ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Statistical Association today announced the second annual Statsketball Tournament, where high school and undergraduate students nationwide are invited to apply statistical techniques and thinking to determine outcomes of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
“The tournament is an interactive initiative that encourages students to use statistical methods for one of the most exciting sporting events of the year,” said ASA executive director Ron Wasserstein. “As the field of statistics continues to grow, we want students to see that statistics applies to many things, including March Madness.”
The contest tackles 68 teams and six rounds of games. The “Pick ‘Em”: Upset Challenge allows students to submit a list of 32 winners to the first-round games, based on statistical methodology. The “Build Your Own Bracket”: Draft Challenge provides students with 224 draft points to assemble a cohort of teams from the seeded participants. Points will be used to identify the top five teams or more, in the case of tied teams. Winners will be determined based on their essay, methodology, originality and creativity. Submissions are due by March 14.
Entries will be assessed by a team of judges, and the winners of the contest will be announced shortly after the 2018 NCAA National Championship game on Monday, April 2. Each winner will receive a prize package, including a $50 Amazon gift card, complimentary student membership to the ASA and a Statsketball Tournament t-shirt for each team member.
To learn more about the 2018 Statsketball Tournament, visit http://thisisstatistics.org/statsketball.
About the American Statistical Association
The ASA promotes the practice and profession of statistics. It is the world’s largest community of statisticians and one of the oldest continuously operating professional science associations in the United States. Since its foundation, it has supported statistical science through meetings, publications, membership services, education, accreditation and advocacy. Its members serve in industry, government and academia in more than 90 countries, advancing research and promoting sound statistical practice to inform public policy and improve human welfare. For additional information, please visit the ASA website at http://www.amstat.org.
