March Madness is once again upon us. That can mean only 1 thing! It is time for the Roundball Oracles to gather once again and make predictions about the outcome of the NCAA tournament.

I would actually like to start this by quoting the predictions I made about this year’s basketball season at the end of last year’s tournament:

I’m already excited for next years tournament. It is no secret that Iowa State is the rooting team of the grand majority of Oracles, with a few Hawkeye and Kansas fans sprinkled in to mix things up. Plus a few statistical anomalies, (like a UCLA fan) on top for garnish. I anticipate Iowa will actually join the tourney field again next year. Iowa State should have at least a fighting chance to get back to the dance as well. We lose a bunch, but some of the recruits coming in are heralded and I wouldn’t bet against Hoiberg going up against a Big 12 that I expect to be down next year. Plus don’t forget that Michigan will be getting a taste of Hilton Magic next year. 2013-14 should be another great season! Remember the name Monte Morris. I’m guessing you will know it very well next year.
Plus, Steve Alford will be choking at an entirely new school next year! What was UCLA thinking?

I will point out that at the time I wrote that, DeAndre Kane was not yet in the fold.

As always, basketball knowledge is not a prerequisite to participating. Every year when I look at the standings, I think basketball knowledge is actually a hindrance in this competition.

A few things to know that if you want to sign up this year and take a shot at putting your name on the list of the immortals:

1. You do not have to wager any money. The only thing you have to put on the line is pride. And as C.S. Lewis would tell you, pride is the greatest sin.
2. This competition is open to all ages (as long as they can make their own decisions), genders, and fan bases. Unfortunately more than a few of these titles have went home with Hawk fans.
3. There is a trophy for the winner. In fact, this year there might even be a traveling trophy that will go home with the winner for a calendar year. If said traveling trophy does come into existence, it will not be a bust of Kobe Bryant. The Roundball Oracles does not endorse ball-hoggery and low basketball IQs or mediocrity.

Here is a look at last year’s final standings:

Place	Competitor	Score	Correct	Champion	Last Year
1.	William McAlpine	266	39	Louisville	6th
2.	Jason Stensland	253	39	Louisville	8th
3.	Jesse Howard	251	40	Louisville	10th
4.	Shawn Lockner	247	39	Michigan	21st
5.	Jon DeWaard	242	38	Louisville	11th
6.	Angie DeWaard	236	36	Louisville	4th
7.	Corey Faust	234	38	Indiana	2nd
8.	Mark Wolfram	231	36	Indiana	7th
9.	Jordan Toot	218	36	Louisville	28th
10.	Robert Henning	208	36	Indiana	5th
11.	Frank Meiners	206	37	Gonzaga	DNP
11.	Logan Kahler	206	38	Kansas	DNP
13.	Sean Clubine	201	37	Miami	DNP
14.	Derrick Gorshe	200	32	Louisville	12th
15.	William Wentworth	199	36	Kansas	15th
16.	Jackson Faust	197	35	Gonzaga	14th
17.	Toby Sebring	193	34	Kansas	26th
18.	Brandon Kahler	189	34	Syracuse	27th
19.	Carrie Baier	188	34	Michigan State	20th
20.	Jen Ensley-Gorshe	178	34	Indiana	18th
21.	Elizabeth Nordeen	176	32	Iowa State	DNP
22.	Tim Peterson	174	33	Miami	16th
23.	Dawn Krause	173	33	Duke	9th
24.	Jason Baier	171	33	Miami	3rd
24.	Russell Kennerly	171	33	Indiana	22nd
26.	Michelle Haupt	170	32	Ohio State	DNP
27.	Becky Perkovich	166	32	Ohio State	29th
28.	Andree Jauhari	165	32	Kansas	DNP
29.	JJ Baier	163	30	Ohio State	DNP
29.	Nader Parsaei	163	32	UCLA	13th
31.	Michael Augustin	157	32	Indiana	19th
32.	Ben Baier	156	26	Butler	DNP
33.	Your Humble Narrator	139	28	Miami	25th
34.	Will Baier	121	14	La Salle	DNP

And of course, a look at the honor roll of immortals that have claimed the championship in years past:

Roundball Oracles Champions

• 2013 – William McAlpine
• 2012 – Lowell Davis
• 2011 – Carrie Baier
• 2010 – Mark Wolfram
• 2009 – Mark Wolfram
• 2008 – Mark Wolfram
• 2007 – Tim Peterson
• 2006 – William McAlpine
• 2005 – William McAlpine

Sold yet?

You are? Just write me and let me know that you want in (I’m a fairly easy person to contact) and I’ll send you out all the information that you will need to participate with all due haste!

The deadline for entering your bracket is the tip-off of the first game on Thursday morning. So if you suffer from being a Hawkeye fan, you’ll will know whether or not your team made the real tournament by then. Not sure why you would care, but to each their own.

Good luck to all the oracles and GO STATE!!!