SPORTS
One Game Away From Bracket Glory
USATue Apr 08 2025
The world of college basketball is full of surprises. One person got incredibly close to predicting every single game correctly in the women's NCAA Tournament. This person was just one game away from a perfect bracket. The game that slipped through their fingers was when South Dakota State, a team seeded 10th, beat Oklahoma State, seeded 7th, by a score of 74 to 68. This happened on March 22.
The outcome of this game didn't get much attention. After all, South Dakota State had to face the eventual national champion, Connecticut, next. But for the person who had a perfect bracket, this was a big deal. It's almost unimaginable to get every single game right in a tournament like this.
The NCAA has crunched the numbers. The odds of predicting every game correctly are astronomical. They stand at 1 in 9. 2 quintillion. That's a number so big, it's hard to wrap your head around. The chances of finishing with just one incorrect pick are not computed. But it's safe to say, it's still incredibly difficult.
So, what does this all mean? It shows just how unpredictable college basketball can be. Even the best predictions can go wrong with just one game. It's a reminder that anything can happen in sports. And it's a testament to the skill and luck involved in making bracket predictions.
The person who came so close to a perfect bracket should be proud. They got more right than almost anyone else. And who knows? Maybe next year, they'll get that perfect bracket. But for now, they can look back on this tournament with a mix of pride and disappointment.
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questions
How does the unpredictability of the women's NCAA Tournament compare to the men's tournament?
How often do participants in the CBS Sports Bracket Challenge come close to a perfect bracket?
What statistical methods could be used to improve the accuracy of bracket predictions?
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