{"id":10483,"date":"2017-03-15T21:00:16","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T21:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2017\/03\/15\/nprs-facebook-audience-picks-villanova-as-ncaa-mens-basketball-champions\/"},"modified":"2017-03-15T21:00:16","modified_gmt":"2017-03-15T21:00:16","slug":"nprs-facebook-audience-picks-villanova-as-ncaa-mens-basketball-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/nprs-facebook-audience-picks-villanova-as-ncaa-mens-basketball-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"NPR's Facebook Audience Picks Villanova As NCAA Men's Basketball Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Joe Ruiz<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
Enlarge this image<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

\n Kris Jenkins (2) of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning 3-pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ronald Martinez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/b>hide caption<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

toggle caption<\/b><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Ronald Martinez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Whether you’re a Bobcat, Colonial, Catamount or Bulldog, there’s nearly no doubt you’ve heard of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that kicks off in full on Thursday.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, we asked NPR’s Facebook audience to pick all 67 games of the NCAA Tournament, and you came through, ultimately picking the Villanova Wildcats to repeat as men’s basketball champions. You can watch the broadcast in the videos attached to the story.<\/p>\n

[embedded content]<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The second video is every pick from the second round until the national championship game.<\/p>\n

[embedded content]<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

You can see the bracket chosen solely by our Facebook audience below. Judging by the comments, the audience picked based on basketball knowledge, uniform colors, mascot strength and other criteria. During the broadcast, we offered up mascot matchups between teams: Would you choose a wildcat over a cavalier? (to represent the Villanova vs. Virginia game)<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

\n The NPR audience bracket selections<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

NPR<\/p>\n

<\/b>hide caption<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

toggle caption<\/b><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

NPR<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Frankly, there were so many emoji picks that we lost count, but rest assured that more than 200,000 people saw the stream and could participate if they so chose. We’re thankful for all of you who did. Over the combined 2 1\/2-hour broadcast, our Facebook audience ultimately ended up with a fairly favorite-heavy bracket.<\/p>\n