Wednesday, March 23, 2016

There Can Be Only One

R.a.n.t. of month March 2016 (Additional)
Once again, March Madness is upon us. And once again, I have no interest in who's playing or who's winning. But that's not going to stop my third annual NCAA Sweet 16 Basketball Breakdown. If you've read my picks in the past, you'll probably already be aware I know next to nothing about basketball "stats or statistics" (As Michael Scott would say). My biggest gripe in the past is being unsure how people can actually fill out a bracket and feel confident in their picks. I know nothing about the teams playing and last year I had three teams in the final four. I still ultimately lost. But perhaps I'll do better this year. Or perhaps you'll be the one mad at me, since I am making a mockery of the whole bracket picks, or whatever it's called. Anyway, enough chatter, it's time for me to decide who I think will advance and why.

Sweet 16
Maryland Terrapins vs. Kansas Jayhawks- Winner: Jayhawks. Not only do they have a jazzier looking Heckle and Jeckle mascot, but a Terrapin is a turtle. Is it not? Come one Maryland! Don't make this so easy for me.

Miami Hurricanes vs. Villanova Wildcats - Winner: Wildcats. My old High School mascot was also the Wildcats, so how could I choose anything else? Especially in the first round? The Hurricanes will most likely blow away or peter out before they hit land.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Oregon Ducks - Winner: Blue Devils. I once had a dream about a weird blue devil like creature. I never knew where that dream came from. Perhaps I had seen this mascot as a child and it scared me. But if it scared me, it's sure to scare a duck.

Texas A&M Aggies vs.  Oklahoma Sooners - Winner: Sooners. When I was a child, we used to play marbles on the playground all the time. My favourites were the aggies, but then a bully wanted them so he beat me up and took them from me. So Aggies have bad memories for me.

Indiana Hoosiers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels - Winner: Tar Heels. I love the colour blue and their logo is blue. That's it. So sue me.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Winner: Badgers. Come on, I live in Wisconsin. Why wouldn't I pick my home state team? Sure, the Fighting Irish are tough, but you don't want to back a Badger into a corner. Trust me.

Iowa State Cyclones vs. Virginia Cavaliers - Winner: Cyclones. You can't truly fight against the forces of nature. Would that apply to Basketball teams as well? I'm not sure, but better to be safe than sorry.

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Syracuse Orange  - Winner: Bulldogs. I was attacked by a bulldog, it was vicious and I hated it. I also had an orange soda once. It wasn't the best tasting, but at least it wasn't vicious.



Elite 8
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Villanova Wildcats -Winner: Kansas Jayhawks. Last round I picked the Wildcats because they reminded me of my High School team. But what High School team can rival a College team?

Duke Blue Devils vs. Oklahoma Sooners - Winner: Duke Blue Devils. I'm about to head for the evening. If I don't want that Blue Devil to be in my dreams again. I should probably choose them to win this round. Perhaps I'll finish this in the morning.

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Wisconsin Badgers - Winner: North Carolina Tar Heels. I was informed that it is bad form to choose your favourite team to win. Because it can jinx their playing. I can certainly see that point. If I were to pick Badgers, then they would all suddenly play horribly. Yep, that makes perfect sense to me.

Iowa State Cyclones vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs - Winner: Gonzaga Bulldogs. I've never had to live through a cyclone, but I have been attacked by a bulldog. Oh right, I mentioned that before, didn't I? Well, I don't think I told you I was attacked by a dog twice in my life. So the reasoning still holds for me.


Final 4
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Duke Blue Devils - Winner: Kansas Jayhawks. Birds are amazing creatures. Sure, I could be threatened in my dreams by the blue devil mascot, but I could also be threatened in real life with a massive amount of birds. It's happened before! Or was that just a film? 
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs - Winner: North Carolina Tar Heels. I said I was only attacked by a dog two times. After that, perhaps the dog gave up the fight. Much like how this battle will likely turn out.

Championship Game
Kansas Jayhawks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels - Winner: Kansas Jayhawks. The court will be all tarred up from those tarheels, which will slow everyone down. Or not. The Jayhawks are birds and can just fly around the court. Wait! Why do I keep confusing he mascots with the actual players? I don't know, I should probably not do that. It's really a stupid way to pick a team. But, it's late and I've made my picks already. I'm not going to change them.

30 comments:

  1. My bracket has the Jayhawks winning it all. Of course, my bracket also had Michigan going to the Final Four, and we all know how that turned out...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I only make a bracket from the 16. I suppose I should challenge myself. But, oh well.
      Hey, I guess if the Jayhawks win, we will both be happy.

      Delete
  2. I don't follow basketball or worry about who's winning/losing. I don't even root for a home team, as I do when I don't watch Football.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As you'll notice. I don't follow basketball either. My picks are zany. I started this two years ago in answer to everyone seemingly talking about their picks and who I picked. I was so frustrated telling people I don't make picks, that I decided to make picks based on odd reasoning's.

      Delete
  3. I filled out one of those bracket thingies years ago when people I worked with talked me into it. I picked by which names I liked best! Needless to say, I didn't win...but wouldn't it be funny if I did?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My picks were essentially based on the mascots and the colours of the logos. I'm made some close picks in years past. Which is odd considering people who really follow basketball are correct as nearly as I am.

      Delete
  4. For someone who knows next to nothing. I'd say you've got it all figured out. Me, I listen to the highlights as my husband shares them. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I do look to see who's actually playing. Outside of that, I'm entirely clueless.

      Delete
  5. Wow! You've put a lot of thought into this which is waaay cool! Unfortunately, college or even the pro playoffs don't keep my interest. I do watch when they have those trick shootout things and dunk contests. Does that count? (lol) Hugs...RO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll be honest, I never watch the games. But picking the winners is fun. I love doing so, every year. It's become a tradition of mine.

      Delete
  6. OMG you had my giggling to myself! I know I pick sports teams pretty much the same way as you. sometimes I don't even pick the local teams. I'm not from here (although I've lived here about 20 years) so I have no commitments to the locals. I would have picked Gonzaga for the mere fact that I like the way the name just rolls off the tongue.

    Mary
    Twitter: @KnottyMarie
    Jingle Jangle Jungle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I try to find humour in all things, even those things I don't truly understand.
      I believe in the past, I have picked teams based on how they sounded.

      Delete
  7. At least you got some excitement on the men's side. The woman's simply has everyone knocking off everyone else for the chance to be cannon fodder for UCONN's anointment of Queen of the Hill.

    Father Nature's Corner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excitement is what it's all about. It would be boring without a little entertainment.

      Delete
  8. Oh cool! You're a HIghlander fan. The only thing I know about March Madness is that it constantly disrupts the regular programming I want to watch. I love the way you pick teams based on mascots, colours, etc. Wouldn't be hilarious if your selected teams actually won? Funny stuff, Jeffrey! Thanks for the smile. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, constantly interrupting programs is the main reason why this is a rant. Even after my picks, I never watch the games usually. Though I do try to find out how my picks do. LOL

      Delete
    2. I'm with you on this rant. ☺ And now I understand why you said you're not a dog person. Getting attacked once is bad enough, but twice? Yikes!

      Delete
    3. My brother was attacked by one also. And this was at his friends house.

      Delete
  9. I love college basketball and have picked brackets for years. I know enough to be able to say this: your system seems as sound as any.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kinda had that feeling. Listening to the serious guys talk about their brackets the day after.

      Delete
  10. Normally, I love college basketball. But alas, Arizona Wildcats bit the dust early this year so now I refuse to watch at all:-( Good luck on your picks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, out of the four games that have played, I picked three of the winners so far. Not bad for someone who knows next to nothing about college basketball.

      Delete
  11. I've never kept up with the March Madness playoffs, but my mother loved this stuff. When I think of these games, I think about her watching as many as she could. She was such a fan.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never used to keep up with March Madness either. Truth be told, I still don't. But since I started doing my annual ridiculous picks, I have been known to keep an eye on a game if it's on the TV close by.

      Delete
  12. You were attacked by a dog TWICE?? That's scary. What kind of dog was it (or were they)? I can understand why you wouldn't want to have a dog.
    Hope you do good on your picks. I'm not into basketball at all but I always like betting on NFL games.

    Michele at Angels Bark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I recall correctly, they were both rotweilers.

      Delete
  13. Since I live in Bloomington, Indiana, basketball is huge here. Me, I don't keep up with it. It puts all my TV shows on hiatus, but at least it lets me catch up with my reading! :) Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. One of my pet peeves is when it interrupts my favourite shows.

      Delete
  14. I am not a fan of march madness but my 88 year old grandma watches every game she can. She loves it and that cracks me up! I love your selection reasoning. Sorry someone beat you up over the Aggies. They were the only Texas team on your list so that caught my attention. I am more a Longhorns fan anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holli! Good to see you, thanks for stopping by. I hope you are well. I guess sometimes you never know who is going to like college basketball.

      Delete