Q: What is “Bracketology”?

submitted by Ashley Green

Hello sports fans! I have hijacked the Ask Annie column for the week as she is preparing to head off on a family vacation. Perfect timing for me because March is one of my favorite months, not only because days are growing longer and the weather is getting warmer, but because of March Madness!

With March Madness comes “Bracketology” and numerous different bracket challenges. This year we thought we would kick start the tournament with our own bracket challenge here on campus. If you are unfamiliar with March Madness and Bracketology, here’s how it works:

This weekend on “Selection Sunday” 60 teams will be selected to compete in the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. Eight more teams will be selected as “Bubble Teams” and will play one of the other bubble teams for a chance to fill one of the remaining four spots on the tournament bracket. A single-elimination tournament of 64 teams (the 60 selected and 4 winning bubble teams) will then begin on Thursday and will conclude with the championship game on Monday, April 7. As the tournament grew in popularity it become a fun tradition to try and predict the winner of all each game in the tournament, thus creating the bracket challenges and bracketology.

People use many different strategies to predict winners and fill out their bracket. Many die hard sports fans will do hours of research to try and determine who they truly feel is the better team in the given circumstance. Others have a little more fun with the bracket by choosing winning teams by picking the teams with their favorite colors, from their favorite places, or my favorite, the team with the most ferocious mascot. For example, if a wildcat and a bird were to cross paths, the wildcat would obviously win that match, so in this scenario one would choose K-State over KU.  

To participate in Meadowlark Hills Bracket Challenge you can swing by the Hospitality Desk on Monday, March 17, after 10 a.m. to pick up a bracket. Then drop it off before 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, to enter. The winner receives a $20 Meadowlark Hills gift certificate will be announced in the Messenger on Thursday, April 10.