Saturday, March 30, 2002       
Issue # 15.5.2 "The Bench..."
http://www.HWCI.com/ncaa

MIAMI, FL (smt)-- Six different #5S-Indiana players each went 1-for-1 from 3 pt range in the second half to shock #2W-Oklahoma, 73-64. The Sooners had rallied to tie the game at 60 with a 7-0 run but Indiana took the ball inside and scored the next 7 pts to put the game away. Indiana stiffled the Sooner guards (White and Price) as they shot 1-for-16 combined. The Hoosiers' bench outscored OK's bench 41-12 and will advance to the Final where they are 5-0 lifetime. Meanwhile, #1E-Maryland will advance to the final for the first time in school history. The Terrapins almost blew a 20-pt lead (83-63) with six minutes left (shades of a 22-pt blown lead in a loss to Duke last year) and needed a Juan Dixon clutch basket (2 of his 33 pts), a Jayhawk turnover, and a Jayhawk mistake- calling a timeout (at 92-88) with none left, to secure the victory. Maryland's bench outscored Kansas' 22-12. It also didn't help that Kansas missed 10 free throws (66.7%).

Indiana's stunning win assured Scott T. (THE FABON8ER, FREE FAOBNE) of either 1st or 2nd. It eliminated CHENMAN, WANTABE, '99 Champ BERN IS DA BOMB, FRANK GRIMES, BIG RED, and THE BELIEVERS. Maryland's win gave the 2002 Pool Champion title to THE FABON8ER ($400) and 2nd place ($200) to newcomer RANDOM PICKS. Eliminated were ARPS, WILDCAT PRIDE, FREE FABONE, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT (who will now go 0-9 entries, $0 won), and YBBAT. The race is now for 3rd ($130) and 4th ($70). If Indiana wins on Monday, MADPRO and FREE JINX are in. Otherwise, LITTLE ANN and KAIZEN will be dancing in the streets.

If you're wondering what effect the two deleted entries had on the pool, the only change would be THE DUKE could get 3rd with a Maryland win and KAIZEN would be eliminated. So KAIZEN should thank THE DUKE for failing to pay his entry fee and therefore still have a chance to win money. For Scott T., this is the first time he won first place in the pool but the fourth time he has won money (3rd '98, 2nd '99, 3rd '00) increasing his lifetime winnings to $590. Lisa F., currently tied for 39th, was the previous leader with $330. Since history has not repeated thus far, we can expect a new person to top the pool in 2003.

HWCI NCAA Final Possibilities