NCAA March Madness Starting Ten (2015)

[Young Drachma]

Season 1 (Starting Eight) (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=83648) (2012) Winner: Britrock88 (3816 pts.) (MOV: 52 pts.)
Season 2 (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=86772&highlight=starting+ten) (2013) Winner: Britrock88 (5449 pts.) (MOV: 74 pts.)
Season 3 (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=88539) (2014) Winner: Ramzavail (5998 pts.) (MOV: 261 pts.)
Season 4 (2015) Winner: Billy Madison (5022 pts.) (MOV: 32 pts.)

Here's the premise:

1. You pick a roster of any <s>8</s>10 players from the NCAA tournament field.
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 10 players that you want. Make any changes you want up through the deadline, any edits after that will not be counted.

Have at it.

[Young Drachma]

Here's the scoring spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqzAk3cKr-_EdG9CSlZ0eURmd1NEY3hWQ0Jhb1pDbWc&usp=sharing)

[Chief Rum]

This was a lot of fun, too. I'll definitely be participating.

[Simbo Klice]

I may throw my hat in this year, don't follow college basketball that much but it should be fun.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Yeah, last year's was fun, I'll be in for sure.

[Comey]

I should be joining.

[britrock88]

Britrock has won this game twice. Can he threepeat?

Won by 52 points the first year and by 74 last year, so the game certainly comes down to the wire.

Have to try, right? :)

[Young Drachma]

Ping for later this week post-First Four.

[Karlifornia]

Sure I'm in!

[britrock88]

Did we skip last year? I never realized...

[britrock88]

Oh, no--Ramzavail won last year: March Madness Starting Ten (2014) - Front Office Football Central (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=88539)

[Vince, Pt. II]

Yeah, I too had blocked last year from my memory. Still thinking about my close shave in 2013.

[Young Drachma]

Oh it's our fourth year nice!

[britrock88]

Here goes:

D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (10)
Ron Baker, Wichita State (7)
Justin Moss, Buffalo (12)
Alec Peters, Valparaiso (13)
R.J. Hunter, Georgia State (14)
Isaiah Taylor, Texas (11)
Delon Wright, Utah (5)
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa (5)
Tyler Kalinoski, Davidson (10)
Stefan Moody, Mississippi (11)

(edited to replace Haws with Moody)

[murrayyyyy]

Derrick Marks (Boise St - 11) {Subject to change - Michael Qualls (Arkansas) if Boise loses}
Markus Kennedy (SMU - 6)
Jack Gibbs (Davidson - 10)
Shannon Evans (Buffalo - 12)
Fred VanVleet (Wichita ST - 7)
Joseph Young (Oregon - 8)
Bobby Portis (Arkansas - 5)
Tyler Haws (BYU - 11) {Subject to change - Melo Trimble (Maryland) if BYU loses}
Jarell Martin (LSU - 9)
Mamadou Ndiaye (UC Irvine - 13)

[Butter]

Ron Baker - Wichita St.
Jerian Grant - Notre Dame
Tyler Harvey - Eastern Washington
Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga
Thomas Walkup - Stephen F. Austin
Seth Tuttle - Northern Iowa
Trevor Lacey - NC State
Jordan Sibert - Dayton
Isaiah Taylor - Texas
Tyler Kalinoski - Davidson

[cartman]

Myles Turner - Texas
D'Angelo Russell - Ohio State
Buddy Hield - Oklahoma
Frank Kaminski - Wisconsin
Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga
Malcom Brogdon - Virginia
Stanley Johnson - Arizona
Ron Baker - Wichita State
Delon Wright - Utah
Terry Rozier - Louisville

[Ragone]

Tyler Harvey- Eastern Washington
Montrezl Harrell- Louisville
Terry Rozier - Louisville
Kevin Ware - Georgia State
Jerian Grant - Notre Dame
Georges Niang - Iowa State
Tyler Kalinoski- Davidson
D'Angelo Russell- Ohio State
Kyle Wiltjer- Gonzaga
Fred VanVleet- Wichita State

[nol]

Tyler Harvey, EWU
D'Angelo Russell, OSU
Lawrence Alexander, NDSU
Georges Niang, ISU
Alec Peters, VAL
Seth Tuttle, UNI
Le'Bryan Nash, OK St
Delon Wright, UTA
Marcus Paige, UNC
Stanley Johnson, ARI

[BillyMadison]

Throwing my hat in.

Travis Trice - Michigan St.
Jerian Grant - Notre Dame
DeAngelo Russell - Ohio State
Frank Kaminsky - Wisconsin
Delon Wright - Utah
Seth Tuttle - Northern Iowa
Georges Niang - Iowa St.
Ron Baker - Wichita St.
Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga
Tyler Harvey - Eastern Washington

[britrock88]

Haws's total from tonight should totally count. :p

[Ragone]

ok so first four would be considered -2x multiplier brit? :) good luck with that -726 hole :)

[muns]

13-Tyler Harvey- Eastern Wash
13-Venky Jois-Eastern Wash
6 -Ladontae Henton- Providence
1 -Frank Kaminsky- Wisconsin
12 -Justin Moss- Buffalo
3 -Buddy Hield- Oklahoma
2 -Kyle Wiltjer- Gonzaga
7- Ron Baker- Wichita St.
11- Isaiah Taylor- Texas
5 -Seth Tuttle-Northern Iowa

[wade moore]

I've got my list worked up and will post when I can - a pain on the iPad and can't get on FOFC from my work computer.

[britrock88]

ok so first four would be considered -2x multiplier brit? :) good luck with that -726 hole :)

Maybe 0x, just to be fair. :D

[Young Drachma]

Haha...probably would add "choose one NIT player" before allowing the First Four in the game. Or maybe just having the First Four with no multiplier next time. Just to get people to submit entries earlier lol...though there's no real advantage to that in this game.

[henry296]

Jahil Okafar, Duke
Travis Heaney, EWU
Joe Young, Oregon
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Stefan Moody, Ole Miss
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana
Georges Niang, Iowa St
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio St
Terry Rozier, Louisville
Aaron White, Iowa

[BillyNYC]

Georges Niang, Iowa St
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa
Treveon Graham, VCU
Ron Baker, Wichita St.
Tyler Kalinowski, Davidson
Jack Gibbs, Davidson
Thomas Walkup, SF Austin

[kingfc22]

Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin - 1)
Malcolm Brogden (Virginia - 2)
Jerian Grant (Notre Dame - 3)
Georges Niang (Iowa St. - 3)
Buddy Hield (Oklahoma - 3)
Marcus Paige (UNC - 4)
Terry Rozier (Louisville - 4)
Joseph Young (Oregon - 8)
D'Angelo Russell (OSU - 10)
RJ Hunter (Georgia St. - 14)

[Simbo Klice]

D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (10)
Tyler Harvey, Eastern Washington (13)
Georges Niang, Iowa State (3)
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (2)
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (1)
Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin (12)
Buddy Heild, Oklahoma (3)
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame (3)
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa (5)
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky (1)

[Vince, Pt. II]

1. Delon Wright, Utah (5)
2. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (10)
3. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown (4)
4. Nic Moore, SMU (6)
5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2)
6. Ron Baker, Wichita State (7)
7. Isaiah Taylor, Texas (11)
8. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (3)
9. Travis Trice, Michigan St. (7)
10. Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa (5)

[Comey]

Ron Baker, Wichita St (7)
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (10)
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (1)
Tyler Harvey, Eastern Washington (13)
LaDontae Hinton, Providence (6)
Georges Niang, Iowa State (3)
Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2)
Jahlil Okafor, Duke (1)
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa (5)
Malcom Brogdon, Virginia (2)

[Lathum]

Stanley Johnson- Arizona (2)
Tyler Harvey-Eastern Washington (13)
Georges Niang (Iowa St. - 3)
Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin - 1)
Jahil Okafar, Duke-1
Terry Rozier - Louisville-4
Jacob Parker- Stephen F Austin-12
Stefan Moody- Ole Miss-11
Melo Trimble- Maryland-4
Isaiah Taylor- Texas-11

[wade moore]

David Walker Northeastern
R.J. Hunter Georgia State
Marcus Paige UNC
Markus Kennedy SMU
Spencer Collins Wofford
Kellen Dunham Butler
Ron Baker Wichita State
Denzel Valentine Michigan State
Treveon Graham VCU
Terry Rozier Louisville

[Butter]

Edited out my contingency plan because it wasn't needed. Go Flyers!

[wade moore]

17 Entries so far - good turnout!

[wade moore]

Side note - always interesting to see who the favorite choices are. There are definitely a few guys that stand out.

[B & B]

Stanley Johnson- Arizona 2
Marcus Paige UNC 4
Ron Baker Wichita State 7
Travis Trice Michigan State 7
Isaiah Taylor- Texas 11
LaDontae Hinton - Providence 6
Seth "King"Tuttle - Northern Iowa 5
Kyle Wiltjer- Gonzaga 2
Normal Powell - UCLA 11
Justin Moss- Buffalo 12

[muns]

17 Entries so far - good turnout!

Doing these always makes the tourney more enjoyable than it already is for me. I suck at it all, but its fun anyway!

[Chief Rum]

Marcus Brogdan-- Virginia 2
Frank Kaminsky-- Wisconsin 1
Karl Towns-- Kentucky 1
Seth Tuttle-- Northern Iowa 5
Kellen Dunham-- Butler 6
Montrezl Harrell-- L'ville 4
Karl Cochran-- Wofford 12
Justin Moss-- Buffalo 12
Delon Wright-- Utah 5
RJ Hunter-- GA State 14

[Young Drachma]

Ok so I didn't have a chance to do
My own entry until now. Lol

[Young Drachma]

fred van vleet wichita st
Craig Bradshaw Belmont
kellen dunham butler
Larry nance jr wyoming
Dangelo harrison st johns
Aaron white iowa
Travis trice michigan state
Dez wells maryland
Nic Moore SMU
Lawrence alexander ndsu

[wade moore]

ISU lost did some major damage since 9 people had Niang - second most of any player

[wade moore]

RJ Hunter's late surge provides a big boost and another round for potential big points for the handful of us that had him.

No one had a player from UAB or Baylor.

[nol]

ISU lost did some major damage since 9 people had Niang - second most of any player

Yeah, both of my play-in guys (Haws and Marks) lost so I was scrambling. Figured a common guy wouldn't hurt me too much. Almost chose Hunter but thought Georgia State was too "trendy" an upset pick; gotta hand it to Baylor for blowing the game so tremendously.

[wade moore]

Since GSU was in the CAA for a bit I've seen Hunter play a bit and was impressed, so that's why I went with him - may pay off.

[Young Drachma]

I think this year's rushing for me really helped me for next year already in terms of another strategy to play this game. The beauty here is, there's so many different ways to play this one makes it a lot of fun.

[Young Drachma]

So Juwan Staten is hurt, missed the entire conference tournament and I didn't know this since I picked my list entirely from a scoring sheet in a Starbucks yesterday afternoon. We've never had a precedent for this though. I ran it past Wade and we'd do the same for anyone else who this happens to (in the future, before games are played, provided the guy hasn't played yet...)

So I'm replacing him with someone who hasn't played today (Craig Bradshaw, Belmont). Just wanted to post about it.

[Comey]

Staten played. Just FYI. I put him on my Top Gun team...I added him as my last pick after checking on his status a couple of days ago.

[Young Drachma]

Here's a link to the scoring (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqzAk3cKr-_EdG9CSlZ0eURmd1NEY3hWQ0Jhb1pDbWc&usp=sharing) Google Doc. I'll paste it in the first post too.

[Chief Rum]

Here's a link to the scoring (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqzAk3cKr-_EdG9CSlZ0eURmd1NEY3hWQ0Jhb1pDbWc&usp=sharing) Google Doc. I'll paste it in the first post too.

Hey, FYI, I am not on the sheet.

[Ragone]

2 of my players are wrong.. Walkup and Parker should be replaced with Niang and jerian grant

[Young Drachma]

Ragone is fixed. Chief I'll get you in there now.

[Young Drachma]

Check my work on the spreadsheet. But everyone should be inputted. If there need to be fixes, can do them tomorrow obvi.

Based on today's scores:


Young Drachma 1810 5
nol 1562 5
henry296 1554 6
britrock88 1454 5
murrayyyy 1352 6
muns 1309 5
Butter_of_69 1208 6
Ragone 1136 7
BillyMadison 1123 8
Vince, Pt. II 1102 8
Comey 1083 7
wade moore 1061 6
Simbo Klice 1050 7
B&B 1045 7
kingfc22 972 9
Lathum 944 5
Chief Rum 881 8
BillyNYC 808 5
cartman 700 9


Ramz was in 12th last year with 7 players left after the first two days and ended up winning the deal. Butter had a 594 point lead after the 2nd round last year, but only 4 guys left.

Two years ago, britrock was 2nd and had 7 guys left. So...seems like the balance is finding guys who will score enough, at a seed worth a damn, without losing them.

It's basically still anybody's game.

[B & B]

I see Chief Rum's team but I am still not in there???

Guess cause we posted our lineups on Thursday morning?

[Young Drachma]

Yeah probably. Wade did the initial inputting and I didn't get to it until
I put mine in late Thursday, assuming all others were there but didn't cross check. I'll add you in a few minutes

[britrock88]

Close calls for both Buffalo and Valparaiso. Would have loved seeing Justin Moss and Alec Peters face off for a Sweet 16 berth.

[Young Drachma]

Updated the sheet with b&b and the scoring post.

[Young Drachma]

Shout out to wade for updating the scores (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqzAk3cKr-_EdG9CSlZ0eURmd1NEY3hWQ0Jhb1pDbWc#gid=0) through last night.


britrock88 2314 3
nol 2054 4
kingfc22 1984 7
Young Drachma 1906 4
wade moore 1893 4
murrayyyy 1802 4
henry296 1734 5
Chief Rum 1673 6
Ragone 1636 5
Butter_of_69 1576 6
B&B 1567 7
BillyMadison 1519 7
Vince, Pt. II 1418 7
Simbo Klice 1352 6
muns 1309 5
Comey 1279 6
cartman 1016 8
Lathum 960 5
BillyNYC 904 5

[Vince, Pt. II]

I've been worried that RJ Hunter was going to stake a few of you to leads that would be difficult to catch.

[wade moore]

One more round from him would have been nice ;).

[britrock88]

Just noticed the scoring cell for Spencer Collins (Wofford) is off.

[britrock88]

But yeah... this year's upsets were hard to predict.

[Young Drachma]

I've updated the scoring spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqzAk3cKr-_EdG9CSlZ0eURmd1NEY3hWQ0Jhb1pDbWc&usp=sharing) through every game except the current Gonzaga-Duke game. Here's where we are:


Young Drachma 4309 1
B&B 4218 2 (-91)
BillyMadison 4108 3 (-201)
Ragone 4072 1
kingfc22 4001 1
wade moore 3980 1
Vince, Pt. II 3808 1
henry296 3441 1
murrayyyy 3165 0
Butter_of_69 3064 1
Chief Rum 2993 2
britrock88 2991 0
cartman 2865 2
nol 2554 0
Simbo Klice 2441 3
muns 2434 2
Comey 2123 2
BillyNYC 2037 0
Lathum 2003 2


Pretty much everybody has some variation of Kyle Wiltjer, Travis Trice, Frank Kaminsky or Jahil Okafor. It'll be an interesting finish, the top 3 guys all have Trice who cancels you out.

[Young Drachma]

I only have Trice left who gets canceled out, so if I lose my lead today there's no coming back for me. Should be interesting to see how it plays out, but once again it'll come down to the wire. Weird year.

B&B has Wiltjer and Trice. Billy Madison has Trice, Wiltjer and Kaminsky. Wisconsin in the Final would give Billy the win more than likely. Wiltjer going HAM today would give B&B a victory more than likely since we all cancel out with Trice.

[Young Drachma]

I need Wiltjer to score less than 12 points to maintain my lead and also shot at the title. That's obviously not going to happen as he already has 10. Not bad though considering my team together in less than 10 minutes at a Starbucks on my phone just kind of picking randomly. I'll take it.

[Young Drachma]

13 points. It's a two man race now.

[Young Drachma]

Post Duke-Gonzaga scores:


B&B 4346 1
Young Drachma 4309 1
BillyMadison 4236 2
Ragone 4200 0
kingfc22 4001 1
wade moore 3980 1
Vince, Pt. II 3808 1
henry296 3477 1
Butter_of_69 3192 0
murrayyyy 3165 0
cartman 2993 1
Chief Rum 2993 2
britrock88 2991 0
Simbo Klice 2569 2
muns 2562 1
nol 2554 0
Comey 2159 2
Lathum 2039 2
BillyNYC 2037 0

[BillyMadison]

All comes down to Kaminsky. I'll need 23 points from him in a Wisconsin lost (which I'd venture is unlikely, maybe 25% odds he goes for 23, and if he does, I'd venture WI wins anyway...), or a win and another game of points in the Championship should surely clinch it for me. Fingers crossed...

Trice has been the big hitter for lots of people this tournament with 1400+ so far. B&B's pick of Normal Powell was huge too, 1000+.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I was on the fence between Van Fleet and Baker. Happy to know that even if I had gone the other way, two people had me covered.

[britrock88]

Very chalky year, so 1-seed players are actually paying off on a certain level.

[britrock88]

All comes down to Kaminsky. I'll need 23 points from him in a Wisconsin lost (which I'd venture is unlikely, maybe 25% odds he goes for 23, and if he does, I'd venture WI wins anyway...), or a win and another game of points in the Championship should surely clinch it for me. Fingers crossed...

Trice has been the big hitter for lots of people this tournament with 1400+ so far. B&B's pick of Normal Powell was huge too, 1000+.

If you have Kaminsky, I'm for you! :)

[Young Drachma]

Very chalky year, so 1-seed players are actually paying off on a certain level.

Yeah, it's interesting to see how they can be useful.

[B & B]

Billy nailed the analysis.

Frank the tank needs 23 pts in the rest of the draw to win it for him. Odd that it just boils down to that alone.

Powell was clutch for me as he was the only player in a DD seed to get a 3rd game in. I had some big misses on players too, but we all did.

[B & B]

Actually, think the scoring is off for Stanley Johnson.

hes credited with 96 pts (disappointing) and 22,4,6

actually played 4 rounds and was


22,4,12,6

Should be 180, correct?

[Young Drachma]

Thanks B&B. Johnson error is fixed. After last night's games, here's where we sit:


B&B 4990 0
BillyMadison 4896 1
Young Drachma 4869 0
wade moore 4750 0
Vince, Pt. II 4452 0
Ragone 4200 0
kingfc22 4101 1
henry296 3567 1
Butter_of_69 3192 0
cartman 3177 1
Chief Rum 3173 1
murrayyyy 3165 0
britrock88 2991 0
Simbo Klice 2729 1
muns 2662 1
nol 2638 0
Comey 2433 2
Lathum 2313 2
BillyNYC 2037 0

[Young Drachma]

16 or more from Frank Kaminsky in the championship would give BillyMadison the title. Every year of the game so far it's come down to the last game and the eventual leader always wins by less than 100 points. We'll take it. But this was surely the most chalky year ever.

[Young Drachma]

Frank the Tank has 7 points. Needs 9 more to give Billy the win.

[BillyMadison]

Kaminsky does it! This has to be the closest margin of victory thus far though yes? Lots of fun! See y'all next year.

[Young Drachma]

Final Score for 2015:


BillyMadison 5022
B&B 4990
Young Drachma 4869
wade moore 4750
Vince, Pt. II 4452
kingfc22 4227
Ragone 4200
henry296 3627
cartman 3303
Chief Rum 3299
Butter_of_69 3192
murrayyyy 3165
britrock88 2991
Simbo Klice 2855
muns 2788
nol 2638
Comey 2619
Lathum 2499
BillyNYC 2037


32 points is indeed the smallest margin of victory thus far. 5022 points is the lowest amount of points scored since the game expanded from 8 to 10 after the first year.

Thanks to everyone for playing, we'll see you next year!

[muns]

Congrats Billy! Another fun tourney and another fun play. Thanks again for getting it going again DC