OTP 2024

 'Twas bitter sweet earlier this week. Another outstanding first two rounds of the tournament gave us some fantastic action. And now the best 4 days of the year are over. However, to console you, here are the annual OTP Awards:

Best First Round Awards.

• Best Performance by OTP Participants: Steve McPhail, Aaron Lake, Anthony Buono, Andrea Guglielmo, Alex Mitchell – 27 out of 32 correct picks.
• GSU Upset Picks: Adam Stutts (age: 3), Emily Reklaitis (age: 8), Patrick Lynch (age: old),
• UAB Upset Picks: John Reklaitis (age: 5), that is all.
• Worst Overall Performance:
• Normally I would mention here that while I am happy to praise the youngsters who -cajoled by their parents - fill out brackets and actually nail some good picks (see above), I shall not ridicule them when they go far, far astray with what are essentially random predictions (although aren’t they for all of us?) This year an adult was willing to take the title of worst prognosticator, so I don’t even have to have to offer the “well, they’re just kids” caveat. Erin McManus dons the honor of worst 1st round performance after only getting half (16 of 32) of her picks correct. This saves Steve Stites from the embarrassment of receiving this award with only 14 correct picks. Granted our alma mater Northeastern came within a leprechaun’s breath of stealing a 1^st round upset.  Had NEU won, Steve would have moved up in the circles of shame.

Because of Steve’s (and others) determined sticking-to-it-ness regarding their favorite teams in the field, this year I’ve created another award: 

The Sticking with your school despite almost ridiculous odds Award. 

• I’ll give Steve first honors, as he had the Huskies not only knocking off the #3 seed but advancing to the Sweet 16 as well. Other well-intentioned but ultimately disappointed fans include:
• Alex Mitchell, son of OSU alumn Bert Mitchell, who had his Dad’s team winning it all. (For the record, Dad correctly predicted OSU going out in the 2^nd round. Throw anybody under the bus much Bert?)
• Christine Reklaitis, UVA grad, had the Hoos winning it all (and her husband’s home town team, Purdue, advancing to the Final Four). Thanks for your support Christine, and your $5.
• Emily and Luke Reklaitis who decided that since Dad loves Purdue, they do too, and therefore, Purdue shall win it all. I love them, but they essentially flushed $10 down the toilet for me.

Best First Round for NCAA Participants:

• R.J. Hunter and Father. You’ve seen it already. Watch it again:

And for good measure, a similar scenario from 10 years ago (courtesy of my friend Paul Schultz). Great sequence all around, but at the 1:04 mark is when the magic really happens.

Second Round Awards:

Best Second Round by OTP participants: Curtis Tonick and Vic Reklaitis with 12 out of 16 correct picks.

Best upset picks: 

• (I consider NC State and Wichita State advancing against a 1 and 2 seed respectively legitimate upsets, and 11 seed UCLA advancing to the Sweet 16 as well. Michigan State always makes it to the Sweet 16, not much of an upset there IMHO.) However, since 20 OTP participants picked WSU to advance, I’m afraid this is hardly an exceptional choice.
• Therefore upset awards go to the 4 folks who picked the Wolfpack’s upset of #1 seed Villanova: Adam Stutts, Emily Reklaitis, Rae Poteat, and Vic Reklaitis.

Best Second Round for NCAA Participants:

• UW’s Sam Dekker’s dunk that went in twice. Four points?! Nope 0. Still fun to watch:

Ok, that wraps it up for now. In case you missed it, I set up a Sweet 16 contest for those still interested in submitting another set of brackets. No entry fee required, just go to the online brackets as you did the first time and you will find the brackets filled up to the final 16 teams. Win and you get your entry fee back. Picks due by 6 PM, tomorrow, Thursday.

Enjoy, and thanks for playing!