2017 NCAA Singles Bracket Challenge

NCAA Singles Bracket Challenge

2017 NCAA Singles

Quick turn around here, boys and girls, but here is your singles bracket challenges. We will be doing an article on the draw as well, if you want to wait to get our EXPERT analysis before making your picks. You have until 11 a.m. (Eastern) tomorrow (Thursday) to fill out your singles brackets. Same rules as the team challenge apply. You’ll have to pick round by round (follow the instructions below). Points double each round. The winner gets to do a little something special with us…good luck!

HOW TO MAKE A BRACKET

1) Open the above link in a new tab/window (after which you should be taken to the bracket-maker site)

2) Click on the link (after which you should see the draw)

3) Click the Predict It link, in the top left corner of the draw

4) You have to register with the site (for free of course)

4a) Enter your name and REAL email. The name doesnt have to be real, but the email does bc you will get a confirmation link.

4b) Get your new password emailed to you (this is instantaneous)

4c) Enter your new password with your email into the site (after which you should be taken back to the draw)

5) Pick your 1st round matches! You can enter scores into the text box that appears in each match section.  These are just for fun, and will not count towards your point total.

6) After picking all the 1st round matches, click enter at the bottom of the page (after which you should be taken to all 2nd round matchups). PLEASE NOTE ALL MATCHES WILL BE LOCKED IN AFTER PRESSING ENTER. IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR PREDICTIONS, YOU WILL HAVE TO DELETE YOUR BRACKET AND START OVER (at the bottom left of the page).

7) Pick 2nd round matches

8) Press enter at the bottom of the page to be presented with 3rd round matchups.

9) Continue picking and hitting enter at the end of each round until you have picked a winner.

10) Enjoy the tennis!

17 thoughts on “2017 NCAA Singles Bracket Challenge

  1. d3Integrity

    I know Emory won and all, but I am curious whether the blog cares about their earned on court reputation and behavior. I was watching the live stream and saw Jemison get overruled multiple times. Also, I have personally seen him make some horrendous calls and attempt to change the score. I have also heard from others that he has done the same against them. Josh Goodman’s behavior is also extremely unsportsmanlike, and, in many instances, downright mean. I am sure there are good guys on the team (Manji seems like one), but at what point does it get too far for the blog? You herald these guys who are blatant hooks. Rafe was as well and is one of the worst behaved assistant coaches (albeit maybe the youngest) to win a national championship. At some point, it is no longer the “rackets” doing the talking, but the other noise that Emory generates. I would like a response, especially from ASouth on this topic.

    All that being said, Emory had a great year and is deserving of their title today.

    1. D3AtlanticSouth

      I was waiting for the appropriate time to respond to this, and I believe now is the time. Thank you for your patience.

      Do we condone some of the things that happen on the court in competition? Absolutely not. I will be the first to say that some of the behavior I’ve seen from many teams, including Emory, is not what I’d like to see. But the fact of the matter is this behavior exists everywhere, is tied to individuals, and sometimes is tied to heat of the moment emotion.

      What I would much rather focus on is condoning the unbelievable effort Emory players put in their season and tennis. They have outstanding team chemistry, work ethic, and a desire to be the best. This is what made them champions this year.

      In my eyes, those are qualities that will stick with these guys for life. While respect and all that other chatter is important as well, I would hope that these men would continue to learn what made them winners and that we don’t need the other stuff. But, to expect a bunch of 18-22 year old college tennis players to be perfect is a bit much to ask. Look at many of the DI teams – we have it pretty damn good. Either way, you have a point. But from my perspective, I will let the players and coaches live their lives – I’ll throw in a comment here or there but it will never be the main focus of the blog.

      Thanks!

      1. Fan of D3Integrity

        While I do not know a thing about the Emory players and am not commenting specifically on any individual or team, reading that “this behavior exists everywhere” is just not right. Teams like Bowdoin and Wesleyan are first class all the way. It is disappointing that such a respected member of the greatest sports blog would cast aside dishonesty and focus on other aspects such as team chemistry. Of course repeated hooking and other unsportsmanlike conduct should not be the main focus of the blog, but they also should be recognized and not rationalized. Thanks to D3Integrity for bringing up an important issue.

      2. D3AtlanticSouth

        Fan of D3Integrity,

        Maybe I used the wrong wording there. I will fully acknowledge that there are teams that are more sportsmanlike than others, and there are many teams that win and do it the “right way.” I just think that it is dangerous to label a team as “unsportsmanlike” or “cheaters” because of a few individuals. For example, in the final, there were a few instances in which CMS players got overruled – yet I hear nothing about that. Teams and players are sometimes what we make of them – there is a certain propensity to hate Emory and that plays into the way some players act as well.

        I was not trying to rationalize any repeated hooking or conduct, and I feel like I recognized conduct in my first paragraph by saying I do not condone it. The timing of the discussion is important as well, and why I brought up other aspects of the team. The Eagles had just come off of a championship and were instantly called out. All that really promotes is a back and forth battle that gets us nowhere. For myself, I am trying to find the best way to address these situations that is right for the Blog. I can’t say that I’ve found the best way yet – there was a point early on in the history of the Blog that comments had to be disabled because of the back and forth that occurred there. My goal is to promote DIII Tennis, so I hope you will cut me some slack in my reluctance to attack a team, especially one that just won the national championship.

        1. D3 Northeast

          To add something to D3AS’ point, while the two schools you mentioned (Bowdoin and Wesleyan) have sterling reputations now, that has not always been the case. I remember players on both teams (a few years back now) who were known instigators, and viewed as guys likely to hook. Forever labeling a team as “unsportsmanlike” seems highly unfair. Teams change, for a recent example look at Midd right now. The seniors that graduated last year (Campbell, Smolyar etc.) were loud and brash on the court. I AM NOT SAYING they were unsportsmanlike, just that Midd’s on-court persona has changed over the past year, and illustrates why labeling a team as loud (or to a much harsher degree unsportsmanlike) is unfair for the most part.

        2. Fan of D3Integrity and D3AtlanticSouth

          Thanks for responding – the blog is so much fun with this kind of positive dialogue. I agree entirely that teams should not be labelled as anything, that each individual should be considered by his/her own actions. If any coaching staff was encouraging hooking or other unsportsmanlike behavior, that would be a fair part of any discussion and I believe athletic directors would be well served to know whether or not integrity is being taught at their schools. Like I said before, this is not a comment on any particular coach or school, but a general feeling that the blog could do a good service to college tennis and the development of quality kids by bringing to light if there are any bad actors out there. Maybe there are not any. I just don’t know. My main point is that the integrity of the game is enormously important and I am happy to see the blog is not ambiguous about that in any way.

  2. Kames

    Vlad will lose 1 and 1 to kerrigen let’s be real real

    1. D3AtlanticSouth

      tell that to Zack Ekstein

    2. Phil

      @OldTakesExposed

    3. D3AtlanticSouth

      good call bro

  3. Tx D3 Rising

    Vlad, Fagundes & Hull as un-seeded dark horses who could (or should) win 2 rounds.

    1. Tx D3 Rising

      Oops, if Vlad wins first round he’d play winner of Jemison vrs Leung in second round. (never mind 🙂 )

      1. Donald

        Who believe that Jonathan Jemison is not a top 8 player?

    2. Donald

      If you think Hull as an un-seeded is bad. Remember that Emory and this team is 4 for 4 on Fall D3 champions, Indoor champ, NCAA champ. The number 1 & 2 are in this draw. I can see them going 5 of 5 with the two meeting in the finals here. Jemison will surprise you with his ability to stay in and win hard matches. The double team can get on a run as well. Yes I am a homer, but I followed them closely and think they are that good.

    3. Tx D3 Rising

      Well I was 0-3 on that those dark horses. (Although Fagundes and Vlad played well in tight ones). But I did pick Schoeber in an upset (Schoeber and Fagundes always fight like hell in big matches).

      I’m thinking that picking a CMS or Emery player (after yesterday’s final) is a total crapshoot. Look what happened to Hull and Manji….and even the talented Jemison and Parodi had to find a 4th & 5th gears to barely win in 3 sets against rested “grizzled veterans” with game.

  4. tiki

    @D3 Northeast: What are your thoughts on dark horses now that the bracket is out? I think Vlad Murad could put a scare into anyone, especially given his late season ascendancy.

    1. D3 Northeast

      I totally agree with you, Tiki! We will actually have some analysis on the individual bracket coming out later tonight, and I have already listed Vlad as one of my sleepers! Check back later for a roundtable type article with many bloggers giving their takes on the singles draw!

Leave a Comment