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Be sure to continually check back in this column throughout the tournament as we keep you updated on our picks. Last updated: March 21st, 9:01am
One day is in the books, and while not sparkling with a 12-4 record, our bracket is still intact and hanging on the wall, rather than wadded up at the bottom of a trashbasket. We proved our lack of homerism in our picks by going against the Mountaineers (one of our 4 losses) and by not picking Belmont to hang with Duke for 39 minutes and 55 seconds. Through opening day, our average difference in predicted scores is just over 15 points per game. Duke/Belmont, Notre Dame/George Mason, and UCLA/Mississippi Valley State are driving that average upwards, as we were off on those games by 30 points or more. On the flip side, we're flashing brilliance in games between Xavier/Georgia, Kentucky/Marquette, and Texas A&M/BYU, coming up no more than five points off in either of those games. Just a few tidbits as you prepare for Friday's action: - The average score through day one was 75-59, though only five winners scored more than 75 and only six losers scored fewer than 59 (thanks to Mississippi Valley State's intramural squad for scrimmaging against UCLA).
- The magic number appears to be 71, as four winners hit that mark on the nose (UNLV, Duke, Wazzou, and Wisconsin), and no team outside of Baylor scored more than 70 in a losing effort.
- Mississippi Valley State wasn't expected to compete. But seriously? 29 points? Of the 32 teams playing on day one, only one other (Cal State-Fullerton) didn't reach 29 points in at least one HALF of play. Hell, Kent State who put up all of 10 points in the first half against UNLV rebounded to score 48 in the second half. I don't mean to pile on, but 19 of the 32 teams in action scored at least 29 points in BOTH halves. Ouch!
- Not to be outdone, Winthrop was actually sniffing upset, leading Washington State 29-27 late in the first half. Only then, the Cougs dropped a 44-11 run (also known as "the second half") on Winthrop to barely pull out the 31 point win.
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