Arch Madness bracket contest

[BUSongwriter]

As the (ahem) winner of last year's BradleyFans Arch Madness bracket contest by picking every game correctly, I challenge y'all to dethrone me in this wide open tournament year.

Here are my picks. I'm going with an all-Illinois Final Four -- the way many of us thought the standings would play out at the season's start.

PLAY-IN:
ISU-Blue
ISU-Red

FRIDAY WINNERS
Loyola
Bradley
ISU-Red (ending Drake's terrific season)
SIU

SATURDAY
Bradley (we can beat Loyola on a neutral court if the refs are fair)
SIU

TITLE
Bradley -- #thearrival happens! We're dancing!

Tiebreaker: Final score -- Bradley 79, SIU 72
:
You think you can do better? Pick 'em! See you in St. Louie, Louie . . .

 

[Da Coach]

Wow, you must be drunk on Kool Aid. But I hope you are right!

I try- these are my winners-

PLAY-IN:
Valpo
ISU-Red

FRIDAY WINNERS
Loyola
MSU
ILSU
SIU

SATURDAY
MSU
SIU

TITLE
Missouri State

Tiebreaker: Final score --MSU 73 SIU 70

 

[BUSongwriter]

Gee, DC, have at least a sip of Kool Aid! Not even one win for our Braves? I'm sure we'll be underdogs, but I hope you are wrong and that the weekend is longer and more exciting than that for Bradley fans, including this one!

 

[tornado]

Just for everyone's reference - here is the bracket & matchups

My picks: Thurs-ISU/InSU, Fri-LU, BU, DU, SIU, Sat-BU, SIU, Sunday- rematch of 2006 but BU wins 56-53

 

[Bradleyfan1]

As the (ahem) winner of last year's BradleyFans Arch Madness bracket contest by picking every game correctly, I challenge y'all to dethrone me in this wide open tournament year.

Here are my picks. I'm going with an all-Illinois Final Four -- the way many of us thought the standings would play out at the season's start.

PLAY-IN:
ISU-Blue
ISU-Red

FRIDAY WINNERS
Loyola
Bradley
ISU-Red (ending Drake's terrific season)
SIU

SATURDAY
Bradley (we can beat Loyola on a neutral court if the refs are fair)
SIU

TITLE
Bradley -- #thearrival happens! We're dancing!

Tiebreaker: Final score -- Bradley 79, SIU 72
:
You think you can do better? Pick 'em! See you in St. Louie, Louie . . .

Agree but tie breaker Bu 68 Siu 62

 

[Wilbery]

Thursday
Valpo
ISU Red

Friday
Loyola
Bradley
ISU Red
SIU

Saturday
Loyola
SIU

Sunday
Loyola

 

[Go_Braves]

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.... Eeehhhh - Haaaa !

I was going to start of post just like this one if a bracket post wasn't already started..
Hopefully I can attach my picture of my choices... As my bracket choices show - I am "tune" with BUSongWriter ....
and only off by one with Tornado. I agree a repeat of the 2006 Arch Madness final - with a different final result. I
am going to have to have a chat with Da Coach andd his choices. LOL Let the games begin in about 28 hours from now....

 

[Da Coach]

Gee, DC, have at least a sip of Kool Aid! Not even one win for our Braves? I'm sure we'll be underdogs, but I hope you are wrong and that the weekend is longer and more exciting than that for Bradley fans, including this one!

I really wanted to, and I hope I am wrong. And I'll be there in St. Louis cheering for the Braves. But they are very athletic, and a tough matchup for Bradley. And despite losing their last 2 games, they are well coached and play very well together.

 

[BUfan39]

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.... Eeehhhh - Haaaa !

I was going to start of post just like this one if a bracket post wasn't already started..
Hopefully I can attach my picture of my choices... As my bracket choices show - I am "tune" with BUSongWriter ....
and only off by one with Tornado. I agree a repeat of the 2006 Arch Madness final - with a different final result. I
am going to have to have a chat with Da Coach andd his choices. LOL Let the games begin in about 28 hours from now....

Man would that be some fun!

 

[Go_Braves]

I really wanted to, and I hope I am wrong. And I'll be there in St. Louis cheering for the Braves. But they are very athletic, and a tough matchup for Bradley. And despite losing their last 2 games, they are well coached and play very well together.

The first 5 minutes of the Bradley Missouri State game

For me - the first 5 minutes of the game will set the stage. Are the Braves hot or cold ? Is everyone hitting their shots. How is Childs playing ? Is Childs and everyone focused on the game and playing hard and physical. Are we being out muscled - getting our share or more of offensive and defensive rebounds. Is the tempo purposely fast or slow. Is the game tempo what Bradley wants or what Mo State wants. If the game (as expected) remains close at halftime. Then it is the first 5 minutes of the second half after one or both teams during half time are possibly being chewed out. I really enjoy watching this movie clip... The coaches lecture is "so true".... In the end it is not about talent - it's about heart - who can play the hardest, who can play the smartest... The Valley opponents are not going to give it to the Braves... BRADLEY BRAVES YOU HAVE TO "TAKE IT" ..... "TAKE IT" ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEMXqY4rBxk

 

[Jim]

Thursday
Valpo
ISU Red

Friday
Loyola
Bradley
Drake
SIU

Saturday
Bradley
SIU

Sunday
Bradley!

 

[bigjimmy]

Thursday
ISU RED
ISU BLUE

Friday
Loyola
BU
Drake
SIU

Saturday
BU
Drake

Sunday
Drake

I just get a sense that this is Drake's year. Everything sets up for a payback and redemption weekend for us so I really hope that my Sunday prediction is dead wrong.

 

[pauly616]

Thursday
ISU
InSU

Friday
Loyola
BU(though I think this is Bradley's worst matchup)
Drake
SIU

Sat
Loyola
SIU

Sun
Loyola(though I hope I'm wrong and it's Bradley!)

 

[Big Mike]

InSU
isu

Loyola
Bradley
Drake
Siu

Loyola
Siu

SIU


Sui 65 Loyola 63

 

[Go_Braves]

Man would that be some fun!

It was BUfan39 and still is... And for Jim and BUSongwriter - the only others sharing their brackets in this topic and predicted Bradley as the MVC Tournament Champion. Way to Go - You LOYAL FANS. Pauly616 we'll mention you as well since you did pick Loyola but hoped that you were wrong.

 

[tornado]

...
My picks: Thurs-ISU/InSU, Fri-LU, BU, DU, SIU, Sat-BU, SIU, Sunday- rematch of 2006 but BU wins 56-53

Go_Braves, I beg to differ - I had Bradley winning, too -- see above....
- all three of us had SIU in the title game so I guess it's a 3-way tie..
...or maybe 2-way since Jim did NOT predict a score, which was the tiebreaker and my tiebreaker was just ONE POINT off!

 

[Go_Braves]

Go_Braves, I beg to differ - I had Bradley winning, too -- see above....
- all three of us had SIU in the title game so I guess it's a 3-way tie..
...or maybe 2-way since Jim did NOT predict a score, which was the tiebreaker and my tiebreaker was just ONE POINT off!

Oh Gee - I stand corrected . I saw your picture of the brackets and likely didn't notice your predictions below. What's really spooky is how close you called the final score. 56 - 53 (Tornado) 57 - 54 (Actual) and you also predicted a 3 point margin. For that you win the tie-breaker. Thank you Tornado.

 

[BUSongwriter]

I apologize for being so busy celebrating in St. Louis -- and now back to work -- that I haven't had time to add up the scores. But the initial "eye test" tells me that Tornado is the winner because he nailed the tiebreaker. He and Jim both had three of the four Friday winners, while I gave ISU-red wayyyy to much credit. Congrats, T!

 

[tornado]

LOL - I don't usually do these pick-ems and contests - and here's why....
I am wayyyy too loyal and nowhere near enough objective to ever get it right - I end up predicting Bradley all the time (plus always having ISU lose their games) but this time I just had a hunch!!