Bracketville Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

The questions below all have been asked repeatedly over the years in emails from tournament aficionados in all corners of the globe.  I have decided that I can most effectively answer email questions to your satisfaction by ignoring emails that ask questions found in this FAQ.  So, I’m happy to answer emails about Bracketville, and usually do, but if the answer can be found here, I will probably ignore your email.

 

Actual emailed questions:

 

Q.  Can you send me all your data?  How about a text file of this?  Can I get your database?

 

A.  No.  If you really want it you will take it as provided.  Be thankful – I used to only provide graphic views of the brackets, but have since converted everything to XML.  So, if you have the spreadsheet skills necessary to actually do meaningful analysis with the bracket data, then converting a little XML will be no problem for you.  Also, if you plan to use these data in any commercial venture, I’m not going to hand you a gold mine on a silver platter.  Roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

 

Q.  How come you only go back to 1985?  Hasn’t the NCAA Tournament been going on way longer than that?

 

A.  The Tournament started in 1939 with 8 teams.  The latest expansion came in 1985 when the field expanded to 64 teams.  [As soon as one of the “play-in” teams beats a number one seed, then I will acknowledge the 65-team field currently in play.]  I have plans to reconstruct the all the NCAA brackets going back to 1939 – eventually.  Please realize that this is a labor of love, not a commercial venture.  I do this on my own time, which seems to be ever decreasing.

 

Q.  Your fonts are hard to read.  Why don’t you fix it?

 

A.  The site looks stunning in my browsers.  I prefer Firefox, but only Internet Explorer has the XML capability to display vertical text as of 2006.  I also have a huge assortment of installed fonts on the machines I use.  Until I have more time, you are stuck unless you install a wider variation of fonts on the machine you use for web browsing.  Just Google some “ttf” files and see what’s out there.

 

Q.  I found and error in your brackets! Why don’t you fix it?

 

A.  I make typing errors all the time, and often do not find them until you email them to my attention.  I will not respond to these emails, but I do track down the errors and fix them eventually.  Keep sending the emails.  I make wholesale changes in the winter – prior to March madness.

 

Q.  Where do you get your data?

 

A.  When I initially set up this website and started building the old brackets, there were myriads of web-based sources scattered all over the place that I culled and used to reconstruct the brackets.  These included old sports wire data, college websites, CBS, FOX, newspapers, USA Today, etc.  In the last couple of years, the NCAA has published a single volume that contains all the brackets.  Of course it is buried deep within their website, but you can get it directly on this link.

 

Q.  Can I link to your site?  How about a plug for …?

 

A.  No.  This site will remain ad and pop-up free.  I don’t want or need your click-thrus, and I am not a channel to drive business to your website.  Search this page for “labor of love”.  This is a fan’s dream site, not a commercial venture.  Just play the bracket contests and forget about trying to make a buck on this.

 

Q.  Can I get a job there?

 

A.  No.  This is a one-fan operation.