BRACKET THEORY: A FEW MORE TIPS

BRACKETS....

Clearly, countless talking heads and experts are offering up Bracket-Picking tips, so bare with me here (BTW, definitely not calling myself an expert).  Thought I'd drop in a few tried & true Bracket strategies that have paid handsomely for several lifelong College Basketball colleagues/associates.

Some of these I have read (nearly verbatim), elsewhere in past 24-48 Hrs, so they really aren't unique, 'insider' secrets or anything, just truly believe they are worth repeating either way:

BRACKETS | GENERAL

1. START w/YOUR FINAL 4...& WORK BACKWARDS

Especially If we've watched a great number of Hoops...

REPEAT BRACKET-PICK WINNER(S) COMMONLY START w/PICKING THEIR FINAL 4 (or 8 or 16)
FIRST
.......WORKING BACKWARDS FROM THERE....

Really looking deeper into these Selected Teams this way Just have appears so much more uncluttered

Then paying spacial attention to specific (+/-) Matchups w/
Size/Coaching/Experience - the usual thingsin many configurations of potential games

Try it - I assure you will truly be amazed how sharp it appears when all done. 

SEPARATING TEAMS, WHEN MANY FACTORS SEEM GENERALLY EVEN :

2. TEMPO - SLOWER TEAMS MOVE ON

WHEN THINGS LOOK EQUAL, SLOWER, PROFICIENT &/or HALF-COURT TEAMS

3. ESPECIALLY DELIBERATE TEAMS W/ 1+ LEGIT, CREATIVE SCORER

Both these factors have given Teams a small yet critical advantages over Up-Tempo Teams
 
Going back in time, this is just a fact

Some very good Double-Quick Teams have gone on the F-4
OR WON (KU | Duke | UNC)
Yet they have almost always been the Elite

However, countless deliberate teams have reached Final-4
In place of potent racehorse teams - w/far more talent & higher rankings

JUST TO NAME A FEW:  
   2000 Wisconsin (Bennett Ball), Michigan State
   2002 Indiana
   2003 Texas (Penders Not so slow, yet pressure D)
   2004 Okla St (E Sutton's Tms)
   2005 Michigan State
   2006 George Mason, LSU, UCLA 
   2007 Georgetown, UCLA
   2008 UCLA
   2009 Michigan State
   2010 Michigan State, Butler, West Virginia

IDEAL EXAMPLES

• Methodical, Smash-mouth Zito Michigan State Teams
• Ben Howland's Meatgrinder UCLA Three-peat of Final 4 Teams

Teams that CAN can play slower & slower
When a Team is proficient & MORE comfortable w/ever limited possessions
(w/a Big-Shot Guy ...or two)
They have a great shot at getting thru

OBVIOUSLY, PICKING BRACKETS IS MORE ABOUT TEAMS MOVING
THAN TEAMS COVERING POINT SPREADS

BRACKET CONTESTS IDEAS:

1. FLIP-FLOP's

Another great strategy that has truthfully worked well for myself & several close colleagues
Enter a large number of free contests,
(as many as you can find time for, of course...w/our well researched Final 4)

FLIP-FLOP one OR TWO 8-9's..in different contests (back to our HEDGE Theory)

It can mean the difference between getting in Tie Breaks or winning one or two

2. 5-12 GAMES

GAMES/MOST NEED OF SERIOUS ANALYSIS, & TOUGHEST TO READ 
(despite so much 7-10 Talk)

   #1. 5-12's  
   #2. 6-11's
& a trusting our capping instincts when/if the 12 just looks like it has size/coaching/or any number of efficiency advantages

ALL PRETTY OBVIOUS STUFF -

Just see so many guys work from the 1-16 on down
The successful alternative is worth mentioning