Wamp leads Kelley in NCAA bracket choices

Only 16 teams remain in each of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament brackets, and one mayor’s predictions — in the men’s competition, at least — have proved to be much more accurate than the other’s.

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, after posting a 22-10 record in the first round, predicted 13 of the final 16 teams in the men’s bracket correctly.

As for the city’s head of government, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has just six of the final 16 remaining.

In the women’s bracket, Kelly’s predictions have fared better as 11 of the 16 remain for him in that tournament. That’s better than Wamp’s predictions for the women’s bracket as the county mayor did not send any picks for the women’s tournament to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Three of Kelly’s Final Four picks in the men’s tournament — Drake, a No. 10 seed; Saint Mary’s, a No. 5 seed; and Kentucky, a No. 3 seed — were all eliminated in the first round.

His fourth pick for the final, No. 2 seed Tennessee, remains in play. Kelly predicted the Volunteers to cut down the nets in the championship game.

All of Wamp’s Final Four picks in the men’s bracket — No. 1 seeds Connecticut, North Carolina, Houston and No. 2 seed Tennessee — have yet to be eliminated. The county mayor has Connecticut prevailing over the Volunteers in the final game.

As for the women’s tournament, Kelly has three of his Final Four left as No. 1 seed South Carolina, No. 4 seed Gonzaga and No. 1 seed Iowa all advanced to the Sweet 16.

In the final game, the city mayor has undefeated South Carolina claiming victory over Iowa, a team led by all-time leading NCAA scorer Caitlin Clark.

Sweet 16 games for the men’s tournament begin on Thursday, and the women’s tournament resumes Friday.