Thursday, March 22, 2001                      http://www.HWCI.com/ncaa
Issue # 9.3.1 "USC survivors, UCLA executed..."

2001 HWCI NCAA TOURNAMENT POOL
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LA MIRADA, CA (smt)-- #6E-USC jumped to a 31-10 lead before #2E- Kentucky woke up and held on to a 80-76 win to advance to the Elite 8. The Wildcats struggled to hit their free throws but came within one with 32 seconds left. USC was quickly outscored 22-5 at the beginning of the second half but never lost the lead. While Kentucky blew the game at the free throw line, #3W-Maryland hit most of theirs down the stretch to keep #10W-Georgetown at a distance, 76-66.

Jason Williams got 34 points to lead #1E-Duke past #4E-UCLA, 76- 63. Both teams had horrible first half (<30%) and great second half (>50%) shooting. UCLA, playing with foul trouble, came within six with nine minutes left before Duke started to pull away. #1W-Stanford also battled with #6W-Cincinnati (trailing at halftime) before the big men stepped up with a hard-fought 78-65 victory. Who would've thought USC would get to the Elite 8? They start out strong, are scary in the middle, but then somehow manage to pull it out at the end (led 50-19 vs OK-ST before OK-ST pulled within 14 with 7 minutes left; led 27-13 and 56-45 before BC pulled within one).

Thirty-one entries went 3-1 for the day but this just left the top spot in a 3-way tie again between KIM, LIL PQ, and NICKNAME (92 pts). USC and Maryland's wins sent six more entries home. UCLA's loss sent 4 of 6 who picked UCLA out of money contention. Stanford's win eliminated PANMAN (54th, 71). Still, 42 entries remain in a battle for the top four spots and 25 still have a chance for first place. This will likely be one of the most contested HWCI NCAA pools ever. UCLA's loss will guarantee DYLAN (56th, 66) will go 0-for-7 (games) in the Final Four with all four teams he's picked now out of the tourney. KIM increased her chances of winning money to almost 44% while HE HATE ME TOO now has a 20.5% chance of placing first. With most people picking the favorites, the game to watch tomorrow will be Illinois- Kansas (last game of the day).