March Madness Brackets and Points

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around creating a customized scoring system for March Madness brackets in college basketball. Participants explore alternatives to the traditional exponential scoring method used in common apps and seek suggestions for apps that allow customization of scoring.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses dissatisfaction with the exponential scoring system used in common apps, suggesting it favors picking winning teams too heavily.
  • Another participant considers developing their own app to create a customized scoring system.
  • A different participant humorously suggests that many users may prefer simpler algorithms, despite not fully understanding the current scoring method.
  • One participant shares a scoring system designed by a statistician, providing links to a news piece and the scoring system itself, but notes uncertainty about app compatibility with this system.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for a more customizable scoring system, but there is no consensus on specific apps that meet this need or on the best approach to creating a new system.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific knowledge about app development among participants and uncertainty regarding the implementation of alternative scoring systems in existing apps.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in creating or participating in March Madness brackets, especially those looking for customizable scoring options.

member 428835
Hi PF!

I am trying to make a march madness (college basketball tournament) bracket with some friends. Last year we used common apps, but they all score each round exponentially (first round of 64 teams worth 1 point for a correct pick, second round of 32 teams worth 2 points, third round of 16 teams worth 4 points, etc).

None of us like this scheme since you basically need to pick the winning team to win. Do any of you know if you can either customize your own bracket via ESPN's app (I've looked into it but don't think you can) or if you can't does anyone know an app where you can customize points?

Thanks!
 
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Write your own.
 
Bystander said:
Write your own.
Yea we thought about doing this but I know nothing about app development. Maybe I'll look into it?
 
Got to be as good as trying to retrofit someone else's; you could be the next billionaire.
 
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Hahahahahha I think too many viewers prefer simple algorithms (though probably most don't even understand how the current exponential point system operates). I'm thinking of making upsets worth more, etc.
 
Not sure about apps, but here's a scoring system that I like, which was designed by a statistician (first link is a news piece describing it, the second link actually has the scoring system):
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-biostatisticians-ncaa-pool-runs-pretty-deep/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2011/03/14/2014497267.pdf

Not sure if there are any apps that easily implement the scoring system.
 

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