It's Bracket Time!

The brackets were filled out by phone - not an easy task.
A year ago, I started a little tradition with my five daughters: filling out NCAA Tournament brackets. We had a little explanation of how the numbers next to the school names coincided with each team's seeding in the 64-team field. In the end, Lauren didn't fill out a bracket, saying it was "too hard." A few weeks later, Veronica (who was two years old at the time) came out the big winner - correctly picking Kansas as the national champion and running away with the mythical family championship (with 114 points).

Here is how points are awarded:

First round win: 1 point
Second round win: 2 points
Sweet 16 win: 4 points
Elite Eight win: 8 points
Final Four win: 16 points
Correctly picking the champion: 32 points

Unfortunately, as of this writing, I have not seen the girls since Jan. 15. So filling out the brackets was done by phone. This time, it was Olivia (our last-place finisher a year ago) who didn't want to do a bracket. But everyone else did - including Veronica. Here's how that conversation went:

Dad: "Veronica, I'll say the names of two teams and I want you to pick the one you think will be the winner."

Veronica: "I love you, Daddy."

Dad: "I know, Veronica. Thank you. Pittsburg or East Tennessee State?"

Veronica: "Pittsburg."

Dad: "Oklahoma State or Tennessee?"

Veronica: "The State."

Dad: "Florida State or Wisconsin?

Veronica: "Dad. We're having popsicles. Mine is orange."

(After a few minutes)

Veronica: "I'm going to hang up now."

Dad: "Just a few more to go, Veronica."

(After a few minutes)

Veronica: "I'm tired, Daddy. Talk to Emily."

Eventually, with some coaxing (three separate times), Veronica completed her entire bracket. The other girls seemed to have a fun time - many of them recalling the teams they chose last year ("Butler" was a favorite). This year, they liked the sound of "American" and "Stephen F. Austin" and seemed to pick a lot of "hockey" schools (Michigan, Michigan State and North Dakota State) - which isn't always a good thing. They also chose California (probably because I have spent a lot of time there this year).

How are things going so far? Well, our little "Bracketologist" continues to amaze. Through the first round, Veronica had correctly picked 26 of 32 winners - including the upsets by Dayton and Western Kentucky.

So, using the system outlined above, here are the point standings heading into second-round games (Saturday second-round games are not included):

Veronica (age 3): 26
Emily (age 12): 23
Dad (age 41): 23
Lauren (age 10): 19
Julia (age 8): 16

As for their Final Four picks, you decide who has the best chance in the end:

Julia: Tennessee, Gonzaga, Louisville, California.
Lauren: Louisville, California, Minnesota, Michigan.
Veronica: Connecticut, North Carolina, Duke, Louisville.
Emily: Michigan State, UNI, Duke, Michigan.
Dad: Louisville, Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina.