Unconventional.
When this birdbrain — then a loyal Yahoo employee — conceived the Bracket Big Board some 17 years ago with the assistance of brilliant product man and fellow hoops head Michael Lazarus, differentiation was the goal.
Noteworthy bracketologists Joe Lunardi (ESPN), Jerry Palm (formerly CBS) and others churned out a fully-formed bracket projection annually, one resembling as close to the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s final reveal as possible. However, being Yahoos, we aimed for a more unique perspective.
Unbeknownst to casual and even die-hard fans, the committee power-ranks teams before placing them regionally on bracket lines. As a result, that was the impetus behind this numbskull’s approach.
[ Bracket Big Board: Brad Evans' latest NCAA Tournament projections ]
Where do team resumes really stack up? Talking heads and superficial consumers will lean on popularity polls as the answer, but the committee weighs many factors to determine who’s in and who’s out.
Considering the same critical metrics (NET ranking, strength of schedule, Quadrant 1 wins, bad losses, etc.) as the athletic directors who gather each March in Indianapolis along with some psychological methods, the Bracket Big Board attempts to get inside the minds of committee chair Bubba Cunningham and his constituents.
As any bracketologist will tell you, the process is an inexact science. Every season varies, and how the committee sets, vets and scrubs the field changes from year to year.
However, as tracked by the Bracket Matrix, my prognostications (No. 67 overall) have greatly outdistanced Joey Brackets (No. 125) and Palm (No. 179). Suffice it to say, over the years Bracket Brad has earned a fine tequila or three.
So, from now until Selection Sunday on March 15, check back regularly and share your thoughts in the comments. Let the Bracket Big Board be one of many great references for your team’s tourney prospects. Starting on Monday, Feb. 2, the BBB will be tweaked endlessly every day. Until then, expect only sporadic updates.
Bring on the ball. Bring on the bracket. Bring on THE MADNESS.