March into Madness: 2017 Dark Tower NCAA Tournament Challenge

[NeedfulKings]

Here we go again! Selection Sunday is days away and then the brackets begin. You can join the group now and fill in your bracket after the selections on Sunday.

Our group is Palaver Gunslingers - password is roland

http://games.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2017/en/group?groupID=14700

Again, we will have First and Second Place winners. If you want one of these trophies, choose your games wisely!!!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i2/bookking/dtn_trophy/IMG_8251.jpg (http://s68.photobucket.com/user/bookking/media/dtn_trophy/IMG_8251.jpg.html)

In addition to the massive First Place trophy, Merlin1958 has generously offered a $20 donation to Haven Foundation in the winner's name.

Good luck everyone!

[divemaster]

I'm in!

[Ben Staad]

Me too!

[NeedfulKings]

It's on like Revlon! Brackets are open and games start Thursday. GET IN THE GAME!!!!

[Ben Staad]

I may revisit my bracket. I'm already have second thoughts! LOL LOL

[divemaster]

Since neither of my teams (LSU and Memphis) were very good this year, and not tournament-bound, I didn't follow college basketball at all. I might as well be throwing darts at my bracket!

[Ben Staad]

LOL. Based on my past results I should actually do that!


Since neither of my teams (LSU and Memphis) were very good this year, and not tournament-bound, I didn't follow college basketball at all. I might as well be throwing darts at my bracket!

[Merlin1958]

I think this is the year the 'Zags make the final four!!!

[Ben Staad]

Whatever happens it should be fun. I think this tournament has a few upper level teams but IMO the field is very competitive.


I think this is the year the 'Zags make the final four!!!

[SpaceMaN]

I'm in. Its the only 1st place I've ever won :)

[NeedfulKings]

I'm feeling very uneasy about my picks this year. We'll see if my bracket survives the first full weekend.

BTW, I think the "First Four" is a crock of sh!t. Why should two 11 seeds have a play-in game when there are worse teams already in the field of 64. I can see the 16's battling to get in.

[SpaceMaN]

I agree Bill. I think it's because of all the automatic bids. Kansas State is likely much better than Winthrop, but Winthrop won their conference, so they get it no matter what. It's all the 'bubble' teams that didn't win an automatic bid that have to fight through the first four. I think it's stupid everyone gets so butthurt when you call the 64 round the first round. In these days of everyone included in everything (bathrooms too!) I say they just turn it into a 256 team tourney, but then the 50 that didn't make it would cry.

[RUBE]

I just picked a bracket at random this morning. I think I have last wrapped up again this year.

[Ben Staad]

I just picked a bracket at random this morning. I think I have last wrapped up again this year.

Excellent! Good luck to all!

[Ben Staad]

LOL. Grayson got me tripping is an awesome name. Lurker is batting 100% so far.

[NeedfulKings]

One day down....and my bracket, albeit marred, is still intact.

[ELazansky]

This is too funny - https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/worst-bracket-ever-one-entry-went-0-for-16-on-thursday-054707356.html

[Merlin1958]

It ain't just the games!!!! lol lol



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRfjiRsLI40



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZsifj6_xuY



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k766-HHN_a0



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmWMwaeXuHQ

[NeedfulKings]

This is too funny - https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/worst-bracket-ever-one-entry-went-0-for-16-on-thursday-054707356.html

Haha. Bracket McBracketface. Love it. This cat could win a last place trophy (if we had one). :p

[divemaster]

My South bracket is perfect: 8 out of 8 games called correctly.

My West bracket is likewise commendable: 6 out of 8 games called correctly, with the only losses being my VCU and Bucknell picks. But I didn't have them going any further anyway, so not much loss there.

My Midwest bracket has issues. Only picked 5 winners, and I had Creighton going to the Sweet 16.

My East bracket is a dumpster fire. Only picked 5 winners and two of my Sweet 16 teams are toast (SMU and UNCW). And I had SMU going to the Elite 8! Aaaak!

[Randall Flagg]

Villanova folks are in a bit of trouble.

[NeedfulKings]

Villanova folks are in a bit of trouble.

F@#K!!!

[Jon]

Sorry...the big "V" folded in the last 20 seconds. The backside forward should have collapsed in and taken that charge..or occupied that space ( In Wisconsin's go ahead bucket). The pass to the big man was a bit telegraphed. It wasn't an easy shot, but it was a long way from a hard one...then to call a timeout and go down court and lose the ball??!!!

But then I always thought Wisconsin should have been seeded 3 or 4.

[Randall Flagg]

Duke folks are in tough shape.

[Merlin1958]

I put my brackets in the birdcage yesterday!!! lol lol


How the FUCK could they lose to SC? OMG!!!!

[Ben Staad]

My bracket is ugly but I'm still kicking. I am shocked. I cannot believe Duke lost last night. I didn't even tune to that game...I figured they had that one in the bag.

[divemaster]

The only way I can move up in the rankings is if UCLA and Gonzaga meet in the title game.

[Ben Staad]

The only way I can move up in the rankings is if UCLA and Gonzaga meet in the title game.

I have AZ and Kansas meeting with KU winning. We shall see. I'm just pumped that UM (Go Blue!) won the big ten tournament and have played well in this tournament. I am shocked that they put this run together and I am very happy for those kids.

[Lurker]

Yeah, Duke screwed me up. Oh, well - I had a perfect first day. How many people can say that!

[divemaster]

I did find it interesting that out of the nine ACC teams to make the tourney, eight did not make it past the first weekend. Has there ever been such a total conference flop?

[Kingfan24]

Big east was pretty bad this year to. Only 2 of the 7 teams made it to this upcoming weekend.

[Ben Staad]

Looks like I'm out. I didn't really do the math but it looks like there is 2 or 3 people left that could win. Good luck all!

[ELazansky]

So if I read it right - if Oregon and South Carolina win next weekend, the standings will remain as they are right now and I will finish 2nd. If either Gonzaga or UNC win, I'm officially out.

[NeedfulKings]

Math makes my head hurt, so I'll just assume I'm out since my only remaining points belong to UNC and there are two others with UNC to the end.

Oh well...when does football start??? :)

[Jon]

as soon as you say it does, my friend.

[divemaster]

Now entering the final turn!

...and from back in the pack from the 12 position, it's, it's...divemaster! Making his break on the outside!

...passing shac; and now spacemany; now chasing down bedofroses--but bedofroses battles back with more in the tank...

...now divemaster again catching copefiend and Grayson Got Me Trippin, who are ridden out with nothing left; now chasing down NeedfulKings and windnwaves, who keep the pace!

Can divemaster break free of the middle of the pack and catch the leaders?

[Ben Staad]

Looking like it is down to you and Big Bill. Good luck to both of you.

[Mattrick]

If Gonzaga wins, I finish top 10 in my pool of hundreds. Not bad for someone who hasn't watched an NCAA game since a Shane Battier led Duke team won it.

[Merlin1958]

Damn!!!! Think I have this won!!!!! Get the "Trophy Guy" out of bed, Bill!!! lol lol

[ELazansky]

Damn!!!! Think I have this won!!!!! Get the "Trophy Guy" out of bed, Bill!!! lol lol

Not yet - if Gonzaga wins, Divemaster wins 1st and you'll get 2nd.

[Merlin1958]

Damn!!!! Think I have this won!!!!! Get the "Trophy Guy" out of bed, Bill!!! lol lol

Not yet - if Gonzaga wins, Divemaster wins 1st and you'll get 2nd.

Oops, yeah I missed that. Go Tar Heels!!!!


The Zags have had enough "firsts" for this year!!! lol

[NeedfulKings]

Damn!!!! Think I have this won!!!!! Get the "Trophy Guy" out of bed, Bill!!! lol lol

Not yet - if Gonzaga wins, Divemaster wins 1st and you'll get 2nd.

Oops, yeah I missed that. Go Tar Heels!!!!


The Zags have had enough "firsts" for this year!!! lol

Yer gettin' a trophy either way! You cannot finish third. :)

[Merlin1958]

This is gonna be close!!!!

[Merlin1958]

Funny thing is FWIW I kinda liked the, Zags going in. I just thought experience might be the difference. So far. It's anybody's game!!!! Whoot!!!!


If I come in second can my trophy say "Fear the Beard" somehow??? LOL LOL

[Merlin1958]

Bring on the confetti!!!!!!!! Wo-Hoo!!!! Gotta love them Tar Heels!!!!!


In truth, I was kinda rooting for the, Zags. However, maybe nest year. They just didn't have it in the end and I kinda wish they did!!!!


Fear the beard!!!!! (next year???)

[NeedfulKings]

Congratulations!!!!!

First Place - Merlin1958

Second Place - BedOfRoses

What an amazing season!!!

[BedOfRoses]

Woo hoo! I'm so happy with second--congrats to Merlin!!

[Merlin1958]

I am, if nothing, a gracious winner. Thanks to all who participated!!!





Suck it!!! I Won!!!! lol lol

[Merlin1958]

I'm making my promised $20 HF donation in the name of the second place winner. I apologize for gloating (sort of) and really love this competition every year!!! Many thanks to, Bill (needfulkings) for orchestrating this and for the trophies. When can I expect mine? lol lol J/K Woot! The Tar Heels win another!!!!!

[BedOfRoses]

Merlin, you are the best. :couple:

[NeedfulKings]

I'm making my promised $20 HF donation in the name of the second place winner. I apologize for gloating (sort of) and really love this competition every year!!! Many thanks to, Bill (needfulkings) for orchestrating this and for the trophies. When can I expect mine? lol lol J/K Woot! The Tar Heels win another!!!!!

Amazing!!!! Please DO gloat!!! Are you kidding - we all do!!! :)

[Merlin1958]

I'm making my promised $20 HF donation in the name of the second place winner. I apologize for gloating (sort of) and really love this competition every year!!! Many thanks to, Bill (needfulkings) for orchestrating this and for the trophies. When can I expect mine? lol lol J/K Woot! The Tar Heels win another!!!!!

Amazing!!!! Please DO gloat!!! Are you kidding - we all do!!! :)


I'm humble. Please, say that again? lol lol Woot Woot!!!!!!


Somebody, somewhere owes me a "Blooming Onion"!!!! lol lol

[SpaceMaN]

Humility, class, respect... remember the days before the internet?

[divemaster]

Congrats, Bill. I thought I had it for a while, but it was not to be. Good job!

[Ben Staad]

Congrats, Merlin!

[Merlin1958]

Humility, class, respect... remember the days before the internet?


The green of envy does not suit you!!! lol


Thank you all. I really thought I was out of it, but my faith in the, Zags and N.C. won out I suppose.

[T-Dogz_AK47]

I am, if nothing, a gracious winner. Thanks to all who participated!!!





Suck it!!! I Won!!!! lol lol


^^^^^^ WINNER!!!! :YYY:

[Merlin1958]

BTW, I dropped an extra $20 in the HF bucket on, Needfulkings behalf!!! FWIW.

[NeedfulKings]

BTW, I dropped an extra $20 in the HF bucket on, Needfulkings behalf!!! FWIW.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Merlin1958]

BTW, I dropped an extra $20 in the HF bucket on, Needfulkings behalf!!! FWIW.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

I do what I can!!!!