Saturday, April 2, 2016 [Published 4/4]
Issue # 12.5.1 "High Scoring Affair"
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CERRITOS, CA (smt)- #2S-Villanova had a 21-4 run in the first half but #2W-Oklahoma chipped away and cut it to 9 with 16:22 left.  Cut to the Wildcats going crazy with a 33-4 run in just over 9 minutes to demolish Buddy Hield and the Sooners, 95-51, in the biggest Final Four blowout ever.  'Nova shot 71.4% and missed just five shots in the explosive second half.  #1E-UNC missed their first 12 three-point shots but it didn't matter as the Tar Heels scored 50 in the paint in holding off #10MW-Syracuse, 83-66.  The Orange 2/3 zone couldn't prevent UNC from scoring at will within the arc shooting 64.6% from 2-point range.

Resistance is futile as The Resistance watches from the sidelines as three pass him putting him in a tie for 4th (122 pts).  Buccos 1, who led after Round 1, leads again with 128 pts with JJ in second with 126.  It will be one of these two who will our 22nd pool, and each would pick up their first ever money prize as well.  Ten can still finish in the top 6.  Those two and Honey Badger have a 100% chance at money, although the latter would have to win a tiebreaker for 6th if Villanova wins the title.  JJ, Honey Badger, and The Hip-Hopopotamus (10th-T, 119) got both teams correct while 108 missed both.

For the Bonus, if Villanova wins the championship, Ito (129th-T, 84) wins the Bonus as the only one to guess the ACC with 19 wins.  If UNC wins the title that means no one guessed the ACC with 20 wins (since Bob's Ball Hogs (10th-T) would win 4th) and Bonus2 is in effect, which is the total points in final.  There are 49 entries who could win the Bonus in this scenario.

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 - 33 picked UNC while 11 picked Villanova... all 4 double-digit Final Four teams have now lost in the semifinals... this is Villanova's 3rd final (though '71 loss was vacated) and first since the magical '85 run to the title... this is UNC's 10th final and they have won the last 4 ('82, '93, '05, '09)... the 149 entries averaged 0.30 wins for the round... UNC favored by 2 pts with over/under 149 for those who need the tiebreaker... The Resistance is 28-2 on the first day of each round and 17-13 on the second day...   

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Watch my fall, so very, very, very slowly... sigh...
Scott