The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament continued this past Thursday through Sunday. Upsets continued in the regional semifinals and finals and left many brackets in pieces throughout the field in the school contest. After running through every possible Final Four situation, the Canyon High March Madness Challenge has three entrants who can still win.
Regional semifinal and final bracket busters
No. 9 Wichita State defeated No. 2 Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final. The Buckeyes were the second choice for the Final Four out of that region to Gonzaga, who Wichita State defeated in the Round of 32. No brackets in the school’s field chose the Shockers to make it to Atlanta.
No. 4 Michigan defeated No. 1 Kansas 87-85 in overtime in a South Regional semifinal and No. 3 Florida 79-59 in the final. Several brackets chose Kansas to take the South Regional and advance to the Final Four. One remaining bracket picked Michigan to get this far and also chose the Wolverines to make the title game, but not to take the title. More brackets chose Florida to win this region than Michigan.
No. 4 Syracuse defeated No. 1 Indiana 61-50 in an East Regional semifinal and No. 3 Marquette 55-39 in the final. Indiana was the most frequent choice for the national champion among brackets that did not pick Louisville to win the title. One remaining bracket chose Syracuse to upend the Hoosiers and also make the Final Four.
No. 3 Marquette defeated No. 2 Miami 71-61 in an East Regional semifinal. Miami made most Elite Eight picks and several Final Four and national title game picks. The same bracket that chose Syracuse over Indiana also chose Marquette over Miami, correctly predicting the Elite 8 matchup for the East Regional final.
More brackets chose Louisville to win the national title than any other team. Only one bracket out of those remain.
Three entrants remain in the contest with any mathematical chance to win.
Sophomore Tanner Fleeman
He has 690 points and 160 possible. He advanced Louisville to the Final Four and the championship game, but put down Indiana to win the title. He wins if Louisville wins their Final Four game against Wichita State AND Syracuse defeats Michigan and Louisville to capture the Title.
ASL teacher Chelsea Phemister
Her current score is 680 points and has 160 possible. She put Syracuse in the Final Four and chose them to advance to the national title game, but chose Duke to win the title. She wins if Syracuse defeats Michigan AND Wichita State defeats Louisville, regardless of who wins the title.
Senior Travis McMorrough
He has 660 points and 640 possible. He chose Louisville and Michigan to make the Final Four and the national championship game. He also chose Louisville to defeat Michigan for the title. He wins if Louisville wins the championship regardless of whether or not Michigan faces them OR if Michigan defeats Syracuse.
