March Madness Interview w/ the Lady - A n00b to the Bracket Scene

Since I'll be too distracted to do it tomorrow (and since nobody is stupid enough to copy my picks), I decided I'd post me & Jen's picks tonight.

If you read the blog last night, you're likely one of many who is filling out a March Madness bracket. My girlfriend & I are no exceptions. Except for Jen, this is her cherry experience with filling one out - for me, I've been filling these out since my pre-teen years.

All the more reason to see who will win the bracket challenge. As you will see in the interview below with the lady, a bet was agreed to regarding the tourney.

16a.Is this the first time you’ve ever filled out a March Madness bracket?

16b. Yes______________________________________________________

1. How long did it take for you to fill out your bracket?________________________

16. It took about 10 or 15 minutes—reading the matchups and making my decision.

8. Would you have ever done this without me?______________________________________________

9. I probably would have eventually because other people do it. People have asked me to be a part of it before, but I’ve just never done it because there is always a bet involved.

5. How many college basketball games have you watched this year? In your life?

12. Only when I’m around you. I’ve watched more NBA than college (in my life). Never really watched college.

4. What was your strategy with making these picks, if any?

13. I read those picks in the paper (Chicago Sun Times) that I filled my bracket out of. I looked at the matchups, looked at the middle column in the paper about best Cinderella, best player, etc. But mostly, I went with my gut.

6. Why did you pick Kansas to win it all?

11. Sometimes, when everybody is talking about one team, I like to think an underdog or an upset can happen. Even though everybody seems to think Kentucky is the best contender, I’m gonna go with Kansas.

14a. Will filling out this bracket make you watch these games at all?

14b. If not watch the game, definitely pay attention to the highlights on SportsCenter.

3. Are you prepared to watch some of these games with me?

14. Yeah, sure. Especially when it gets down to the Elite Eight or Final Four…if my bracket is still together at that point (laughs).

7. Are you willing to make any sort of friendly wager with this? If so, what?

10. We can do a dinner thing, sure. You’re gonna take me out.

2. Will you be happy when this tournament is over?

15. Yes, especially when I win.

My Bracket

Jen's Bracket

March Fadness: You're Not Cool Unless You Fill Out a Bracket

Around this time of year, it's actually more shocking when you come across a person who hasn't filled out a March Madness bracket of some sort.

It's not just the hardcore basketball fans that enter office tourneys or engage in side bets with their friends. In fact, it seems like it's about this time when many people are watching their first glimpses of college basketball this year.

With my social group, it is no different. I set up a bracket group on Yahoo, which you are welcome to join here - http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/31988 . It's free to join, so no risk involved.

Many of the members in the group of 19 so far do not watch a lick of college basketball, and I'd be willing to bet that one of them is going to win this group challenge. It happens across offices everywhere - someone who fills out their alum school to go far or picks a team based on its name or mascot can be the person who collects the first place prize.

I'm getting into the spirit of things by posting my bracket versus my g/f Jen's. Like many of you, she'd rather just avoid watching basketball altogether, but I forced her to fill out a bracket for the purposes of a blog - she's such a good sport*.

*She wasn't forced to do anything - She'd beat me up if I forced her to do anything**
**She'd never beat me....I don't think.

We don't have a bet at the moment, but perhaps dinner (her making it versus me taking her out for it - my cooking skills are limited to the grill and microwave) could be made.

I'll post some of the highlights of our brackets (My picks subject to change - I will repost if I change anything below):

First round Upsets - i.e. 11 over 6 and above (I'll ignore the 7/10, 8/9 matchups)

Brian: Long Beach St., St. Bonnies, Texas, Winner of Cal/USF
Jen: Belmont, NC State

Any #1 seeds eliminated before Sweet 16?

Brian: no
Jen: no

Double digit seeds selected to Sweet 16:

Brian: 4
Jen: 1

Top 2 seeds left in Elite 8 (out of 8):

Brian: 5
Jen: 5

Final Four

Brian: Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio St, UNC
Jen: Kentucky, Murray St, Vandy, Kansas

Championship Game...(to be posted Thursday)


In the interests of people wanting to copy all of our picks because they are so awesome (and also because my picks might not be final), I will release our full brackets later (Thursday morning) and re-post them in the blog here.

We will see if watching basketball every weekend (i.e. me) matters or if you'd be better off just completely ignoring it and asking your boyfriend to change the channel when he turns it on in your company (i.e - Jen).

Enjoy the games, and let me know if you want to join the money part of our bracket. So far, there are 5 people in the $20/entry pool. If we get 7/8 or more, I'll make a 2nd and perhaps a 3rd place prize. I'd be happy to donate my $20 to you.