The challenge was there, awaiting anyone brave enough to volunteer for the "Fox Sports Ohio" group in the Fox Bracket Challenge.
The gauntlet was tossed down. How did Ohio respond?
One hundred, yes, one hundred Ohio hoops fans had the iron resolve and the daring to attempt to "Beat the Pros". Will they suffer the certain doom that awaited Leonidas' brave three hundred, or will they end this tournament in glory?
We will see. First, though, it's time for the professional athletes, analysts, and journalists to step forward and announce their picks, recorded prior to the beginning of the tournament:
| NAME | East | West | Southwest | Southeast | Finalist | Finalist | Champion | All picks |
| Daniel Gibson | Ohio State | Texas | Kansas | Pittsburgh | Texas | Kansas | Texas | LINK |
| Luke Harangody | Ohio State | Duke | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | LINK |
| Campy Russell | Ohio State | UConn | Kansas | Kansas State | Ohio State | Kansas | Kansas | LINK |
| Dionne Miller | North Carolina | UConn | Kansas | St. John's | UNC | Kansas | Kansas | LINK |
| Sam Amico (FSO) | Ohio State | Duke | Notre Dame | Kansas State | Duke | Notre Dame | Duke | LINK |
| Zac Jackson (FSO) | Ohio State | Duke | Kansas | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | Kansas | Ohio State | LINK |
| Jeff Seemann (FSO) | Ohio State | Duke | Louisville* | Kansas State | Ohio State | Louisville* | Ohio State | LINK |
| Barry McBride (FSO) | Ohio State | UConn | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | LINK |
(* Editor's Note: Ouch)
As with poker, bracket players can have their own "tells". For example, Daniel and Luke come from Texas and Notre Dame respectively, which some may argue has had a subtle effect on their picks. Jeff Seemann, by contrast, is an unapologetic Ohio State Buckeye fan, which may have swayed him, although the Bucks come in as the top seed.
I, myself, am also an Ohio State alum, but have been conditioned by a lifetime of following Cleveland sports to expect a disastrous event to occur right on the precipice of glory. For example. my experience with the Browns and Indians would leave me to expect something like the basketball suddenly undergoing spontaneous deflation as Jared Sullinger drives for a winning lay-up in the final. Hence, my picking the Buckeyes to lose in the championship game.
Can the Pros be beaten? Some may say that the very notion is absurd, but we will let the experiment play out. Follow along over the next week, as we will update with scores from the Pros and from our FoxSports.com Bracket Challenge group throughout the tournament.
