So it's come to this

Raskin vs. Dodie.
'CUT vs. BUT.
G1 vs. T5.
Interloper vs. Insider.
8 years of Yale vs. 20 years* of Yale.
World Traveler (First Class) vs. World Traveler (Steerage).
Southern insult ("Looky here") vs. Northern insult ("Holy $#!‡, Pitt.")

Who's alive out there? What are your predictions? Your hopes and your dreams? Or is everyone just waiting for next year?

If you visit the McDow Hoops blog this evening, you are required to post.


* Approximation. Sure seemed like 20 years.

Holy smokes!

Ok, I apologize to my favorite genteel Southern family for not posting recently. I have been preoccupied, and also figured that since most of my teams had gotten killed (including my two finals teams) that my bracket was busted beyond repair. But looky here! It's down to Dodie, Franklin and me. I'm rooting for Butler, but would be happy for the McDow hoops victory should it come my way.

2 people out of 5.9 million got it right

ESPN story is here.

Yankee Interloper, This One and Not that One (and what about those other ones?)

OK, this year is officially nutty. Here is the McDowHoops endgame:

If either Connecticut (a 3 seed) or Kentucky (a 4 seed) win the final game, the Yankee Interloper will win McDowHoops. Given that the Yanke Interloper's alternate bracket "Not this one" will then win second place, I think those of us south of the Mason Dixon line might expect Re-Reconstruction.
(Y.I.)

If, however, either Butler (an 8 seed) or VCU (an 11 seed) can win the final game, the McDowHoops trophy will land at the feet of either a 7-year-old who picked teams based on the number of M's, O's, and N's in their name (thus VirgiNia COMMONwealth UNiversity) or yours truly, who entered a bracket based on each team's Academic Progress Rate (thus Butler).

In other words, no matter what happens the winner has a slim to no claim to basketball mastery.

"Oops"..the end of McDowHoops

Only 8 out of 32 entries have any possible points remaining. And only six of those can top the current leaders. So, with the UNC-Kentucky going down to the wire, here are the only possible winners of the long slog of McDowHoops. Fortunately the games have been fun to watch (except that game when your team was upset by that other team you kinds liked but didn't want to win). So now, we need to hear from the Mysterious Watson, a rookie McDowHoopster whose association with a Jenkins has not seemed to cloud her vision on picking winner.

Current	ENTRY, OWNER	CHAMPION	PPR	TOTAL	Possible Total
6	watsondawgs 1, m. watson	UNC	560	620	1180
23	Mook's Random Guesses, m. rincon	UNC	560	480	1040
24	franklin-nilknarf, D. McDow	VCU	560	470	1030
24	Academic Progress Rate, D. McDow	Butler	480	470	950
5	Yankee Interloper!, G. Raskin	Duke	80	630	710
9	Not this one, G. Raskin	Duke	80	580	660

So it comes down to...

the couple of folks who picked UNC and the Bean picking VCU.

The problem for a sports fan like me now is... while I don't generally root for UNC (just against Duke), I also don't generally root for Kentucky, let alone Calipari. So you might have thought I'd just root for whichever team matches up less well against UConn, except I also don't generally root for UConn (as a Syracuse guy and Calhoun disliker). So really I need some complicated probabilities for which teams will match better or worse in whatever way is required so that the winner of Butler or VCU will have the best chance of winning the Championship in the end. Except different opponents might match up better or worse depending on whether it Butler or VCU, so really I have no idea.

Time to just watch the games, I guess, and hope against hope that an underdog pulls it out.

PS Thank goodness I had Willie Nelson tickets on Friday, so I didn't have to watch OSU lose. But this tournament does make me want to sing "Whiskey River take my mind... "

Thanks to the Commenters!!

While I don't usually actually watch any basketball games, I have always enjoyed participating in the banter of McDow Hoops.  I'm not sure why that isn't the case this year - but I've had a hard time jumping in.  Maybe it's because my team isn't in it this year.  Maybe it's because I don't really know whose teams ARE in it this year.  Just not sure.

But I have really enjoyed that Dodie, Chuck,Todd (who doesn't even have a bracket!!) and Piers have worked hard to keep the emails/blogs going to entertain us.  I HAVE been entertained.  Just quietly so.

Thanks guys for keeping it interesting~

Mook

Maggie Lou tops for the moment

The residents of Fessenden St have not covered themselves in glory this time around--we represent some of the lowest brackets in the business--but one member of our household is, for the moment, shining. Maggie is tied for first with Barack Obama. (As far as I can tell, Chuck, Clarkson, and I all submitted the President's bracket.) Of course, she only has 80 possible points remaining. So she's living up now.
Elsewhere in our household, Franklin has VCU winning the whole thing, and my Academic Progress bracket never doubted the redoubtable Butler. I have them in it to win it.

Duke at the Half

Arizona's hanging in there. Predictions? Meredith and I are watching the game, rooting for the Blue Devils... I know I say this every year, but March Madness always reminds us of her year in Durham, and seeing Duke games with Will during that amazing '99/'00 season.

Do you believe in miracles - what!

A little teaser for tonight's game against Duke. Go Cats!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC6HY47LjJU

Alan G. Merten to retire as George Mason University president - The Washington Post

No mention at all of the Ohio State game in today's big announcement: Alan G. Merten to retire as George Mason University president - The Washington Post

Charlie Sheen's Bracket...

is here. Winning!

Politics, anyone?

I'm sure we have more important things to do than comment on some basketball blog. Right?

Right?

(right?)

I guess I've still got a pretty decent team to follow in the  Buckeyes, and I think this Orange team was pretty hard to watch sometimes, but still...

I was hoping for some redemption/overachievement to make up for last year's disastrously early loss by a championship-caliber team.

I need more than my favorite Muppet in an orange suit to cheer me up... so...

do you think if we made Charlie Sheen the new ambassador to Libya he could stop the fighting?

Basketball Capital, USA

Richmond is certainly buzzing with excitement over our 2 teams in the Sweet 16.  Though, we all know which one is better!  Go Spiders!

Here's a great article from the NYT today: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/sports/ncaabasketball/22quad.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=richmond%20basketball&st=cse

Nellie
Nellie Jenkins
Delta Delta Delta, VP of Public Relations
Psychology Department Teaching Fellow
University of Richmond Class of 2011
nellie.jenkins@richmond.edu | 803.528.7744

It's Not Easy...

Being Orange.

VCU

Rams Let Off Steam on Boilermakers in 18 Point Rout

Wow, two teams from Richmond into the Sweet 16, both with double digit seeds. Quite the surprise.

GMU-OSU: Ouch!

OSU Scandal: After Getting Tatooed, GMU Players to Miss Rest of
Tournament

After being down by half at the half (52-26), they came back to only
lose by a third! The final score was 98-66, as if every bucket GMU
scored, OSU hit a three.

Headline Challenge #3

How should the press (satirical or otherwise) write about Saturday's basketball games or the McDowHoops bracket results? Here are my takes. Add yours in the comments.

• Aztecs Defile Temple: SDSU wins 71-64 in Double Overtime
• Wisconsin's Ryan Cuts K-State's Budget
• Butler's Life a Bowl of Cherries, Not Pitt's

Kudos to Chuck for yesterday's "Purdue stops St. Pete's at Tourney Gate" and Piers for "Musketeers 'One for all, and All for One [and Done].'"

Holy $#!‡, Pitt

Well, tied will do

That did not last long, but I'll take tied in PPR.

Hey Nellie, want to go back to San Antonio?

Go Spiders

I am loving this game!

And I know better than to compete in smack talk with this witty group, but I am feeling good to have surpassed our national and family dignitaries in Possible Points Remaining.

Nell

Hate the Duke Blue Devils? Not anymore - ESPN

Great article on the change in Duke and college basketball in general:

So I ask, outside of ACC fans and maybe UNLV and Michigan alumni, can you still really gin up authentic hate, rage, antipathy and rancor for Duke? I can't. The Duke worth hating, the Duke worthy of hating -- you know, Laettner-chest-stomping, Woj-floor-slapping, always-in-the-Final Four Duke -- that Duke is resting in peace.

Hate the Duke Blue Devils? Not anymore - ESPN

Clarkson's Bracket in Top 400 Nationally

Our most senior prognosticator is doing well as the third round gets underway. In our own little pool, he is leading the pack, tied only with everyone's favorite Irish man O'Bama. But Clarkson is also doing well nationally: he ranks 399th at this moment.

Headline Challenge #2

How should the press (satirical or otherwise) write about Friday's
basketball games or the McDowHoops bracket results? Here are my takes.
Add yours in the comments.

--After a First Half of Bricks, Mason Dismantles Villanova

--Georgetown Can't Dodge Rams, Tough

--No Oyster for Pearl: Michigan knocks of Tennessee

--Kansas Covers Boston: More Than A Feeling to Carry on My Wayward Son

--Huskies Mush Dawgs: Washington wins first ever game in North Carolina

--Nation's Most Respected Bureaucrat Leads Pool, Ties Barack Obama

Ohio St. vs. GMU

We have got an amazing match-up in our future, folks! Not to jinx Ohio State this afternoon, but I can barely wait for Piers vs. Dodie in the next round.

Hidden meaning

"Villanova" has "no VA" in its name. GMU should have realized their fate was sealed already...

MMMMMMemphis

Franklin got board while going through the brackets, and after filling
out the East, he decided that he would choose teams based on their
shared letters with him. As he has two Ms, two Os, and two Ns in his
name, he used this order to pick his winners. His final game has
MeMphis losing to VirgiNia COMMONwealth. So he needs Memphis to win
today.

Nova at the Half

I traditionally root for Nova, since Meredith's entire family went there, and they own the student hangout bar called Kellys. However, I have to root for Dodie's direct employer over Meredith's cousins' school. Dodie, have you had any basketball players in class, along with their "tutors"? Or does the administration simply pressure you to give them an A, without the help of a "tutor"?

Putting the NO in Villanova

Villanova takes the court against George Mason in just over an hour,
and I invite you all to put the NO back in Villanova. In German,
that's nein. And how homophonically appropriate is that? 'Nova is a
nine seed that finished 9-9 in Big East play. Nein, nein, nein. No to
'Nova.

Instead, I hope they get ate up. By the eight seed, my employer,
George Mason. This is Mason's highest seeding in six trips to the
dance, though their 6:1 ratio of final four appearances to tournament
qualifications must be among the highest in the country. George Mason
the man said NO to signing the Constitution at the end of the 1787
Constitutional Convention because it did not have a bill of rights.
That was a hard no. NO to 'Nova is easy.

Dawgs and Cats up for a W

Just posting a little shout out to my two alma mater's. Hopefully
they can both squeak through the first round, if only to then face the
big boys. Of course, Arizona has a shot to make it to the sweet
sixteen this year, if not the next 8. Too bad Lute's not around...
Thanks for including me in the fun!
Marissa

Headline Challenge #1

How should the press (satirical or otherwise) write about Thursday's basketball games? Here are my takes. Add yours in the comments.

• If Obama Legislative Agenda Looked Like His Bracket, Republicans Would Be Out in First Round
• Red Neck Death Match: WVU eliminates Clemson
• Zags Zig, Johns Flushed
• Huskies Sound Death 'Knell: Kemba Walker's career high eliminates PA school
• Louisville Doesn't Want Morehead After All: Pitino Quips, "This Sucks"

Richmond!

At least they did it to someone else this time.

By the way, ever notice that at airport security they have lines for the "expert" traveler and the "casual" traveler and that these categories are not mutually exclusive? There's only one of me, folks! This reminds me of the continuing studies student who came into my office hours this quarter to say: now that's he's been taking philosophy classes he can't make any decisions, and his brain hurts. His question: "When does it stop hurting, professor?" My first attempt: "Well, at some point you specialize." My second attempt: "Would you rather go back to how you were?" He answered no to the second question, and so we moved on. Still, it would help him get past the pain of philosophy if he would do more of the reading for class. Just sayin'.

Dude, Where's My Bracket?

Unfortunately I began filling out my McDow Hoops bracket too late this year, and got locked out of ESPN. I will still be following the McDow Hoops blog, rooting for PAC-10 teams, and giving Piers a hard time. Given that there is nothing of any interest going on in the world right now, all of my free time will be devoted to following NCAA basketball.

Bracketeer in Cheif

I have put in President Obama's picks, listed under "Presidential Pick 'Em." Last year he picked Kansas to win it all, but like many of us, his bracket got Farokhmaneshed. He also has Richmond over Vandy in the 2nd (previously 1st) round.

Here is a video of the unveiling of the "Barack-et."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/16/obama-bracket-2011-ncaa-tournament_n_836595.html

Virginia, Pennsylvania Best Basketball States based on Teams in the Tournament

State Origins of the 68 Teams in the 2011 NCAA Tournament

South Carolina underrepresented because the Citadel and Winthrop did not make the cut this year.

Academic Progress Rate bracket

I entered one of my brackets based on Inside Higher Ed's calculations based on the NCAA-tracked Academic Progress Rate, with ties broken by Graduation Success Rate. The whole article is here: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/03/14/the_ncaa_tournament_bracket_based_on_teams_academic_performance

8 years of Yale education ...

... and I still can't figure out how to work the ESPN site correctly. I have two brackets, but I really only want the one called Yankee Interloper. I appear unable to delete the other one (called something like "not this one"), so you can disregard it. Unless it wins, of course, in which case THAT's the bracket I want to use. -Greg

1991

Last night on a plane from Atlanta to RDU I had the chance to watch some espn classic on the seatback TV screen. They were showing a classic from 1991 - Syracuse v Richmond, a #2 vs #15 seed. I assume Piers remembers this game. For Nellie's sake I'll remind everyone that 1991 was the first year a 15 seed beat a #2 seed. Here's to Richmond partying like it's 1991. Here in Durham expectations are rising after Sunday's game and I've taken the bait in my current bracket. Here's to Blue Devils v Buckeyes. And I'll be U-dub's biggest fan in the second round. Don't let March end...

Helloooooo

Good to be back. 'Cuse has a hard road (in a bracket with UNC and OSU and Kentucky)... assuming we can get past Indiana State. Of course, if the Orange lose, then hopefully OSU will carry on. Nice to have a couple of dogs in the race.

George Mason, Washington, Duke, Tennessee, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Richmond, Pittsburgh... who am I missing? No GW, no BC, no Winthrop, no Citadel, no S. Carolina (though USC is in),  no Lawrence, no Yale...

Who is St. Peter's? And who will God prefer if they play St. John's? I hear St. John's had some revelatory games, while St. Peter's was rock-solid.

And it begins ...

Ah March - my favorite time of the year. When the whole McDow family gets together virtually to see who's cleverer. I look forward to the smack talk. And to my Pitt Panthers, who squeaked into a #1 seed.