From: Andy

Date: 16-MAR-1995

Hello to everyone out there in basketball land.

It's that time of year again.  The birds are singing, the Clippers are losing, and there's hope in Westwood.  Here's the first installment of the NCAA pool update.  It's a bit past 12:30 PM on the first day of the tournament and we already have some major upsets.  Arizona's going home early again.  I guess that means the rest of the Pac-10 will do well this year (more hope in Westwood).  In case you haen't noticed, every year that the Wildcats lose in the first round every other team in the Pac-10 does well in both the NIT and NCAA tournament.  Last year, 'Zona went to the final four and every Pac-10 team lost in the first round of the NIT or NCAA.  So far this year, Arizona has lost and Washington State won their first round NIT game.  So far, so good.

Also, Oklahoma is taking an early Spring break.  For those who picked either of these two teams to go far (and I do remember seeing Arizona deep in some of the predictions), better luck tomorrow.

Now for the rules of the pool (which you can no longer get out of despite choosing Arizona and Oklahoma)...

There are a total of 11 entries [so far].  The entry fee is $10 per person.  First place will be awarded $65, second will get $30, third place earns $15, and fourth place gets to contemplate where they went wrong.

Points will be awarded as follows...

     Round   Points per correct answer

        1               2

        2               3

        3               4

        4               6

        5               8

        6               12

Highest score wins (obviously).

And since there have already been a couple of major upsets in the frsit round, the Brian Clause^TM will be put into effect.  The clause states that if you incorrectly choose all 32 first round games, you're $10 entry fee will be refunded out of pity.  Also, you will be barred from all future basketball pools.  I hope we don't have to use this.

Additional updates will come after every round.  Watch the games, have fun, and do your best Dick Vitalle imitation when Bob Myers slams home his eighty point of the year versus Florida International.

I hope the Bruins don't follow in the footsteps of Arizona,

Andy

[email protected]

P.S. The information about Arizona and Oklahoma was taken off the internet minutes after the end of each game, so I hope the scores are correct.