3/23/97, Issue # 10.4.2 "Jaybian II is dethroned"

    Like #1 Kentucky, #1 North Carolina blew a lead in the second half but came back with vengeance and stormed past #6 Louisville and into the Final Four for the 13th time.  UNC's victory eliminated defending champ JAYBIAN II from the top spot of this year's tourney, paving the way for a new HWCI NCAA Pool Champion.  JAYBIAN II still has a chance for third place.  MAX has rallied from 16 points down after 40 games and nine points down after three rounds to take the lead with 108 points. RODERICK and DUKE were eliminated.  Despite Alvin's BAD ASS I having ten more points than BAD ASS II, it's BAD ASS II which still has a chance for second place.  UNC's win assured no one would win the "Kind-of-Brian-Clause^tm" by having no wins in the last three rounds.

    #4 Arizona suffered another last minute collapse- this time a 10-pt lead with 3:30 left- and pulled out the victory once again.  #10 Providence, playing with pure heart, climbed back the hard way with the benefit of only one 3-pointer to tie the game.  Arizona played very sloppy and took quick unnecessary shots to give Providence hope.  Providence surprisingly made the free throws that counted- making the first and missing the second allowing for a rebound opportunity.  After Providence tied the score, Arizona hurried back down only to turn the ball over but Providence failed to capitalize.  Providence simply ran out of gas in the overtime.  They battled with what they had, but Arizona nearly made every shot... and still Providence nearly tied the game again.  Clearly, Arizona has the better chance of beating UNC in the semifinal, but the mistakes Arizona made were mistakes I've only seen in the ABL (women's league).  Costly turnovers, not running out the clock... you would think Arizona would learn from Kansas's attempted comeback the last game.

    BAD ASS II and BIX PIX now only have a chance for third place.  MAX wins money on all possibilities EXCEPT if UNC beat Minnesota in the Final.  The three people who picked 3 out of the 4 Final Four teams are at the top of the standings.  FRODO (1st, 109 pts), MAX (2nd, 108), and HENG (6th, 96) are the only three people who still have a chance at the First Place Prize of $125.  BIX PIX not only needs Minnesota in the Final (Gophers beating UNC, or facing Arizona), but needs to also win the tiebreaker if he wants third place.  Complete scenarios (all eight) will be posted tomorrow night.

FOR INFO:   http://www.themall.net/~hwci/ncaa

Status  Nickname (Name)

------  ---------------

3       BAD ASS II (alvin kim 2)

3       BIX PIX (fernando bustamante)

2       THE FLYING ELVI (brian selander)

         FRODO (todd smith)

         HENG (meng heng)

3       JAYBIAN II (jason selander)

         MAX (sean dumzer)

            2-Can't finish higher than 2nd

            3-Can't finish higher than 3rd

    Best record/most pts on Thu (Rnd 3):         4-0 3 tied (tied with 14 others)

    Worst record/least pts on Thu (Rnd 3):  1-3 4 tied (tied LOSER WHO DIDN’T PICK UCLA`95)

    Worst record/Least pts in Round 3:             2-6 (8) 4 tied (tied THE CHEF `96)

    Least points after Round 3:                           74 BUCKEYE MIKE (tied THE CHEF '96)

    Best record/Most pts on Sat. (Rnd 4):         2-0 (12) 3 tied (tied 17 others)

    Worst record/Least pts on Sat. (Rnd 4):     0-2 4 tied (tied 3 others)

    Best record/Most pts on Sun. (Rnd 4):        2-0 FRODO (prev. 1-1 6 tied)

    Worst record/Least pts on Sun. (Rnd 4): 0-2 5 tied (tied 25 others)

    Best record/Most pts in Round 4:                 3-1 (18) 3 tied (tied 3 others)

    Least points after Round 4:                           80 BUCKEY MIKE (tied THE CHEF '96)

* Leader after FIRST ROUND (64):                  52 BAD ASS I, DUKE

* Winner of SECOND ROUND (48):                33 JAYBIAN II

    Overall (112):                                    83 JAYBIAN II

* Winner of THIRD ROUND (32):                     20 BIX PIX, MAX, KARL CHILDERS

    Overall (144):                                    99 JAYBIAN II

* Winner of FOURTH ROUND (24):                 18 FRODO, MAX, THE FLYING ELVI

    Overall (168):                                    109 FRODO

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UNC is the Final Four every odd year this decade:  `91, `93, `95, `97...

Scott HW