March Madness and the Bracket Conundrum
by txtwstr7 on Mar 18, 2011 6:37 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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PrintThis year, I finally talked myself into it...
Now, this was something I've considered for a long time, but I've never been able to pull it off. Each year, the temptations were simply too strong. I mean, it always seems so harmless, but, inevitably, it turns into a self-destructive measure. In recent years, it's even ruined the most perfect thing in my life. So, this year, I finally decided to stick with my convictions. I preemptively wrote friends, family, and even some military colleagues to inform them of my decision. It was a tough call, and I got a handful of angry or confused responses. But I did it, and I'm happier for it. In case you haven't guessed by now, I didnt fill out a single bracket this year.
More, after the jump...
Dont worry, I'm not going to spend 1500 words explaining this decision. I'm well aware that this exact type of column has been written many, many, many times. In fact, by running a quick search, I found an article that perfectly encapsulates some of the key points in this discussion.
I found myself in predicaments like those more and more over the years: Do I root for the underdog that has captured a spot in my heart, or for the traditional big-time program that I have going all the way in my pool and stand to make a few bucks if they continue winning?
So I decided a few years ago to stop playing pools and root for whoever I want to win a particular game for any number of reasons, not one of which is financially motivated.
I’m sure anyone in a pool is faced with similar dilemmas as the ones I mentioned. The only difference is I don’t have to give it a second thought anymore. I don’t know anyone who enjoyed Butler’s run to the Final Four last year as much as I did – except, of course, fans of the Bulldogs.
So this isnt a new topic. But I still think it's a worthwhile conversation, especially since I've had such a positive experience during the first few days of the tournament. Despite my current anti-bracket position, I'm fully aware of the value of brackets, and I think its fascinating how the entire country remains glued to the first four days of March Madness.
As we wait for Texas to take on Arizona in the 2nd Round--and, come on, it's the 2nd Round--I wanted to put this question before the BON Community. Do you think brackets help or hurt your experience with the NCAA tournament?
Hook 'Em!
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Bracket
If I fill out enough brackets, I’m bound to be right at least some of the time.
Honestly, I love filling out my bracket and couldn’t imagine not doing it. Let me know how it feels after One Shining Moment.
--AW--
Nothing could ruin OSM...
And especially not a bracket. If 19 shots of Jennifer Hudson didnt ruin OSM, then nothing ever will.
The biggest problem is that I put my bracket ahead of the games themselves. If I could just accept that my bracket—even being an “educated” bracket—will likely contain lots of misfires, then I could have it both ways. Alas, I cannot.
To be honest, I’ve enjoyed the games just as much. Bracket or no bracket, these are my four favorite days of the year. Except, of course, when Texas loses.
Jennifer Hudson
Completely ruined that song. I can’t believe they did that to basketball fans. Farcical.
Helps for sure
Even the most apathetic sports “fans” feel obligated to fill out a bracket and complain/laud their picks on seemingly every game. It makes the event so inclusive to the casual fan, much like the Super Bowl advertisements that have become “must see TV.”
Yeah it can get frustrating when your in the freaking 19th percentile of all ESPN brackets like I am right now, but it’s still fun as hell and gives every game added significance.
Agree with this
It makes the event so inclusive to the casual fan, much like the Super Bowl advertisements that have become "must see TV."
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
by run Bevo run on Mar 18, 2011 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions
And that's the natural counterpoint...
That, while they may “ruin” some games, brackets make the entire experience more exciting. That’s entirely true for most people. Just not me.
As an example, I still remember having a birthday dinner ruined by San Diego State blowing their 2006 game against Indiana. I had them making the Elite Eight, and I just sat there seething while the cake was being cut.
I'm with you
Unless my team is playing, I pretty much root for the underdog. Not much chance of having a winning bracket that way, but lots more fun.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.
I HATE BRACKETS!
They are ruinous to enjoying college tournament time. Checking the scores…highlighting the teams on the paper…it’s enough to drive you bonkers. Then the opening day comes and goes and, poof, you’re out of the tournament.
Give me the joy of watching the unfolding madness. I’m ALL IN for that.
PS – Mid-90’s Maryland cured me of wishful bracketing.
- follow me @ http:/twitter.com/TXStampede
I tend to think that brackets are sort of like fantasy football
I'm sorry, all white people who act black look the same to me.
-Snoop Dogg
by burntorangehorn on Mar 18, 2011 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I have a very simple rule
Fill out my bracket and then let it ride. I do not “root for my bracket.” If, by the end, I’m about to win, I’m interested in seeing if I win the pool. But early on? And where there’s a Cinderella involved? I do not care if it wrecks my bracket. I root for brilliant March basketball.
You ain't hurt...
I strive for this
and I get mad when people root for a high seed when they only picked them to go a couple rounds. Newsflash, you won’t have the perfect bracket period, so any time a team that 30%+ of your pool might have going far, root against. But also regardless of any bracket, my rule is to root for any 11+ seed in any game that doesn’t involve Texas.
I didn't fill out a bracket either
I was also curious how it would affect my experience watching. So far, it really hasn’t, probably because I normally just fill the thing out and more or less forget about it when I’m watching games.
by TheElusiveShadow on Mar 18, 2011 8:41 PM CDT reply actions
Bracket makes it better
I find that I have absolutely no problem rooting for a Cinderella against a team that I have going far in my bracket. I figure that most of those types of losses kill everyone’s bracket, so I would rather see the upset than a clean bracket.
The bracket makes other games more interesting. For instance 8/9 games I find are generally not too exciting because they are generally too meh teams playing for the right to get beat by a number 1 in the next round. However there is usually a lot of variation in those games between brackets and even though it may not make much difference in the overall bracket I usually get more into those games when there are differences and they are close games.
Anyway I have noticed some people will bet against their favorite teams so that they come out a winner either way. That is another interesting strategy.
Anyway I have noticed some people will bet against their favorite teams so that they come out a winner either way. That is another interesting strategy.
I have a friend that is a Texas alumn and a considers himself a huge fan, but he is a master gambler because of that. Not necessarily with sports books, but with friends. He’s a very reasonable person and doesn’t let his fanhood get in the way of reason, and if he thinks Texas is the lesser team, he will bait one of his friends into betting. It’s unbelievable how flustered fans will get when he says “Texas is probably going to lose this.” He’ll argue for a bit, send them into an emotional rant, then say, “Fine, if you’re so confidant, put money on the Horns, and I’ll be the bastard by going against.” He’s tried but has never baited me in, but I’ve seen him clean up doing this. Like you said, interesting strategy.
"Poetic talent is really easy to fake when thy sentences doth no f***ing sense make." -Bo Burnham
It's to bad the Baseball team didn't get any love today
Horns beat K-St 3-0 with TJ going 8 innings and Cannibal getting the save
I never have emotional investment or involvement in rational constructs like this. Really don’t immerse in enough information to be critically informed. You find you fun where you can.
Didn't fill out a bracket either this year
for totally different reasons (just too busy), but I have to say it’s a not a bad experience to watch games and not give a crap about who wins and loses because you want your bracket to win (or hope a friend’s bracket fails). Just too many extracurricular thoughts going on beyond the game itself.
That said, I hope this is the last year ever where I can’t fill out a bracket. It’s… addicting.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 18, 2011 11:04 PM CDT reply actions
Help
For the avid fan such as ourselves, I can see the argument that it hurts the NCAA. But as a whole, brackets are a source of bonding.
It involves the casual fan, it makes everyone interested. Honestly, the “onions” shot from Morehead St, and Bryce Drew’s buzzer beater wouldn’t mean near as much without the entire county watching, and the only reason the entire country is watching is because of brackets. Take brackets out of the equation and the first round becomes nothing more than the Papa John’s Bowl. While I’m not necessarily glad that that’s how it is, it is how it is, and it’s because of brackets.
To me, anything that draws more attention and more overall fan interest to what I consider the greatest game/sport/event (not basketball but college basketball) there is, I am all for.
Sidenote: 15 of my sweet 16 are still alive. Hook em.
by hayzer13 on Mar 18, 2011 11:12 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
sidenote
I have 15 of 16 as well. Louisville?
by Longhorn in MO on Mar 19, 2011 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions
You know it. Had Richmond beating Vandy though.
and I live in Nashville. Saw that loss coming weeks ago.
The casual fan
Is the most important aspect of sports marketing. This facet frustrates hardcore fans like us who are constantly perusing sports blogs for news and analysis, but that’s the problem. The networks and sport marketers know that we’ll be there game in and game out regardless of what they do. That information in mind, almost all sports marketing decisions are made to get the casual fan to tune in and enjoy. That’s why we get countless hours of Manning brothers story lines and other off topic tirades from the networks.
That said, while this is a very interesting question, ultimately, (imho) the brackets aren’t for us because we’re going to be glued to the TV the entire time. They’re for the people who haven’t followed all year but want to get into the tournament because it’s the big thing this time of year. Filling out a bracket gives them a stake in the tournament that they previously did not have, and keeps them tuned in when they likely wouldn’t care otherwise. At the end of the day, Casual fan = ratings = $$$.
"Poetic talent is really easy to fake when thy sentences doth no f***ing sense make." -Bo Burnham
I fill out a bracket every year
But I am in a small pool, winner gets like $200 and that is not enough to sell my soul for…so I cheer for who I want. But sometimes I don’t really care between two teams…then I do cheer for the team I picked.
I can remember when Syracuse lost to Richmond, a bunch of us were watching the game most had picked Syracuse, all pulling for Richmond. (yes we did brackets back then, on paper).
Recovering Bracket Filer
I stopped filling out brackets the year I foolishly and unwisely thought Tim Duncan would lead Wake Forest to a title game. Ugh!
I has lessened my interest in the tournament as I no longer pant over some 14 seed beating a 3 seed. If it happens, good. If not, oh well.
I use to be a pool where participants selected seeds that would advance the farthest in the tournament. I liked that approach until I needed Duke to win the title game in order to collect the pool money. I felt like I was cheering on the Prince of Darkness.
As several posters have noted, I can root for Texas until they loose as well as cheer for underdog teams, schools that interviewed me for a job (no hard feelings), or accepted me into their graduate program (but did not attend).
By not filling out a bracket, I do not even feel compelled to watch Kentucky play Duke (or some other repulsive programs) for a title game. Hell, I am more likely to watch Justified on the DVR in that situation.
Hook ’Em Horns
I didn't fill out a single bracket this year either
I was out of town at a funeral from selection Sunday thru Wednesday, so part of my issue was timing, but really I’m just tired of being a human ATM. In 20+ years of pools, I’ve never cashed a ticket. I do miss being part of the conversation this year however, so I’m sure it’s a one-and-done hiatus.
We're going to play like we're in a bad mood.
solution to all your problems
Way back when I ran into the same problem, and got tired of seeing my brackets always advancing 1-3 seeds in the need to pick the right final 4 teams. Talk about BORING! After thinking about it, my friends and I started our own pool and scoring system that demands upset picks in order to win. Bottom line, our pool now rocks! Scoring works as follows: each game winner is worth a fixed number of points equal to the number of total entries, and all entries who pick the correct game winner split the points. Assuming 30 entries each game is worth 30 points. If you take the easy road and pick a 3 over a 14, you will likely end up sharing the 30 points among the entire pool and only score 1 point for the game, BUT if you are one of only two to correctly pick the 14 seed you will score 15 points. This adds a whole new level of complexity to picking….first and second round upsets are critical, and how far you advance your favorite 6 seed underdog will make or break your bracket. Makes the need to cheer for favorites and your favorite underdogs equally important.
by dmhookem98 on Mar 19, 2011 12:29 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Exactly. You need at least 20 entries for it to work out right, and I’ve run it with as many 65 entries. Over the years I’ve worked up this massive Excel spreadsheet that runs the whole thing and have refined it to where it only takes about an hour to set up, entries and all. I’ve been toying with the idea of setting up an html SQL interface. Maybe next year ill finally get around to it and we can let boners give it its first test run.
by dmhookem98 on Mar 19, 2011 6:08 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
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