CERRITOS, CA (smt)- UConn coach Jim Boeheim waited 27 years for his first championship, picked up his 2nd in six years. He did miss getting voted into the Hall of Fame on Monday, so he still has something to look forward to. UConn avenged their first loss of the season to Georgia Tech in the NIT that showed the cracks in the Huskies' armour. Despite the six losses, a playing Emeka Okafor energized a UConn team that won their last 9 games. Tech squeaked by in their five tournament wins but dug themselves too big a hole vs UConn to come back from.

And, now, final thoughts on a subpar tournament....

NUMBER ONE?: Two of the 4 top seeds not only lost, they went down in flames comparable to an expansion franchise choking under pressure. Stanford blew a 13-pt lead and Duke blew a 8-pt lead with less than 3 minutes left.

HOME COURT DISADVANTAGE: A roaring crowd didn't seem to help the lower seed this year. #11W-Air Force lost in Denver, #6E-Wisconsin lost in Milwaukee, #2MW-Gonzaga lost in Seattle, #4MW-Kansas lost in St. Louis, #1E-St. Joe's lost nearby in East Rutherford, and a pro-#2E-Oklahoma St. crowd lost in San Antonio.

WHERE'S THE HIGHLIGHT?: Georgia Tech's Will Bynum's layup with 1.5 seconds left was close, but John Lucas's despartion heave (that missed) was the buzzer beater shot. With that and St. Joseph's missed game-tying jumper vs OK St., that made 14 attempted buzzer beaters with zero successes. Well, there's always next year.

NO HIGHLIGHT, BUT GREAT GAMES: Best game of the tourney was probably St. Joe's and Oklahoma St. A tight game til the end, capped by John Lucas' 3-pt with 6.9 seconds left. Best comeback, and there were a lot to choose from, was probably Vandy's 11-pt comeback with just 3:44 left.

BEST STRATEGY: Down by six with 3 minutes left, Washington started to foul UAB early. But instead of trying for 3-pointers, they just took the ball downcourt and drove for easy layups (remember Tyus Edney's run? Washington used a bunch of plays just like that) in 5-10 second intervals. The plan went awry when Will Conroy's layup attempt was blocked with 17 seconds left (and would've put them down by just one). UAB shot 14 free throws in the final minute (making 9). It almost worked to prefection.

THE NEW CINCY: #1W-Stanford has now missed the Sweet Sixteen five of the past six years (despite 3 #1 and 1 #2 seedings). #4S-Cincy missed the Sweet Sixteen for the 7th time in the past 8 years (despite a #1, 2 #2, and 2 #3 seedings). #12S-Murray St. has lost all six first round games since 1995 (yes, they've been ranked from #9-15), but no miracle yet.

THE ANTI-CINCY: #1S-Duke made the Sweet Sixteen for the 7th straight year while Kentucky and Kansas have won their first-round game every year since the pool started in 1995.

ZIG ZAG: Gonzaga is now 2-3 and no Sweet Sixteens when ranked #9 or higher and 7-3 and three Sweet Sixteens when ranked #10 or lower (since 1999).

BEST HAIR: Josh Childress, Stanford (who happens to be related to DEESKEE, and probably explains her 52nd place finish). And now I think I understand AFROS ARE AWESOME (77th, 74 pts) now that I see he picked Stanford to win it all.

And, now final thoughts on a competitive pool....

CONGRATS: Rick ($370), Darius ($180), David ($120), Jeff ($80), and Mike ($40).

BONUS MADNESS: 21 entries still had a chance going into the final game to pick up the $40 prize.

PLAY-IN COMPLICATION: #65-Florida A&M, who won the opening game, and technically labeled "PLAY-IN" in our pool bracket, played #1-Kentucky even in the first half, trailing just 60-52 at the half.

#1 SEED MASSACRE: With Stanford and Kentucky out in the 2nd round and St. Joe's gone in the Regional final, 17 entries still got 3 out of 4 Final Four teams correct. And for the first time, more than one entry (11 picked UConn) correctly picked a non-#1 seed to win the championship.

TURNAROUND'S FAIR PLAY: Rick F won the pool after finishing 57th (of 63) last year. Jeff seems to alternate- finishing 2nd two years ago and then 55th last year before winning 4th this year.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING... NOTHING: The seven people who entered twice (and one who entered 3 times) all came away with nada, including our top two winners from last year (Darryn B and John S).

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Scott