March Madness!

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bookworm
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March Madness!

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Image March Madness Bracket Contest! Image

It's that time again! Our group is renewed, go join it right now so you're ready to go when the brackets unlock!
ESPN Tournament Challenge Password: thetoo

Even if you don't really follow the games go ahead and do a bracket anyway! Even if you don't follow at all! The more participants there are the more fun it is, it doesn't matter if you actually know what you're doing. I don't! \:D/
This doesn't take any commitment after entry, it's a one time thing. You just join the group, fill your bracket, and that's all there is to it! No further involvement is required, or even possible. The brackets lock when the tournament begins, all that's left to do is sit back and watch how it plays out.
If you don't care or don't know anything about the sport that's absolutely fine! Just join to be nice to us who would like a big group playing! :) It's nothing to you; just advance random teams, it takes less than three minutes, then you can forget all about it. There's no reason not to do one!

This is the ToO's longest running unofficial annual event; we've done a bracket competition for all but the very first year of this community's existence! (2005 doesn't count because the site wasn't opened until April.) This is our 13th straight year! Be a part of this great tradition!

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Expand below for how to join the group if you need help:
You will need an ESPN account. Make one now if you don't have one already, it's very easy and fast. You don't have to provide identifying information.
PM me if you have trouble or concerns making an account and I can make one for you.
  • Log in to your ESPN account and go to the page for our group linked above. Click on "Create a Bracket Now"
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  • Set a name for your bracket (it's nice if it has your ToO username in it somewhere) and enter the group password. Click "Create Bracket"
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  • If you are doing this after Selection Sunday you may recieve offers from other contests. Just leave them unchecked, unless you want to enter them. Click "Continue"
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  • It should automatically select ToO Madness as the group to join. Click "Continue"
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  • Don't need to do anything at the next screen, just click "Continue"
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  • If the brackets have not unlocked yet this is all you can do right now; log back in when they open to make your picks!
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  • If you are doing this after Selection Sunday then continue directly from here to filling out your bracket!
Expand below for instructions if you're confused about how to do the bracket:
It can be a little hard to understand what you're doing here at first because the website layout isn't the best, but actually it's really simple. You're predicting (or just randomly choosing) how the tournament's bracket will play out by selecting one team in each game to win and advance until there are only two left and you pick the ultimate winner.
  • If you had joined the group while the brackets were locked and are now coming back, log in to your ESPN account and go to the link for our group. Click on the name of your bracket in the list to start filling it out.
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  • If the brackets were already unlocked when you joined the group you should be taken straight to yours to start filling it.
How to fill out the bracket:
(These pictures are just examples of the process, the teams you see will be different.)
  • Start with the outermost layer of games and click on one team in each game. (The one you think will win.) That team will be moved up into the next round.
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  • Scroll down for the other half.
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  • When you have picked winners for all the games in that first layer there will now be a second level of new games between the teams you advanced. Repeat the process, clicking one team in each game in this new layer.
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  • Scroll down for the other half.
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  • Repeat for the third layer of games that is created.
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  • Scroll down for the other half.
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  • And repeat for the fourth layer.
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  • Scroll down for the other half.
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  • There are now just four teams left. In the middle of the page choose one on each side to advance into the final game.
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  • Choose which of the final two teams you think will be the ultimate champion. Then guess how many points each team will score in the final game. (This is used for the contest tiebreaker if one is needed.)
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  • Uncheck the extra offers, unless you want to enter them, and save your picks!
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That's it! You're all set! \:D/
PM me if you have problems or questions with anything.


Image March Madness Live Chats! Image

I've also set up a Chatroom channel for live chatting the Tournament! \:D/
Join #Madness if you're able to be online while you watch, especially if you are rooting for a team due to fandom or bracket picking! If you are watching but can't chat during the game maybe you can at least come by to check in during some commercial breaks!

This is a ton of fun when people come by! It's great sharing real time reactions as games go final, comparing the effects on our brackets. I really hope people come by this year again! Everyone is welcome to come hang out of course, even if you didn't do a bracket.
I should be in there for Selection Sunday to kick things off, so come by if you're watching that, then once the tournament is underway stop in if you have one of the games on and see if anyone else is there. :) Or if you don't have a game on but want to follow what's going down.

Schedule of games, dates, times, and channels
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Post by Knight Fisher »

Brackets start in 4 days \:D/
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Post by American Eagle »

I'm in and ready to show you all once again how mediocre I am at this. \:D/
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Post by Monty_Whittaker »

I'm coming with fails galore.
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Post by bookworm »

The brackets are open! Go fill one out!
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Post by Woody »

So doing this again
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Post by Jehoshaphat »

I did the thing!

I really don't follow basketball at all so we shall see if my attempts achieve anything.
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Post by 321tumbler »

I picked by most interesting names. It got difficult when there were two state names, but then I went by more interesting mascot.
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Post by Monty_Whittaker »

I went by upsets.
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Post by Woody »

Currently leading, and still haven't watched a single NCAA game in my life! \:D/
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Post by Monty_Whittaker »

Woody, same. I just guessed and somehow I am in the tide for 3rd. although sucks for the person who said Kansas would win.
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Post by bookworm »

One of my final four just lost by 26 in the second round \:D/
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Post by 321tumbler »

My final two are out and in general, my bracket is a sea of red. Oh weeeeell.
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Post by bookworm »

Also one of my E8 didn't even win the first game.

-- 29 Mar 2019 05:42 pm --

The first #1 falls, and my runner up is out!
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Post by Woody »

That was a close one :anxious:
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Post by bookworm »

My champ is done! And so is my bracket, no more points to be had from here. I had 5 of the E8 right but none of the Final Four! \:D/
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Post by Woody »

Looks like I win! \:D/
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Post by Jehoshaphat »

Well that was interesting.

I totally did not expect things to go this way at all. None of my final four made it. I guess there is always next year. :( ](*,) #-o

I also didn't really put much effort in so it wasn't surprising that I didn't do very well. :P
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Post by Monty_Whittaker »

I like how me and woody were the only ones who's champion isn't out yet; yet neither of us even really knew what we were doing, so, lol. just, lol
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Post by American Eagle »

Nicely done to you both for picking Virginia. \:D/
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