Hey all, quickly popping in to let you know I’m running a March Madness pool again.
Below is a button to join the 2024 Pool. It'll be $25 for 1 bracket and $40 for 2.
I started this pool in 2021, when my alma mater – the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – was a #1 seed.
I allowed everyone to submit two brackets, the idea being that you could take Illinois in one of them, and pick who you actually thought would win it all in your other one.
That first year, we had 102 bracket submissions and a total pot of $1,750.
Despite 30+ people picking Illinois to win it all, they failed to make the Sweet 16.
The pool grew to 150 brackets with a pot of $3,300 in 2022, when Illinois was a #4 seed. Most people learned their lesson, but five entries still picked the Fighting Illini to cut down the nets in April.
Once again, they lost in the Round of 32.
Last year, we had 206 brackets, with a total pot of $4,550. Illinois was a #9 seed, and lost in the first round to Arkansas.
Thankfully, only one person had them winning it all (any year now, Noel!)
This year, who knows?
Illinois is now a #3 seed, and just won the Big Ten Conference Championship for the second time in the last four years.
Let's grow this pool to a pot of $5K+ and 250 brackets in 2024, and hope Illinois finally survives past the first weekend in the Underwood Era!
Pool password is zucker2024. Venmo @David-Zucker-4 before the games start on Thursday morning.
Best of luck!! Click this button to join: