Hubbard Woods (not named for Wolverines legend Phil Hubbard) is not any less efficient today or tomorrow due to the first round of the NCAA tournament. Even though the IT guy set up the brackets, it doesn’t seem like there is as much buzz as in the past.

Because tomorrow is my last day, I don’t feel as connected to the brackets. I also don’t have the usual horse in the race. Despite that fact, the emotional detachment isn’t making picking winners any easier.

Regardless of the genre or tone, most publications have devoted some print to the tournament and how fans should feel about it and how to bet it. Most people that root for the underdog by default didn’t attend (or currently attend) a big-name program. Some fans root against the bluebloods out of default spite and others do so to benefit their bracket selections. Like most passionate fans of specific schools, I don’t root for certain perceived underdogs (those with huge endowments) despite the media’s lead.

For whatever reason, my circles of friends seem less interested in running pools this year and I’m not really disappointed. Were any of the games being played closer to home, my interest would be piqued. For now, I’ll wait for something interesting to happen. I expect today’s two Cinderellas to garner pages of ink. Good for them and their fans.