We Regret to Inform You - Your NCAA Bracket has Died
Mates,
I didn't watch hoops last night, only a little hockey, but of course I saw the scores. First time ever no #1 seeds for the Elite 8/Final 4 as far as I know. In our family and friends brackets a few of us have 1 of the final 4 teams still alive, but no ability to get to the finals or have a champion selection. For all intensive porpoises our tournament is done tomorrow.
Remaining 'live' picks for us are Gonzaga, SDSU, K-St. and Texas to make it to the Final Four. A handful of us have one each of those respective teams but, as mentioned, nothing after that.
What about you? Do you have any teams alive? Is your bracket on life support and the plug will get pulled later today?
Hat tip to anyone who has picked more than one of the remaining 8 teams. Please share the good, the bad, and the ugly about your dearly departed bracket.
Have a great weekend. About 1/2 way to the foot of snow promised to us up north today. Love it. Live it. Plow it.
XM
March 25th, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
My bracket has died of dysentery. I have Gonzaga remaining, but have them losing in Final 4–no other teams.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:23 AM ^
My Dearest Friend,
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the passing of your NCAA basketball tournament bracket. It grieves me to say that it did not make it through the tournament, succumbing to the wretched illness of dysentery.
Just as our soldiers are subject to the harsh realities of war, so too are our brackets vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of March Madness. Despite our best efforts to nurse it back to health, your bracket proved to be too weak to withstand the onslaught of upsets and unexpected outcomes.
I know that you had high hopes for your bracket this year, and it pains me to be the bearer of such sorrowful news. May you take solace in the fact that your bracket fought bravely until the very end.
As for me, I continue to march forward with my fellow soldiers, fighting for a cause greater than ourselves. The battles we face are not dissimilar to those on the basketball court - we must adapt to unexpected challenges and overcome adversity in order to emerge victorious.
May we both find strength in the face of hardship, and may your next NCAA tournament bracket prove to be more resilient than the last.
With deepest sympathy,
MichFan777
March 25th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
ChatGPT?
March 25th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
Perhaps
Perhaps you may be wondering why I am writing to you today, but perhaps it is simply because I wanted to reach out and say hello. Perhaps you have been busy with your own life lately, or perhaps you have been feeling a little lonely and could use a friendly word or two.
Perhaps you have some exciting news to share, or perhaps you are struggling with a challenge in your life. Whatever the case may be, know that I am here for you, and perhaps we can work through it together.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
gets me right in the feels.
My dear friends, today we gather to mourn and honor the loss of the Colgate hockey NCAA tournament run at the hands of Michigan. This was a team that fought valiantly, giving their all until the very end. Though they did not achieve the ultimate goal of winning the championship, they will be remembered for their incredible talent, heart, and determination.
The loss to Michigan was a bitter pill to swallow, a heartbreaking end to a remarkable journey. But even in defeat, the Colgate hockey NCAA tournament run demonstrated the true spirit of sportsmanship, class, and grace. They congratulated their opponents, shook their hands, and acknowledged their worthy performance. They showed us all what it means to be a true team, to never give up, and to always play with honor and dignity.
As we say goodbye to the Colgate hockey NCAA tournament run, we are left with a sense of pride and gratitude for all that they accomplished. They inspired us with their incredible skill, their passion, and their unwavering commitment to each other. They showed us what is possible when we work together, believe in ourselves, and never give up on our dreams.
Though their journey may have ended in defeat, the legacy of the Colgate hockey NCAA tournament run will live on. We will remember the incredible moments, the thrilling victories, and the lessons we learned from this remarkable team. We will honor their legacy by continuing to believe in ourselves, to work hard, and to never give up on our dreams.
Rest in peace, Colgate hockey NCAA tournament run. You will be forever remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege of watching you play.
March 25th, 2023 at 10:56 AM ^
I win my bracket if UConn makes the title game and they're now #1 on Kenpom, so feeling solid.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
Every other #1 on Kenpom has lost
but, but, but Kenpom, it can't be wrong......
March 25th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
Intensive porpoises? Those must be some serious dolphins to have made brackets…
March 25th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
for any that might not know, an old time mgoblogism, of course replacing the standard 'intents and purposes'
That was a moran comment to you.
IMO, the narwhal is the most intense porpoise. 🦄🐬
Not applicable if you're not in a tent. Or a porpoise.
March 25th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
This Dance has been enjoyable. The level of KAOS is high - and, without having a horse in the race - it’s been fun to watch.
My only “question” is - and, I’m too lazy to look this up… are the remaining teams (Elite Eight) among the “older” teams in the tourney?
March 25th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
I would guess YES, and I would also guess they have stellar guard play, especially PG.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
PG is the most important position in college basketball.....
The kid that almost died at Florida, now with Kansas St., is amazing.
There are a couple of super-old teams - Texas is #6 in the country in terms of experience - but some are in the 130s/150s in the country, so in the upper half but not that old. But there aren't any teams that are like Michigan was this year, or your past Duke/UK one-and-done factories.
It's not a given you have to be an older team - for example last year UNC made the title game and were pretty young/inexperienced. But in general you do need to have some guys who've played a couple of years, especially in the backcourt, and can weather tough stretches.
I do wonder if physical maturity plays a part in it as much as experience - especially with COVID you've got teams with 22-year-olds playing teams with 18/19 year olds and the physical difference between those players can be just as important as the mental game.
Our team sorely lacked in the mental aspect. Plus kids being put in situations where they are not good at.
March 25th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
One side of my bracket is dead, however, somehow pulled off Texas and Gonzaga this far. Also, have Texas facing the Zags in final 4 and the Zags in the championship (losing to Arizona)
Pretty sure if the Zags make the final I've won our large pool -
March 25th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
I've got 5 elite 8 teams correct, but only Texas and UConn for the final 4. UConn I picked to win. Liking my odds of winning my bracket right now.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
that is pretty amazing. that has got to put you in the top .01% of brackets. who are the other 3 in your 5/8?
Uconn, texas, Gonzaga, Creighton and KSU.
32k rank on ESPN, It just says 100th percentile, lol.
If I win my bracket this year I'm gonna have to toss Seth a fiver for his bracket tool.
My Rank is 5.3Mth and my max score is 550. Can anyone beat that for worst bracket?
March 26th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
My second bracket is max at 310, but that's in a free group and I did it based on how much I dislike each team, so I don't know that it qualifies for worst bracket.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:03 AM ^
My final four (Houston, Tennessee, Alabama, UCLA) went from everything to nothing in 24 hours.
My bracket was nothing before Houston and Alabama even lost because I had them losing in the sweet 16. My bracket died the first weekend.
I only have Texas and KSU left in the elite 8 and I only have Texas left in the final 4 but losing.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:06 AM ^
Undefeated here! No losses in my 2023 bracket at all.
(no wins, either. With Michigan on the outside looking in, I didn't do a bracket this year for the first time in ages. Besides, I was busy having fun while on vacation in Florida and Georgia for 2 weeks, just returned back home to Michigan this Wednesday)
March 25th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
You've saved yourself great pain!
robf is a wimp! there, i said it. wouldn't fill out a bracket and send it to me.
While I really have no defense to offer, my lack of a bracket to send your way may or may not have been because of A) a day at Cocoa Beach; B) a day on a Lakeland golf course; C) a Detroit Tigers Grapefruit League game at Joker Marchant Stadium; D) beer; E) the evil weed; F) moar beer; G) all of the above; H) some of the above.
🌞😵💫🤪😎
Kids these days…
I'm in the same position as you, rob f
March 25th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
I only have two left. Texas and UCONN. I actually enjoy that my bracket has been pathetic, means a lot of chaos and mayhem. And that’s what the tournaments all about. I always root for the madness.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
Actually there has been final fours with no 1 seed, but you’re correct that this is the first time no 1 seed has reached the elite 8.
For my bracket I have Texas left to get to the final 4. That’s it, it’s all riding on them, I definitely won’t win the family bracket, as far as the work bracket, that was busted the first day!!
March 25th, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
Do I have any teams alive? Yes, all teams not named Michigan State.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
I went from 1st place with all my FF teams alive, to out of it in 24 hours. Tennessee, UCLA, Houston, Alabama.
Have Creighton, Texas, UConn getting this far but no farther. Can't get another point.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
IF Texas wins, I finish 4th.
Top 10 brackets get paid. I would get $245 but paid $100 to enter, so I win $145.
I can live with that; it makes the weekends a little more fun.
Plus, it would be a nice family dinner.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
Didn’t bother with a bracket because apathy, but aside from rooting against other Big Tem teams (especially THOSE ones) and Alabama to lose (for being unrepentantly corrupt), I’m all about the chaos.
Im still agog about the Zag/UCLA game from Thursday. Is that the most insane game from the last few years? While I don’t really have anything against either school, I did get some spiteful 2021-PTSD satisfaction seeing UCLA go 11 minutes without being able to buy a field goal
March 25th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
The UCLA-Gonzaga game from the 2021 Final Four comes to mind.
The committee should just stick these teams in the same bracket every year for the quality of games they provide.
Agree 100% regarding 2021 UCLA-Gonzaga. That game was incredible.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
I don't do brackets. But, the best things about the NCAA Tournament are the stories that it generates. I'm really pulling for Kansas St. An undersized, overly-dynamic guard, a longtime assistant coach finally getting his shot, the Little Apple moniker, they've become my rooting interest.
Can the Zags finally get it done? Is a Steve Fisher-type 1989 re-do happening at Texas? Those are the compelling stories that keep the tournament interesting when your own beloved school falls short of glory.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
Purple school from Big 12...too soon for me. Cant root for them.
KSU took out Staee and tiny Tom.
They're alright by me.
March 25th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
Agree. Didn't do the brackets this year (since no UM), but I've really enjoyed watching Gonzaga, KSU and UConn all the way through. Teams with lots of energy are fun to watch and seem to always be in a game, no matter the adversity. Didn't think MSU would show up against KSU, but they played a hell of a game themselves. If you like basketball, you had to like that game (unless, of course, if you're an MSU fan).
I'm an MSU fan.... a fan of MSU losing every single game they ever play in every sport for all time (yes, even against tOSU).
And a lot of preseason forecasts pegged KState to finish dead last in the B12.
March 25th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
You might as well draw names out of a hat. The quality of college basketball has fallen off a cliff and there aren’t any great teams. Everyone is vulnerable.