Rusty Bunch 2018 NCAA Basketball Tournment Challenge

[Randy Karasek]

Here are some details regarding the Rusty Bunch 2018 NCAA Basketball Tournment Challenge:

• Will again be using ESPN's online bracket software. See http://games.espn.com/tournament-challe ... t/2018/en/

• Our group name is "Rusty Bunch". Please make sure your brackets have joined this private group

• Our group password is "oxalic"

• You are allowed TWO brackets

• Prizes for the top three finishers per ESPN default scoring rules

Please make sure your brackets have joined the "Rusty Bunch" group. If not, once tournament starts brackets lock, and your brackets won't qualify for Rusty Bunch scoring. If you have entered successfully, you should see two brackets with your name (recommend using your RB screen name so we know who to rag on) and the group you have joined:
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If you participated in previous years, you likely already have an ESPN account. If you forgot your password, just have them email reset link to your account.

If you are playing this year, PLEASE create your user/password account NOW, and two empty bracket slots NOW. The brackets are just placeholders until this coming Selection Sunday. Also, your picks will remain hidden until after brackets lock before first game. Not like anyone going to want to copy them anyway, but just in case you are worried... LOL

Reminder: ESPN tournament challenge URL: http://games.espn.com/tournament-challe ... t/2018/en/

[keithker]

@Randy Karasek Thanks so much for taking this effort on again this year. The Chapter will make sure some good cans are available for the winners......As a matter of fact I'll donate a $65 voucher to the top winner with one of our Sponsors.........best of luck to all......

[Randy Karasek]

@Randy Karasek Thanks so much for taking this effort on again this year. The Chapter will make sure some good cans are available for the winners......As a matter of fact I'll donate a $65 voucher to the top winner with one of our Sponsors.........best of luck to all......

You are welcome. As for prizes, past few years we have given $50/$30/$20 RB credit to the top three finishers, allowing winners to have more choices. Ensures something like a "tab collector" not limited to choices of "flat top" for example. I will chat with you/Steve whether we want to bump this value, but more a "fun challenge" since no entry fee.

As for "best of luck to all", you must not have played before. I except most brackets to bust opening round games and part of the fun ragging on people who choose other than the Big Ten!!!!

[pinnacle-project]

Thanks for putting this together again this year. I look forward to demonstrating my complete lack of knowledge on this topic.

[Conehead]

I don't care for basketball.....I don't watch basketball....I don't know a thing about basketball.


So I figure I have as much chance as anyone.

I'm in.

[Beamer]

Thanks again Randy. Think that I am locked and loaded to enter two crummy brackets.

[Randy Karasek]

Good start, 15+ bracket slots created. While team selection is not until this Sunday, time moves fast and brackets will LOCK before tipoff of the first game Thursday. If you are interested in playing, I strongly recommend you get your user/password and empty bracket setup now, and then just point/click sometime next week to make poor choices.
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From what I see, most have created two brackets except the one user highlighted. And thank you for using RB screen names somewhat in your bracket names, good to know leaders and others.
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[gorrister]

Why do we need 2 entries? I only need 1 to win.

[Nosinut]

I am in for 2 I believe. I used my sons ESPN acct by default. Should come up as Nosinut or Ryan the Fish. Thanks.

Claude Tunison

[Conehead]

Ok, the wife just picked my first bracket. She's the luckiest person I know.

Her bracket is named "Conehead's B Itch Picks".

You guys aint got a chance.

[Randy Karasek]

Ok guys and gals. Just two days before opening game, if you have not already done so, make sure to click/pick to fill out your brackets. Make sure to include champion selection as well as enter guess of final score in case of tie-breakers.

Right now we have 30+ brackets under group "Rusty Bunch", would be great if we could get 50+. As mentioned you are allowed TWO brackets. Yes, you only need one to win, but people often purchase more than one lottery ticket as well. Your choice.

Brackets will lock before first game. All PM's this coming Thursday afternoon that "I wasn't able to create my account or enter picks can I still do so" will be met me "No Soup For You!". Hope there is some good college basketball again this season.

[kruegerbock]

I think I figured it out.

[Jim Romine]

Just added my 2 as mojonitro 1 and 2. GO MOUNTAINEERS!
Jim

[Randy Karasek]

Good deal, we now have 40+, and guess close to 50 brackets before first tip. Thanks for all playing. If you are interested but not yet created, you have approximately 12-14 hours before brackets automatically lock, picks become visible, and you start getting "red lines" that your picks were wrong...

[Beamer]

Good deal, we now have 40+, and guess close to 50 brackets before first tip. Thanks for all playing. If you are interested but not yet created, you have approximately 12-14 hours before brackets automatically lock, picks become visible, and you start getting "red lines" that your picks were wrong...

I expect to see many red lines this year Randy.

[Tom Clark]

I just entered 2 picks(I think) We will see what happens, a lot of good teams this year, also lot of teams that play very good one game and terrible the next.

[pinnacle-project]

Wow! Virginia just got knocked out. That destroys one of my brackets.

[Randy Karasek]

Opening rounds in the books, some upsets, and first ever in the NCAA tournament of a #16 UBMC beat a #1 of UVA. Wow, and not a last minute shot type game but dominated them by 20 points!!!

Here is our Rusty Bunch leader board after the first round games, sorted by Point Totals based on ESPN scoring rules. Two items to note, you want the PPR (Possible Points Remaining) to be as high as possible and you definitely do NOT want to see the dreaded "red box" that your pick for champion has already been eliminated. While we have several members currently toward the top, fact that their PPR is low and champion already gone, those brackets will sink like a stone!!!
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[renokenn]

How many picked Nevada to make it to the Sweet 16? They have played that way all year but it can't last forever.

[Sea Monkey]

You guys are lucky I screwed up and didn't add Mrs Sea Monkey's entry into the group by accident. She would be in second place right now and have the most possible points remaining. Her lack of knowledge of the teams have definitely worked in her favor.....lol.

[keithker]

How are those brackets coming along.....Somebody will have worked hard for the top prize........

[Beverlx]

I was feeling great after the early games yesterday -- two brackets speeding toward the top -- but losing Kentucky and Gonzaga hurt like hell. (In real life I cheer against both of these teams.) My hopes rest with Villanova going all the way.

[pinnacle-project]

At this point, I will be happy if I can just get a bracket in the top 10.

[Randy Karasek]

This is the strangest results overall I remember in quite some time. First time ever a #16 beats a #1, so many other high-seeded teams sent home early. So many brackets busted that first weekend! I also had a good feeling after the first few rounds but Xavier busted my best bracket. At this point PPR (Possible Points Remaining) lowest ever I can recall, since rare for anyone to pick two #11 and two #9 to get this far (and actually be correct!)

Here is latest. I am actually rooting for Rock8Jim to win it all since he has my Michigan Wolverines going to the final four!!!
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