This year’s March Madness Contest is brought to you by the good folks at Press Box Publicity and that’s good news for the closely-knit, SportsChump community… because it means prizes, people!!!
This year’s contest will be held a little differently than the previous two, over which SportsChump faithful, Yaz and Heavy D, are still gloating.
Just as March Madness lasts for three glorious weekends, this year’s contest will be held in three individual tiers, which means, count ‘em, three different winners. That’s right, three lucky contestants will be taking home Bobby Knight’s latest work The Power of Negative Thinking, so please, hide your chairs.
We’re going to keep the first part of this contest relatively simple. All you need to do is submit your Sweet Sixteen teams in the comments section below. Instructions for the following rounds will come in a subsequent post but for now, let’s keep it Sweet. Please note that incomplete entries will be appropriately penalized.
Score-keeping will go as follows. For every team you pick that advances to the Sweet Sixteen, you will be awarded points per their seed. For example, Florida is a 3 seed. If you pick Florida to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, and they do, you will be awarded 3 points. If you choose Florida to advance and they do not, or if you choose another team to advance in Florida’s stead yet Florida does, you obviously get zero points. The most points at the end of the first round wins Bobby Knight, not the coach, just his book. It’s that simple.
Best of luck in the opening round and be sure to stay tuned for upcoming details for Round Two.
| Louisville | |
| N. Carolina A&T / Liberty | |
| Missouri | |
| Colorado State | |
| Oklahoma State | |
| Oregon | |
| New Mexico State | |
| Saint Louis | |
| Michigan State | |
| Valparaiso | |
| Middle Tenn. St. / Saint Mary’s | |
| Memphis | |
| Creighton | |
| Cincinnati | |
| Albany | |
| Duke | |
| Kansas | |
| Western Ky. | |
| Villanova | |
| North Carolina | |
| VCU | |
| Akron | |
| South Dakota St. | |
| Michigan | |
| Florida | |
| Northwestern State | |
| Minnesota | |
| UCLA | |
| San Diego State | |
| Oklahoma | |
| Florida Gulf Coast | |
| Georgetown | |
| Gonzaga | |
| Southern | |
| Pittsburgh | |
| Wichita State | |
| Wisconsin | |
| Mississippi | |
| Boise State / La Salle | |
| Kansas State | |
| New Mexico | |
| Harvard | |
| Belmont | |
| Arizona | |
| Notre Dame | |
| Iowa State | |
| Iona | |
| Ohio State | |
| Indiana | |
| LIU Brooklyn/James Madison | |
| Temple | |
| NC State | |
| UNLV | |
| California | |
| Montana | |
| Syracuse | |
| Marquette | |
| Davidson | |
| Bucknell | |
| Butler | |
| Illinois | |
| Colorado | |
| Pacific | |
| Miami | |
UPDATE # 1
Here’s everyone’s picks. Please verify for accuracy. Only a few early casualties.
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FYI…
All entries must be received by tip-off of first round games, Thursday, noon.
Mid-West
Louisville
St. Louis
Michigan St.
Duke
West
Gonzaga
Wisconsin
Arizona
Iowa St.
South
Kansas
VCU
Florida
Georgetown
East
Indiana
Syracuse
Butler
Miami (FL)
Given my past performance, you all now know who NOT to pick…
The Ville
Oregon
Mich St.
Duke
Kansas
Michigan
UF
Oklahoma
Pitt
Kansas St.
Belmont
Ohio St.
Indiana
Syracuse
Marquette
Miami
The Dubster is in and might I say, if everyone submits their picks as organized as he has, that will make this contest much easier for me to run.
Way to set the tone, sir.
FYI, Dubs has only one double-digit seed advancing (10 – Iowa State).
He has the potential to win 56 points if all his teams advance which tells us (56/16) that Dubs went mostly chalk.
May the contest continue!
Chris Humpherys
Do I have to make a pick ? The last time I made a pick that was allegedly this important , it cost me almost two decades of purgatory and ended in a divorce . LOL,LOL,LOL ,LOL !!!
I’ve got to go with Louisville (Cardinals) and Peyton Siva , Miami (Hurricanes) , Duke (Blue Devils) and Kansas (Jayhawks ) . The latter , because I believe that Self seems to be able to work miracles at the most inexplicable of moments !
Have you had your full dose of the World Baseball Classic and another inept performance by Team USA ? What the fu#@ is their problem to begin with ?
Still believe that the Lakers can make the playoffs ? Look at the remainder of their schedule and then that of both the Jazz and Mavericks who have far more favorable end run schedules , as to their remaining 15 games plus . And then look at the Western Conference standings .
Tophatal …………..
Earlier picks my Final Four .
Now here goes ……….. West : Gonzaga , Kansas St , Notre Dame & Arizona . <p? East : Miami , Syracuse , Indiana & Marquette . Midwest : North : Louisville, Duke , Michigan St & OK State .
South: Kansas , Florida , Oklahoma & Georgetown .
If the ball don’t bounce , then so be it !
Tophatal ……….
The D, one of our defending champions, is in with a few riskier picks, including the Belmont (wait for it, Bruins).
72 potential points for the one they call Heavy.
Good luck in your quest for back-to-back, sir.
Al….
I need the sixteen teams you think will advance in each bracket, not just the final four, bra.
And again, if the WBC is something players want to take seriously, then I’ll start taking it seriously.
Unless of course, the Americans are afraid they’re not as good as the rest of the world in their own national pastime.
And what the hell is Italy doing having a team?
Okay, Al.
Sorry about that. You’re in. Your comments (picks) didn’t show up ’til later but I got ’em.
And talk about chalk. Your total, possible points are 55, one fewer that the DubStep.
Only one double-digit seed advancing, Oklahoma.
This should be a nice little tournament. If only chalk advances to the later rounds, we’re going to be treated to some pretty sweet basketball games.
I’m in…but will wait for Tim’s previews to make my picks.
MIDWEST: Louisville, Duke, Valparaiso, Memphis
SOUTH: Florida, Kansas, UCLA, North Carolina
WEST: Gonzaga, Iowa State, New Mexico, Wisconsin
EAST: Indiana, Miami, Butler, Syracuse
louisville
st.louis
mtsu
creighton
gonzaga
wisconsin
new mexico
ohio st.
unc
vcu
florida
georgetown
nc state
unlv
bucknell
miami
I happen to love Coach Knight. He’s the only person in the Tech athletic department I had any respect for. One of his players didn’t think it was necessary to come to class every day; I picked up the phone, called the basketball office, and the next class period Coach Knight personally escorted the young man to class. All I ever got from the football side of things was “We really need him to pass your class. Can’t you just add 5 points to his grade?”
As for contest picks:
Louisville; Oklahoma State; Michigan State; Duke
Gonzaga; Kansas State; Arizona(in honor of the Lug Nuts fearless leader, KLValus; Ohio State
Kansas; Michigan; UCLA; Georgetown
Indiana; UNLV; Marquette(Jesuits are on a roll); Miami
Chris
There is not a clear cut favorite here and I am not about to wager the cost of a box of cigars on it .
Tiger has come out , not that he’s gay , but that he’s now dating skier Lindsay Vonn . Rumor has it , she’s helped his steady his 9 iron and his putter actually works fine .
Dropped this on the tourney , WBC (not boxing , but baseball ) and what we may expect over the remainder of the NBA schedule . I know you’re behind on your reading , so as and when you’re ready .
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/failure-is-not-an-option
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/its-not-what-you-do-or-the-way-that-you-spend-its-just-that-youd-better-be-spending-it-wisely/
Tophatal …………
Tophatal …………….
Italy’s team is made up pizza makers and artists . LOL, LOL !!! Justin Bieber was meant to be on Team Canada as an SS . But instead , we know he is an @s#hole !
Jed….
I look forward to the breakdown.
This year’s NCAA tournament is far less cut and dry than the NBA season, that’s for sure.
Snake is in.
I’m actually surprised he didn’t put the Celtics advancing in any of his brackets.
I’m even more surprised he has Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans losing to Valparaiso in the first round BUT… it’s that kind of boldness that might just win this thing.. or have him get ridiculed by everyone else in the contest.
Oh, and that gives him the possibility of 73 potential points in the first round. Good luck, sir.
Spence is in and not only picks Middle Tennessee State, of the play-in game to make the Sweet 16 but has neither Indiana or Kansas advancing that far.
You guys let me know when it’s safe to start drug testing.
Possible points: 78, the most yet.
Our resident college football pick ’em champion, SpeedBeagle, is in with more chalk, with the lowest seed she has advancing a 6 in Arizona.
She also has Michigan beating Florida which means I’m not talking to her for the rest of this tournament.
Possible points: 47, the fewest yet.
Al…
I though Tebow was dating Lindsday Vonn, or did she dump him because he wasn’t putting out.
midwest-Louisville, Colorado St., Duke, Michigan St.
south-Kansas, Florida, Georgetown, N. Carolina
west-Gonzaga, Ohio St., Kansas St., Arizona
east-Miami, Indiana, Marquette, Syracuse
Louisville
Saint Louis
Michigan State
Duke
Gonzaga
Ole Miss
New Mexico
Ohio State
Kansas
VCU
Florida
Georgetown
Indiana
Syracuse
Marquette
Miami
L’ville
OK St
Mich St
Duke
Kan
VCU
Fla
OK
Zaga
Wisc
Zona
OH St
Ind
Cuse
Butler
Miami
Daybreak is in, 51 possible points.
I wonder who she has advancing to the Final Four considering she picked Ohio State to win a national championship in our college football pick em pool when they were, ahem, ineligible.
Enjoy our coach, sweet cheeks.
Timmy Wallace is in with some serious chalk, his only double-digit seed being Ole Miss, who bested the Gators in the SEC Championship game, which begs the question, how can a team, who was basically already in, win their conference tourney, even in a weak year, and get a 12-seed?
You’ll have to ask the conference-teers. Either way, Timmy’s total possible points are 49.
Han the Man is also in….
Beware participants, Hanahan is a first ballot SportsChump Hall of Famer not only because of all the contests he’s won, but also because of the content of his character.
However, if Miami ends up winning a national championship, we’ll see how that character holds up. He might end up calling Uncle Luke for a house party.
Please be sure I get an invite, bra. I’ll take the weekend off.
Good luck, sir. Possible points: 57.
Chris
Vonn wants someone ” who can go down” and flesh out her wild side . What’s Tebow going to do ? Preach to her about Christianity ? And isn’t Tim Tebow insisting he wants to remain a virgin until his wedding day ? Something else that he and Manti Teo may well share , ya’ think ? ” Spankin’ the monkey ” ?
So the Heat narrowly escape the Celtics in a 105-103 victory ? Rivers’ guys might just be the only team in the East that can really test this Heat team over a seven game series .
The Celtics ten game home unbeaten run comes to an end and the Heat simply go marching on .
Left you a response to my most recent article as well as this post that you may well have missed .
It’s not what you do or the way that you spend , it’s just that you’d better be spending it wisely
NFL cap issues and how the Bucs may well proceed .
Tophatal ……………..
Chris
All good things must come to an end . The Celtics had their ten home game unbeaten run snapped by the Heat last night . Terrific game with a two point margin of victory for the guys from South Beach .
Who in the East , much less the rest of the NBA will now stop the Heat and their current unbeaten ( run ( 23 ) ? Take a look at the rest of their schedule and tell me which team , you believe can take them down, as they chase after the NBA record of 33 consecutive wins held by the ’71-72 Lakers .
Tophatal …………….
Great game last night, Al.
As well as the depleted (Rondo-less, KG-less) Celtics played and as hot as Jeff Green was, they let the Heat keep hanging around, just one more reason why nobody’s gonna beat them. They’ll only beat themselves and that’s not gonna happen.
Their next losable game is five games away in Chicago.
Think they’ll get to that Lakers record?
Louisville
Oklahoma St
Memphis
Duke
Gonzaga
Kansas St
Arizona
Ohio St
Kansas
VCU
Florida
Georgetown
Indiana
Syracuse
Marquette
Miami
Kansas
Michigan
Florida
San Diego St
Indiana
Syracuse
Bucknell
Miami
Louisville
Oregon
Mich St
Duke
Pittsburgh
Wisconsin
Arizona
Notre Dame
Hey Chump,
Yet again, a great contest. Happy to join. Here’s the BS picks.
Midwest
Louisville
Oklahoma St.
Duke
Michigan St.
South
Kansas
VCU
Florida
Georgetown
West
Gonzaga
Wisconsin
New Mexico
Ohio St.
East
Indiana
Syracuse
Marquette
Miami (FL)
Louisville
Oregon
Michigan State
Duke
Pittsburgh
Kansas State
New Mexico
Ohio State
Kansas
Michigan
Florida
San Diego State
Indiana
Syracuse
Butler
Miami
This oughta be good… As a non-basketball aficionado, here goes!
MIDWEST
Louisville
Oregon
Memphis
Duke
SOUTH
Kansas
Akron
Florida
San Diego State
WEST
Gonzaga
Wisconsin
New Mexico
Ohio State
EAST
Indiana
California
Butler
Miami
UofL
Slou
MSU
Duke
Gonzaga
Wisky
NMX
OSU
KU
VCU
FLA
GTWN
Indy
Syr
Davidson
MFL
Feel free to give a former Champ a Mulligan! 🙂
Midwest: Louisville, Saint Louis, Michigan St., Duke
West: Gonzaga, Kansas St., New Mexico, Ohio St.
South: Kansas, Michigan, Florida, Georgetown
East: Indiana, Syracuse, Marquette, Miami
Chris
Isn’t amazing to think that when the Bulls went 72-10 (95-96) at no time as such did they have anywhere close to the current streak the either the Heat have or the 71-72 Lakers and the NBA record of 33 consecutive game win streak . How ironic is that ?
I see the Rangers’ Nolan Ryan has been cast aside like a pair of worn out old shoes ?
See my latest pieces as it deals with MLB and the upcoming season concerning the Phillies and Rangers . Let me know what you think as and when ready .
It was the best of times and the worst of times
Tophatal ……………………..
Ravenous is in and official, also with a lot of chalk. Nothing lower than a six seed.
Total possible points: 48
Nice of Zbignu to take time away from the golf course and Let It Ride table to join us.
He’s picked two double-digit seeds in Bucknell and Oregon and can garner as many as 78 possible points in the first two rounds.
I just wonder how he feels about the Gators. None of us are as confident as we once were.
Wow! The chalkiest of chalk yet.
Thanks for the kind words, Surface.
Nothing worse than 5 seeds advancing which sets up for a second weekend we ALL want to see.
Possible points in that first round? Only 41, by far the lowest entry yet.
Mr. Power Rankings himself is in, KP, with 64 possible points.
Good luck, sir.
Not to worry, Dwin.
It’s usually the non-hoop heads that win these things.
You are in, sir, with some interesting picks I might add.
77 possible points await you in the opening rounds.
Ronbets is in.
Not many upsets early.
Am I to assume you’re loading up on Davidson money line?
Total possible points: 53
No mulligans here, Yaz. Man’s game.
And just when we thought things couldn’t get any chalkier, Yaz chimes in with the lowest potential point total yet.
40.
1s, 2s, 3s and 4s across the board.
We know that ain’t gonna happen, don’t we?
That give us 15 official entries without mine yet, which should be coming directly.
Okay, I’m in, ladies and gents.
Louisville
Ok St
Mich St
Duke
Gonzaga
Wisc
Belmont
Ohio St
Kansas
Michigan
Florida
G’Town
Indiana
Cuse
Butler
Miami
Hard not to pick chalk.
My possible points: 53
Louisville
OK State
Michigan St.
Duke
Gonzaga
Wisconsin
New Mexico
Ohio St.
Kansas
Michigan
Florida
Georgetown
Indiana
UNLV
Marquette
Miami
Total 43
Faber is in and his math is correct.
Let me know if you wanna grab some drinks tomorrow and watch some of these games, bra.
Sad to say I haven’t made time to watch a single college hoops game all year. But I need a chair throwing manual in the worst way, so here goes…
Louiville
St.L
Mich St.
Duke
Zags
Wisconsin
N.M.
Oh St.
Kansas
Michigan
FL
Georgetown
Hoosiers
Syracuse
Marqette
Miami
Go Bruins!
L’ville
OK St
Mich St
Duke
Kan
Mich.
Fla.
Georgetown
Gonzaga
Wisc
New Mex
OH St
Ind
Syracuse
Butler
Miami
Bleed is in with 41 potential points but that’s okay because he thinks the Lakers are going to win a title this year.
Nossaman is in with 45 p.p.
Good luck, gentlemen. Only hours until game time.
Just pulled a bender in Reno so my judgement may be clouded….or not.
Louisville
St. Louie
Michigan State
Creighton
Zags
Kansas St.
New Mexico
Ohio State
Kansas
Michigan
Florida
Georgetown
Indiana
UNLV
Davidson
Illinois
Solis is in. What happens in Reno stays in Reno.
62 potential points and Timmy gives us a total of 21 official entries with the clock ticking.
My list is accurate, but I will say that Pitt was actually an 8 seed, not a 9.
Chris
So Haaaarvard dumped on </b New Mexico ? Next you’ll be telling me that Will Hunting will be giving a dissertation on apples ! How ’bout them apples ? LOL,LOL !!
KP…
Not that it matters now. The Shockers handled Dixon’s boys pretty good.
Would anyone be surprised if they now took down Gonzaga?
I may even have that in some of my pools.
Nice one, Al.
That New Mexico loss comes on the heels of a ten year extension for Steve Alford too.
Buyer beware!
And Steve Alford now goes back to the drawing board to see what went wrong .
Do you believe that Wade and LBJ could end up being one the top duos in NBA history, were they to win at least two more NBA titles ?
The Heat face the Spurs in San Antonio on the 31st of this month and that game could be telling , if the Heat’s unbeatn streak is still intact . The last time they met LBJ and the boys squeaked by with a narrow 5 point victory .
Tophatal ………..
Al…
They’re already in the Top Five.
In no particular order, Jordan/Pippen, Kareem/Big O, Walt/Monroe, Shaq/Kobe… who else ya’ got?
Stockton/Malone…How many years did Oscar and Kareem play together? 3?4?…what is your criteria for great duos?
I would say Kareem and Magic are more of a duo…just my two cents.
Duh?? Bird & McHale…
Do we have updates Mr. Chump?
D and Snake…
The only reason I didn’t include those guys is because we refer to them more as trios. I mean you can’t say it was just Magic and Kareem and exclude Worthy or say Bird/McHale and exclude Parrish or even DJ.
And yes, updates will be up soon… so stay tuned.