March is here and with it comes the shining moments of NCAA March Madness—the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Across the country, many offices sponsor a March Madness Bracket Pool, where employees compete in an attempt to select the tournament winners.
Bulman Dunie is no exception, as our attorneys and staff will face off yet again in an office bracket challenge.
(For any law enforcement readers, our pool is free to enter, and the prizes are Amazon gift cards, so save your search warrant for illegal sports bookmaking.)
If you, like millions of others, plan to participate in a March Madness pool, here are tips for success from BDBF attorneys:
Tim Canney (alma mater Providence College)
My bracket is consistently mediocre—never terrible, but never the winner. Are you just trying to make a presentable showing in your family or office pool? If so, here are my tips:
- Take St. Johns to the Final Four this year.
- Pick no more than 7 upsets for the whole tournament—the historical stats will be on your side here.
- Pick at least one #2 seed to lose in the second round—this happens almost every year, so when in doubt just pick the #2 seeded school that you like the least.
Liz Farley (alma mater SUNY Oswego)
I also know nothing about college basketball, but my philosophy when picking my bracket is I choose the school I would rather attend.
This almost guarantees that the teams who make it to the Elite 8 in my bracket will never be a cold climate school.
Phil Kuljurgis (alma mater University of Michigan)
Since as long as I can remember I have had a dark secret. I don’t follow college basketball and don’t know how to properly fill out a bracket other than to guess.
So, every year I text my buddies who are knowledgeable about such matters, and I make a deal with one of them to split the winnings if I can use their picks.
I really put in a serious effort and consulted many people back when I was participating in the Berkshire Hathaway bracket, where a perfect bracket guarantees one $1 million per year for life. No offense to my BDBF colleagues, but I may only seek input from one or two folks this time around.
Jeremy Rachlin (alma mater University of Maryland)
This may sound like sacrilege from the person that cherishes his Maryland basketball season tickets, but never, ever pick Maryland to make the Sweet 16.
And if you do pick Maryland to make the Sweet 16, never ever pick us to make the Elite 8.
Also, we might be in the Big Ten now, but as a student during the peak ACC days of 1998-2002, I offer some light viewing material for my UVA friends and my Duke friends. Thanks for the memories!
Meg Rosan (alma mater Washington College)
I know nothing about college basketball and yet I always participate in bracket contests when I have the opportunity.
Here’s what’s going through my mind when I pick my teams:
- I love a good bird mascot, so the Bluejays and the Golden Eagles have my vote;
- Do you have a beautiful campus, preferably one that’s on the water? If so, I’m in; and
- Good color palette on your jerseys? Let’s do this!
Dan Shaivitz (alma mater Rutgers)
As the resident (and sole) Rutgers fan, I am not even sure what a March Madness bracket looks like!
My beloved Scarlet Knights have…underperformed this season and it is highly unlikely they will emerge from the B1G Tournament with an NCAA Tournament bid.
When I am not too sorrowful to fill out a bracket, I like to pick at least one team that I know is a dark horse for the Final Four. That way I can rub it in everyone’s faces (especially Jeremy’s), if I happen to come out looking clairvoyant. Good luck!
