As a reminder: LEADERBOARD and DAY TWO PICK FORM
It's sort of incredible how hard it is for people to even pick one winner in the NCAA Tournament, as we are all reminded every year. Needing ONE winner, almost half of us were unable to even clear that absurdly low bar.
But, as we saw today sometimes all the preparation and experience in the world can mean nothing when the pressure is on. Yeah, Virginia's 12th year Senior guard Kihei Clark made an all time bonehead play as it became quite evident that Tony Bennett truly did sell his soul for that one NCAA Championship he won. We had 53 entries crash and burn with that ill fated decision, but have no fear East Virginians, your West Virginian brethren fared no better. Just 9 entries were smart enough to realize Tony Bennett is still Tony Bennett, and they'll move on to day two.
The most popular pick early in the day, West Virginia also had an assorted comedy of errors in blowing their game against Maryland and taking down 65 entries in their wake. At least they'll have a nice song for their return trip to Morgantown. Only 15 entries were brave enough to pick a Big Ten school to start the day, and they were rewarded with a trip to day 2.
And, while on the subject of dreams being crushed, we also say goodbye to Utah State and the 63 entries that met their final resting place as the Aggies got sent home. In a funny twist, 63 is the exact number of children the Utah State basketball team has collectively fathered. The one upside for Utah State being sent home early is that now they'll get to spend all that extra time hanging out with their families. Although, not all of the Aggies were ready to get back to their kids at home. There were 25 entries on Missouri, so this one wasn't quite as lopsided as some of the other games, but the clear Pool Pick was still a loser as our group of entrants desperately tries to prove that James Surowiecki is an idiot.
Arizona goes down as the Day 1 team that hilariously lost, but didn't hurt that many people as only the chalkiest of weasels would possibly burn an early Day 1 pick on a 2 seed...but 11 of those weasels did exist, and they paid for their trying to get an easy trip through Day 1.
The bloodbath just sort of continued all day with a lot of popular selections sent home. Boise picks sent 30 packing, Charleston took down 28, Illinois and Iowa partnered up to take out another 43.
But there were some popular winners. Arkansas moved through 50 entries, Auburn graduated 44 entries to tomorrow, Duke moved 52.
After a pretty brutal day for many one of the highlights of the day for me was all the desperation picks that poured in on the late games. Tennessee alone was picked by 132 entries, and while they cruised early, they remembered Rick Barnes coached them with about 6 minutes left and very nearly pulled off an incredible collapse. To the 4 entries on Louisiana, you almost pulled it off.
The 73 late entries on Texas A&M didn't fare as well. And I think we all know why. It was another heavily skewed game where the masses got it all wrong. Only 23 entries were placed on Penn State and the future head coach of the University of Louisville (I'm just gonna keep putting this into the universe and try to manifest it into being...)
And finally, in one last look at how impossible it is to figure out college basketball, UCLA just completely dismantled UNC Asheville. Now, of course, a 2 over a 15 isn't surprising....but, when you look at the two 2v15 match-ups today it's a little surprising...
So, yeah, 5 days ago two teams, Arizona and UCLA, played in an incredibly competitive Pac 12 Championship Game. UCLA, a team full of injuries, ended up losing by 2. Arizona, a healthy team now on a roll emerged victorious. And now, today, UCLA and Arizona entered the Tourney as 2 seeds. The victor 5 days ago lost to a 15 seed, the loser 5 days ago stomped the life out of their 15 seed. And, sure, why not? Good luck figuring this game out tomorrow.
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