The Expanda-Draft Cometh

The Expanda-Draft aspect of this contest was put in for several reasons - to allow players to pick up teams that surprised everyone and are marching towards an NCAA birth, to add the possibility of "tweaking" your squad to improve your chances - especially for those bottom dwellers, and to give players a chance to pick up mid and low major conference teams that look like they are going to stomp their way into the Big Dance.

As we think about our draft options, consider these point rules:

- A team that wins a major conference (6) regular season earns 9 points
- A team that wins a mid-major conference (9) regular season earns 7 points
- A team that wins a non-major conference regular season earns 6 points
- A team that wins a major conference (6) tournament earns 7 points
- A team that wins a mid-major conference (9) tournament earns 5 points
- A team that wins a non-major conference (16) tournament earns 4 points
- A team that completes the regular conference season undefeated earns +3 points.

This is where a non-major team can be worth drafting - they win a dozen games (12 points) plus win their conference (6 pts) and tournament (4 pts). Plus keep in mind...

- Each team that makes the NCAA tourney receives 3 points

So while picking up a major conference team like Cincy or Virginia has the advantage of possible points against Duke or Pittsburgh, they may not see any of the points above.


RULES OF THE INTERIM DRAFT & RELEASE

- The last week of January, each player must draft 2 additional teams.

- Draft order will utilize snake method, with pick 1 going to last place point earner

- A voluntary third round will take place following the 2-round draft, in which one team from the original roster can be dropped and a new team picked up. All existing points from original team will remain. Order will continue snake method from round 2.

- Points will begin to be earned by the new teams on February 2, and new points will no longer be added for the discarded team effective February 2.


The draft order is set following the last game on: Sunday, January 23, 2011. Due to the number of picks, we'll be looking to get going right away Monday Jan 24. Current Draft Order if it happened today:

1. Musashisan 113 (79-49)
2. Slake B 116 (72-48)
3. Some Guy in Illinois 125 (81-43)
4. Jutdog 131 (83-40)
5. Jaybird 142 (89-39)
6.....


Top Major and Mid-Major Teams on the Radar:

1. Cincinnatti (16-1)
2. Virginia (10-6 every game is head to head)
3. Nebraska (13-3)
4. UCF (14-1)
5. Hostra (5-0 conf with 3 other players in)
6. Arkansas (11-4)
7. Boise St (4-0 conf)
8. Cleveland State (15-3)
9. Colorado St (11-5)
10. Tulane (12-4)
11. Marshall (12-4)
12. James Madison (13-3)
13. Iowa St (13-4)
14. George Washington (3-0 conf play; 10-5)
15. Duquense (2-0 conf play; 10-5)
16. Portland (12-4)

The Best & The Worst - Half Way There

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Top Picks - Considering Round Taken:

1. Boaris Pick 60 - Butler - 30 points, 18-1, top 15 in nation, undefeated in conf play

2. Gunz Pick 61 - Minnesota - 31 points, 17-3 and contender for Big 10 champ

3. Akaoni Pick 41 - Washington - 36 Points, contender for Pac 10 champ

4. Progress Media Pick 88 - Illinois State - 27 Points, 17-4 overall (last round pick)

5. Boaris Pick 14 - Oklahoma - 49 points, highest point gainer, national contender

6. Phunmunki Pick 29 - Xavier - 34 points, 19-2 record and leading Atl 10

7. Jutdog Pick 21 - Wake Forest - 44 points, 2nd overall point gainer, national contender

Honerable Mention: UNC - Jaybird; Dayton - Akaoni; West Virginia - Babs; Pitt - Boaris; UCONN - HippieD; LSU - CEO


Worst Picks - Considering Round Taken:

1. GUNZ Pick 36 - Southern Ill - 13 pts. Selected 4 spots ahead of Washington, who has 36 pts. No chance of much more.

2. Notaturtle Pick 46 - Kent St - 13 pts and no chance of much more

3. Gunz Pick 13 - Notre Dame - 21 pts, 11-8 overall, may finish with losing conf record, picked just ahead of Oklahoma and Arizona St.

4. Phunmunki Pick 20 - Wisconsin - 17 pts, lost 6 straight, may not make the NCAA, picked one ahead of Wake Forest

5. HippieD Pick 50 - Murray St - 8 pts, what the hell was he thinking?

6. Babs Pick 87 - Charlotte - 11 pts, 7-13 record, no chance of conf contention

7. HippieD Pick 95 - Western Michigan - 5 pts, yes, 5 pts. UW Steven's Point was worth more...

Disgraceful Mention: Middle Tenn St - CEO; Davidson - ProgressMedia; Nevada - Phunmunki; Miami - Notaturtle; Iowa - Musashisan; Alabama St - Jaybird;


Top 1-2 Punch:

1. Boaris - Pitt & Oklahoma. Both top 10 in nation & conf contenders

2. Jaybird - UNC and Marquette. Both top 10 in nation & conf contenders

3. Jutdog - Louisville and Wake Forest. Both top 10 in nation & conf contenders

Honorable Mention: CEO with Duke & Villanova; Babs with Michigan St & Syracuse; HippieD with UConn & UNLV ?; Akaoni with Purdue & Clemson; Phunmunki with Xavier & Gonzaga.