Are You Ready for the Wildcat Challenge?

Jay Keane and Joe Maiella know basketball. Each led his respective Wilmington High School team to the North Division 2 postseason, and each is well respected among players and peers.

So the question that Wilmington Patch wants to know is simple. Whose basketball IQ will translate better from the hardwood to the bracket?

We’ve asked Keane, the coach of the Wilmington girls basketball team, and Maiella, the boys basketball mentor at the school, to fill out an NCAA men’s basketball March Madness bracket to settle this score once and for all (or at least until next year).

Tuesday’s play-in games aren’t going to count towards the brackets, so the points will start adding up with games that tip off on Thursday.

In order to keep track of points, there will be a standard scoring system that awards points in the following way: 

• First Round: One point per correct pick
• Second Round: Two points per correct pick
• Sweet 16: Four points per correct pick
• Elite Eight: Eight Points per correct pick
• Final Four: 16 points per correct pick
• National Championship: 32 points for the correct pick

Before the first game tips off on Thursday, we’ll provide you with a look at each coach’s bracket. Let us know who you think will win and why.

In addition, we want to have a peek at your own bracket. Let us know in the comments section how your bracket looks, or e-mail us a screen shot, photo or PDF of your bracket. We’ll even tally up how you’re doing and post it on the site.

Make sure to check back with Patch throughout the tournament. We’ll keep you up to date on the competition between Coach Keane and Coach Maiella. We may also have a special prize for the winner. You’ll have to check back and see.

Enjoy the tournament. In the words of legendary NCAA basketball announcer Dick Vitale, “It’s awesome, baby!”