There’s no accounting for expertise. DIME scribes, who range from the ultra erudite college basketball buffs to the barely-functioning adults who can barely tie their own shoelaces, all did poorly in the NCAA Tournament Pick’em. Then again, no Yahoo bracket is undefeated after the first weekend.
Michigan State wrecked almost every bracket after falling to Middle Tennessee State by the surprisingly wide margin of 90-81. In fact, of the eight writers who participated in the Tournament, six of them picked Michigan State to win it all, including the leader after the first weekend, senior sportswriter Martin Rickman. Only Jack Winter — in last place with 29 correct predictions — and Jamie Cooper — in second place with 34 correct predictions — have a selected champion still in the field (Kansas and North Carolina, respectively). And both of their brackets are missing a Final Four entrant; just an abysmal showing all around.
Most “experts” were as bamboozled as we were, but only one of us, Martin, could rightfully be called a college basketball expert. Then again, if you haven’t read Jack Winter’s Draft Watch pieces, we suggest you check them out:
Here’s the DIME leaderboard with links to a writer’s brackets so you can — foolishly, we might add — deride their lack of expertise.
1 – Martin Rickman (35 correct)
2 – Jamie Cooper (34)
3 – Fred Katz (33)
4 – Matthew Rothstein (32)
5 – Jordan White (31)
T-7 – Cathryn Naiker (30)
T-7 – Spencer Lund (30)
8 – Jack Winter (29)
Our money’s on Jamie Cooper to emerge victorious because he’s five games up on Jack and they’re the only two writers left with a champion that wasn’t knocked out in the opening weekend. Madness, indeed.
