KC

I felt as if the constructor really struggled with this one, and it made the solve a struggle as well. Mondays are often fast and fun. Not today. Most awkward answer: oneseed. No one calls it that. Clue was awkward too. My edit: Number one rank in a sports bracket TOPSEED The wordplay blog did a noble job of describing the puzzle, especially MCI. I am not a younger solver and I didn't know it either. Makes me wonder how the editors feel when they knowingly publish an awkward puzzle, especially on a Monday. This one took more than double my Monday solve time.