Scoring Information and Sample
Rather than award increasing points for a certain team progressing through the tournament, the Extravaganza awards points based on how accurately you predict where each team finishes in the tournament. For example, in a typical pool, you might earn one point when Kentucky wins their first game, then two points when they win their second game, etc. This method awards players for being close, for although you might have picked Kentucky to win and they were actually the runner-up, you were still given points for Kentucky's wins in their first five games. In the Extravaganza, you earn seven points for correctly picking the winner, six points for correctly picking the runner-up, five points for each correct 3rd place finisher, and so on down to one point for each team you correctly predict to lose in the first round. Using Kentucky as an example again, if you picked them to win the tournament, and they finished as runner-up, you get no points at all. Although this scoring system seems awkward at first, we have found that it not only reduces tie scores, it is "the real prognosticator's" way of scoring a bracket. See below for a sample of the 'Ganza scoring method:
Actual Bracket, 1996 East Region |
Pooh-Bah's Picks, 1996 East Region |
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In the above example, using 'Ganza scoring, the Pooh-Bah earned 11 points in the east region. He earned them as follows:
7 first round points
One point each for Central Florida, Bradley, Monmouth, New Orleans, N Illinois,
Kansas St, and MS Valley St finishing in a tie for 33rd place.
4 second round points
Two points each for Stanford and New Mexico finishing in a tie for 17th place.
0 third round points
The Pooh-Bah thought Marquette and Georgetown would finish in a tie for 9th
place, when it was actually Arkansas and Texas Tech.
0 fourth round points
Even though U Mass won the regional final, the Pooh-Bah didn't earn any points
because he thought North Carolina would finish in a tie for 5th, and it was
actually Georgetown.