Win Your “Entertainment Purposes Only” College Hoops Pool With Help From Q

See if you can do better than me. Link for invite included in the story.

Tips:
* There are going to be upsets but don't get too bananas. Generally go with the better seed.
* Kentucky is 34-0 going in. Pick Kentucky to win it all.
* I hate Wisconsin but they're going back to the Final Four.
* Wichita State will upset Kansas in round 2 and eventually lose to Kentucky.
* If you only watch college basketball during the tournament, and you notice some schools always playing well, go with them (see Wisconsin and Wichita State).
* The big schools (like Duke) have "one-and-done" players, so there's talent but never team cohesion like with smaller schools. Stay away from Duke after the first couple of games.
* Iowa could play Iowa State for a berth in the Elite 8. It may happen. Seriously.
* Pick the winner of the second-round UNI-Louisville game to go to at least the Elite 8 and maybe the Final Four. The top 2 seeds in their region (Villanova and Virginia) are overrated.
* I picked Louisville to go to the national title game (nothing personal, UNI) for two reasons: they have a history of doing very well in the tournament, and UNI relies too much on one player offensively (always a red flag). The Panthers have a great team but Louisville in the second round is a tough draw.

Here's who I picked. Right click to view larger version of image.

* Every year a 12-seed beats a 5. This year it's Stephen F. Austin.
* Pick against a 12, 13, or 14-seed with 5 losses or less at your own risk (Google Valparaiso).
* If you do one piece of research, look up 3-point shooting percentages by team. Why does this matter? The 3 is the great equalizer. A nobody team that's hitting their 3's will hang around and may upset a more well-known school. You can mount comebacks if you're hitting your 3's.
* If you do a second piece of research, do free throw shooting % by team. Why does this matter? Teams that give away free points struggle in one-and-done things like tournaments, and when the game is close at the end and it becomes a foulfest, teams that make their free throws never lose. Teams that miss free throws at the end give the opponent a chance.
* 8 v. 9 games are coin flips. Almost literal coin flips. I flip coins on those games. I'm serious.
* Look at where the games are. Teams playing close have a built-in advantage. Less travel, more of their fans at the game.
* Trust your gut feeling, unless it's really freaking dumb. Once you make a pick, stick with it. Unless it's REALLY freaking dumb.