led the way for the Beavers scoring 22 points. Oregon State's defense held Loyola to just 33% shooting. And the Ramblers only scored ONE point off of Oregon State's turnovers.
Oregon State now waits to find out their opponent later tonight - Houston or Syracuse. That winner on Monday night advances to the Final Four.
Ethan Thompson led the way for the Beavers scoring 22 points. Oregon State's defense held Loyola to just 33% shooting. And the Ramblers only scored ONE point off of Oregon State's turnovers.
Oregon State now waits to find out their opponent later tonight - Houston or Syracuse. That winner on Monday night advances to the Final Four.
Fightin' Sister Jeans Upset Illini, Advance to Sweet 16
Twelve of us. That's it. Twelve out of 166 entries had Loyola Univ. upsetting the Illinois Fightin' Illini. In comparison, 26 more of us just had our predicted champion eliminated. This might have been an upset on the seed line, but if you watched the game, the more sound team lead wire to wire.
The Big 10 is having a very rough tournament. All year long, they were dubbed the best conference. This tournament is proving that statement as false. Loyola was led by their big ugly on the inside, Cameron Krutwig, with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals. Since 2018, Loyola is now 6-2 in tournament play.
The Big 10 is having a very rough tournament. All year long, they were dubbed the best conference. This tournament is proving that statement as false. Loyola was led by their big ugly on the inside, Cameron Krutwig, with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals. Since 2018, Loyola is now 6-2 in tournament play.
Record Number of Upsets Round 1
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The only seed not to score an upset was the 16-seed. The 1's are officially on notice. Here are the First Round Upsets (by seed line):
15) Oral Roberts def. 2) Ohio State 14) Abilene Christian def. 3) Texas 13) Ohio def. 4) Virginia 13) North Texas def. 4) Purdue 12) Oregon State def. 5) Tennessee 11) UCLA def. 6) BYU 11) Syracuse def. 6) San Diego State 10) Maryland def. 7) Connecticut 10) Rutgers def. 7) Clemson 9) Wisconsin def. 8) North Carolina |
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Texas, Virginia Big Losers on Saturday
In a record setting year of upsets, day two came to a close with two more big surprises. First, the "defending" national champions bowed out to the 13-seeded Ohio Bobcats. After leading much of the game, Virginia went on an Antarctic level cold streak and the gave Ohio the chance, winning 62-58. Virginia only scored 4 points between the 10 and 2 minute marks. In essence, two TV timeouts and only made two baskets. That was their fatal flaw. Ben Vander Plas led the Bobcats with 17 points.
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Oh the mighty have fallen. After Shaka Smart led his Texas Longhorns to their first Big XII Championship, he found themselves as the only Big XII school eliminated in the first round. Give Abilene Christian credit. They super slowed down the tempo and forced the Longhorns to have a season high 22 turnovers.
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Day 1 Summary
Click picture for full recap article
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Eagles Soar as Oral Roberts Upsets Ohio State
Pop quiz. Who is the nation's leading scorer at the end of the regular season? Did you say Max Abmas of Oral Roberts? If you did, you are correct. But get this Eagles fans (or Michigan fans, or fans of upsets), with 29 points today, he wasn't even the team's leading scorer! That honor went to Kevin Obanor, with 30 points.
All of this was done at the expense of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The 2nd seeded Big 10 representative was the second member in consecutive games to be eliminated from the tournament. 2021 Tournament Underway!
The 2021 NCAA Men's College Basketball National Championship Tournament is underway! After a year without, the best month in the year has returned! The First Four is complete with Drake winning it late over Wichita St; Texas Southern defeating Mount St. Mary's; Norfolk State becoming the first ever team to win a tournament game as both 15-seed and a 16-seed as they defeated Appalachian State and in the night cap, UCLA had a 14 point come from behind victory over Sparty. Big 10 might have had the most teams in, but they are already down one. Mick Cronin and crew now take on one of Sister Jean's Final Four's picks - BYU.
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Who Will Wear Cinderella's Slipper?
Sister Jean might have shown up wearing her Velcro strapped maroon tennis shoes, but we all know Cinderella's slipper fits just as well. Who will wear it this year? Oral Roberts, North Texas and the two leading Mid-Majors to do so this year. Ok, so is Loyola, but only if they defeat Illinois on Sunday.
Welcome to Year 31
Welcome to Year 31 of our NCAA March Madness Tournament Pool. Should be Year 32. Oh well. Still, today should be a Federal Holiday! Is in my world that's for sure. Some quick interest tid-bits for our tournament:
- We have 86 people entering in a total of 166 total brackets - We will pay out Top 4 (1st = 50%; 2nd = 25%; 3rd = 15%; 4th = 10%) a very small admin fee needs to come out, as well. - Looks like A LOT have, still compiling, but if you need to submit payment, please do so to my Venmo @charlie-krausse 
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