Opening Weekend Defined By "Madness"

By: Sam McClanahan and Chad Baker

  The 2023 NCAA Tournament delivered one of its most unpredictable four days in history as two number one seeds were eliminated, resulting in brackets being busted all over the country.

  In the Falmouth Outlook's Bracket Challenge contest, 56 brackets were received with 12 (21%) entries selecting overall number one seed Alabama with their pick to win the National Championship. The overall number two team Houston had nine entrants or 16% select them as champ. The other two number one seeds, Purdue and Kansas, were also among the higher picked teams to advance through the tournament but were upset in the first and second rounds respectively.

  Currently, James Randy Wright sits in first place but looking ahead only has a five percent chance to win the contest as he picked Kansas to win the tournament and Purdue to make it to the Final Four. Glenn Pennington, Gary Gregg and Garrett White are tied for second with Annie Redden, Margaret Frisch and Kelly Dennie are in a three-way tie for fifth.

  Looking ahead, Zach James, who is currently in tenth place, has the most remaining points available, as his entire Final Four remains intact. Allison Redden and Rebecca Milner also have all four of their Final Four teams remaining.

  Of the remaining teams that make up the Sweet Sixteen, eight were picked by our participants to win.  The NCAA Tournament will resume on March 23 and our next update will be featured in next week's paper.