CERRITOS, CA (smt)- #1E-UConn played with heart, rallying from four points down with 23 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Problem? It was against #11E-George Mason, who fed off the "home" crowd and by default, played with more intensity and heart in becoming the first double-digit seed in the Final Four since 1986 (LSU, which coincidentally also made the FF). Though a husky (dog), #1E-UConn played like it had nine lives as it needed GM's Tony Skinn to miss the front end of a one-and-one with 5.5 seconds left to set up Denham Brown's reverse layup that bounced ever so softly as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. UConn got another break as GM missed two free throws (the Patriots missed 5 of their last 7 FTs) with 6.1 seconds left setting up the same scenario but this time UConn went for the win and its three attempt was just long giving the Patriots a 86-84 win. The Huskies' luck finally ran out as UConn struggled against #16E-Albany, barely held off #9E-Kentucky's rally, and need two 3's late to send the game into OT and beat #5E-Washington. GM, up 71-67, also had a chance to ice the game but Will Thomas had two slam attempts blocked and UConn took the ensuing turnover and turned it into a 3-point play with about 47 seconds left.

#3MW-Florida jumped to a 35-23 lead and never let #1MW-Villanova get in the game, stopping every Wildcat rally and built back their 12-point lead (62-50) with 5:55 left. The Gators are finally back in the Final Four (2000) after several disappointing runs. This was the first non-close game since Memphis' win over Bradley in the early afternoon Thursday Elite 8 session.

I'll miss UConn as they have scored 87, 98, and 84 points. The 84 points (not including UConn's opponents) are more than any other team in the past 20 games (Gonzaga's 90 in win vs Indiana in 2nd Round). Villanova went 10:08 without a FG (but helped themselves by hitting 9 of 10 FTs) and UConn lost despite holding a 12-point lead, infamous trends that continue in this year's tournament. Scarier still, these are both #1 seeds and their losses meant that this is the first time no #1 seeds are in the FF since the field expanded to 64/65 teams (only other time was 1980 when there were 48 teams).

Obviously, no one picked George Mason but fourteen did pick Florida meaning a HWCI-record 71 went 0-2 today. Only five went 2-2 for the round while a HWCI-record 41 went 0-for-the-Final-Four. In the previous 11 years (516 entries), only 68 have gone 0-4. LORENZO MATA takes over first with 113 points with JINX close behind with 110. BELUCKY1 falls from 1st to a tie for 3rd with AGENT 86 OF CONTROL with 108 pts. GATORS NEVER CHOKE (100 pts), who should have considered this name years ago, moved from 26th to 13th and will hope Florida will end George Mason's magical season.

UConn's loss meant that we will likely have winners who didn't pick the correct champion but there are still nine who picked UCLA and one who picked Florida (guess who?). No one is guaranteed money and basically, if Florida wins it all, GATORS NEVER CHOKE will be the champion, if UCLA wins it all FAT BASTARD (14th-Tied, 99) takes 1st, and all other scenarios belong to LORENZO MATA. Four of the 9 entries remaining have a 75% chance of winning money (JINX, LORENZO MATA, AGENT 86 OF CONTROL, and BELUCKY1).

The SEC picked up win # 11 to tie the Big East with 11 wins. UConn and Villanova losing means the Big East is stuck on 11. This disastrous scenario means only three entries have a chance to win the Bonus Prize. Or maybe no one will. If LSU & Florida lose, BAMAG (5th-T, 106) and LORENZO MATA can win it, but if LORENZO MATA wins money, the Bonus will go to BAMAG. If the either team loses in the final (but not play each other), then DAVYBOY (33rd-T, 92) will win the Bonus. If both teams win (regardless who wins the final) then no one wins the Bonus Prize for the 2nd straight year and the money will be redistributed to the top 4 prizes.