General Help

If you are having difficulty using the site, please check through this list of frequently asked questions to try to resolve your issue.

If you still can't resolve your problems, feel free to contact support@hoopschallenge.com. Please include as much information as possible about your issue.

1. General Help

1.1 Why am I getting an error when I try to register?
Check to ensure that you are fully and accurately completing all fields marked with an asterisk.
1.2 When I click 'Register' after filling in the registration information, the page reloads as if I am supposed to enter something else. Why?
Again, make sure that you have filled in all required fields (fields marked with an asterisk) accurately.
1.3 Why do I need a user name?
You only need it to be able to login to the site.

2. Leagues and Picks Help

2.1 What is the difference in registering and joining a league?
When you register, you are registering for the hoopschallenge.com site. This will give you access to the Hoopschallenge game and other features of the hoopschallenge site. You MUST first register for the site before you can play the Hoopschallenge game. Registration is quick, painless and best of all free. Joining a league is necessary only to play the Hoops Challenge.
2.2 Why do I have to join a league?
The leagues are created for your benefit. With the scoring system that is being used, even in a group of twenty players, several ties will occur. If leagues were not used, too many people would tie with each other and the game would not be as fun.
2.3 Should I create a public league or a private league?
A group of people who want to compete only with themselves should have a private league so that only those with the password to the league can join. If you do not want to place this restriction on the league, you can create/join a public league.
2.4 Can I join more than one league?
The site is not designed to allow more than one entry per person in a league. This will likely be changed in the 2009 Hoops Challenge. If you wish to be part of more than one league, you must create an additional account. The site now permits multiple accounts using the same email address. There is also a 'Logout' button which makes switching between different accounts more convenient.
2.5 Can I create a league but not join it?
No, the system automatically adds you to your league when you create it.
2.6 Can I delete a league I created?
No, you may join a different existing league or create a new league. When the contest begins, any leagues with 0 players are automatically deleted by the system.
2.7 How can I find out who is registered for a league?
You can click on the league name on the 'List Leagues' page. This will list all of the users in that league.
2.8 Can I only play only the Final Four round or do I have to play the entire game?
You must choose a winner for every game, not just the Final Four.
2.9 Why does it say my picks are '*INCOMPLETE*' even after I chose a winner for every game?
Make sure that you clicked 'Saved Changes' before leaving the region/Final Four editor. Also make sure you've entered your guess for the total number of points scored in the Championship game. This guess is located on the Final Four editor screen.
2.10 Why are my changes to my tournament picks not being saved?
You must click 'Save Changes' before leaving a page to save the changes. Otherwise, the changes will not be saved.
2.11 Can I change my picks?
Picks can be entered and modified from midnight Selection Sunday until the tipoff of the first tournament game. Once the first game begins, picks cannot be changed.

3. Scoring

3.1 How is the game scored?

Contestants are awarded points for each correct pick, with more points being awarded for correct picks in the later rounds. Points will be awarded as follows:

Round Points per correct pick
Round of 32 1
Sweet Sixteen 2
Great Eight 4
Final Four 8
Semifinal 12
Championship 16

In addition to round points, upset points will be awarded for correctly picking upset wins. Upset points awarded are equal to the round the upset occurred in.

For example: You correctly picked the #8 seed to beat the #1 seed in the second round. You are awarded 2 points for the round and an additional 2 points for the upset, totalling 4 points.

The contestant with the most points at the end of the contest term will be declared the contest winner. Tiebreakers shall be determined by the following criteria in order of precedence:

  • Most correct picks
  • Most upset points
  • Closest guess to the total number of points scored in the Championship Game
3.2 How can I find out how I'm doing compared to everyone else registered?
Once the contest has started you will automatically be presented with your league standings when you go to the Hoops Challenge page. Also on this page is a link to the Leaderboard. The Leaderboard shows the top 25 players in the contest along with your current overall ranking.
3.3 How can I find out how I'm doing compared to others in my league?
This information is automatically presented to you when you go to the Hoops Challenge page after the contest has begun.
3.4 How can I find out how my league is doing compared to other leagues?
Once the contest has started, the 'List Leagues' page will show the average score for all players in each league. You can sort on this field to compare the leagues.
3.5 Does Hoops Challenge award prizes?
Sorry folks... No prizes this year. Sponsorship for this site is still too low to support prizes.