Franklin liked Indiana, because he knew that Aunt Mook would want them to win. (She lives in India. India, Indiana, what's the difference?) They will go to the Final Four and loose to the Bears (UCLA)
Franklin also picked American, for seemingly patriotic reason. (There may be no other reasons to pick a 15 seed over Aunt Leslie's gunning Volunteers.)
Siena also earned Franklin's favor. I'm sure this has nothing to do with the fact that he met a very cute 5-year-old named Siena at one of the kindergartens he visited. She is the daughter of one of my colleagues and took an instant shine to Franklin.
Gonzaga was a shoe-in for the Final Four. Must be because it is so close to Gonzalo, one of Franklin's friends at school.
Franklin placed second as a two year old, so even if he matches his age again, he's still fourth.
Maggie Lou, it turns out, was even cagier. She had urged Franklin to pick Clemson because Hillary Clinton (Clinton, Clemson, sounds the same? Both have been divisive in South Carolina) is her candidate for President. After she had gotten through most of her bracket, however, she admitted that she had watched the Clemson-Duke game with Bibi Croom and Granpa Sandy. "Clemson was goooood," she said. That must be why they're playing Memphis for the national championship.
Maggie is also a Connecticut girl, born and (so far) raised, so she couldn't leave the Huskies out in the cold. And there is a certain logic to her picks. If Mississippi Valley State (a 15 seed) does knock off UCLA (1) and Texas A&M (9)), I agree that Connecticut could take them.
She also showed some love for George Mason, one of the few campuses besides Yale's that she has been on more than once. She'll dance the Patriots all the way to the Final Four (again, although she did not point out the GMU has more Final Four appearances than Duke in the last two years.)
Like Franklin two years ago, she matched her age (five) with her finishing (fifth), and she'd like to do better than seventh this year.
These picks will probably beat my picks. I have added three method brackets in addition to my real bracket which I named Hipster Pickster. The method brackets are (1)"Offense wins" which picks the winner of each game by picking the team with the highest average points per game; (2) "Defense wins" which picks the team with the lowest opponents points per game; and "RPI or RIP" which picks the team with the highest RPI. In the offense and defense categories I broke ties by picking the highest seeds. I wanted to do a small schools by picking the smaller school but ran out of energy and that may take actual reseach. If Ella and Bea had been awake, I would have used Dodie's method. They probably have learned more about basketball by osmosis being around Jeff than I have learned by being a fan who often lets the heart lead the head. Thus I picked Winthrop to win tonight.
ReplyDeleteI like it that both Maggie and Franklin went with their hearts. Even if they don't go far in the pool, they'll go far in life.
ReplyDeleteClarkson could do another called "Coolster Poolster".
Abby submitted a method pick called US News, going with the higher ranked school. Turns out some good teams get through.
I keep second-guessing all my picks, but then remember that while ignorance induces doubt it does not produce more satisfactory picks. I'm sticking with things as they are.
I join Franklin in betting on UCLA to win it all. I realize they probably won't win it all, but think of the smack I'll be able to talk along the way. Also, UCLA might be Meredith's next hospital -- we'll find out today around noon. Results of her match will be posted on Silas's blog.
ReplyDeleteWhen the results start coming in I may rename my bracket "Sicker Picker." Speaking of names where did Jeff get the name about Frank Mcquire was right?
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