Lunardi predicts the field for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. His projections — commonly known as “bracketology” — forecast which 68 teams receive bids, how they are seeded and where they are placed in the tournament bracket. Fans across the country rely on him not only to find out where their favorite teams will play and against whom, but also for his predictions on who might make the Final Four.

The event took place in the School of Communications’ Open-Air Studio as part of a live taping of the YouTube series “What’s Your Story?” Lunardi joined Nick Pietruszkiewicz, director of sports communications and journalism professor, to discuss how his bracket predictions evolved from a personal passion into a national brand.

Lunardi began his career in public relations before projecting brackets for ESPN in 1996. He reflected on the intensity of his work.

“I basically live in the same spreadsheet for five months,” Lunardi said. “I go to bed every night from November 1 to March 15 with a one-to-68 ranking of teams. My job isn’t just to be right on Selection Sunday as much as it is to provide meaningful content throughout the season for our readers, our viewers and our production people – because they’re counting on it.”

The unpredictability of the job adds to its excitement.

“Something outrageous is going to happen in the next few days, and I don’t even know what it is yet. That’s part of the thrill,” he added.

Yet the work also comes with scrutiny from fans, coaches, governors and nuns.

“I try not to take it too personally,” he shrugged. “I miss one team every year, maybe you’re the one. I like being recognized most of the time (but it is not like) if I don't see myself on TV today, it's a bad day. I just want to be right. And I want the time to study.”

About 50 students attended the event and had the chance to hear Lunardi’s insights firsthand.

“It was really great to hear from a professional like Joe Lunardi,” said Benjamin Winicki, a student from Colchester. “He was incredible. He’s someone like me, who was trying to get into the sports communications industry, and hearing his story was just amazing. He’s the best in his field.”

Students also had the opportunity to ask questions and receive tips on filling out their brackets ahead of the School of Communications Bracket Challenge.

“Joe Lunardi didn’t apply to be a bracketologist; he created the entire concept. And it’s not just him throwing darts at a board,” Pietruszkiewicz said. “There is data, lots and lots of data. How he arrives at each of those teams and what line they sit on — for an endeavor that is year-round but ramps up during the madness of March — is time-consuming and all-encompassing. So, yes, we’re going to talk basketball, but we’re also going to talk analytics, creativity and storytelling.”