Hoop It Up! It's March!

Well, it's that time of year, one of my fav's, is it because I just love basketball so much I can't seem to get enough and want to OD on it like a back alley crack addict? No, it's because I get to pick my brackets. So here we go with the first round. My methodology is quite simple, it's whichever team makes sense using Lori logic (which oddly enough many people think it's not logical at all).

OK, buckle up, here we go—

South

Kentucky/Western Kentucky (I pick WK to beat Miss Valley)- I go with Western Kentucky because Lexington is known for it's whiskey distilleries and during  the aging process the alcohol that leaches into the barrel is called the "angels share" so truthfully can you depend on a band of drunken angels in a big game? I think not.

Iowa St/UConn - Iowa State, because UConn reminds me of dcon, the rodent control product, and anything to do with rodents is icky.

Wichita State/VCU- Wichita State because it's fun to say.......WUUUUU Shock

Indiana/New Mexico State - because it makes me think of Indiana Jones, seriously Harrison Ford as a hot Archeologist and adventurer, ummm yah.

UNLV/Colorado - last time I was in Las Vegas I saw a pregnant....er......um.......escort. Last time I was in Colorado I saw a Moose with a baby grazing near a stream, Colorado wins.

Baylor/S. Dakota State - Baylor because the word Baylor reminds me of Bayer the company that makes those little tiny baby aspirins that tasted like orange, I loved when I got to take those as a kid. SO because of nostalgia, Baylor wins.

Notre Dame/Xavier - Xavier because that name reminds me of Excalibur, and of course if you have the power of the sword, - you win.

Duke/Lehigh - The name Lehigh reminds me of "knee high to a grasshopper" my Uncle Charlie used to say that and he smelled of moth balls and nyquil so Duke wins.

West

Michigan State/Long Island - the win goes to Michigan State because Long Island makes me think of Snookie, just sayin'

Memphis/St. Louis - I've always liked the song "Walking in Memphis" so they win

New Mexico/Long Beach State - Anything with the name beach in it makes me smile.

Louisville/Davidson - can't beat the sound of the crack of the bat (Louisville Slugger) but the sound of a loud Harley Davidson makes my ears hurt. I'm going with Louisville.

Murray State/Colorado State - I have a friend with a dog named Murray and he's pretty cute.

Marquette/BYU - Marquette reminds me of marionette which is a puppet, which kinda creep me out, so I pick BYU

Florida/Virginia - Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus, your present will be beating Florida

Missouri/Norfolk State - Norfolk......makes me think of old folks and I think Missouri could at least beat a team of octogenarians

East

Syracuse/UNC Asheville - Syracuse reminds me of taking a cruise, and who couldn't use a vacation?

Kansas State/Southern Miss - Although I'd like to just pick Southern Miss because of Sandra Bullocks accent in Blindside I will pick Kansas State

Vanderbilt/Harvard - I pick Harvard because the thought of the ivy leaguers playing basketball in argyle sweaters makes me chuckle.

Wisconsin/Montana - because I would rather eat cheese than mountain goat

Cincinnati/Texas - because I never really like the sitcom WKRP

Florida/St. Bonaventure - makes me think of adventure and I'm always up for a good adventure

Gonzaga/West Virginia - sing along. - Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia mountain mama, take me home. Oh yah, John Denver.

Ohio State/Loyola - Loyala reminds me of crayola and what person cannot open a box of crayons and be transported back to the first day of school and opening that box for the first time of the year? Good times.

Midwest

N. Carolina/Vermont - N. Carolina because they are known for their carpet mills and I would like to have new carpet, so it makes me smile.

Creighton/Alabama - Alabama because my Grandpa loved those little Bama pie things


Temple/S. Florida - Shirley Temple singing the "Good Ship Lollipop" which reminds me of the lollipop guild in the Wizard of Oz and who doesn't like to try and sing like them?

Michigan/Ohio - Ohio reminds me of Oreos, my older son's favorite cookie - I should call him.

San Diego State/NC State - Have you been to the San Diego zoo?

Georgetown/Belmont - George, George George of the jungle......

St. Mary's/Purdue - makes me think of, You sure got a purdy mouth

Kansas/Detroit - Detroit makes me think of  the phrase 'Heavens to Murgatroyd' from Yogi Bear, and I've always held him in low esteem because of his thieving behavior

Third Round Mascot Bracketology - Super Hero or Cartoon Character

When picking a very scientific method to predict the winners of my third round picks (based of course on my second round picks) I decided to use a not-so-well-known method of which mascot would make a good super hero or cartoon character. Why you ask? ----->this is me shrugging<----- because I can..... so, here goes....
Ala St. Hornets vs George Mason Patriots- goes to the Hornets.......ummm, Green Hornet? duh
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kentucky Wildcats - hmmm, this was a little tougher, neither really fits the criteria so I chose the Mountaineers, simply because it made me think of the cartoon with the Saint Bernard with the little keg around his neck and the mountain climber.
Xavier Muskateers vs. Indian St. Sycamores - once again, a tree. A tree? really? not funny for a cartoon and no detectable super powers, da da da dummmmm and in swooped in the mighty Sycamores to save the day! no, doesn't work, win goes to the Muskateers (besides I love their candy bar)
Washington Huskies vs. Long Island Blackbirds - I'm so laughing remember (yes, I'm old) the magpies Heckle and Jeckle? So the win goes to the Blackbirds

Hampton Pirates and Michigan Wolverines - oh course, Hugh Jackman? the Wolverines

Memphis Tigers vs Oakland Golden Grizzlies - my first inclination is to say that the Golden Grizzlies reminds me the Golden girls which is similar to a bad cartoon......but I'm going to have to have to go with the Tigers because I also think of Tony the Tiger who is really a representative for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes but a cartoon none-the-less.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Connecticut Huskies - neither really jump out at me as a clear choice so I'm going to go with the Bearcats. My reason being is the bearcat reminds me mercat that little animal, Timon, in Lion King.
Temple Owls vs San Diego St Aztecs - Owl, I can think of two right off the top of my head, the Owl in Winnie the Pooh, aptly named....uh, Owl and the owl in the commercial for tootsie pops, that says, How many licks to get to the middle of a tootsie pop? so the winner is the Owls. And by the way, the answer is 3.

Kansas Jayhawks vs UNLV Running Rebels - I pick the Jayhawks because they remind me of the Kellogg's Fruit Loop bird.


Richmond Spiders vs Louisville Cardinals - easy peezy, Spiderman. so Spiders
USC Trojans vs Purdue Boilermakers - gotta go with the Little Engine That Could on this one. Boiler UP! Boilermakers

Texas A&M Aggies vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish - laughing, appropriately for this time of year, gotta pick the Irish. And how can they lose? I'm reminded of the Lucky Charms Leprechaun, they are magically delicious! Fighting Irish

UALR Trojans vs Old Dominion Monarchs - What IS IT with all the Trojans? The market is flooded with them this year? But I'm going with the Monarchs, which is actually a lion. And maybe it's a stretch but thinking of the Lion from the Wizard of Oz. Oh, and I like that song, ooooo wee doooo oooo widdledomdoayyyyy........in the jungle the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.
You can thank me later for getting that song stuck in your head, giggle giggle.
Kansas State Wildcats vs Wisconsin Badgers - The wildcats are purple and Snagglepuss is pink so I've got to go with the Wildcats. Not very manly but my pick anyway.

Gonzaga Zags vs BYU Cougars - Ok, this may be a stretch but I'm going with Tom from Tom and Jerry, he is actually a regular housecat but I'm sure he most likely descended from a long line of different larger cats and quite possibly a cougar was among them. Win to Cougars

Michigan St Spartans vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos- In the realm of superheros I suppose a Spartan would classify as some sort of superhero, no real powers but when I think of Gaucho I think of the guys sitting around the campfire in Blazing Saddles and I'm sorry but superhero material, they are not. Victory to the Spartans.

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.......

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus, but he is not delivering KU as Champions........heck, the dream of even going to the sweet 16 has been dashed........

It took a couple of days, but the pain has started to subside.......and I am trying to see purple, but so far the only shade of that color are the bruises on my heart from the painful pounding Northern Iowa gave my dear Crimson and Blue. Oh well, although my bracket (as well of millions of others) is totally hosed, my other final four picks are still there, so overall...... with all of the upsets considered, not so bad.

My son sent me a you tube video, and as a KU fan, it made me actually laugh out loud. It just shows, we are not alone in our surprise, dismay and absolutely Führer or Furor or even Fury that KU lost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uejv2zz6bU

And come closely and listen because I will only say this once.........
GO WILDCATS!

Bracketology- My Way

Well, well, if it isn't March Madness time. I find it extremely amusing how people....(mumbles under breath).....men, get so pumped up around playoff time, doesn't seem to matter what the sport, when it comes down to the ultimate final battle and they seem to be propelled forward by the smell of the competition.

Now, I don't generally get all hyped up over the "big game" but let me put this into prospective for you, I am the only female in a house full of testosterone. And when my television viewing list includes, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN College and an occasional smattering of Dirty Jobs, Pawn Stars and Myth Busters, I am bound to soak up some of the tournament frenzy. I also find myself interested in this particular round of games because  of the Kansas connections. Both my sons attend college at the University of Kansas, so I feel a bit of loyalty to the school that so happily takes all my money. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

So when the brackets come out, and everyone sits down to fill theirs out, I find myself looking at it thinking, I know nothing, I cannot go by wins/losses, tough schedules, player on the injured list.....none of that, so how do I participate? I find a different method to pick my winners.....no scientific method necessary. I have used various methods in the past and it always makes my family laugh ..........until I do well, then I'm the one laughing.....

I decided to totally mix it up this year, kind of a crazy quilt of selection methods........so hang on, the random circles of thinking may very well cause bouts of vertigo.

Round 1- Mascot Bracketology
I base this mainly on which mascot could either, A) eat the other one,  B) is just not a stupid thing for a mascot or C) my own personal preference......because I can, that's why.
Midwest -
Jayhawks-Mountain Hawks.......Duh, fictional character trumps real life every time, I mean how can you defeat something that doesn't exist?
Running Rebels-Panthers-seriously? 
Spartans-Aggies- Spartans....because it makes me think of Will Farrell from Saturday Night Live.
Terrapins-Cougars- now, most people would choose the Cougars because of their ferocity but I've been bitten by a turtle and I'm thinking they are a dark horse among mascots.
Volunteers-Aztecs- Think about it.......this land functions because of volunteers, enough said.
Hoyas-Bobcats- Hoya?.....really? I vote for them simply because the name alone should make them want to fight.
Cowboys-Yellow Jackets-one word, sqoosh.
Buckeyes-Gauchos- I'm pretty sure this line of logic would lead me to the Gauchos, since a buckeye is basically a tree seed, however gaucho makes me think of a drunk cowboy and I'm thinking a well placed tree seed could cause them to choke.

West-
Orangemen-Catmounts- Fictional.......remember?
Bulldogs-Seminoles- Well placed arrow.....no problem
Bulldogs-Miners- Miners? like on Snow White, Hi Ho, Hi Ho it's off the bracket you go.......
Commodores-Racers-this one was tough, but then I saw that Murray State has a competitive Rifle Shooting Team, so they win.
Musketeers-Gophers-gophers look like giant rats......
Panthers-Golden Grizzlies- golden grizzly? sounds like a vegas act.......rawr......I pick the panthers.
Cougars-Gators-no question
Wildcats-Eagles-cats eat birds

East-
Wildcats-Tigers (and bears oh, my!) - sorry my Kansas is showing......toss up
Longhorns-Demon Deacons- Demon deacon? contridiction in terms, they lose
Owls-Big Red- I looked it up a bear of some sort.......probably with cinnamony breath
Badgers-Terriers-we don't need no stinking badgers........but terriers? woof, woof, no way.
Golden Eagles-Huskies-Huskies.....made me think of the chubby little boy in the 6th grade.....always felt sorry for him
Lobos-Grizzlies-sharp teeth to the fleshy neck area
Tigers-Tigers- hmmm, what does one do? pick the more manly of the tiger depiction (and as a KU fan it pains me but.....Missouri)
Mountaineers-Bears- I'm thinking a pick axe to the forehead.

South-
Blue Devils-Eagles- once again fictional prevails
Bears-Cardinals- birds, not just for breakfast anymore
Aggies-Aggies- this was another tough one......they both sound retarded......... but let's go with Texas at least they have the word Agricultural in their name.
Boilermakers-Saints- a train will do serious damage when coming into contact with a saint.
Fighting Irish-Monarchs- sorry, can't quit picturing a drunk leprechaun......
Bears-Bearkats-ok, history tells me the early sport teams were called "The Normals"
Spiders-Gaels-seriously, are they going to dance on the spiders?
Wildcats-Colonials- you get a wildcat going and he is going to rip that powdered wig off and it won't be a pretty sight.

Round 2- Team Color Bracketology
Basically this round was picked on pretty colors........I am not fond of the color orange, so if you were a predominantly orange team.......done..........and I like blue, so if you had blue.........you are in..........if neither of those determining factors were present, I picked the prettiest colors in the logo......
So it all shook out like this:
Kansas
Maryland
Georgetown
Ohio State
Florida State
Butler
Xavier
Kansas State
Kentucky
Wisconsin
Washington
W. Virginia
Duke
Texas A&M
Baylor
Villanova

Round 3- this round was picked by my son when I would thrown out the teams I had in my bracket. What he had to choose from only caused him to shake his head at me a couple of times.

Kansas
Georgetown
Butler
Kansas State
Wisconsin
W. Virginia
Texas A&M
Baylor

Round 4- Coaches Age Bracketology - youngest coach
Bill Self/40-John Thompson III/43
Todd Lickliter/55-Frank Martin/43
Bo Ryan/62-Bob Huggins/56
Mark Turgeon/44-Scott Drew/39

Round 5- Kansas Connection Bracketology- the team must have some connection to Kansas, because I said so.
Kansas University
Kansas State University
W. Virginia (used to coach at Kansas State)
Baylor -  Scott Drews born in Kansas City  (although Mark Turgeon coached in Kansas, I like Baylor Better)

Championship- Totally gut Bracketology
Kansas vs. Baylor

and of course, my jayhawks for the title
KANSAS!