Grading is complete for round two of Member Mayhem. The stage is now set for the Sweet 16, where essay length will increase to 250 words, and the competition is sure to heat up!
The next round of essays are due at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Check out the updated Bracket and Message Board for match-ups.
Full grading for the second round is below.
EAST
Dookisevil (UNC)
The ability to adapt to a player that was not their primary nor secondary point guard late in the season, due to injuries. UNC re-worked their style of play while Lawson was out for six games, and Thomas was at the helm. Many teams would have suffered a downward spiral that was unrecoverable; Carolina however, overcame this dagger, by going 5-1 during this stretch. Utilizing their deep bench and ability to forge ahead and work together, enabled them to win the ACC regular season outright, and the ACC Championship, earning them the overall #1 seed in the tournament.
Grading:
Words: 98
Passion: 15
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 3
Penalty: 0
Total: 69
HogsRoll07 (Arkansas)
Why did my team make it to the big dance? In words that only Razorback Nation can understand, these aren’t baby pigs, these are full-grown Hogs. In today’s age of college hoops, it’s rare to see a team with as many Seniors as the Razorback team puts on the floor. The reason why the Hogs are dancing into March is because of Weems, Townes, Thomas, Hunter, Ervin, and Hill. These Razorbacks bring the fire, the heart, and the desire to win every time they hit the court; as many of them are playing for their last 40 minutes. Give ‘em Hell in Raleigh men!
Grading:
Words: 104
Passion: 19
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 17
Penalty: 0
Total: 88
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Doodlebugger (Notre Dame)
Wow, the biggest reason Notre Dame is (was) in the tournament!!! The dynamic duo of Harangody and Brey. Luke Harangody was the Big East POY as a sophomore with 22.4 ppg and 11.9 rpg. Meanwhile Mike Brey was the Big East COY for the second consecutive year (a remarkable achievement in any circumstances, but truly amazing given the presence of Jim Boeheim, Jim Calhoun, Rick Pitino and Bob Huggins in the league. Brey's handling of the young Harangody and the sharp shooting, but previously suspended, Kyle McAlarney led to only the third 24-win regular season in ND history. Here's looking to 2008-09.
Grading:
Words: 102
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 15
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 7
Penalty: 0
Total: 73
IamTheMan (Winthrop)
Seniors led this squad, no doubt! With the loss of 3 starters last year in a very good Winthrop team many wondered how this year would go. With the help of Chris Gaynor, Taj McCullough, and Michael Jenkins, this team proved everyone wrong and once again was crowned Big South champions. Not even picked to finish 3rd in the preseason, this team was on a mission from the very beginning. With Gaynor leading the team is assists, Jenkins led the team with the 3 ball. Taj though was the glue that held everyone together leading the team in points and heart!
Grading:
Words: 101
Passion: 16
Creativity: 16
Clarity: 13
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 13
Penalty: 0
Total: 75
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Dormanium (St. Joseph’s)
Grading:
Words: 0
Passion: 0
Creativity: 0
Clarity: 0
Knowledge: 0
Voting: 6
Penalty: 0
Total: 6
Cardfan Drewski (Louisville)
Is Louisville worthy of March Madness because of David Padgett, A 6'11 post-man amongst post-boys; a teacher seems to win his position every time?
Is Louisville worthy of March Madness because Rick Pitino motivates Earl Clark (skills!), Edgar Sosa (talent!), and Terrance Williams (athleticism!) to buy in to our system...?
No.... those are not the only reasons...
We, Louisville, are not about one man;
We, Louisville, are about not holding back.
We, Louisville, choose to play great defense.
We, Louisville, are a team amongst individuals.
We, Louisville, beat our opponents as a team.
We, Louisville, choose to win.
And we will win.
Thus God blesses and rivals Envy.
Grading:
Words: 108
Passion: 19
Creativity: 19
Clarity: 13
Knowledge: 16
Voting: 14
Penalty: 0
Total: 81
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Misteright1 (Dayton)
Dayton's season this year was like a Jekell and Hyde horror movie. Dayton started out 13-1 rolling over ranked teams like Pittsburg, Louisville, and others before inuries to Freshman sensation Chris Wright and Charles Little and the Flu bug that went through the whole team in mid January. This resulted in them losing 8 of their next 12 and finishing 20-9. First Team A-10 Senior player Brian Roberts proceeded to put the team on his back and has carried them to where they are in Round # 2 (NIT) as we speak! If not for the mid-season injuries, this team would have went deep into the NCAA Tourney!
Grading:
Words: 108
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 12
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 10
Penalty: 0
Total: 74
Awvols1985 (Tennessee)
Shirts off ! . . . I mean, hats off to Coach Bruce Pearl and his staff on transforming Tennessee's basketball team into legitimate contenders in this years NCAA Tournament. Experience mixed with a never give up attitude has become the recipe for success in puting the VOLS at 30 -4 with a shot at the National Championship ! Tennessee's senior leadership and poise has proved to be the deciding factor in big wins over 11 March Madness Members ( including American ), 6 of which are still in the field of 32.
Hungry VOLS ?. . . Why wait!
Grab a Butler Bulldog for win number 12 !
Grading:
Words: 109
Passion: 17
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 12
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 10
Penalty: 0
Total: 75
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MIDWEST
Pinktoad (Portland State)Portland State’s best quality is TEAMWORK. I was going to say heart as well, but that is not a measurable quality. Most everyone at this level has heart and heart can only get you so far. The talent and ability has to exist to get to the next level regardless how high year heart. Portland State plays great together. They have an incredible inside-out game with Morrison in the paint kicking out to the perimeter players. With Dominguez (MVP) running the show, this team works great together. Even the bench contributes.