I was surfing around ESPN and I found that contest we did last year. Seeing how no one has set anything up yet, I thought I'd show some initiative and create the group.

Like last year, the group is called "3 Blind Mice" The password is "whackenator"

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage

Hopefully this will get the same great response as last year.

Good Luck!!

I'm in! :)

I'm all for it. Nice picture on the home page.

I'm in.

:D :D :D

I'm in.

I'm in as well. :D

I'm also in charge of our office pool (usually 12-15 entries total). Now this brings up the question - does everyone use the same picks no matter what pool they're in, or do they pick differently for each pool entry?

I'm in. I look forward to filling my annual role as the world's worst prognosticator. It's my way of making others feel better about themselves.

Z

Do you buy more than one lottery ticket with the same numbers?? :D

Edit:

I think I misunderstood your question, looking it over it makes more sense now.

Here's a better answer:

It all depends on how sure you are with your picks. If you're certain they are right, then why not use them in every pool you enter.

[Edited by ref18 on Mar 8th, 2005 at 02:14 PM]

I think you've hit on something there. Actually, there are MANY people who would swear I have the same chance either way (lottery vs NCAA picks). ;)

I'm in.

I'm in. Hope you don't mind a football guy giving it a shot.

Should be fun, good luck to all

We've got 22 so far. I'd like to see the final number of participants over 100, so lets sign up and see how badly we can predict the NCAA Tournament ;)

ref18,

Do you remember how many were in last year?

I think it was over 50, but how far over I'm not sure.

i'm in
 

it was fun last year...sure was some surprise picks

Tournament
 

As the defending champ you can count me in.
Time for me to retain that title again.

Bump :)

We've got 36, let's at least get it up over 50.

Let's go guys, the bracket is released tomorrow and we've only got 38 people. Let's all get out and sign up. :)

Bump...

Still space and the brackets are released today. So come on and sign up.

ref18, chill out. It'll fill up. It always does. People will get involved after the brackets come out and are posted on the site.

Around what time are the brackets up?

I think they're coming out on ESPN at 6 for the mens tournament. So after that.

I'm in. I didn't do well last year. I'm sure I will make a strong comeback with the Big XII.

I just finished my whole online bracket filling out! Whew, I filled out 11 different brackets! Ohhhh what fun! ;)

I'm in

I'm in and I make 50 total in the group.

I just joined (5:15 pm EST) to make the 52nd entry.

How many people are picking an all ACC final?

acc? you mean a team from the acc made it to the tournament? HHhhhmmmmm, that bias select committee is at it again. Oh well, at least they won't last long. Go Big XII.

Looks like someone over at ESPN is pretty smart - they already have Chuck's entry at the bottom of the list! :p

LOL :D

I'm in.

I saw that too, gettin' in the coach's face!

Did ref18 pick that or does everyone get it?

http://media.iowastatedaily.com/vima...21d36-39-3.jpg

I'm sure someone else has seen something like this. I'm in a pool that has a "Toilet Bowl Award". It's given to last place finisher. Prize: Your money back.

What kind of question is that?? Of course I picked it. I think it matches nicely with the password :D

My apologies to the General, sir!

:D

[img]www.mazeguy.net/military/m1helmet.gif[/img]


Apology accepted, NOW SOUND OFF LIKE YOU GOT A PAIR!!![img]www.mazeguy.net/military/drillsergeant.gif[/img]

According to the national bracket, the #8Texas/#9Nevada game is the toughest to pick. It is 51.0/49.0 right now (5 hours before lock time).

#10 NC State, #9 Pitt, and #9 Miss St. are the only lower seeded teams being predicted to win. NC State by a whopping 61.0/39.0 margin.

4-4 so far. . .God bless UW-M!!!

You and me, both! God bless Pacific, too!!!

Utah-UTEP could be interesting.

I'm 8-0.

I only announce that because this will be my only chance to crow before history repeats itself and I take my rightful place at the bottom of the standings.

Z

So what? Me, too! :D

That just means the manure's gonna hit the fan, tonight and tomorrow! :(

Yep and it's already starting.

Z

This is the best I've ever done, I'm tied for first place...In our group. :)

Let's just see how long it lasts :D

3 Blind Mice Group Page
Anticipate the play, not the call


Have questions you need answered? Check out our Men's Tournament Challenge FAQ.
Bulletin Board lets you talk smack to your group.
ESPN Scoreboard

Overall Results
RK ENTRY, OWNER

1 Julian AKA ref18, J. Di Battista 150
1 Tar Heel Blue, T. Haire 150
1 oc, r. ringling 150

Three tied for first - Ladies and Gentleman -

You May Start Running Smack!

If this holds to form at least 1 of these entries (cough cough tony cough) will start sinking like a stone.

Figures I would pick two 12's over 5's and miss UW-Mil over Bama.

Is that really Chuck near the top

I took a hit today. How many people got the Kansas game wrong? ;)

Me, but I was thrilled to see it happen.

Oh, well. Bottom of the standings. 21-11 after round one.

Some guy named Mark Smith nailed it.

He got ALL 32 first round games correct.
Including Bucknell and Vermont.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

That's awesome.

:)

Hey ESPN, would you please UPDATE THE STANDINGS!!!!!! :mad:

Yeah - I'd talk some smack, except that I had 'Cuse and Kansas in the final 8. Oh well - I'm alone in first for now!

That's what hurts, having a Final 4 or Elite 8 team lose in the first round.

TEXAS TECH BABY !!!!!

If I should be so incredibly fortunate as to remain on top in our humble little group's portion of this incredible contest, this would be among the most amazing upsets of the whole tournament. (Arizona is the key for me) The bad news is that Kansas got knocked out early, the good news is that I originally had them in the final 4, and went back and changed it after listening to some "tips" on ESPN.
Whoever it was talking, (Digger Phelps, maybe?) he also mentioned Alabama as a sleeper, and I adjusted picks there, I think. A lot to be said for this coin flipping thing.

So much for Alabama being a sleeper! ;) Way to go UW-Mil!!

Didn't pick the Kansas upset, but I had Wisconsin beating them in the 2nd round anyway. My Austin bracket is all shot, I had Oklahoma in the Final Four. 3rd place, and in striking distance. :)

Updated scores - Top three spots as of 3/22

3 Blind Mice Group Page
Anticipate the play, not the call


ESPN Scoreboard

Overall Results

1 just another ref, A. McWiggins 470 Duke
2 Tech Fanatics, C. Ford 460 Wake Forest - Wake kills
3 Houston bigwhistle56, L. Jones 450 UNC
3 oc, r. ringling 450 Illinois
3 IOWA Snaqwells, A. Wells 450 Illinois
.....

36 Julian AKA ref18, J. Di Battista 390 Illinois - Ist to 36th ouch!

I can't talk - I'm in at 49!

bump :)

Hey I took second this year. Quite an improvement from last year's cellar dweller position. :D

Z

I finished tied for 10th! That's awesome, baby, wit' a capital A!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I did ok too. I would like to thank all the Illinois supporters for their contribution to my success. :D

The final Scoreboard

Props to our champ and 12 months of braggin rights!

3 Blind Mice Group Page
Anticipate the play, not the call


ESPN Scoreboard

Overall Results
1 Houston bigwhistle56, L. Jones 250 200 160 160 240 160 1170 0 97.6 44 UNC

2 Erickson HurtZebra, K. Erickson 250 180 120 160 240 160 1110 0 93.7 42 UNC
3 Cincinnati Larks, A. Larkins 240 120 160 160 240 160 1080 0 90.8 39 UNC
4 Allenhurst PAULK01, P. kASHEFSKA 240 160 160 240 240 0 1040 0 86.2 41 Illinois
5 mj , M. Jandrin 260 160 200 160 240 0 1020 0 84.1 43 Illinois
6 No more N.I.T., M. Dexter 270 160 200 80 120 160 990 0 80.7 43 UNC
7 IOWA Snaqwells, A. Wells 270 180 120 160 240 0 970 0 78.1 43 Illinois
8 Fluvanna Zebra, D. Rothamel 260 180 120 160 240 0 960 0 76.5 42 Illinois
9 Michigan , J. Flikkie 230 160 160 160 240 0 950 0 75.0 39 Illinois
10 Tech Fanatics, C. Ford 260 200 200 160 120 0 940 0 73.4 44 Wake Forest
10 Gotta be my year, C. Elias 240 140 200 80 120 160 940 0 73.4 39 UNC
12 PA tmp44, T. Pappasergi 220 180 160 80 120 160 920 0 69.9 38 UNC
13 Julian AKA ref18, J. Di Battista 270 120 120 160 240 0 910 0 67.3 40 Illinois
13 Tar Heel Blue, T. Haire 270 160 120 80 120 160 910 0 67.3 41 UNC
13 hayblue99 , E. Gerhardt 230 160 120 160 240 0 910 0 67.3 38 Illinois
16 Nevada Entry 1, N. ref 220 160 120 160 240 0 900 0 65.5 37 Illinois
17 oc, r. ringling 270 180 160 160 120 0 890 0 63.7 43 Illinois
18 Mike Oxbig, T. Richert 240 200 160 160 120 0 880 0 61.9 41 Illinois
18 mix U.P., m. chambers 240 160 80 160 240 0 880 0 61.9 38 Illinois
18 Louisiana Dave, D. ratner 220 140 120 160 240 0 880 0 61.9 36 Illinois
18 Blum Entry 1, J. Blum 220 140 120 160 240 0 880 0 61.9 36 Illinois
22 Fronheiser Rich, R. Fronheiser 210 180 120 240 120 0 870 0 60.2 37 Duke
22 Tanner tjones1, T. Jones 230 160 120 80 120 160 870 0 60.2 37 UNC
24 stripes , K. Kinghorn 220 160 120 80 120 160 860 0 58.5 36 UNC
25 Alaska Bush in 2004, R. Lewis 220 180 240 80 120 0 840 0 55.0 39 Wake Forest
25 Trahan bmt89, B. Trahan 200 160 120 240 120 0 840 0 55.0 35 Illinois
25 Brazille Entry 3, D. Brazille 260 180 120 160 120 0 840 0 55.0 41 Duke
25 Brazille Entry 5, D. Brazille 260 180 120 160 120 0 840 0 55.0 41 Duke
29 InlandNW BG, B. German 270 160 120 160 120 0 830 0 53.3 41 Illinois
29 Brazille Best Guess, D. Brazille 250 180 120 160 120 0 830 0 53.3 40 Duke
31 Brazille Entry 4, D. Brazille 240 180 120 160 120 0 820 0 51.6 39 Duke
32 1st Tee Box 1 Iron, J. Confer 250 160 120 160 120 0 810 0 50.0 39 Syracuse
33 General Otis TWhackenator, J. Di Battista 240 160 120 160 120 0 800 0 48.4 38 Illinois
34 PA JMiller, J Miller 230 160 200 80 120 0 790 0 46.6 38 Illinois
35 Hammar Entry 1, J. Hammar 210 160 200 80 120 0 770 0 43.4 36 Duke
36 Connecticut cmckenna, C. McKenna 240 160 80 160 120 0 760 0 41.9 37 Illinois
36 Dan Rapp's picks, D. Rapp 280 160 120 80 120 0 760 0 41.9 41 Wake Forest
38 IA IAUMP, C. McWilliams 230 160 160 80 120 0 750 0 40.3 37 Arizona
38 just another ref, A. McWiggins 250 220 200 80 0 0 750 0 40.3 42 Duke
40 Champaign IL MandMGuy, J. Drozdz 230 180 120 80 120 0 730 0 37.2 37 Illinois
41 Jarrett Entry, D. Jarrett 220 180 120 80 120 0 720 0 35.7 36 Illinois
42 montana zebras, J. Morse 240 160 80 80 120 0 680 0 29.7 36 Kansas
42 Wichita foulbuster, B. Tyson 220 180 200 80 0 0 680 0 29.7 37 Kansas
44 Boone Spiders, A. Cline 230 160 120 160 0 0 670 0 28.2 36 Oklahoma St
45 Portland Prognostics2, C. Zenner 220 140 80 80 120 0 640 0 24.2 33 Illinois
46 Knickrehm Dknick78, D. Knickrehm 220 160 40 80 120 0 620 0 21.8 33 Duke
47 LongIsland Zebra, C. Tranchina 220 180 120 80 0 0 600 0 19.4 35 Oklahoma St
48 Brazille Ch'ville, D. Brazille 250 180 80 80 0 0 590 0 18.3 37 Duke
49 Jb's guesses, J. Blomstedt 250 160 160 0 0 0 570 0 16.2 37 Kansas
50 Tiev xxssmen, M. Tiev 220 180 160 0 0 0 560 0 15.1 35 Wake Forest
50 Waterloo ON JugglingRef, M. Szczur 240 160 160 0 0 0 560 0 15.1 36 Kentucky
52 Dan, D. * 250 180 120 0 0 0 550 0 14.0 37 Connecticut
53 Ann Arbor Fan, J. Rutledge 230 180 120 0 0 0 530 0 12.0 35 Kentucky
54 Wyoming windfalls, c. mathews 230 160 80 0 0 0 470 0 6.5 33 Duke
55 Houston TexRef, B. Batt 210 160 80 0 0 0 450 0 5.0 31 Oklahoma St
56 Michigan MaGis, M. lasdkjfl 200 160 80 0 0 0 440 0 4.3 30 Oklahoma St
57 Texas LarryS, L. Savoy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1680 0.0 0
57 Mregor Maulers, R. Morris 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1680 0.0 0

Thanks for posting the results... I was afraid to look! I'll take 22nd to start off with, it sure was a great tournament to watch!!!

I made 6th! Glad to see I'm above the Elias Line.

I didn't participate in this group, but in another one on ESPN. Next year, I'd advise going to Yahoo. ESPN's was absolutely terrible. Hard to register for, updated solely, if at all, and no scenario generator. I did Yahoo last year and it was a thousand times better. If you have a Yahoo address, you just need to create a group or join one. If you don't, sign up is still easier.