March Madness Starting Ten (2016)

[Young Drachma]

BACK FOR A FIFTH SEASON!!!

PAST WINNERS
Season 1 (Starting Eight) (2012) Winner: Britrock88 (3816 pts.) (MOV: 52 pts.)
Season 2 (2013) Winner: Britrock88 (5449 pts.) (MOV: 74 pts.)
Season 3 (2014) Winner: Ramzavail (5998 pts.) (MOV: 261 pts.)
Season 4 (2015) Winner: Billy Madison (5022 pts.) (MOV: 32 pts.)

This year's rules are slightly different:
1A. You pick a roster of any 10 11 players from the NCAA tournament field.
1B. One of your 11 players has to be designated as your Powerball (bench) guy. Your bench player gets added to your team in the round after you go under 10 players. (e.g. in the first round you lose 3 guys, in the 2nd round, your bench guy gets added to your roster and starts scoring points for you.)
2. You score as many points as each of your drafted players scores in the NCAA tournament.
3. You get a multiplier for the seed of his team. (i.e. if Nate Wolters of 14th seeded South Dakota State scores 18 points, you would earn 252 points.)
4. "First Four"/play-in round games do not count towards the players point total.
5. Deadline is tip-off of the first games on Thursday.
6. There's a multiplier to each round the player scores points in.

So the 1st round (of 64) is just x1, each round after adds a x1 so:

Round of 32: x2
Sweet 16: x3
Elite 8: x4
Final 4: x5
Championship: x6

So if you have a guy who is a 1 seed who scores 20 points in the sweet 16, it'd be worth 60 points. If he's was on a 2-seed team that'd be 120 points and so forth. If you pick this year's VCU and manage to get them to the Final Four? Jackpot. But what's nice is, a 18 point game from a 3-seed in the Elite 8 is worth 216 points (18 x 3 x 4) which will make up a lot of ground from the guy who scored 288 points for his 16-seed who had a guy scoring 18 points in their one-and-done game. Make sense?

There is no draft, you just pick a roster of 11 players that you want. Make any changes you want up through the deadline, any edits after that will not be counted. Make sure to indicate your bench guy or else, I'm going to assume that the 11th guy you list is automatically the Powerball.

I'll bump this closer to Selection Sunday and the week of the First Four games, as there's no real advantage to picking too early. Entries can be submitted up until tipoff on Thursday. But if you indicate that you're considering playing, I can add you to the spreadsheet and give you a reminder in case you forget.

This game is a lot like playing the stock market, in that, even if you copy a successful strategy, you'll need a bit of luck to win down the stretch.

[britrock88]

(subscribed)

[Young Drachma]

Just bumping this. I don't expect anyone to sign up with their roster before closer to Thursday for obvious reasons.

[muns]

Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Taurean Prince, Baylor
Allonzo Trier, Arizona
Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame
Jalen Jones, Texas A &M

Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia (Powerball)

[wade moore]

Reginald Johnson Jr, Hampton
A.J. English, Iona
Marvelle Harris, Fresno St
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
Denzel Ingram, UNCW
Michael Gbinje, Syracuse
Melvin Johnson, VCU
Isaiah Taylor, Texas
Chris Flemings, UNCW
Makai Mason, Yale
Gave York, Arizona (Powerball)


Edit: made some changes

[BillyMadison]

I will be back to defend the crown. Like the new powerball wrinkle!

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Reginald Johnson Jr, Hampton
A.J. English, Iona
Ben Bentil, Providence
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
Isaiah Miles, St. Joe's
Michael Gbinje, Syracuse
Melvin Johnson, VCU
Chris Flemings, UNCW
Makai Mason, Yale
Gave York, Arizona (Powerball)

Think you need one more guy this year, 10 regular and one power

[wade moore]

Thanks for catching that. Just missed typing in a name I had on my list, fixed my post.

[britrock88]

Sometimes you need to set the example for people.

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
Ron Baker, Wichita State*
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa
Melvin Johnson, VCU
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Makai Mason, Yale
Michael Gbinije, Syracuse
AJ English, Iona
Ben Bentil, Providence
Isaiah Taylor, Texas (POWERBALL)

*-if Wichita State loses in the play-in game, replace Baker with Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga.

[wade moore]

Bump

[Young Drachma]

I'll do mine later too. The idea to explain the powerball briefly, Wade and I talked about this idea two years ago. I just forgot to add it last year, remembered it this year but had to search my email to see us talking about it and what it entailed.

The idea is really about keeping the game more interesting for longer, for as many people as possible.

[Butter]

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Greyson Allen, Duke
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa
Ben Bentil, Providence
Isaiah Miles, St. Joseph's
Charles Cooke, Dayton
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Devin Williams, West Virginia
Denzel Valentine, Michigan St. (POWERBALL)

[spleen1015]

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
A.J. English, Iona
Grayson Allen, Duke
Ben Bentil, Providence
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Quinton Hooker, Notre Dame
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Georges Niang, Iowa St.
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
Denzel Valientine, Michigan St. (POWERBALL)

[murrayyyyy]

Chris Horton (Austin Peay)
Marvelle Harris (Fresno St)
Kyle Wiltjer (Gonzaga)
AJ English (Iona)
Wes Washpun (Norther Iowa)
Michael Young (Pitt)
Isaiah Miles (Saint Jospeh's)
Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall)
Michael Gbinjie (Syracuse)
Melvin Johnson (VCU)

(POWERBALL) Jamal Murray (Kentucky)

[cartman]

Can we make conditional picks based on the First Four, or just wait until we know who wins those games?

[Sublime 2]

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Kris Dunn, Providence
Grayson Allen, Duke
Isaiah Taylor, Texas
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Wayne Selden, Kansas
Gabe York, Arizona
Denzel Valentine, MSU (Powerball)

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by cartman

Can we make conditional picks based on the First Four, or just wait until we know who wins those games?

Not that this is a definitive answer, but I have a First Four conditional.

[wade moore]

Yes, you can

[Comey]

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
AJ English, Iona
Marcus Brogdon, Virginia
Ron Baker, Wichita State
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier
Jamaal Murray, Kentucky
Perry Ellis, Kansas
Brandon Ingram, Duke
Dillon Brooks, Oregon
Georges Niang, Iowa State (POWERBALL)

[Vince, Pt. II]

1. Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
2. Makai Mason, Yale (12)
3. Grayson Allen, Duke (4)
4. Jalen Jones, Texas A&M (3)
5. Jamal Murray, Kentucky (4)
6. Jakob Poeltl, Utah (3)
7. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2)
8. Melvin Johnson, VCU (10)
9. A.J. Hammons, Purdue (5)
10. Melo Trimble, Maryland (5)
11. Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2) **Powerball**

[Young Drachma]

1. Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
2. Jamel Artis, Pittsburgh
3. Jaylen Brown, Cal
4. Isaiah Miles. St. Joe's
5. Justin Sears, Yale
6. Quenton DeCosey, Temple
7. Gary Payton II, Oregon State
8. Kris Dunn, Providence
9. A.J. English, Iona
10. Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
Powerball: Bryn Forbes, Michigan State

[BillyNYC]

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2)
Jamal Murray, Kentucky (4)
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky (4)
Grayson Allen, Duke (4)
AJ Hammons, Purdue (5)
Isaiah Taylor, Texas (6)
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin (7)
Quenton DeCosey, Temple (10)
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
Domontas Sabonis, Gonzaga (11)
Denzel Valentine, MSU (2) POWERBALL

[kingfc22]

Trevon Bluiett, Xavier (2) (POWERBALL)
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2)
Denzel Valentine, MSU (2)
Sheldon McClellan, Miami (3)
Grayson Allen, Duke (4)
Jamal Murray, Kentucky (4)
Ben Bentil, Providence (9)
Melvin Johnson, VCU (10)
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
Aaron Valdes, Hawaii (13)
Jeremy Senglin, Weber St (15)

[jbergey22]

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
Domontas Sabonis, Gonzaga (11)
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa(7)
Michael Gbinije, Syracuse(10)
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State(2)
Sheldon McClellan, Miami(3)
AJ Hammons, Purdue(5)
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana(5)
Brandon Ingram, Duke(4)
Grayson Allen, Duke(4)
Perry Ellis, Kansas(1)****Powerball****

[bhlloy]

Marvelle Harris, Fresno St (14)
Ron Baker, Wichita State (11)
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
Michael Gbinije, Syracuse(10)
Ben Bentil, Providence (9)
Kellen Dunham, Butler (9)
AJ Hammons, Purdue (5)
Grayson Allen, Duke (4)
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky (4)
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2)
Denzel Valentine, Michigan St (2) - POWERBALL

[wade moore]

Made some last minute changes - get your entries in!

[henry296]

Perry Ellis, Kansas (1)
Brice Johnson, UNC (1)
Tyler Ullis, Kentucky (4)
Jakob Poeltl, Utah (3)
Georges Niang, Iowa State (4)
Ron Baker, Wichita State (11)
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook (13)
Melvin Johnson, VCU (10)
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa (7)
Isiah Whitehead, Seton Hall (6)
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2) - Powerball

[B & B]

Melvin Johnson, VCU
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Jalen Jones, Texas A &M
AJ Hammons, Purdue
Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall
Ron Baker, WichSt
Josh Hart , Nova
Devin Williams, WVa
Jaylen Brown, Cal

Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (powerball)

[cartman]

Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2) - POWERBALL
Javan Felix, Texas (6)
Melvin Johnson, VCU (10)
Perry Ellis, Kansas (1)
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2)
Tyler Ullis, Kentucky (4)
Georges Niang, Iowa State (4)
Malcom Brogdon, Virginia (1)
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
Sheldon McClellan, Miami (3)
Melo Trimble, Maryland (5)

[PackerFanatic]

Ooh - this is fun. I am in!

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2)
Denzel Valentine, Michigan St (2)
Sheldon McClellan, Miami (3)
Georges Niang, Iowa State (4)
Jamal Murray, Kentucky (4)
Jarrod Utoff, Iowa (7)
Ben Bentil, Providence (9)
Ron Baker, Wichita State (11)
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (11)
Thomas Walkup, SF Austin (14)
Perry Ellis, Kansas (1) - POWERBALL

[BillyMadison]

Jamal Murray - Kentucky.
Tyler Ulis - Kentucky.
Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga.
Buddy Hield - Oklahoma
Ben Bentil - Providence
Grayson Allen - Duke
Marvelle Harris - Fresno St.
Georges Niang - Iowa St.
Denzel Valentine - MSU
Aaron Valdes - Hawaii

Josh Hart - Nova (Powerball)

[Ramzavail]

1. The Glove II - Oregon St.
2. AJ Hammonds - Purdue
3. Gabe York - Arizona
4. Jalen Jones - Texas A&M
5. Kellen Durham - Butler
6. Buddy Hield - Oklahoma
7. Isaiah Whitehead - Seton Hall - Brooklyn REP
8. Bryn Forbes - Mich St.
9. AJ English - Iona
10. Jamal Murray - Kentucky
PB : Perry Ellis - Exclusive only at Macy's.

[wade moore]

Both of us are a bit more tied up this year than previous years so updating scores may not be quite as fast. We don't even have the spreadsheet built yet

[dolfin]

Buddy Hield - Oklahoma
Grayson Allen - Duke
Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga
Denzel Valentine - Michigan St
Jamal Murray - Kentucky
Domantas Sabonis - Gonzaga
Kelan Martin - Butler
Trevon Bluiett - Xavier *POWERBALL
Brice Johnson - North Carolina
Yogi Ferrell - Indiana
Taurean Prince - Baylor

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Both of us are a bit more tied up this year than previous years so updating scores may not be quite as fast. We don't even have the spreadsheet built yet

I have one built but not with a bonus structure for another forum if you want me to post. Should be easy to add another column for bonus to it if you need to copy. I'm stuck at work for the next two weeks so I got nothing to do but watch games.

[Karlifornia]

Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga
Ben Bentil - Providence
Melo Trimble - Maryland
Ron Baker - Wichita St.
Sheldon McClellan - Miami
A.J. English - Iona
Taurean Prince - Baylor
Buddy Hield - Oklahoma
Isaiah Miles - St. Joe's
Wes Washpun - UNI
Denzel Valentine - MSU (powerball)

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by murrayyyyy

I have one built but not with a bonus structure for another forum if you want me to post. Should be easy to add another column for bonus to it if you need to copy. I'm stuck at work for the next two weeks so I got nothing to do but watch games.

We have a spreadsheet that we use from year to year, so it's just a matter of copying it. But the bonus structure wrinkle will take some working around. Just have to copy last year's and get 'er done. But if you wanna share yours, that'd be cool.

[wade moore]

Yeah - what YD said. Appreciate the offer, but it's not a big obstacle. Actually have the spreadsheet created now, just need to fill in the data. Powerball is probably more manually than my nitpicky self would like, but it will have to do.

[murrayyyyy]

2016 Starting 10 - Reddit - Google Sheets

I had one pre-made with top scorers for every team.

Bonus wouldn't seem that hard to do as I'd just add a 11th player and then make a manual formula when needed for each bonus play. So the pts formula would be unique for each player and then it's just =sum(AC:AG) for that player. {or later if you have no one eliminated in the first round}

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by murrayyyyy

2016 Starting 10 - Reddit - Google Sheets

I had one pre-made with top scorers for every team.

Bonus wouldn't seem that hard to do as I'd just add a 11th player and then make a manual formula when needed for each bonus play. So the pts formula would be unique for each player and then it's just =sum(AC:AG) for that player. {or later if you have no one eliminated in the first round}

I love that you've ported the idea elsewhere!

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

I love that you've ported the idea elsewhere!

3rd year we've done it over there. Needed something to keep the gamblers from losing their lid after every game.

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Both of us are a bit more tied up this year than previous years so updating scores may not be quite as fast. We don't even have the spreadsheet built yet

Psh, haven't started the Top Gun spreadsheet yet, either.

[wade moore]

For those curious..

Most picked player is Gonzaga's Wiltjer with 16 of 22 picking him.

Three players picked by 15 of 22 (Hield, Valentine, and Murray)

Denzel Valentine was easily the most popular Powerball with 8 of 22 picking him.



And I'm in bad shape losing two of my guys in the first game of the day, even though they did score well.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by murrayyyyy

3rd year we've done it over there. Needed something to keep the gamblers from losing their lid after every game.

If you want to compare notes on spreadsheets or a copy of the one we use, let me know. It's in Google Drive.

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by wade moore

If you want to compare notes on spreadsheets or a copy of the one we use, let me know. It's in Google Drive.

Yeah stole it a long time ago. We don't use the bonus thing that is new this year over there.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by murrayyyyy

Yeah stole it a long time ago. We don't use the bonus thing that is new this year over there.

Oh, ok - cool .

I'm handling that sloppily now. If I get it actually coded in then I will let you know in case you want to use it in the future.

[britrock88]

Looking forward to seeing some scores!

[Karlifornia]

Makai Mason......uh oh.

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Looking forward to seeing some scores!

1127 for me! (oh wait, I'm losing player left and right)

[Young Drachma]

I'm working on the scoring through today. Wade did a bunch last night. I'm busy for part of today but I'll eventually get it caught up.