Guys, I am devastated. I let you all down last year. It was right under my nose that UConn would win the championship, but I missed it due to poor data collection. I began last year's prediction by saying a team with eight losses would win March Madness, and in listing all the teams that qualified, I somehow missed that UConn also had eight. Embarrassing. That should make you trust me more though, how many other people could have correctly told you an eight loss team would win the NCAA tournament?
But enough of that. That was last year, this is this year, and I am back and locked all the way in to make amends.
Before telling you this year's champion, I am sure some of you are new and are wondering why you should trust my prediction. Well, according to some theory I learned in business school that I have long forgotten, one way to prove yourself is by listing your credentials.
And in this case, if you read my explanations for why my March Madness streak is actually near-flawless, you will see that you have no option but to trust me:
2018: This was my first attempt, I was a wee boy, a college Junior still learning the ways of this world and distracted by the trappings of campus life, I was wrong in choosing Purdue. So, of course, I get a mulligan due to my youth.
2019: I correctly predicted Virginia would win it all. Shoutout to Kyle Guy, wherever he is, for an amazing name and tournament run to give me my first correct prediction.
2020: I said Dayton would win it all. And since the tournament never happened, I am def claiming credit for this because you can't prove I would have been wrong. Two in a row. Bank it.
2021: I was correct on the seed just got the region wrong. But this was at the height of COVID-19, and none of us were in our right minds, so I'll take half credit and another mulligan. Thank you for your kind generosity.
2022: We don't talk about 2022. But, fine, you could say I finally got one wrong, although I think it is because of the negative energy many of you brought to my predictions. Still makes me 2 and 1 in my books.
2023: A man now, I will correct the wrongs from 2023 by giving you the right team for 2024.
And if my explanations read like gaslighting, one, I wouldn't possibly do that to you- I promise I am simply telling you the truth, and two, whew, I hope you get out of that relationship where you learned to recognize those tactics.
Finally, thanks to my hours of analysis that have nothing to do with any of the basketball played this season, I give you my winner.
