Sunday, March 17, 2002               
Issue # 6.2.2 "UCLA saves Lavin..Again..."
http://www.HWCI.com/ncaa

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- #8W-UCLA, whose coach Steve Lavin was under fire to be fired, shocked #1W-Cincinnati, 105-101, in a wild double overtime game. Cincinnati, after reaching the Sweet 16 last year, failed to get past the second round for the fifth time in the past six years and is the first #1 seed to fall. #6MW-Texas nearly blew a late 14-pt lead to hold off #3MW-Mississippi St. while #2E-Uconn hit 21 of 23 free throws to stave off #7E-NC St. #4MW-Illinois, #3S-Pitt, and #1E-Maryland, all playing at "neutral" pod sites close to home, picked up victories. The other upset was #11E-So. Illinois coming back to beat #3E-Georgia. The Big 12 has 4 teams in the Sweet 16 while the Southeastern Conference began the tourney with 6 teams but only Kentucky remains.

CBS once again broke away from an "active" game of Mississippi St. and Texas to go to commercial. If not for all the timeouts, CBS would not have gotten back in time for the conclusion. How do you break for commercial with 46 seconds left and Miss. St. bringing down the ball? Again, you could've listened to the exciting game on KMPC 1540 AM.

RANDOM PICKS (90 pts) maintained his 7-pt lead over ARPS. NOBODY (82) moved to third place. THE DUKE, THE FABON8ER, and ZIPPY (81) are tied for 4th. WILDCAT PRIDE (39th-Tied -> 11th-T) and SOURCE (75th-T -> 47th-T) moved up by going 7-1 for the day. HENDO set all-time HWCI NCAA low records: worst point total after 2 rounds (45), worst Sunday 2nd Round (1-7), worst 2nd Round (3-13, tied with GOBAY). RANDOM PICKS set a record for most points after two rounds (was 86 in 1996) and looks to top the all-time record of 148 by BIX PIX in 1995.

Just 3 picked So. Illinois, 15 UCLA, and 28 Texas. 47 each picked Illinois and Pitt. Cincy's loss hurt 7 people who had them winning it all. No one has their Elite 8 bracket intact. GOBAY is the only person with both final teams out and two people have 6 of their Elite 8 teams gone. However, NETFLOWER (70th-T, 62) still has a chance for third place. Which brings us to...

The possibilities. After two rounds, 59 entries are still alive for money spots and 36 still have a chance to claim first place. More details will be divulged tomorrow. For a peak, check the website for everyone's possibilities (or lack thereof).

(Broken record). We are still in "unofficial" status as we try to verify everyone's entries. The sooner you send in your money, or tell us you'll be sending in your money, the quicker we can announce the prize money breakdown.