Saturday, March 31, 2001                   http://www.HWCI.com/ncaa
Issue # 16.5.3 "Same Beginning, Different Endings..."


2001 HWCI NCAA TOURNAMENT POOL
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LA MIRADA, CA (smt)-- In both games today, one team jumped out to a big lead but one team held the lead and one team lost it. #2MW- Arizona began the second half on a 21-3 run to open up a 20-point lead it never lost. The Wildcats had most of their 12 steals (Gilbert Arenas with six) in the second half to whip #1S-Michigan St. (28-7), 80-61. The Spartans did come within nine (57-48) but turnovers helped Arizona (on a 15-4 run) blow the game back open. Arizona defeated their second straight #1 seed (def. #1MW-Illinois in Elite 8) and will try to duplicate their 1997 championship run of beating three straight #1 seeds.

#3W-Maryland (25-11) exploded to a 22-point lead (39-17) with 6:57 left in the first half but only led by 11 at the half. #1E-Duke methodically continued to whittle away at the Terrapins' lead until they finally went ahead at 73-72. The Blue Devils eventually made a 33-point turnaround, winning 95-84. Duke set an NCAA record with the biggest halftime comeback in Final Four history. Duke beat Maryland for the third time in four tries this season and will try to duplicate their 1992 championship run of winning the 1st/2nd round games in Greensboro, NC, the 3rd/4th round games in Philadelphia, PA, and the Final Four and Championship at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.

Duke's incredible comeback gave the 2001 HWCI NCAA Pool title to Robinson C. (TEAM SAMURAI, 1st, 134 pts). TEAM SAMURAI had earlier clinched at least 4th place with Arizona's win. On the other hand, the Wildcats' win doomed BLUESTARS1996, KIM, ZERV THE GREEK, and INDY to wonder "what if?" and sent BINGO to no better than 3rd place. Duke's win meant PEEPS won't complete the last to first finish but still has a chance for 2nd place. Maryland's loss sent COLORADO BRUINS and DUKKIE home. Meanwhile, Lisa F. (ARMIN TAMZARIAN) will clinch at least 4th place and will win money for the second time in three years. Eight people went 2-0 but BINGO (chose Michigan St.) and PEEPS (chose Maryland) missed their chance to become the first people to go 7-0 for the Final Four. Thirty-nine people have reached 100 points.

Four people (BINGO, JAYHAWK FC, PEEPS, and JEFFERY) will fight for the final two money spots (with TEAM SAMURAI and A.TAMZARIAN clinching money spots) with a possibility of the tiebreaker coming into play.

2001 HWCI NCAA Pool - Final Four Possibilities 03/31/01