March 23, 2009

Here's your mid-week update. Considering that the Connecticut Huskies are a #1 seed and have easily been the most impressive team in the tourney thus far, does anyone else find it surprising that NO ABINPC picker has them winning it all, either in the regular bracker or as a dark horse? Only Joe and Trent have them advancing to the Championship game...

Consider the Baylor Bears for a moment. They are the only remaining team in the NIT that received absolutely no love from ABINPC pickers, but they are heading to Madison Square Garden. According to the announcers on their 1st NIT game, it was their first post-season win since 1950. Who'da thunk?

March 22, 2009

Goodnight, Cinderella. You didn't even manage to leave a glass slipper hangin' around. There's a 12 seed in the sweet sixteen, but you can hardly consider Arizona a stranger to this spot.

Nat led wire-to-wire today and enjoys a single point edge over the defending champ Commish. Surprising youth picker Dave lurks in the #3 hole as we approach the 3rd turn of the race.

March 21, 2009

The day started out with a bunch of yawners, but the games got better and better as time got later and later. Former Champ Nat is still hanging onto a slight lead, but I see lots of horses out there trying to make a move. Can't wait for more games tomorrow!

If you stayed awake last night, you were treated to a couple of nail-biting overtime games, one of which yielded some Goodie points.

Former Champ Nat emerges as our first round leader. Way to go, Bro. Let's see if you can widen that lead as this race goes into the 2nd turn...
Scott leads the youth pickers and set the standard for the entire field with 27 out of 32 first round picks.

March 20, 2009

March 19, 2009

Hey everybody, welcome to Day 1 of the 17th ABINPC. Lots of fur flying already as some top seeds are having their fair share of trouble in the tournament. We finally got a decent upset in the last game of the night.

We have an ABINPC record of 27 pickers signed up this year, plus our annual Celebrity Picker. We are represented by every single past champion from the prior 16 years, including a surprise return from David Haley. David entered ABINPC way, way back in 4ABINPC and decided to retire undefeated. But now, 13 years later he's going after the trophy again.

And, as the ol' Commissioner's hair turns a little grayer each year, he's happy to announce that we have nine (count 'em 9) youth pickers entered in the contest this year. We've already crowned a youth champion back in FABINPC, and we suspect that won't be the last time. Hopefully, one of these whippersnappers will take over this little contest one of these years.

Of course, we couldn't talk about "the field" without bringing up our favorite Celebrity Picker, Rippie the RPI Clown. Our veteran clown steadfastly believes that the NCAA's bogus RPI calculation is the final word in ranking teams, so he has picked the mightly Blue Devils of Duke to cut down the nets.

Enjoy the tourney, ABINPCers, and remember to submit those trivia questions.

March 15, 2009

Well, she was just seventeen
You know what I mean

That's right folks! ABINPC has returned for its seventeenth season and we hope to be bigger and badder than ever. I know you've all got your favorites, but it looks to the Commish like there's about 10 or 12 teams with a realistic shot at the title. It should be a fun year for the bracketologists.

So, do your research, consult the oracle, sharpen your pencils, and fill out those brackets. And for God's sake, don't forget to gimme those Goodies. While you're at it, tell your friends and family and your cousin's manicurist's ex-husband to join up. After all, it's the oldest on-line NCAA bracket contest in the world! At least that's what I'm told.

All you have to do is fill out a regular bracket and make about five Goodie picks. See the Rules page for a description of our complex scoring format. E-mail the Commissioner (link provided at side of page) if you need any help. Let the games begin!