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How to pick college basketball bracket
10 Fun Ways to Pick a March Madness Bracket | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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Kerry Miller@@kerrancejamesTwitter LogoCollege Basketball National AnalystMarch 19, 2013
10 Fun Ways to Pick a March Madness Bracket
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You went and did it again.
Despite your best intentions, another entire college basketball season passed you by without a single game making it onto your television.
These things happen.
Unfortunately, Mike from Accounting is insisting that you pitch in a few bucks and fill out a bracket. You didn't have the heart to say no. Now, you're pot-committed and staring at the names of 68 schools you don't know the first thing about.
It's too late to do all the research now, so just have fun with it!
Here are 10 fun ways to fill out a bracket, starting with the absurd ones that will never actually win your pool and working up to ones that might give you a chance.![]()
The Coin-Flip Bracket
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Even the most knowledgeable college basketball entities would agree that some of these games don't have a true favorite. As one example, the computers are giving Colorado a 50.7 percent chance of beating Illinois.
Go ahead and flip a coin on some of those tougher early games, but if you're actually trying to win your pool, don't leave it up to the coin as to whether a No. 1 seed will beat a No. 16 seed.
As random as coin flips can be, doesn't it always seem like you end up with two double-digit seeds playing each other in the national championship? Has anyone ever gotten the national champion with a coin-flip bracket, let alone won their pool? That person has to exist somewhere, right?
Which Mascot Would Win in a Fight?
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This is probably the most popular "random" bracket and easily the most fun to fill out.
Exactly how fierce is a Badger?
How brutally would a Wolverine murder a Jackrabbit?
Would a Buckeye be able to defeat a Gael? Buckeyes are poisonous, but can also be stepped on.
Is Ohio State secretly sneaking buckeye powder into the Gaels' food or is this a face-to-face battle in the Coliseum?
And has there ever been a better first-round mascot showdown than the Spartans vs. the Crusaders?
The best part of the mascot-battle bracket is that it's totally subjective, with battles involving Hurricanes and Cyclones up for debate most of all.
I'm convinced it was this bracket idea that spawned every other non-sports bracket you've ever seen. I'm also convinced this bracket has never won a March Madness pool.
Jersey Colors
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"Buddy the Elf. What's your favorite color?"
If McDonald's Shamrock Shakes were placed on this earth for the sole purpose of pleasing your taste buds, there's a good chance you'll have Notre Dame going all the way in this bracket.
Probably your best shot at a championship is to convince yourself that you really love the color red. You could end up with a Final Four of Louisville, Ohio State, Indiana and.
..Western Kentucky? Well, that's no good.
Maybe instead of your favorite color, you could make a "Roy G. Biv" bracket! In the play-in games, pick the teams closest on the color spectrum to red. Do the same with orange in the second round and so on.
This would be a really fun one. Someone needs to do this and tell me who wins the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
If you're color blind, I apologize if this idea offends you.
Proximity to the School
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I moved to the Fairfax, Virginia area a few years after George Mason's run to the Final Four in 2006. I didn't get to experience the environment, but I understand the buzz was everywhere.
It usually doesn't work out that way, but if your hometown team makes a deep run in the tournament, do you really want to be the jerk rooting against them in order to win a bracket pool? Unless they denied your college application and fatally damaged your self-worth, probably not.
My mid-west geography is far from perfect, but based on this idea, it looks like there could be a pocket of brackets in Seymour, Indiana that wind up with at least Louisville, Indiana and Ohio State in their Final Four.
..though they might also end up with Western Kentucky.
How does that Final Four show up in two completely unrelated random brackets?
Whether you base this bracket on your hometown or your current location is irrelevant to me, but if you're filling it out while on an airplane, be sure to bring an eraser.
Vacation Destinations
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If all the No. 1 seeds advance to the Final Four, this bracket will be completely garbage. No offense if you live there—though it probably means you agree with my sentiments—but who wants to vacation in Indiana, Kansas, Louisville or Spokane, Washington?
On the other hand, we've got some great early-round pairings with this idea. Would you rather visit Chicago or Denver? Are you more intrigued by spending time in Miami or what I assume is the Pacific Ocean? And how about that second-round battle between Florida and UCLA?
The interesting thing about this one is that clearly not everyone has the same idea of what would be a fun vacation.
Perhaps you still spend your evenings listening to Elvis records and would love nothing more than to spend a month in Memphis. Or maybe your degenerate gambling instincts lead you to pick UNLV to win it all.
One thing's for sure, though: Whoever survives the Oklahoma State vs. Oregon game isn't going very far.
Words That Are Fun to Say
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The hidden benefit of this bracket is that if you know how to pronounce the name, it's probably because they're popular enough to be a good team.
Gonzaga, Villanova, (Mike) Krzyzewski, (Matthew) Dellavedova, Shabazz (Muhammad), (Victor) Oladipo and Gorgui Dieng are all fun to say.
Maybe you prefer alliteration over absurdly valuable Scrabble words. In that case, you've got the Pitt Panthers, Kenny Kadji, Shaka Smart, the Golden Gophers and even Phil Pressey if that's technically alliteration.
Or take your pick from options like most consecutive consonants, fewest letters in team mascot, alphabetically by school or whichever team has the most letters that also appear in your own name; it doesn't matter.
If you're picking based solely on spelling, you might as well just make it as crazy as possible.
The Weighted Coin-Flip Bracket
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So you want to do a coin-flip bracket, but you don't want it to be a completely impossible mess? Try the weighted coin-flip bracket.
This one is not for the weak of heart or thumb.
Now, you don't actually add weight to the coin, but you weigh the number of results that each team needs in order to advance. Take Pittsburgh vs. Wichita State, for example. Assign heads to Pitt and tails to Wichita State. Because Pitt is the No. 8 seed and Wichita State is the No. 9 seed, Pitt would need eight heads before Wichita State gets nine tails.
You would think this would end up having virtually no upsets, but you would be discounting the randomness of probabilities. When I did this bracket two years ago, I had a No. 13 seed knocking off a No. 4 seed and a No. 3 seed winning it all. That was the year Connecticut won it all as a No.
3 seed, but unfortunately I picked the regions in the wrong order.
As you can imagine, there will be several pairings where you'll actually need to flip a coin 16 times in order to decide the outcome. Probably not the best bracket to fill out in your cubicle.
The Lottery System
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I threw the fun bracket idea out on Twitter (@kerrancejames) and got a mixed bag of responses. Most of them were ones I had already come up with, but @phillipbeneteau came up with one that I really liked.
He suggests putting all the school names in a hat and then as you pull the name, that team advances as far as possible. So, for example, if the first name you pull is Notre Dame, they're your national champion. If the second name you pull is Iowa State, too bad so sad, because they play Notre Dame in the first round. Keep pulling names until your bracket is full.
It's a fun idea, but it's way too random. I say let's combine that idea with the NBA Draft Lottery.
Each No. 1 seed gets 16 entries into the hat. Each No. 2 seed gets 15 entries into the hat, and so on and so forth. Better yet, if you have a lifetime supply of ping pong balls lying around, you're really weird but you're well-prepared for this bracket idea.
As each team is drawn, put them as far as you can in your bracket.
Yeah, you're going to pull a lot of duplicates, but you just took the time to put 568 slips of paper into a hat. Clearly, you have nothing better to do.
Mandatory Upsets
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I've been trying to perfect this one for several years, but I always seem to guess wrong.
Over the past five tournaments, there have been an average of nine first-round upsets—no more than 10, no fewer than seven. On average, four of the Sweet 16 teams pull off an upset to get to that point. And save for 2011, which was just an insane year for the brackets, there have been exactly two upsets to get into the Elite Eight in four of the last five years.
For this bracket, I should point out that an upset is considered any win by a worse seed. Even though no one would really consider it an upset if Missouri beat Colorado State, it's technically one of the nine you should be looking to count on in the first round.
So there you go. Pick nine upsets in the first round, four in the second, two in the third round and hope for the best. The upsets are going to come from somewhere, and you have as good of a chance at finding them as anyone else.
Try not to rely on the No. 15 and No. 16 seeds, though.
Geographical Advantage
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For many college basketball teams, it's been months since they had to travel to a different time zone.
Syracuse, for example, played one game in Arkansas almost four months ago and hasn't traveled further west than that since. The Orange have the joy of playing the first two rounds in San Jose, CA, and the first game won't tip off any earlier than 10:00 p.m. ET.
On the flip side of that coin, many highly ranked teams aren't traveling far at all for their first weekend in the tournament.
Traveling is probably overstated in many professional sports, but college kids are hardly accustomed to long trips—other than backpacking through Europe, of course.
Pick the team playing closest to home each game and chances are you'll have a strong bracket heading into the second weekend of the tournament.
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10 tips for filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket
We get it. You’ve spent the past 48 weekends tailgating … or thinking about how to improve your tailgating next season.
You woke up Sunday and realized you haven’t watched a single second of college basketball this season. But that didn’t stop you from entering the office pool.
No worries. Here are 10 helpful hints you can use to avoid busting your NCAA Tournament bracket.
1. Under no circumstances should you pick all four No. 1 seeds to reach San Antonio
It’s happened exactly once — in 2008.
In the 9 years since, just 12 No. 1 seeds have reached the Final Four — out of 36 potential spots. Six times, just one No. 1 seed reached the Final Four.
2. Do not pick a team with 30 victories to win the NCAA Tournament
Just twice since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 has a team that entered the tournament with 30 victories actually won the thing.
Kentucky did it in 2012 and Kansas did it in 2008.
Several outstanding teams entered the tourney with 30 wins but were knocked out, most notably and painfully, the 38-0 Kentucky team that lost to Wisconsin in the 2015 Final Four.
The year before, Wichita State entered 34-0 and lost in the second round.
Will Villanova (30-4) and Virginia (31-2) fall victim to this bracket-busting rule this year?
3. Do pick a No. 1 seed to win it all
Eight of the past 11 NCAA Tournament champions were No. 1 seeds, including last year’s champion, North Carolina.
History says one of this year’s No.
1 seeds will continue the trend.
Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
4. Do not pick Cinderella to win it all
Granted, you’d have I-told-you-so bragging rights forever, but the last legitimately mid-major to win the NCAA Tournament was UTEP in 1966.
The blue bloods own the final Monday night of the college basketball season.
5. Do pick Cinderella to get to the Final Four
As the game has gotten younger, it’s given the more veteran mid-majors a very real chance to reach the Final Four.
Butler (twice) and Gonzaga weren’t typical mid-major programs, but they were in mid-major conferences when they reached the championship game in 2010, 2011 and 2017, respectively.
Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
George Mason (2006), Memphis (2008), VCU (2011), Wichita State (2013) also made the Final Four.
Gonzaga graduated from Cinderella status, and viewing Cincinnati and Xavier as an underdog has been a stretch for years, but keep an eye on Nevada.
6. Do not pick a No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed
Again, you’d have bragging rights, but it’s never happened. It’s never going to happen, and it’s the absolute fastest way to blow up your bracket.
No. 16 seeds are a convincing 0-132 against No. 1 seeds.
7. Pick a No. 15 seed at your own peril
The opening round of the NCAA Tournament is all about the upsets.
And there have been some doozies. Eight times, a No. 15 seed has knocked off a No. 2 seed. They’re all shocking, but 2012 was on a whole ‘nother level of crazy.
On the same afternoon, No. 15 Lehigh toppled No. 2 Duke and No. 15 Norfolk State took out No. 2 Missouri to help clear the path for Kentucky to win it all.
Duke and Kentucky were in the South Regional and slated to meet in the Elite 8. Missouri was a potential Final Four opponent.
No. 12 seeds? Sure, they’re always a trendy/cliche pick during the first weekend. No. 12 seeds have pulled off 20 upsets in the past 10 tournaments.
Just remember, they almost never win the second game to get to the Sweet 16.
8. Trust the Big Ten at your own peril
Two Big Ten teams made the Final Four in 2015. Neither left town with the title.
You have to go all the way back to 2000 to find the last NCAA champ from the Big Ten: Michigan State.
The B1G has been to six title games since, losing each time.
Could this year be different? It’s possible. Michigan State and Purdue can play with anybody — heck, the Boilers’ 5 losses are by a combined 15 points — but …
9. Stay away from Kansas
It’s always a tempting pick. The Jayhawks own the Big 12.
They’ve been a No. 1 seed 13 times — only North Carolina has been honored more.
Yet … they’ve made the Final Four just once since winning the 2008 national title and have fallen victim to some of the most surprising early exits since.
To wit:
- In 2010: Seeded No. 1, lost to No. 9 Northern Iowa in second round
- In 2011: Seeded No.
![]()
1, lost in Elite 8 to No. 11 VCU - In 2014: Seeded No. 2, lost second game to No. 10 Stanford
- In 2015: Seeded No. 2, lost second game to No. 7 Wichita State
10. What shade of blue do you prefer?
Villanova’s? UNC’s? Virginia’s? Duke’s? Kentucky’s? Gonzaga’s? Xavier’s? Even Kansas’?
Some people make picks based on mascots. You’re better off grabbing the 128-pack of Crayola crayons, closing your eyes and picking a blue.
Somebody in blue is going to cut down the nets for the 15th time in 16 seasons.
Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
How to choose a basketball uniform? - Formas
In any sport, the form plays an important role. The right equipment is especially important in basketball. It should look good, be comfortable enough, not hinder the player's movements. And the basketball player will be able to fully concentrate on the match. The choice of a basketball uniform must be taken seriously. There are several important aspects that affect the purchase.![]()
It should be understood that the basketball uniform is distinguished by features that make it unlike the equipment of athletes in other sports:
- Wide fit - basketball players move a lot;
- The shorts are securely fixed on the body thanks to wide elastic bands.
Sports T-shirts additionally decorated with prints. The player's number and his last name are printed. The team name is often added. To make it easier to follow the game. Most manufacturers offer a whole set of shorts and T-shirts. These things fit together perfectly. Many athletes are interested in the question: what to do if any part of the kit breaks during the game. There is nothing to worry about here. In any online store you can buy a replacement item that will differ in the same style and color scheme.
The color of the basketball uniform depends on the club. And the colors can be combined arbitrarily. In order for a basketball player to train successfully, it is necessary to purchase the following pieces of equipment:
- T-shirt itself;
- Sports briefs;
- Essential accessories for a better game;
- Special running shoes.
Essential Requirements for the Perfect Basketball Gear
Please note the following product features before purchasing:
- Quality;
- Elasticity;
- Hypoallergenic;
- Softness.
These parameters need to be discussed in more detail.
High quality
One of the most important characteristics on which the whole game of an athlete depends. T-shirt and shorts should be made of beautiful and durable fabric with good wear resistance. If the material is too flimsy, the clothes will quickly lose their appearance.
Elasticity
The fabric that is used in production must stretch well, but not be damaged. Training and matches make you move a lot, so this parameter is very important. If the material is too strong, the basketball player will not be able to jump or run fast. The athlete will only lose from this. In order not to restrict body movements, you need to check it before buying.
If it stretches enough, then everything is in order.
Hypoallergenic
This parameter is especially important when buying a uniform for a child, since children's skin is too sensitive. Causing constant irritation, the fabric will make the game impossible. In order for the athlete to avoid unpleasant pain, it is worth thinking about the right material.
Softness
Quality products should be soft and pleasant. Only in this case the player will be comfortable wearing them. In addition, in such things any training will be more successful.
What fabric is used to sew a basketball uniform
When creating this type of sportswear, a number of special fabrics are used that you should study before buying a finished product: among materials for basketball equipment. Quickly absorbs moisture and dries just as quickly, without causing unnecessary inconvenience. Things from it are distinguished by increased comfort, high wear resistance.![]()
Even with prolonged use, they do not deform;
Microfiber is a type of knitted fabric that has good elasticity and durability. Such products are hypoallergenic, they are soft, therefore they do not bring irritation to the skin. In addition, microfiber dries very quickly and copes well with excess moisture; Ribana is one of the popular cotton-looking fabrics, which is often used in the manufacture of such products. There are knitted inserts. Its main characteristics can be called good elasticity, durability, the ability to maintain the required body temperature for a long period of time. This type of fabric is often used in the production of necklines, T-shirts and cuffs. Basketball products are made from single-sided or double-sided material. For official matches, the second option is used. For example, one side of a form is created in red and the other in blue.
What you need to know about the size of the uniform for basketball
It is very important to choose the right size equipment.![]()
Especially if you are buying it for a child. Before buying, you need to determine the dimensions of the athlete. To do this:
- Determine the volume of the chest;
- Find out what length of shirt you need;
- Measure your hips;
- Don't forget about comfortable leg length.
How to choose a basketball uniform?
Basketball is a team game. Each participant must have a full set of equipment: shorts, T-shirt, sneakers and protective paraphernalia.
Requirements for sportswear:
- Sewing using special technologies. Equipment should not fit tightly on the body. Loose fit for comfort and freedom of movement. Each product must have strong, flat, carefully closed seams with which the athlete will avoid irritation.
- Use of breathable synthetic materials. With intense loads, the basketball uniform absorbs and evaporates moisture well, and opens the air to the body. Proper thermoregulation will help the basketball player maintain strength until the end of the game, which will affect the results.
Elastic fabric will prevent tears during sudden jumps and movements. - Compliance with player requirements and FIBA rules. Basketball clothing must have a dominant color that helps to easily distinguish between participants. It is important to choose the right combinations, apply logos, team name and surnames.
Shoes are chosen based on the type of playing surface - an open-air playground or a hall. High-quality shoes are comfortable and increase the performance of the game.
The adult set consists of a T-shirt and shorts.
Characteristics of sportswear:
- T-shirt is bought exactly in size. A product with a perfect fit will not cause discomfort. Wear-resistant synthetics will cope with profuse sweating. Single and double sided models are allowed. If sleeves are present, they must be above the elbow. For training in the cold season, take a T-shirt with long sleeves. On the game, models with such a cut are not used.
- Buy shorts one size up.
This will give you freedom of movement. The elastic band is fixed under the parameters of the waist. The length should be above the knee. Tight overalls are also allowed. - Special basketball equipment is allowed: knee pads, ankle pads, arch support, hip, shoulder, shoulder joint protection. The player can wear compression stockings and sleeves, use a transparent mouthguard, headbands, wristbands.
- Socks are chosen so that they are visible from the sneakers.
The player may need outerwear. It is sewn from artificial materials for natural air exchange.
What to look for when choosing a basketball uniform
Proper equipment affects the success of the game. The main requirements for the form are imposed by the FIBA and NBA committees.
What to look for:
- Comfortable training/playing basketball uniform that doesn't hug the body and doesn't restrict movement. Shorts and T-shirts made of soft synthetics are considered the best.
Modern fabrics are light, instantly remove moisture, which accumulates a lot during the game. - Comfort is enhanced by closed, durable and extremely flat seams that do not rub against the skin during sports activities.
- A constant and systematic supply of air to the skin is a prerequisite for high physical exertion. The shape with high breathability will give better thermoregulation. The body will not overheat or overcool. The athlete will retain strength and show high endurance on the court, which will improve overall training and game progress.
- Teams are presented with the same design of equipment. Rigorous design is required to compete. T-shirts, shorts, socks must be of the same dominant color on both sides. Numbers are applied front and back. Hue should contrast with the main one. Protective and additional equipment for basketball is matched in one solid color.
A team must have at least 2 sets of jerseys.
How to choose basketball shoes
Shoes for the game must meet strict standards.
The right sneakers securely fix the ankle, dampen the impact force in jumps and reduce the risk of injury. The player feels stable in any physical activity and quickly picks up a high starting speed.
Requirements for basketball shoes:
- Maximum comfort and high stability.
- Good grip on all types of surfaces. Outdoor asphalt courts require a tough, indelible rubber outsole. For parquet - softer, shock-absorbing from synthetic materials, with balloon, spring inserts.
- Good cushioning, shock absorption.
- Ankle and foot support. Fasteners are zippers, Velcro, laces and combinations thereof.
- Wear resistance, strength and quality.
- Sneakers can be in different color combinations. Reflective inserts, decor and flashing lights are prohibited. The best material is a combination of leather and synthetics.
Manufacturers produce 3 types of basketball shoes. The choice should be based on the game specialization of the player.
High
Sneakers with a high last are designed for heavy, powerful forwards, center forwards - the largest, tallest members of the team. The footwear is steady, is characterized by the maximum depreciation when performing jumps. This is achieved through a full closure, better hold and a high sole. Models of the High type hold down the step and reduce the speed due to the large weight.
Mid
A solution for versatile players - shooting guards, snipers and small forwards. Shoes with a lower sole increase mobility on the court. It is light and comfortable, but less securely fixes the foot.
Low
Shoes for basketball players with high agility, players who often change direction during the game, moving in jerks, with sudden stops. Low is chosen by point guards and shooting guards. The lightest shoes are as mobile as possible, practical and do not constrain movements. It poorly fixes the ankle and wears out faster.
Maintenance of basketball equipment
Keeping the uniform clean is not only a neat appearance, but also an efficiency during a match or training. Perfect equipment will help you better control maneuvers and movements on the court.
Care rules:
- Hand wash at 40°C and below. It is recommended to use gentle mode for automatic washing.
- Use mild detergents. Do not use bleach, scented laundry detergents, fabric softeners, alcohol. It is better to take a neutral eco-friendly washing powder.
- Without intensive wringing, twisting. It is better to choose a gentle rinse and drain.
- No strong effect on inscriptions, logos.
- Iron inside out or through the lining material.
- Drying on the battery is prohibited. This will lead to deformation of the characters, seams and product.
Sneakers are washed after 1-2 workouts. Dry shoes at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Leather models can be treated with a small amount of leather shoe care.
