The Glimm started with black socks and baggy shorts, no-look passes and thunderous dunks and infectious swagger. It was 1992. I was in 8th grade. My sister was just accepted to the University of Michigan, and my first real introduction to college basketball was the Fab Five. I was quickly hooked.
When March came around, I wanted others to share my newfound college basketball addiction, so I started an NCAA tourney pool. About 15 of my friends at Robert E. Bell Middle School joined. Naturally, I picked Michigan, a lowly #6 seed, to win it all. They didn’t – but their shocking run to the nationally championship game was enough to propel me to championship in the first ever Glimm Memorial (before it was named the Glimm Memorial, of course).
I haven’t won the Glimm since. I haven’t come close.
I share this Glimm history for a simple reason: To assure you that no, I am not cheating. If the Glimm was rigged all these years, I would have come up with a better plan than a 27-year gap since my last title. But in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, I picked 29 of 32 games correctly in my Tim Whatley bracket, putting me squarely in contention.
I’m not in first place — Jason Kaden picked 26 of 32 games right in his Jiffo Tres bracket, but he correctly picked the biggest upset of first round, UC Irvine over Kansas State, to move one point ahead of me. But entering the second round of the tournament, i’m in good position.
I’ve got competition, including from some Kids Championship contenders: Eden Lazarus’s Eden Bracket and Brooklyn Rados’ TheDodgersFan bracket are in third and fourth place. 2016 Glimm Champ Kate Lord (Go To Hell Dook 4) and Nelson Hsu (Fear the Turtle) are tied for fifth place.
While there haven’t been any MAJOR upsets, some Glimmers have already seen their brackets take big blows. Seven have lost their champion, 12 have lost their runner-up and 40 have lost at least one Final Four team.
Only one person, though, has lost all four Final Four teams: Ben Berkowitz. His Dog Theory bracket (he picked all underdogs for the entire tournament) has him in 86th place, but with little room for improvement: Fifteen of his Sweet Sixteen picks have already lost.
The second round begins at noon ET today, so be sure to check theglimm.com for updates throughout the afternoon.
The Leaderboard (click here for full standings):
| Rk | Entry Name | Score | Upset Pts | Poss | Pick Pct. | Champion |
| — | The Results | 56.0 | 24.0 | 192.0 | 100.0% | |
| 1 | Jiffo Tres | 49.5 | 23.5 | 183.5 | 81.3% | MSU |
| 2 | Tim Whatley | 48.5 | 19.5 | 182.5 | 90.6% | Michigan |
| 3 | Eden’s Bracket | 47.0 | 22.0 | 173.0 | 78.1% | Duke |
| 4 | TheDodgerFans | 45.5 | 18.5 | 179.5 | 84.4% | Duke |
| 5 | Fear the Turtle | 45.0 | 18.0 | 181.0 | 84.4% | Duke |
| 5 | Go to Hell Dook 4 | 45.0 | 20.0 | 179.0 | 78.1% | N Carolina |
| 7 | CWB1 | 43.5 | 17.5 | 179.5 | 81.3% | Virginia |
| 7 | Eli Rosenberg | 43.5 | 17.5 | 165.5 | 81.3% | Florida |
| 9 | Arthur Whang 3 | 42.5 | 19.5 | 176.5 | 71.9% | Gonzaga |
| 9 | Diarmo2 | 42.5 | 20.5 | 168.5 | 68.8% | Duke |
| 9 | Jiffo Uno | 42.5 | 20.5 | 158.5 | 68.8% | Virginia |
| 9 | Sharat | 42.5 | 16.5 | 176.5 | 81.3% | Michigan |