ALHAMBRA/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- No repeat here. The two finalists from last year were both eliminated today. In the biggest upset of the day and also the first game of the day, defending champion #2E-UConn were beaten by #10E-NC State, 65-62. NC State nearly blew a 11-point lead with 5 minutes left in an exciting finish with both teams hitting shots at the end. '05 Runner-Up #5W-Georgia Tech, kept at arm's length by #4W-Louisville all day, got within nine points but then Louisville went on a 16-2 run to win in one of the few routs, 76-54.

#1E-UNC once again had an easy time and #5S-Michigan St. made sure to take care of business early. When #4E-Florida got within nine late, #5E-Villanova went on a 9-2 run to put the game out of reach, 76-65. This was the fifth straight year the Gators failed to make the Sweet 16 after their run to the Championship game in 2000. #6E-Wisconsin used a late 18-5 run to make sure #14E-Bucknell (who led 47-46) didn't have a chance to slay another dragon. #2MW-Oklahoma St. used a late 17-5 run (after #7MW-So Illinois went ahead 52-51) to put the Salukis away, 85-77. Poor free throw shooting (52.4%) fell #9S-Mississippi St. in their upset bid, as #1S-Duke broke a 50-50 tie with a 13-5 run to close the game and gave Coach K tournament win #66, surpassing Dean Smith. Amazingly, all 4 #1 seeds are alive.

Despite what it might seem, this was only the 4th-worst 2nd Round performance by everyone. With just eight top 4 seeds advancing, the field did a little better than that, averaging 8.2 correct picks. Fifteen had UConn in their Final 4. And despite all the upsets, at least one person picked every upset except for West Virginia's win over Wake Forest (the only team all 82 entries picked to make the Sweet 16).

When the dust settled, LEAH'S LEAP OF FAITH, who had went 11-5 for the 2nd Round, is now in first with 83 pts. KRISPY KREMER and LUCKORBUST are just one point behind and FLIP FIGHTERS and UTAHPICKS two points. DARA, who was 3-5 yesterday, went a blazing 7-1 (missing just NC St) to go from tied for 60th to tied for 22nd (74 pts). Going in reverse, NOMEX was one of 14 to go 3-5 today (and 5-11 overall) and now resides in last place with 55 pts.

Nine entries pegged NC St, 15 had Wisconsin, 19 Michigan St., and 24 foresaw Villanova's first return to the Sweet 16 in 17 years. Just 12 entries have their Final Four teams intact and only two have 7 of 8 Elite 8 teams alive and kicking.

Now, we are able to find out which entries have been eliminated. So get your brackets ready... 23 entries have been eliminated (including one of mine.. the ironically named FAITH MANAGES (78th, 60)), 28% of our entries. And, believe it or not, 36 entries still have a chance to win first, led by KRISPY KREMER with a 14.31% chance! Four have at least a 33.3% chance of winning some money while BIRD LEGS (77th, 61) and KEADY COMBOVERS (43rd-T, 70) have just 4 chances in 32,768 possible outcomes.

And while CALHOUN & KINGFISH (30th-T, 73) is just 10 points off the lead, he won't finish in the top 4. But although SOURCE (73rd, 64) is 19 points behind, he can still win 1st and TEAM SAMURAI (79th-T, 58), who was sitting in last for the longest time, can still win 3rd Place. March madness indeed.

The official prize breakdown is as follows:

	1st Place   = $385.00
	2nd Place   = $185.00
	3rd Place   = $125.00
	4th Place   = $ 85.00
	Bonus Prize = $ 40.00 (Conference Wins)

The $385 is the 2nd highest 1st Place prize we've had. The $85 4th Place prize is $10 more than our 1st Place in our first year in 1995. At the end of the tourney, we will have given out $5,160 in prizes. More on the prize money and bonus prize tomorrow.