12/22/24
March 14, 2004
March Madness is here. Join the SpoFi March Madness Pool. Group name=spofi, password=spofi. Trash talk inside...
posted by smithers to navel gazing at 07:59 PM - 99 comments
We had 21 entries last year and I hope that we can double that number this time around. No fear about knowing whom to pick ... most people don't have a clue anyways. :)
posted by smithers at 09:41 PM on March 14, 2004
I did it. I picked an all-ACC final four. It's not too serious, but it is fun. Realistically, I think: * Kentucky beats Tech in the elite eight. * OK State beats Wake in the elite eight. * Texas beats Carolina in the sweet 16, and Mississipi State beats either of those. Duke-Miss St. is a wash, no clue who wins there. Probably comes down to JJ Reddick being hot or not. * UConn beats State in the Sweet 16 and Maryland or Stanford (probably Stanford) in the Elite Eight. Still, 3 or 4 ACC teams in the elite eight is very realistic, IMHO.
posted by tieguy at 09:42 PM on March 14, 2004
I can't seem to join. What's the group id#?
posted by gyc at 09:54 PM on March 14, 2004
Smithers, we need the group id# to join. Thanks!
posted by tieguy at 10:29 PM on March 14, 2004
I have a tough time not picking favorites in every game but I did end up with Stanford over Kentucky in the championship game. Go Cardinal!
posted by billsaysthis at 10:55 PM on March 14, 2004
I don't have a clue, but what the hell. As soon as smithers gives us the group #, I'll make my picks.
posted by dusted at 11:16 PM on March 14, 2004
y'all can fill out your form and have your picks entered before the group # appears. I did. I have no idea about any of the teams this year. I was surprised that Gonzaga had such a good season. Not that I know anything about their schedule but Spokane is not a big place and not a suburb to any big place so I was surprised that their small program could parlay a few years of tournament success into presumably a strong team with a great season behind them. But what do I know.
posted by gspm at 04:19 AM on March 15, 2004
Whoops...Group ID=38333, Password=spofi.
posted by smithers at 06:38 AM on March 15, 2004
Those picks took me all of four minutes. It worked for a top-ten finish last year. Thanks for the set-up effort smithers.
posted by 86 at 07:50 AM on March 15, 2004
Terry Armstrong is in.
posted by vito90 at 08:39 AM on March 15, 2004
I'll be in as soon as I come up with a good 2004 fantasy team nickname. Seriously, it's important!
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:11 AM on March 15, 2004
Okay, my pistolwhippets are in and ready for action.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:25 AM on March 15, 2004
I'm in...that would be Chris's Coin Flips...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:15 AM on March 15, 2004
I'll suit up. my handle: fatchance.
posted by jason streed at 11:31 AM on March 15, 2004
I wrote my selections on Cletus' Bar Napkin.
posted by jeffmshaw at 11:43 AM on March 15, 2004
I have no idea what I'm doing, which is also my handle.
posted by gyc at 01:49 PM on March 15, 2004
Glad to see I'm not the only one who left his picks up to random chance!
posted by Jugwine at 02:46 PM on March 15, 2004
That's the great thing about Tourney pick'ems, anybody can win them, and it's usually the ditz in marketing that picks based on team colors or mascots.
posted by corpse at 02:52 PM on March 15, 2004
i'm in... as "ditz in marketing"
posted by goddam at 03:02 PM on March 15, 2004
Argh. Somebody(s) else did the coin-flip thing and now I'm going to have to do something else. Scrabble it is. Go Xavier!
posted by taupe at 03:40 PM on March 15, 2004
I'm in, usual name, and let's just say I'm psyched to be tied for the top even at this early stage!
posted by billsaysthis at 04:51 PM on March 15, 2004
Woo hoo! Almost took it last year, and back for more torture this year! -- Pix from the Satellite of Love
posted by bcb2k2 at 08:05 PM on March 15, 2004
Frazer Vitale is in, under: KNOCK OFF THAT BRACKET!
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:20 PM on March 15, 2004
I'm in :)
posted by scully at 04:41 PM on March 16, 2004
What, no Utah State?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 06:19 PM on March 16, 2004
I'm in.
posted by Scottymac at 06:33 PM on March 16, 2004
I have checked out all of your picks. You might as well send me the accolades now.
posted by vito90 at 12:34 PM on March 17, 2004
Vito, allow me the pleasure of being the first to say: "Eat my shorts, dude!"
posted by billsaysthis at 01:22 PM on March 17, 2004
Vito, allow me the pleasure of being the first to say: "Where's my beer?" :)
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:35 PM on March 17, 2004
Man Ufez, at the rate I'm going I'm gonna have to fly down to TX and hand deliver it to you. You can't even believe what a hassle it is shipping alcohol. It could actually put you in jeopardy since of course I don't have to supply a return address... Can you think of something of comparable worth/value that wouldn't have the added bonus of making me into a felon? Name the object and I'll ship it posthaste. I did, after all, lose the bet fair and square!
posted by vito90 at 04:14 PM on March 17, 2004
Don't sweat it, vito. I've never tried to ship anything like that before. Hmm, you wanna go double or nada on this bracket thingy and I'll see if I can come up with something, you know, when I win.(!)
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:23 PM on March 17, 2004
I'm in ... I promise to take it easy on you all this year.
posted by jasonspaceman at 07:14 AM on March 18, 2004
spaceman no promises neccesary...i rode maryland to the top of the 2002 pool...but look where i finished 2003 and see yrself in the mirror.
posted by danostuporstar at 07:48 AM on March 18, 2004
OK....I finally finished my bracket, and I am just experiencing the annual post-pick nausea of how it turned out...
posted by smithers at 08:04 AM on March 18, 2004
Ok I'm in.. though I don't know if I got what it takes this year! Let's Go Terps!! ... (though I only have them to the Elite 8 :( Hope I'm wrong tho)
posted by tittergrrl at 09:45 AM on March 18, 2004
(Oh, I'm "The Other Plame Leak")
posted by tittergrrl at 09:50 AM on March 18, 2004
Next year, my daughter is picking them for me. She will be two and a half then.
posted by jasonspaceman at 09:52 AM on March 18, 2004
So how many people are "sick" today and tomorrow?
posted by gyc at 11:35 AM on March 18, 2004
Not "sick", but it would be fairly obvious here in NC if you took the next two days off. They try and allieviate this at work by setting up the games on big screens in all the conference rooms.
posted by corpse at 12:55 PM on March 18, 2004
We have tvs at work here too but they are in front of conference rooms (with glass walls) so people will be able to tell how much you have been watching tv through out the day instead of working.
posted by jasonspaceman at 01:10 PM on March 18, 2004
Sweet...3 for 3 so far. Go Jaspers!
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:17 PM on March 18, 2004
Screw your Jaspers! :-< Oh, so painful!
posted by bcb2k2 at 03:25 PM on March 18, 2004
Got the Jaspers. Missed Alabama. I got VCU winning.
posted by corpse at 03:31 PM on March 18, 2004
Yeah, I had the Salukis too. I need Wake to come back, I've got them going to the Elite 8.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:35 PM on March 18, 2004
The Manhattan / Florida wasn't an upset. Everyone (ok maybe alot of people) was saying Manhattan was going to win.
posted by jasonspaceman at 05:48 PM on March 18, 2004
OK....I'm at 7-1 after the afternoon games....anybody go 8-0??
posted by smithers at 06:01 PM on March 18, 2004
Chris's Coin Flips (yahoo name cheezzdik) went 8-0, 10 of us went 7-1. the "Scenario Generator" on the 'my picks" page updates people's scores pretty fast.
posted by danostuporstar at 06:16 PM on March 18, 2004
Actually, jasonspaceman, according to Yahoo's Pick Distribution tool (which is really cool to look through)... only 30-31 percent of the people on Yahoo picked Manhattan to win. More interestingly, the Alabama/Southern Illinois game was pretty much evenly split... 49 percent and some change for both. And, of course, Alabama won by only one point (grrr!). Yahoo's system is so much better than CBS's (which my office is using)!
posted by tittergrrl at 07:11 PM on March 18, 2004
Actually, I was 11-0, then the Spartans screwed me...finished 13-3...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:25 PM on March 18, 2004
8-8 baby!
posted by gyc at 11:54 PM on March 18, 2004
oh crunk! 15-1!
posted by oliver_crunk at 08:36 AM on March 19, 2004
Congrats, Ollie. My two misses were the 1-point SIU/Alabama game and the double-OT Dayton/DePaul game. So close to 16-0, dammit.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:29 AM on March 19, 2004
I am quite exccited to have 13 points so far and leading in at least two games still being played. Hurray for the KnowNothings!
posted by billsaysthis at 09:34 PM on March 19, 2004
I'm not in last place anymore!
posted by gyc at 02:59 AM on March 20, 2004
yeah, that's be me now. ouch. which means i know less than know nothings.
posted by gspm at 03:57 AM on March 20, 2004
Mmm, Stanford loses. There goes the rest of my tourney. *gets drunk*
posted by mr_crash_davis at 08:19 PM on March 20, 2004
Lost both my national championship game picks in the same day. *Buys mr_crash_davis a shot and two for himself*
posted by jeffmshaw at 09:10 AM on March 21, 2004
Same here. Never good for your pool losing your final 2 on the 3rd day. *Bellys up and sets all up with doubles*
posted by pivo at 09:59 AM on March 21, 2004
My Phoenix bracket is pretty much done (I have 6 points in it, but can only get a max of 8 out of it now). *Orders a coke and grabs the bowl of pretzels.* Well SOMEONE has to drive this drunken, motley crew home!
posted by grum@work at 10:05 AM on March 21, 2004
well, kentucky just fucked my finals. *buys the boys a round of mind erasers*
posted by goddam at 06:12 PM on March 21, 2004
what the fuck kentucky!? GO SYRACUSE!
posted by jasonspaceman at 06:18 PM on March 21, 2004
that is some seriously crazy shi_. after the first round everyone was poo-pooing the "most parity ever" in college basketball schtick...but has half of the 1-2 seeds ever been knocked in the 2nd round before? does anybody have all of their final four teams still alive?
posted by danostuporstar at 06:19 PM on March 21, 2004
Man, I think I have more red than green in my tournament bracket. WTF Kentucky? Well, at least I still have 3/4 Final four teams.
posted by gyc at 06:27 PM on March 21, 2004
I amd down to 3 elite 8, 1 FF, and 0 championship game teams. That probably wont stand (could very easily lose the FF team). After the first weekend. This is nuts. As dano said, let's see the parity naysayers now!
posted by pivo at 06:52 PM on March 21, 2004
I still have 3 of my final 4 alive, but a lot of carnage to wade through by then. Playing as Sadakssotia.
posted by Scottymac at 09:11 PM on March 21, 2004
Sorry, playing as foolserrand.
posted by Scottymac at 09:16 PM on March 21, 2004
I look like a genius for having Nevada and Xavier, but my ENTIRE Phoenix bracket is shot. I don't have a single team in the Sweet16 from that bracket. Not one. My champion (Kentucky) and two of the final four (Stanford) are done. Go Texas! (I'm 453,350th in Yahoo! Top half-million! woo!)
posted by grum@work at 10:11 PM on March 21, 2004
I still have UConn over Pitt in the finals.......please hang on....
posted by smithers at 07:21 AM on March 22, 2004
Terry Armstrong is well positioned for a late run. Terry Armstrong still has three of the final four including the final two. Terry Armstrong need Pitt and Duke. Then the trash talk will begin from Terry Armstrong.
posted by vito90 at 08:12 AM on March 22, 2004
The scenario generator would put me in second if all of my remaining picks are correct. Not good.
posted by gspm at 08:27 AM on March 22, 2004
Ha! I didn't even notice, but the other part of my household is leading! I'm going to let her do my bracket next year.
posted by corpse at 09:09 AM on March 22, 2004
i've got a shot if pitt runs the table. i've got 3 of 4 left in the final. (pitt, uconn, georgia tech, north carolina)...unfortunatly i've got UNC as a final team.
posted by oliver_crunk at 09:24 AM on March 22, 2004
I still don't understand the UNC hype. That team hadn't won three straight since December- no reason to expect they would have chosen March to win four straight.
posted by tieguy at 09:36 AM on March 22, 2004
Still have 8 of the sweet 16. Potential 5 of Elite 8, 2 of Final Four, and my final two are both still in (Duke and OKState). Go Pokes...
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:10 AM on March 22, 2004
oh crunk! you need to root against the dukies 'cause i also got Pitt winning the championship -- against the blew devils, with uConn rounding out my (garyWilliams4president) 3 surviving FF teams.
posted by danostuporstar at 11:55 AM on March 22, 2004
I don't wanna talk about it...
posted by MeatSaber at 12:10 PM on March 22, 2004
meh. i just took a second look at the scenario generator, and there's no way i can win. trox is 1 point ahead of me and we have the same exact final four. with pitt winning. **joins the boys in the bar, orders a round of tequila, roots for pitt anyway**
posted by oliver_crunk at 12:28 PM on March 22, 2004
What the? I've lost my champion, but it's still possible for me to win this thing?
posted by trox at 12:43 PM on March 22, 2004
Can't believe I'm in second right now. There's still a chance for me to win it all too...*fingers crossed*
posted by bcb2k2 at 12:56 PM on March 22, 2004
nah....my bad trox...i'm an idiot...apparently i had those tequila shots before i ran the generator. dan is right...need to root against duke to have a shot. **orders another round for the whole spofi group**
posted by oliver_crunk at 01:24 PM on March 22, 2004
it looks like trox would win if Xavier takes home the trophy. the "Prime Timers" seem to be the definate frontrunner after the first weekend...the only team with more than 40 points who has at least 3 FF teams and their champion left. In fact, all four "prime time" championship bracket teams are still standing.
posted by danostuporstar at 01:26 PM on March 22, 2004
I still have a shot to win, but only if OK St. loses in the national semi-finals and Illinois goes to the finals. Yeah, like that's going to happen.
posted by gyc at 01:36 PM on March 22, 2004
Semis & Finals, my points 0, possible points 0. I had Stanford over Kentucky in the championship game.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:04 PM on March 22, 2004
I could still beat trox if Xavier won it all (if they faced pretty much anyone but Pittsburgh in the final). Xavier is, however, the only team I can get points from anymore -- yes, I have one surviving team, and my maximum possible score is 90. Fun fact: a bracket chosen entirely at random can expect an average of 31.5 points the way they've got this set up. All of us have surpassed that threshold but me.
posted by taupe at 12:37 AM on March 23, 2004
According to scenerio generator, if all of my picks stand, I win by 3 points. I am not counting on it but I am sure am hoping for it.
posted by jasonspaceman at 06:11 AM on March 23, 2004
gyc: FWIW, the last two times Duke has lost in the round of sixteen it was in a 1-5 game. (UF and IU). Both teams went on to lose in the finals. So... it's not insane :)
posted by tieguy at 07:24 AM on March 23, 2004
I had Stanford and Gonzaga in the final game ... ... and, amazingly, I too still have a shot, says scenario generator. Weird. *Tries in vain to get bar tab erased from credit card bill*
posted by jeffmshaw at 09:24 AM on March 23, 2004
If all my remaining teams win (except OKState doesn't make it to the final four) then I will win. But that ain't gonna happen.
posted by grum@work at 09:32 AM on March 23, 2004
Wait. Scratch that. No matter what happens, I can't win. I forgot to pick a winner in the Texas vs (any team but UConn) final game. No matter what happens, the best I can finish is 2nd place. D'oh! *Starts eyeing the bottle of Southern Comfort behind the bar.*
posted by grum@work at 09:45 AM on March 23, 2004
Somehow, I didn't get into the pool, so for all you all know, I'm perfect so far. :) /pants on fire
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:49 AM on March 23, 2004
If UConn beats Pitt in the finals, I can win.....but no other way than that.....I don't like the scenario generator....what happened to the romance? *joins the gang at the bar, hoping one of crunk's drinks are still available*
posted by smithers at 12:47 PM on March 23, 2004
well Pitt is out what's on draft?
posted by danostuporstar at 10:29 PM on March 25, 2004
the scenario generator doesn't remove romance, it is just like having a nerd in your pocket to run some numbers for you. wait, a nerd in your pocket does not sound very romantic.
posted by gspm at 03:53 AM on March 26, 2004
Okay, I must have been tired. I can still win this if the following happens: Texas makes it to the finals. AND One of - Georgia Tech - St. Joseph's - UAB - Nevada beats them in the final game. It's a bit of a long shot, but now I know who to cheer for.
posted by grum@work at 07:49 PM on March 26, 2004
So much for that one, grum ;)
posted by pivo at 09:01 PM on March 26, 2004
Well there goes my chances of winning
posted by gyc at 02:41 PM on March 27, 2004
So much for that one, grum ;) Yeah. But I knew it was going to be a long shot. And I now have ZERO teams left in the brackets. Ugh.
posted by grum@work at 10:28 PM on March 27, 2004
Go UCONN! Bring me home!
posted by tittergrrl at 10:07 AM on April 02, 2004
I swore I wouldn't do this this year. But what the hell. Oh, and I think I'm going to pick all six ACC teams to make the Elite Eight. [Maybe.][Sort of.][I reserve the right to hope that UNC's charter gets shot down by the Air Force pre-game.]