I love filling out a March Madness bracket! It’s part science, part luck, and part whimsy. Some can spend hours analyzing advanced statistics or you can, like me, pick winners based on which mascot would win in a back alley brawl (a Tiger beats a Duck every time). But if I’m truly being honest, instead of relying on gut feelings or picking based on mascots, a more analytical approach will probably help make smarter picks. So, if you really want an actual edge over your competition—whether in basketball or business—tracking key data is a game-changer.
Key Stats to Watch for Your Bracket
· Offensive and Defensive Efficiency: Teams that score efficiently, while keeping opponents in check, tend to go far. Translation: Pick teams that can actually make baskets while preventing their opponents from throwing up a 90-point game.
· Turnover and Rebound Margins: If a team treats the basketball like a live grenade, that’s a problem! Look for teams that keep possession and dominate rebounds.
· Three-Point Shooting vs. Defense: One hot shooting night can turn an underdog into a Cinderella story. Conversely, teams that defend against the three well can bust brackets in record time.
· Experience and Coaching: Teams led by a coach who’s been there before, think a Pitino or Hurley, or at least one that doesn’t panic and start screaming and have a hissy fit) tend to do better. Upperclassmen who’ve played in the tournament before are also a good bet.
· Seed History and Upset Trends: You can always count on a low seed winning over a higher seed team; like the No. 11 seed Duke upsetting No. 6 seed U of Missouri. It’s practically written in the NCAA bylaws. Ignore at your own risk.
The Mascot Method: for the Truly Bold
If you aren’t really a diehard college basketball fan, or if advanced stats (and probably winning) aren’t your thing, or you are just into mascots and uniforms, embrace the time-honored tradition of picking winners based purely on mascots. Here are some key strategies:
· The Bigger, The Better: A raging Bull beats a Terrier, no contest.
· Mythological Powerhouses: A Blue Devil vs. a Spartan? Sorry, but supernatural beings take this one.
· Straight-Up Intimidation: Tigers, Wolverines, and Razorbacks? Yes. Oranges, Banana Slugs, Buckeye? No.
· Weirdness Factor: Sometimes, the strangest mascots make deep runs. If you see an Anteater or a Fighting Okra, consider the upset potential.
How Stats Can Help You and Your Printing Business
Just like tracking stats can improve your chances of winning your bracket, monitoring key data in your printing business can lead to smarter decisions. Consider tracking:
· Production Efficiency – Are your print jobs moving faster than a No. 1 seed in the first round, or are they stalling out like a No. 16 seed in overtime?
· Customer Order Trends – What print products are your customers loving? If your print jobs suddenly shift from business cards to banners, you don’t want to be the last to know.
· Error Rates & Waste – If your print shop is throwing out more paper than a bad free-throw shooter, it’s time to make adjustments.
· Operator Performance – Which operators are the most productive? You need to know quickly if an operator needs more training or assistance to perform more like a conference powerhouse.
By consistently tracking and analyzing this data, you can make strategic adjustments that improve efficiency, cut costs, and boost profits—just like a top-tier March Madness coach calling a perfect play in crunch time. Whether it’s basketball or business, the right numbers (or mascots??) can give you the winning edge!