Need a bracket bounce? Try these slam dunks

Everybody has their own way of filling out an NCAA tournament bracket.

But not everyone comes out a winner. Don’t worry. We got you. Here are tips to step up your bracket game:

Don’t let Cinderella out too late

Only four double-digit seeds have made the Final Four; one of them was

Teams on a mission

Check out our NCAA Tournament special section for all things hoops.

Syracuse in 2016. While your pool may award more points for upsets, be wary of how long you let Cinderella dance.

Early bird gets the worm

Since the NCAA went to the eightteam play-in game format in 2011, a qualifier has gone on to win at least one more game, and in three of the seven years a team has made it to the Sweet 16.

Understand your bracket scoring

Are upsets weighted more? Do correct picks multiply each round you’re right? Know the scoring system so you can avoid hate-picking your alma mater’s rival to lose too early.

Win, baby, win

Since 1992, nine of the teams to win the national championship also were regular-season and conference tournament champions. This year’s champs: Virginia, Kansas, Arizona, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Montana, Charleston, Pennsylvania, Buffalo, Loyola-Chicago, Murray State, Bucknell, UNC Greensboro, South Dakota State and New Mexico State.

Will this be the year a No. 16 seed upsets a No. 1 seed?

No. Moving on.

Working blue

Louisville is the only champion in the past 14 seasons that didn’t have blue as a school color. And look what happened to the Cardinals: The NCAA recently vacated that 2013 title.

How sweet it is

Since 1985, Duke has the most Sweet 16 appearances, 23, followed by North Carolina (22), Kansas (21), Kentucky (19) and Louisville (14). Louisville is the only team not in this year’s tournament.

Taking charity

Since 1985, when the tournament went to 64 teams, only eight winners have shot less than 70% at the freethrow line, and only one team has shot better than 78%. North Carolina shot 70.1% last season.

You need an I in “champion”

Since 1989, the title has been won by a coach with an “I” in his last name 22 times, including Roy Williams last season. Not since 1997 (Lute Olson) has a coach won without having an “I” in his name. Best bets to break that streak: Tony Bennett (Virginia), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Steve Alford (UCLA) and Bobby Hurley (Arizona State).