True Confessions: It's Nice to Have March Madness Back

[Bact PhD]

I'm listening to the opening game of the "First Four". Some of the fun is learning where some of these "mid-major" schools are. Much of the fun, oftentimes, is toggling between games going on simultaneously, especially during the first weekend. Gators open action tomorrow at lunchtime. The good thing #1: Dear Son's school is on early dismissal tomorrow. Good Thing #2: The game should be very nearly over by the time we have to leave for the baseball game in order to arrive by half-past 3.

I completely forgot to fill out a bracket, but my beverage-napkin analysis, since my guesses are as good as anyone else's  (leaving out First Four; I don't see any of them getting out of the first round):

West Region:
-Top 8 seeds make it out of the first day, but Creighton upsets UVa and Southern Cal eliminates Kansas in the Round of 32.
Advancing to Sweet 16: Gonzaga, Creighton, Southern Cal, Iowa
-In Sweet 16:Gonzaga over Creighton; Iowa over Southern Cal
-Iowa over Gonzaga to head to Final Four

East Region:
-First Day:10 Maryland upsets 7 UConn; 13 UNC-Greensboro upsets 4 FSU; otherwise higher seeds advance
-Round of 32:With the exception of UNC-G in the Cinderella role, higher remaining seeds advance
Advancing to Sweet 16:Michigan, UNC-G, Texas, Alabama
-Sweet 16: UNC-G's run ends at the hands of Michigan; Texas scores the slight upset over 'Bama
-Michigan over Texas to go to the Final Four

South Region:
-First Day: No surprises, EXCEPT 10 Va Tech defeats the 7 Gators
-Round of 32: Higher seeds advance, no upsets
Advancing to Sweet 16:Baylor, Purdue, Arkansas, Ohio St.
-Sweet 16: Double upset: Purdue over Baylor; Arkansas over Ohio St.
-Arkansas over Purdue to go to the Final Four

Midwest Region:
-First Day: 12 Oregon State upsets 5 Tennessee; 13 Liberty upsets OK St; Otherwise higher seeds advance
-Round of 32: in the 12/13 matchup, Oregon State over Liberty. 8 Loyola-Chicago upsets 1 Illinois; 3 West Virginia upset by 6 San Diego State; other higher remaining sees advance.
Advancing to Sweet 16: Loyola-Chicago, Oregon State, San Diego State, Houston
-Sweet 16: Oregon State over Loyola-Chicago; Houston over San Diego State
-Houston over Oregon State to go to the Final Four

Semifinal #1: Michigan over Iowa
Semifinal #2: Arkansas over Houston

Finals: Michigan over Arkansas, 76-73

[LFC]

Sorry but I couldn't give a rat's ass about March Madness. As for a final 16? I'm catching up on Battlebots!

[Bact PhD]

Like everyone else, my bracket got completely busted on Day One. About the only stuff I called correctly were the relatively deep runs by Loyola-Chicago and Oregon State. The only Final Four team I got right was Houston. Soooo, my predictions for whatever they’re worth:

Baylor over Houston (begrudgingly); Gonzaga over UCLA in the semis.
Gonzaga over Baylor in the final.

[goldenvalley]

Last night's Gonzaga/UCLA game was riveting...best basketball I've seen in years.  Husband and I were settled in for an overtime or two...he was on the way to the kitchen for more wine but turned around to ask me a question just as that final shot was launched.  

I doubt we'll watch the final.  Nothing can top last night.