March sure can be maddening.

Every year, I turn in a bracket to my pools that I’m confident is a strong representation of what the NCAA Tournament will end up looking like.

Every year, I’m sent back to reality by my fiancee, my sister, and even my mother, who has been rumored to base her picks on such newfangled statistics such as uniform palette color and mascot meanness factor.

This year its Bellevue Reporter editor Craig Groshart who is handing me my latest bracket butt kicking.

Craig picked 24 of the 32 first-round games correctly, while I staggered in with a meager 22 correct picks.

Then came the second round, my chance to jump back into the thick of things. The only jumping I did was up from the couch in frustration, as game after game went against my picks.

As neither of us picked the Western Kentucky and San Diego upsets, I wasn’t worried about losing points thanks to the Hilltoppers or Toreros.

Unfortunately, I had a few gross first-round misfires that burned me again. Sure, I picked Duke to lose in the round of 32; too bad for me, I had them losing to Arizona, who couldn’t get past the Mountaineers of West Virginia in the first round.

I also didn’t have a lot of faith in Louisville. Craig did. D’oh.

Craig once again outpaced me in the second round, correctly picking 13 of the 16 games. I only picked nine right.

Hopefully I can pick up some steam in the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight.

Otherwise, next year I’m following mom’s guidelines and picking the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas to go all the way. They sound terrifying.

Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-4270 ext 5060 or at jwillits@reporternewspapers.com