Tournament Format:

Participating teams enter the Cooper Invitational seeded 1-16 based on league record, strength of schedule, national ranking, perceived talent level, and, where possible, head-to-head results. In Thursday’s Round 1, the highest seed will face the lowest seed with subsequent games following the same pattern (1 vs. 16; 2 vs. 15; 3 vs. 14, etc.). Round 1 winning teams will advance to Tier I, while Round 1 losing teams will advance to Tier II. Once Tiered, teams will play out the remaining three games of the Invitational within that Tier. No Tier I team will drop to Tier II; no Tier II team will advance to Tier I.

Bracket-ology 101:

You must select the entire Tier I bracket from the opening round through the Championship. For purposes of this BRACKET-Challenge, consider Tier I as a single elimination tournament like the NCAA March Madness. Choose the eight winners from Round 1; the four winners from the Quarterfinals that will advance to the Semifinals; the two winners from the Semifinals that will advance to the Tier I Championship game; the Tier I Champion, and the total points to be scored in the Championship game (points will only be used for purposes of a tiebreaker). In addition, you must also select the Tier II Champion, and the total points to be scored in the Tier I and Tier II Championship games (points will likewise only be used for purposes of a tiebreaker).

Point System:

• 6 pts Round I
• 12 pts Quarterfinals
• 20 pts Semifinals
• 38 pts 2011 Cooper Invitational Champion
• 26 pts Tier II Champion

Submission Deadline:

All brackets must be submitted by 12:00 Noon CST on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Any brackets received after that time will be voided.

Reporting:

Reports indicating the leading brackets with best point totals will be updated nightly.

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place brackets.

FINAL Bracket Challenge Standings: