The final first round matchup of the 2012 Busted Mug Championship is here. Much like the NCAA tournament, the BMC so far has been a mixed bag of chalk and upsets. Some upsets are more shocking than others. I'd put Carlos Lopez (4) of UNLV over Darryl "Truck'" Bryant (1) in the same category as Lehigh over Duke or Norfolk State over Missouri. That, though, is why they play the games.
The 2 v. 3 matchup in the Miller Region on March 16 was a more minor upset. UNC's Tyler Zeller beat out Marquette's DJO in a blowout not indicative of the closeness of the matchup. Of all the first round contests, I think that these two participants where the closest in all out fugliness.
The final BMC first round matchup takes place where we started, in the Greg Ostertag region. Let's meet the players.
Name: Khem Birch (2)
Team: C, University of Nevada Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels by way of Pittsburgh Panthers.
Busted Stats: Birch makes the field by virture of an NCAA worthy loophole in the BMC rules. Normally only one contestant per school is allowed and the aformentioned Carlos Lopez already represents the Runnin' Rebs. But since Birch started the season with Pittsburgh, he and his bullet head were allowed in the field.
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Name: Matt Stainbrook (3)
Team: C, Western Michigan Broncos
Busted Stats: The person who nominated Stainbrook felt that he was underseeded because, apparently, Jay Bilas called him "Mrs. Doubtfire" on national television. I somehow doubt Western Michigan was ever on national television.