Stats Showdown

The sports world is filled with a massive amount of data. And figuring out how to analyze it can be a (literal) game changer. Players, coaches and front office staff build hypotheses, create algorithms and dissect the information to shape their performance both on and off the court, so we want to give teenagers across Indiana the same opportunity to use their critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork skills during the Nextech Stats Showdown.

Stats Showdown introduces Hoosier students to the exciting world of data science and data analytics through college basketball and the NCAA Tournament.

Data Science Bracket Competition

Middle and high school students will answer the question “What team in the NCAA (Men’s and Women’s) Tournament is going to win the most games throughout March Madness?” Student groups will use past tournament data to create an algorithm to predict the game winners throughout the tournament.The student groups that predicts the most winning basketball teams will WIN the competition and be crowned the Nextech Stat Showdown CHAMPION!

Quick Pick Data Challenge

The Quick Pick Data Challenge is a modified version of the Nextech Stats Showdown Data Science Bracket Competition built for K-8 teachers and their students to participate in a fun, real-world data science competition.

This pared-down competition strips away extra data from the regular competition and focuses on easy to understand data cards about each team. Student groups will analyze the data cards to see if they can find any patterns or trends as to what makes a basketball team in the tournament do well and then will ask themselves the question “What 4 teams in the NCAA Men’s Tournament do you think will make it to the Final Four once there are only 16 teams left?”

Winning Teams from 2025

Quick Pick Data Challenge:
- Elementary Division – Student Group: Toyle Sniffers from Brooke Denny’s class at HSE Intermediate / Junior High
- Middle School Division – Student Group: The Rebounders from Brooke Denny’s class at HSE Intermediate/ Junior High
NCAA Men’s Data Science Bracket Competition:
- Middle School Division – Student Group: Sorry High Schoolers from Brooke Denny’s class at HSE Intermediate / Junior High
- High School Division – Student Group: Staddies from Will Davis’s class at Castle High School
- Teacher Winner – Will Davis from Castle High School
NCAA Women’s Data Science Bracket Competition:
- Middle School Division – Student Group: Computer Junkies from Craig Morris’s class at Randolph Southern Jr-Sr High School
- High School Division – Student Group: Algorithmatitians from Ben Buehler’s class at Yorktown High School
- Teacher Winner – Brigham French from Fishers High School

Teacher Testimonials

The Stats Showdown was a great way to get kids thinking about what factors in data can be predictive towards results. It was really engaging for students to have something current and aligned to their interests to practice data analysis with!

Stats showdown is the ultimate must do for Indiana's Computer Science students! Bringing a March Madness competition to students that integrates creating an algorithm, using statistics and the structure of a bracketed tournament together is not only fun but the best in applied learning. I was shocked by how many of my students didn't even understand how a bracket tournament works.

The Stats Showdown is incredibly fun and engaging for my AP Statistics classes! I would suggest any math course to try and implement this into your curriculum if you have the time.

Stats Showdown Data Science Bracket Competition

Middle and high school students will answer the question “What team in the NCAA Tournament is going to win the most games throughout March Madness?” Teams will use past tournament data to create an algorithm that most accurately predicts the game winners throughout the tournament.

The team that predicts the most winning teams will WIN the competition and be crowned the Nextech Stat Showdown CHAMPION!

Stats Showdown Quick Pick Data Challenge

New this year, Quick Pick Data Challenge is a modified version of the Nextech Stats Showdown Data Science Bracket Competition built for K-8 teachers and their students to participate in a fun, real-world data science competition.

This pared-down competition strips away extra data from the regular competition and focuses on easy to understand data cards about each team.

The sports world is filled with a massive amount of data. And figuring out how to analyze it can be a (literal) game changer. Players, coaches and front office staff build hypotheses, create algorithms and dissect the information to shape their performance both on and off the court, so we want to give teenagers across Indiana the same opportunity to use their critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork skills during the Nextech Stats Showdown.

The Nextech Stats Showdown introduces Hoosier middle and high school students to the exciting world of data science and data analytics through college basketball and the NCAA Tournament.

Students will answer the question “What team in the NCAA Tournament is going to win the most games throughout March Madness?” Teams will be tasked with using past tournament teams’ data from the past year to create an algorithm that most accurately predicts the game winners throughout the tournament.