Thursday, March 24, 2016 
Issue # 8.3.1 "Chalk!"
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CERRITOS, CA (smt)- The same story.  The top seeds builds a big lead, the lower seeds fights back, then the top seed goes on a run and wins in a landslide.  #2S-Villanova, #2W-Oklahoma, #1S-Kansas, and #1W-Oregon won easily to setup a pair of 1 vs 2s in the Elite 8.  Not much else to say.

To make up the short summary, here is the round-up for the 6th HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity.  Vi P was one of six to go 4-0 and sneaked out the title by a single point over Tom J and Neil O.  The blowouts caused her point difference of 45 to be the highest of the six contests.  Scott T finished last in 21st place going 1-3 with a point differential of 81.  But the important part is that money is being raised for charity.  This year, at least $82 has been raised to support Star Wars: Force for Change.  I will round up to $100 if there are no more donations that come in.  In the six years, I have donated $299 to six different charities.  The best part is that HWCI NCAA patrons have contributed an additional $253 for a total of $552.  I try to vary the charities each year ranging from timely disaster relief (American Red Cross), serious illness research (American Cancer Society - Relay for Life, Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (Breast Cancer)), strategic/educational (MathCounts), personal (Friends of Renee), and humanitarian (Star Wars: Force for Change).  If you have ideas for next year, let me know.

	HWCI NCAA First Four For Charity Contest									$552.00	$299.00		$253.00
	Champion	W-L	PD	Ent	Charity					Donated	Scott		Others
2011	David A	4-0	30	30			American Red Cross (Japan Earthquake)			$100.00	$74.00		$26.00
2012	Michael C	4-0	15	26			Relay for Life (Alhabmra)			$83.00	$52.00		$31.00
2013	Cliff T	4-0	16	20			MathCounts			$96.00	$40.00		$56.00
2014	Giulio B	4-0	25	22			Friends of Renee			$69.00	$44.00		$25.00
2015	Kevin T	3-1	22	11			Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation			$122.00	$47.00		$75.00
2016	Vi P	4-0	45	21			Star Wars: Force For Change			$82.00	$42.00		$40.00

As for the main pool, what if tomorrow never came for The Resistance?  In the first days of each round, he is 27-1.  Unfortunately, tomorrow comes and in the second days of each round he is 14-10 with at least two guaranteed losses tomorrow.  But he is alone in first with 102 points with Buccos 1 and Bigtenfan in second with 100.  45 went 4-0 as all four top seeds won but IamOnly11 (147th-Tied, 64) and DrNaismith (146th, 65) did go 0-4.  Billy Holye's Socks is last with 62 pts with the previous cellar dweller TimW going 4-0 to rise to a tie for 133rd (72).  Zarinc (6th-T, 94) has the best chance for 1st (14.5%) but just a 22.9% for money while five have a better than 30% for money.  45 entries were eliminated leaving 73 with a chance for money while almost half the entries were eliminated for 1st (from 63 to 33).

We are now on Twitter (@HWCI_Pools).  Please follow!  I will post using #hwciNCAA mini-updates during the day so you can follow without being on Twitter (and if you are, please use #hwciNCAA).  Please join our Facebook HWCI NCAA Pool Group or post comments on our blog.  Here you can join the group and meet your competitors, make new friends, set up NCAA watching gatherings, and post stuff to the wall (pictures, witty comments, etc.). 

   Tids & Bits - 88 picked Villanova, 99 Oklahoma, 129 Kansas, and 105 Oregon... Villanova shot 63% (including 10/15 on 3s) but interestingly #3S-Miami shot 53% in the loss (including 10/17 on 3s)... 11 still have their Final Four intact while 17 only have one left... Bigtenfan still can get 7 Elite 8 teams in while QueenB (140th-T, 69) can only get one...  

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Day 1 gives me hope, Day 2 brings me to reality...
Scott