Published: March 26, 2008 11:03 pm      

DZIKIY: Another bracket busted

I am a college basketball fan. I understand and love the game. I follow NCAA men’s basketball throughout the regular season. I can tell you all about the teams, players and mascots. I attended a large university, which won a hoops championship while I was at school. March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year.

Of course, none of this means I have any chance at winning an NCAA tournament pool. I’m oh-for-life, and this year, the streak will continue.

This time around, it was all over in four days.

Almost every year, one of my Final Four picks gets eliminated during the first round. It’s a tradition unlike any other. The University of Connecticut was the team that got the job done this year, losing to 13 seed San Diego in an overtime thriller.

Now, let it be known that I love the Big East. Though I went to an ACC school, I prefer the physical play of the Big East. The Big East is the best conference in the land. I picked three Big East teams to make the Final Four. None of them are going to get there.

That includes my champion pick, the Georgetown Hoyas. I should have known better. If they couldn’t win it with Jeff Green last year, how could they do it without him this year?

The thing is, I actually did know better. In the first bracket I filled out, I did what I usually do. I went with my gut and made all my picks within minutes. In the end, I had UCLA defeating Georgetown for the title.

But after sitting on it for a day or so, I began to second-guess myself. The “go with my gut” technique had never worked before. Maybe it was time for a change.

So, for the first time ever, I re-did my original bracket. UCLA was out. There were too many people picking the Bruins. It would be a long shot to win with that pick, and on top of that, it just didn’t feel right.

Did I honestly believe Notre Dame would make the Final Four? Or did I just have the desire to be different? Possibly a little of both. But whatever the case, my final bracket felt right. It felt like a Phil bracket.

Unfortunately, as time has proven, a Phil bracket is a losing bracket. Maybe next year, I’ll take the higher seeds in every game until the Final Four. Even though four top seeds have never made the Final Four, mathematically, going with all the higher seeds still has to be your best shot. (The notable exception is in the 8-9 game. The 9 seed, historically, has won more often.)

But there are two reasons why I’ve never used that method, and why I probably never will.

The first reason is that I believe in my knowledge of the game. I think I can pick the correct upsets. And when I do, it’s sweet.

The other reason is simple. Picking all the higher seeds is boring. I don’t care for boring brackets.

It’s another unsuccessful year on paper, but I’m not angry. Far from it. With each passing year, I care less and less about my own bracket. I would love to win, sure. But I’d much rather concentrate on watching great games. Because I am a college basketball fan.

Phil Dzikiy is a staff reporter

for the Tonawanda News. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at 693-1000,

ext. 114 or by e-mail at dzikiyp@gnnewspaper.com.