NCAA Tournament Challenge
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Thursday, March 21, 2024
Welcome To The 2024 Chippens Tournament Challenge
Sunday, March 17, 2024
The 2024 Chippens Tournament Challenge
Greetings, Players!
You can now MAKE YOUR PICKS in the 2024 Chippens Tournament Challenge!
The rules this year are the same:
- Entry is free
- One bracket per person
- Must be old enough to make your own picks
- Deadline is NOON EASTERN / 11 AM CENTRAL THURSDAY, MARCH 21
- Prizes to the top three finishers!
Make sure to also read the FINAL RECAP from last season! And check out the updated ALL-TIME RECORDS!
HERE IS THIS YEAR'S GRAND PRIZE T-SHIRT!
UNSTUMPABLE
"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." -- Sir Edmund Hillary
"This achievement literally stands by itself." -- Mike Stump
Mike Stump has officially reached the mountaintop--twice. He has accomplished a feat many thought impossible in becoming the first and only two-time Chippens Tournament Challenge Champion. What many dream of accomplishing just once in their lifetime, Mike has done twice.
"A second Chippens Tourney win ranks right up there with the birth of my second child," Mike said. "It's a goal I set after winning my first Chippens Championship. Stick with it long enough, kids, and you can accomplish your goals!"
Mike's path to glory ran through UConn. He was one of only two players to select them as the 2023 champion.
"History has told me that if I correctly picked the champion I would have a chance," he said. "I was fortunate enough that UConn battled their way through the field and helped me secure victory."
Stumper's success isn't all pure luck, though. He did reveal his strategy relies a little bit on studying his fellow Chippens competitors and their tendencies, something he has had ample chance to do over 18 Chippens seasons.
"It always helps to know there is a lot of competition that will build in MSU to go far," he said. "It doesn't hurt to pick against some of the 'assumed field favorites' to pick up points."
Stumper's win moves him up to 2nd all-time in average points, 2nd in pick percentage, and 6th in average place. He retains his position as the all-time career leader in total points. He is now tied for the most top-10 and top-20 finishes all-time.
As for being a two-time champ and also a two-time father, it is heartening to know Stumper is properly training his little ones and inspiring them to greatness.
"I've hung my championship t-shirt up on the nursery wall so my daughter grows up knowing what a winner can accomplish," he said. "She falls asleep to 'One Shining Moment' every night as we recall the thrill of UConn winning the final game. Reliving the feeling of victory gives me the energy to get through midnight feedings and diaper changes."
We look forward with anticipation and a little trepidation at the next generation of formidable Stumpers battling in the Tournament Challenge.
Congratulations to Mike Stump, a (two-time) Champion for the Ages!
Other Notable Results:
- Congrats to Jake Willis and Michelle Reichenbacher for finishing second and third, respectively. It is the first time either has been "in the prizes" in the Modern Era. In fact, Michelle's previous best result was 48th place in 2010.
- Congrats to Travis Rogers for finishing in 4th--easily his best finish ever in 18 seasons.
- Following a 15-tourney hiatus, Greg Huffaker came back strong with a 6th place finish, beating his only other result, 22nd place in 2006.
- Jason Armstrong, in 5th, finished in the top 5 for the second time in four years.
- Congrats to Brandon Christol in 8th place. The former champ notched his 4th top-10 finish, tied for Stumper with the most ever.
- Daphne Corwin rounded out the top 1o with a strong sophomore performance. 10th place was a big improvement from her 93rd place freshman season. Daphne and Mackie Mo tied for highest pick percentage at 61.9% each. Mackie finished in 13th.
- In 19th place, Julie Thompson picked up her third top-20 finish in the last four seasons and 5th overall.
- Congrats to Adam Lombard for his 7th top 20 finish, Trevor Sierra for his 6th, and Jeff Vandellen for his 5th.
- Congrats to Pete Dabrowski for having perhaps the greatest least-successful-yet-completely-reasonable brackets of all time. He managed just 28 points with a 30.2% pick rate and of course finished last in 118th. This amazingly horrific result is despite putting a #1 seed, two #2 seeds, and one #8 seed in his Final Four and picking a 29-5 #2 seed to win it all.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
The 2023 Chippens Tournament Challenge
Sunday, March 12, 2023
The 2023 Chippens Tournament Challenge
GREETINGS!
You can now MAKE YOUR PICKS in the 2023 Chippens Tournament Challenge!!!
We have a different look this year, and there are sure to be some hiccups as we figure out the new system. So make your picks early and keep a copy for your records!
Once again, entry is FREE and there will be PRIZES for the winners.
Third place: Fridge magnet
Second place: Bumper sticker
First place: GRAND PRIZE T-SHIRT
This year's grand prize was designed by star artists ChaCha Corwin (front) and Daphne Corwin (back). This one of a kind collector's item can be YOURS, if you make your picks!
RULES:
1 bracket per person
Must be old enough to make your own picks
Deadline is noon eastern / 11 a.m. central Thursday, March 16.
Want this t-shirt? MAKE YOUR PICKS!!!
Saturday, July 30, 2022
WYLDER WINS
- Congrats to She Winns and politicalgrrl for getting second and third place, respectively. This is politicalgrrl's second consecutive top-5 finish, an accomplishment matched by only two other players in history. She Winns is in her fourth year of competition and now has two top-20 finishes. I believe she also had the biggest one-year improvement, up to 2nd from 98th last year.
- Another Winn, abbywinn, finished in 8th place as the Challenge's top rookie this year.
- Susu finished in 28th place, good enough to take over the top spot on the All-Time Average Place list. She couldn't beat J Willis, though, who finished 27th, beating Susu on the first tie-breaker. I'll let them decide who gets bragging rights for their respective accomplishments.
- Farther down the standings, BMac also edged out Beachy, 82nd place to 83rd place by virtue of the first tie-breaker. Beachy, who ranks 101/105 in the All-Time list, send in about 10 brackets this year so we know she was really trying! It wasn't quite enough to beat her husband, but neither of them will get household bragging rights as those belong to young Corvette Guy, who finished an impressive 39th in his Chippens debut.
- Ferris Mueller picked up his third top-12 finish in the last four years.
- Last year's defending champ, Jessica Crum, had another solid year picking up a 20th place finish.
- Benny and Make It Count also achieved top-20 finishes for the second year in a row.
- Of the early leaders Slinger, Budd Dwyer, and BoilerBaller, the Prideful Peacock of Purdue had the most staying power, finishing 6th. Dwyer notched 19th, and Slinger slipped to 64th.
- Finally congrats to the players smart enough to pick Kansas: the top three finishers along with MarliMazy (5th), MrsJT (7th), Candle Guy (10th), and The Chris (11th), PrunkenDicks (13th), and sydthekid (14th). Those are the top finishes ever for Marli and MrsJT. It's the second top-10 finish for Candle Guy, and The Chris just missed his fourth top-10 finish out of the last six. For Mr. Prunken, he snaps a streak of three straight finishes in the Century Club, the very bottom of the barrel. As for Syd, 14th place is only her third best finish ever.
Thursday, March 17, 2022
The 2022 Chippens Tournament Challenge
Greetings, Players!
First of all, congratulations on joining The Chippens Tournament Challenge. You are in for an exhilarating ride!
Click HERE for player listing, player picks, current standings, projected standings, and more!
Daily Recaps
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
Friends, another epic chapter begins in the Chippens Tournament Challenge. The storylines are emerging already, and on this first day of competition, hopes are high, and the possibility of glory is still within reach. Read on below to see what to watch for as the games unfold and destinies are determined.
Another Hero Returns
As I said last year, every year we have at least one player come back out of the wilderness and rejoin the Chippens fold. This year that player is The silver lake hero (M. Fowler).
"Hero" has three tournament results, the last being in 2009. His A-Frame Awesomeness, as he is known around the lake, finished 38th in 2009, 41st in 2007, and 35 in 2006. Not bad results, but of course the Tournament gets tougher every year.
Hero has chosen Iowa to be his own hero. He is one of just four players with the Hawkeyes advancing all the way to the title game. Foolish or Hawkeye-like vision? Time will tell.
Juwan Howard Smackdown
Two players have paid homage, or mockery, to that whole Juwan Howard haymaker incident--Juwan Howard's Right Hook (B. Brennan) and Juwan Howard's Sucker Punch (A. Kelly). These players have personal allegiances to Michigan and Michigan State. I'll let you guess from their respective descriptions of the incident which is which.
They each have wildly divergent interpretations of the bracket as well. Right Hook likes Kentucky over Arizona with Michigan advancing to the Elite 8 and Michigan State losing in the first round. Sucker Punch has Gonzaga over Tennessee with Michigan State advancing to the Sweet 16 and Michigan losing in the first round.
Will either of these players land a punch? Or will both be swings and misses? Last year Kelly started out strong and faded. Brennan, now in his 13th season, hasn't had a top 25 finish since his rookie campaign. But this year could always be the year!
Rookies
One of the Rules of the Chippens Tournament is you must be old enough to make your own picks. This year we have two rookies who have met that milestone, Daphne Dooster (D. Corwin) and ThatGuyOverInTheCorvette (W. McCall).
One thing about the younger players is they usually either go strictly by the book or just go wild, completely uninhibited and undaunted by things like seeding, records, conferences, etc. These two players seem to fit each category, respectively.
Corvette has the 1-2 matchup in each region in the Elite 8, all four #1 seeds in the Final Four, and an Arizona over Gonzaga final. If the tournament plays to chalk, as they say, Corvette will be speeding out to the front.
Dooster will need a big booster from Texas. She just seemed to like the name. She's the only player with Texas winning it all.
5-year Ringers
I always like to point out who's up for their 5-year rings. This year we have Con Man, MonsterTruc, Train, Lanfreak, and Bsnides earning their eligibility for the All Time Records!
Friday, March 11, 2022
The 2022 Chippens Tournament Challenge
The Chippens Tournament Challenge is back for its 21st year! We are ready for you to MAKE YOUR PICKS
The 21st running of the Chippens Tournament Challenge is sure to be another spectacular spectacle. There is a lot to share about this year's tournament so let's get to it.
The Final Year
I regret to say this will be the FINAL year of the Chippens Tournament Challenge in its traditional format. But don't get too sad yet. Let me explain. The good folks who make the Chippens Tournament Challenge software are retiring and closing their company. Chippens has used this software since 2002. This means in order to continue in 2023 we will need to find new tournament software. The search is on and we are hopeful we can find something for next year that is equal in quality to what we've been using for 20 years. In the meantime, enjoy this final run with Chippens Classic.
The Grand Prize T-Shirt
This year's Grand Prize T-Shirt, seen below, is just plums magnificent. This baller T will be more valuable than your family jewels! Win this t-shirt and you'll never walk into a room again without everyone going nuts!
Tournament Rules & Regulations
- The deadline to MAKE YOUR PICKS this year is Thursday, March 17 at 12:00 noon eastern time, 11 a.m. central. Games this year are back to their traditional Thursday schedule, so don't miss the deadline!
- As always, entry is FREE and there is a great lineup of prizes for the winners.
- First place will receive the Grand Prize T-Shirt and Eternal Chippens Glory.
- Second place wins a bumper sticker.
- Third place wins a fridge magnet.
- One entry per person. All entrants must make their own picks and be old enough to do so. Must submit a valid email address.
- If you want to change your picks, you can submit a new bracket or email me the changes. If you submit a second bracket, it will automatically supersede your first bracket.
GRAND PRIZE T-SHIRT