Some kind of madness: The glory of the bracket

Published 10:57 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2013

You’ve filled out a bracket (or six) and the best day of the year is finally here. Time to sit back and watch buzzer beaters, blowouts and upsets as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins.

No sporting event better exemplifies why we watch sports — it’s unpredictable, emotional, frustrating and exhilarating all at once.

March Madness works on numerous levels, but it’s initially brilliant because of its ease of access.

Anyone can join along and instantly know what’s going on by looking at the little numbers beside each team’s name — you don’t have to be a basketball or college sports fan to love the tournament.

Of course, the biggest draw is filling out a bracket. Whether you do the old fashioned pencil and paper bracket or you punch it in on your tablet, the thrill of trying (in vain) to predict how 63 games will turn out is undeniable.

Following your bracket will most likely lead to aggravation when your final four pick gets upset in the first round, but the possible joy of winning your office pool robs millions of Americans from $5-20 every year.

But here’s a tip for watching the tournament: fold up your bracket and file it away. Forget about who you picked to win that Notre Dame-Iowa State game or who you’ve got reaching the Elite Eight in the West region, at least for the first couple rounds.

If you watch the tournament unfold without the worry of whom you need to win to make a few dollars you’ll better be able to enjoy the twists and turns of the unpredictable NCAA narrative.

Every story archetype can be found in the month-long tournament. Whether it’s David vs. Goliath in the form of 1-vs.-16 matchups or whoever supplies the next Cinderella story, there’s no shortage of plot points.

Do you want to root for No. 4 Saint Louis, which has battled through the death of its iconic former coach Rick Majerus in December? How about No. 7 Creighton, who’s national player of the year candidate Doug McDermott is coached by his pops, Greg. Speaking of family matters, No. 2 Georgetown is coached by John Thompson III, son of the legendary Hoyas coach.

If you want likable coaches, root for No. 6 Butler’s Brad Stevens or No. 5 VCU’s Shaka Smart, mid-major masterminds who both could’ve cashed in by moving to larger schools. In terms of intriguing coaching matchups, No. 5 Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford could go up against his former mentor Rick Pitino of No. 1 Louisville in the Sweet 16.

Sticking with the Cowboys, Oklahoma State is one of many teams with a strong Texas vibe. Even though no Lone Star state team made the field for the first time since 1977, there are plenty of Texans playing.

The Pokes are loaded with them. Including leading scorer Marcus Smart, who led Flower Mound Marcus to two state titles, four of OSU’s top five scorers are from North Texas.

Also from Texas: Houstonian Rasheed Sulaimon averages 11.5 points per game for No. 2 Duke; D.J. Stephens of Killeen leads No. 6 Memphis with 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks; Dallas native Phil Pressey dishes out 7.1 assists for No. 9 Missouri; San Antonio’s Andre Roberson averages a double-double for No. 10 Colorado; and Marshall Henderson out of Hurst L.D. Bell (by way of Utah and Texas Tech) puts up an SEC-best 20.1 points per game for No. 12 Ole Miss.

There’s also schools like No. 16 LIU Brooklyn, which bafflingly has six Texans on a roster of 13, despite no apparent connection to the state.

Too bad the Blackbirds didn’t even survive the First Four. Let’s hope the rest of the Texans fare a bit better, because I’m pretty sure your bracket won’t last long either.

Staff Predictions

Joe Buie

Final Four: Louisville, Ohio State, Kansas, Indiana

Championship: Louisville over Indiana

Rick Pitino cited a defensive stat (deflections) during the Big East Tournament and how it ties into his team’s success. After that, I was hooked. The Cardinals’ defense is something to watch.

Phil Hicks

Final Four: Miami, Michigan, Louisville, Gonzaga

Championship: Louisville over Miami

Miami has impressed me throughout the season and their coach, Jim Larranaga, knows what he is doing. Guard Shane Larkin, son of baseball great Barry, knows how to win, plus four of the Hurricanes’ seven key players are 23 or older. The maturity, along with their defense, will carry Miami. With Kentucky winning last year, Rick Pitino wants to upstage the Wildcats. Louisville’s Peyton Siva and Russ Smith can score outside, while Gorgui Dieng dominates the middle and the title will stay in the Bluegrass State. While I think Louisville will win and with no team from Texas in the mix I will be pulling for America’s (basketball) Team Gonzaga.

Chris Parry

Final Four: Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Indiana

Championship: Indiana over Duke

I am always leery to pick more than one No. 1 seed to make the Final Four, but I feel this year is one of those where the four I chose are a cut above the other teams in their regions. As for the champion, no team has been No. 1 more than Indiana this year and I believe the Hoosiers, after being knocked out of the top spot three separate times, will finish it off in the top position.

Shane Stark

Final Four: Michigan State, New Mexico, Michigan, Indiana

Championship: Michigan State over Indiana

Let me begin with this: I have no clue which team is going to win the national championship, which is one of the things that make March Madness so maddening. That said, the Big Ten has become college basketball’s power conference and that makes it difficult to pick against its teams, hence the reason I have three making the Final Four. I always have a difficult time picking against Tom Izzo and Indiana began the season No. 1 and earned its No. 1 seed, so these two teams get my pick for the national championship game. Though Michigan State has lost four of its last six games (Ohio State twice, Indiana and Michigan), I’ll give the Spartans a victory over a Hoosiers team that beat them twice during the regular season and handed them their only home loss.

Harold Wilson

Final Four: Louisville, Ohio State, Georgetown, Syracuse

Championship: Georgetown over Louisville

The Hoyas have the ability to make teams play at their pace and lock down on defense. Add in a prototypical small forward with star potential in Otto Porter Jr. and the Hoyas could win the school’s first title in 29 years, and become the second Georgetown to win a national title, joining the NAIA Division I champions from Kentucky.

Travis Yoesting

Final Four: Duke, Ohio State, Florida, Indiana

Championship: Duke over Florida

Florida’s ranked No. 1 in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings, the same rankings that had national champ Kentucky No. 1 last year. I know Duke went out in the first round last year and they’ve got just about the toughest possible path to the Final Four, but I think the Blue Devils have the balance to win it all.

Area Coaches’ Picks

Scott Albritton, Lindale boys coach

Final Four: Louisville, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio State

Championship: Indiana over Louisville

Cedeno Clark, John Tyler boys coach

Final Four: Louisville, Kansas State, Georgetown, Miami

Championship: Georgetown over Louisville

Alan Johnston, Robert E. Lee boys coach

Final Four: Louisville, Kansas State, Florida, Miami

Championship: Louisville over Miami

Trenia Jones, Tyler Junior College women’s coach

Final Four: Louisville, Ohio State, Kansas, Indiana

Championship: Louisville over Indiana

Marquet Norfleet, Texas College men’s coach

Final Four: Memphis, Ohio State, Georgetown, Miami

Championship: Memphis over Miami

Ryan Tomlin, Whitehouse boys coach

Final Four: Louisville, Ohio State, Georgetown, Indiana

Championship: Louisville over Georgetown