If you're anything like Chicagoist, you spent Sunday evening poring over the brackets for the NCAA Basketball Tournament. And if you're anything like Chicagoist, you'll repeat this ritual daily until your picks must be turned in for your office pool later this week. Sixty-five teams will fight for a trip to the Final Four. All have hopes and dreams, but only four teams will make it to Atlanta, and only one team will cut down the nets before "One Shining Moment" gets its shining moment. Some picks are easy, while you'll agonize over which 13th seed is going to get lucky at this year's dance. And you'll have to fight that temptation to have your alma mater make it the Final Four. OK, those of us who went to Division III schools are at an advantage here....
Will there be lots of you fighting those urges? The state of Illinois sends both the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois to the tourney. And what Big Ten school doesn't have a big following in Chicago? In addition to the Illini, the Big Ten will also be represented by Indiana, Michigan St., Ohio St., Purdue and Wisconsin. Notre Dame also tends to have a big following locally — we can't believe how many green clovers and leprechauns we've seen around town in recent days.
Chicagoist Tournament Challenge
Once again, Chicagoist will be giving our readers a chance to go head-to-head with us in ESPN's Tournament Challenge. We've set up a Chicagoist group . Either click the link or go to ESPN's Tournament Challenge, register or log in, and search for Chicagoist. The password is: Chicagoist. There will be a prize for the top finisher.
Image via NCAASports.com Store



If you're anything like Chicagoist, you spent Sunday evening pouring over the brackets for the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Is this some strange ritual to divine the winners? What type of liquid should I use? Oh, you meant "poring".
WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! nmpkm's alma mater is in! And in Chicago for the first round even!
Does ANYONE know how to secure tickets to a first round game? Or even how to tell what game is which on stubhub? I'm a college basketball newb, but I want to scream my head off for the scarlet and grey of the UNLV Rebels.
Georgia Tech, you're going down!
Opening weekend of the NCAA tourney, St. Pat's on Saturday, the Bradster will be in rare form this weekend. Ladies watch out!
I think you better stay home nmpkm if you can't figure out how to even get tickets to the game. I already have my tickets, and I'll be screaming loudly for the Yellow Jackets!
Win or lose, you're going back to the hellhole that is Atlanta. We have a campus located in a sleepy little college town where noting ever... oh who am I kidding, it's FREAKING LAS VEGAS!
And the Alumni association came through. I'm almost right where I was for the Big Ten tournament.
WHOOOOOOOO!!!!! UNLV! UNLV! UNLV!
Now we get to lose to Wisconsin! Yipee!