Jason R (Buccos 1), who is participating in our 9th pool, is also running NCAA pool of his own. So I could vouch for him and I know we have some serial paid players out there who play in multiple paid pools (or in Paul T’s (Poolraider) case, every pool ;-)). Let Jason know you play in our pool so he knows he can trust you!
The details are: Continue reading
I used to do a whole update, usually before the Final Four, incorporating all the nicknames in our pool. Was hard enough when there were 80 but now that we’re regularly above 130, I’m not that clever anymore. 2010 was the last time I tried it and I had 117 nicknames to mention in that one. So early on, I am always intrigued and usually smile as I see the nicknames that come through. Sometimes it’s because it a familiar nickname, a 10+ year veteran of the pool and always glad that person has been loyal to us all these years (ah, Indy, Zippy, Flying Elvi… it’s like comfort food). Sometimes it’s a slight change in the usual nickname I see (was chucking at our two-time champ Darryn B (Big Luther is his main handle) when his second entry was nicknamed Little Luther). And sometimes, it’s just too bizarre (Harbaugh’s Khakis).
One thing that isn’t mentioned is that our system is limited to 21 characters in the nickname. Thus, for example, SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE had to be reduced to So There’s A Chance and If Trump Can Win, So Can I had to be reduced to IfTrumpCanWin-SoCanI (this is Man V’s nickname this year, and interesting story: he had been using Yellow Monkey for 13 straight years with nothing to show for it, changed it to Will I Ever Win This in 2015 and finally won 5th place; but last year he switched back to Yellow Monkey and finished 52nd). BTW, people have been really good selecting nicknames that don’t offend, curse, or belittle others so we have a tasteful group out there. The only personal preference for nicknames in the pool is that first letter is always capitalized as it looks better in the standings (so every year I have to keep changning Suzanne M’s suznana to Suznana, much to her chagrin, I’m sure). I also at times will downgrade an ALL CAPS nickname (again, looks better in standings), especially if the other info is in all caps (forgot to turn it off) but for now, I’m leaving FV LOCALS alone but changing FRANKFROMSEATTLE, PRIDE OF TROY, and MROSEN1 to FrankFromSeattle, Pride Of Troy, and MRosen1. Unnecessary symbols are usually removed, especially incompatible ones (So Swallow, Bob is now Swallow Bob).
Defending champ Jonna J is making her presence known, choosing the proud nickname 2016 Champs while 57th-place Ted J (husband?) chose 16 Chumps. Ingenuity is alive as we have nicknames Tim and Tom (no these are two people Tim T and Tom C; yes, it would have been a great nickname if it was one person named Tim and Tom).
I’ll likely go with either The Fabone XXIII or Air Fabone 23 (in honor of Air Jordan #23) for my primary entry as this is our 23rd year. With Star Wars movies every year now, I’m probably going to lay off the Star Wars-themed nickname for my second entry (though it’s well-represented with Elizabeth W’s ANewHope and Joe D’s Darth Vader). A lot of extremely improbable stuff happened in the past 12 months from Brexit to the U.S. Presidential Election to Oscar fail to Suicide Squad not being a bad movie (wait, did I say that out loud?) to crazy endings for sport championships (started with Villanova’s 3-point buzzer beater to win the NCAA title last year; then we had the Cavs becoming the first team to come back from being down 3-games-to-1 to win their first NBA title, the Cubs coming down 3-games-to- to win in extra innings in Game 7 for their first title since ’08 (1908 that is), the barely qualifying-for-playoffs Seattle Sounders winning in a dramatic shootout in the MLS Cup, Clemson’s rallying twice with the latter touchdown to beat Alabama coming with just one second left to win in the College Football National Championship, and then the New England Patriots somehow coming from 25-points down to win Super Bowl LI in overtime). Wow. That was an extremely long and unnecessary parenthetical. Only the NHL had a relatively lackluster final series with Pittsburgh winning 4-games-to-2 and I missed the USC crazy rally in the Rose Bowl. Of that, I am leaning on choosing Brackexit so no one choose that!
As always, Dave (The Mighty Mobelfakta) and my picks will be posted on the blog before 9 am on Thursday as I look to extend my winless streak to 14 years (25 entries or $250 down the drain).
It’s 3:40 pm and the first First Four match has tipped off, more than 42 hours after the earliest we have ever got the web entry up (9 pm Sunday). At this time, we have 54 entries, which is 17 more than our previous best, 37 in 2014. In our record-setting year of 2016 (161 entries), we had just 27 so we’ve doubled that. The graph is time-based so, for example, you can see most people are sleeping between hours 25 and 33 (10 pm – 6 am). The biggest increase in entries will be tomorrow from 9 am until 3 am Thursday (Hours 60 to 78) so that will be a better indication if we will top the 161 entries we had in 2016.
Speaking of topping the record number of entries, if we do that, I’ll donate another $25 to the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, this year’s HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity choice (charity meaning any non-profit). We did get 16 entries so that’s at least $32 that will go to the conference. I already got a good lead from Neil O (Dagger) for next year’s charity of choice so I can’t wait.
Also, if you want to see your bracket, you can click on “Your Picks” in the top menu. These are all unofficial.
The online web entry was delayed until Monday morning but that hasn’t stopped people from entering in record numbers. A total of 26 entries was received today breaking the record of 20 set in 2013 and 2016. 26 also breaks the record of 21 combined for Sunday-Monday. On the flip side, all 18 people have entered have participated before (so no new players… yet).
Not sure what has prompted the revival but we have some people back after a long hiatus. Eric P (last participated in 2002), Jake P (2008), Robert E (2009), and Corey S (2011) are hoping 2017 is their triumphant return.
Don’t forget to send a quick email to ncaa<at>hwci.com with your First Four winners (and margin of victory) and I’ll donate $2/entry. Deadline is Tuesday 3:40 pm PDT!
Monday, March 13, 2017 **HELP support innovation, deployment and adaptation of Technology for Humanitarian Goals (deadline Tue 3:40 pm PDT **
DEFENDING CHAMP VILLANOVA TOP OVERALL SEED WHILE ACC NETS NINE TEAMS
Our HWCI Pool wears the legendary #23
SALT LAKE CITY, UT/CARSON, CA (smt)- Defending champion E-Villanova earned the top overall seed while MW-Kansas and S-North Carolina (7 losses) got one seeds despite losing in their conference tournament. For the second time, W-Gonzaga (32-1) got a #1 seed though last time they got ousted in the second round. W-Duke had an up-and-down season but won four games in four days to win the ACC tournament and moved from a 4 seed to a 2 seed (7th overall team) while MW-Michigan had their plane slide off the runway, played their first tournament game in practice jerseys, and won four games in four days but only moved to a 7 seed. The ACC got 9 of its 15 teams in the tourney while the Big East got 7 of its 10 in (70%). The Big 10 also got half its 14 teams in and the Big 12 got 6 of its 10 in. Only four at-large spots went to non-major conferences with the Atlantic 10 (2), The American, and the West Coast getting more than one team in. Despite being ranked 20th in the country, S-Wichita St got dumped to a 10 seed and is actually a 6.5-point favorite over #7S-Dayton. Not much controversy over the at-large teams or seeding for the most part and no leak of the bracket early like last year.
Locally, #11bE-USC (Southern Cal, not to be confused with the other 7E-USC, South Carolina) snuck into as one of the last four in but Continue reading
#hwciNCAA We are live! You can enter now. Email blast in a couple hours!
While you decide who will win the tourney, for the 7th year I’m doing the HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity, where I will donate $2 per entry to a charity, this year to IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, which is the flagship IEEE Conference focusing on innovation, deployment and adaptation of Technology for Humanitarian Goals and Sustainable Development. This First Four for Charity is free and you just have to submit (you can comment on this post to enter, email, post to Facebook, tweet @HWCI_Pools) who the four First Four winners will be and by what point margin. For example: Wake Forest by 8, New Orleans by 3, UC Davis by 1, and Providence by 4. The four games are Kansas St vs Wake Forest, Mt. St. Mary’s vs New Orleans, NC Central vs UC Davis, and Providence vs Southern Cal. Get your entry by 3:40 pm PDT Tuesday. As a bonus, in the end, if we top our record of 161 entries this year, I’ll donate an additional $25. Also, invite your friends and people can enter this charity contest but not our main pool.
A few new things this year in the tournament in general — the NCAA released an early projection of the top 16 teams back on February 11 for the first-time ever and the Ivy League now has a conference tournament (though just 4 teams qualify). It’s interesting that much has changed in the top 4 seeds but hopefully UCLA improves on their four seed and hoping USC sneaks in as a First Four team, as they have done well from that position. Now, instead of the Ivy League regular season champion being the first automatic bid in the tournament (if there’s no extra game tiebreaker) to one of the last, as the final is on Sunday (though next year it will move up in the week).
This is an early heads-up as after the brackets are released, we will have our 7th HWCI First Four for Charity contest. This is where we took the headache of having 68 teams (instead of 65) and made it into a fundraiser. More than $556 has been donated to six various charities or efforts. There is no fee to enter and you just pick the four First Four winners and margin of victory of each. I will donate $2 per entry (remember, the entry is free and you don’t have to play in our normal $10 pool so friends and family are welcome!) and usually by the end of the tournament, my fellow players will donate a matching set or more! Luckily, no major disasters this season so I’m open to suggestions for charity options.
My fallback will be a donation to the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference — the flagship IEEE Conference focusing on innovation, deployment and adaptation of Technology for Humanitarian Goals and Sustainable Development. For nearly all technical conferences, you have to pay to access papers, sometimes even your own! At this conference, it’s Open Access — that means the papers are free to anyone so that the ideas can be shared with the most people because the goal is IMPLEMENTING the technology to those in need in the fastest way possible (boots on the ground).
Until then, Sunday is coming up fast!
Seven teams are in with Jacksonville St making their first-ever tournament appearance after winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Today, two other teams can make their first tournament (Omaha (Summit) and Northern Kentucky (Horizon)) and St. Francis (PA) can make their first tourney since 1991 (NEC). And with an above .500 Big 10 record, Northwestern is poised to make their first tournament ever (last from a major conference) leaving just four original-160 teams still looking for their first (Army, St. Francis (NY), The Citidel, and William & Mary). Since our pool started in 1995, we have at least one team make their first appearance in our pool era. Last year we had the long-awaited Yale team finally win the Ivy League title after several tries breaking a 54-year drought, second-longest (Dartmouth has been waiting the longest – since ’59), and major Oregon St. make the tourney (last 1990).
We will once again be doing our pool, our 23rd year with hopefully a red-hot UCLA team to follow. Same rules, same format. Look for changes in the site towards the end of the week. Tell your friends now, and study up!
(Note: This is recap for Saturday’s games)
Saturday, April 2, 2016 [Published 4/4]
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 win 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 Continue reading
(Note: This recap for last Sunday’s games… yes, a tad behind)
Sunday, March 27, 2016 [Published 4/4]
ROSEMEAD, CA (smt)- #10MW-Syracuse, once a possible First Four Out team before coach Jim Boeheim whined to the media, used a 25-4 run with less than 10 minutes to go to erase a 15-point deficit and oust #1MW-Virigina, 68-62. Comebacks seem natural to the Orange as a double-digit seed makes the Final Four. #6E-Notre Dame took a 52-51 lead with 13:04 left but #1E-UNC quickly went on a 17-5 run in the next 6 minutes and held off the Irish, 88-74. UNC is the lone #1 seed left after the first 3 lost in the Elite 8.
In the pool, 82 went 1-1 leaving The Resistance in 1st with 122 points but he can’t get any more points. Six went 3-1 for the Elite 8. Six still have a chance to win the pool with Buccos 1 (2nd-Tied, 120) with a Continue reading
Thanks, Coach K. But there are 14 good entries that can finish in the top 6 including six who will win our 22nd pool. There are 8 possible outcomes and the tiebreaker information. The tiebreaker is very key this year as it could decide 1st place and it could decide 6th place (and thus, some will miss out).
Ito will win the $40 bonus if Villanova or Oklahoma win the NCAA championship (ACC with 19 wins). If Syracuse beats Oklahoma, Bob’s Ball Hogs wins the Bonus! Bob’s Ball Hogs will win money if UNC wins the title or if Syracuse beats Villanova (ACC with 20 wins). Therefore no one picked the ACC with 20 wins and Bonus2 is in effect which is the closest to the total points in final. The tiebreaker here is placement, so if there are multiple entries with the same tiebreaker (e.g., 144), then it’s the entry that has the most pool points (highest placement) that would win. 49 would be eligible to win this.
Edit: Corrected bonus.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
CERRITOS, CA (smt)- #2W-Oklahoma built a big halftime lead and held serve the second half behind Buddy Hield’s 37 points to beat our pool’s weakest #1 seed, Oregon, 80-68. #2S-Villanova used a 10-0 run midway in the second half and then hit their free throws to defeat our pool’s dominant #1 seed, #1S-Kansas, 64-59. The Wildcats held the Jayhawks to just 25 1st half points. ‘Nova was allowing Kansas to get an easy two to pull within one but that confused the Jayhawks who hesitated, tried to pull back for a three and then fumbled the ball over to the Wildcats.
In the pool, The Resistance (116 pts) still holds onto a 2-point lead but now has lost both finalists and can’t win the pool and is likely to drop out of money altogether. Eight went 2-0 including Bwakewey 1 (2nd-Tied, 114), Larzby (7th-T, 110), Buckeye23 (7th-T, 107), and JJ (1th-T, 104) who all moved up in the standings and are 4 of 10 who have a chance to win the pool. 73 went 0-2 including Billy Hoyle’s Socks who “clinches” last with 66 points. Bwakewey 1 has a 34.4% chance to win the pool with Buckeye23 andBuccos 1 (2nd-T, 114) (12.5%) both better than a 1-in-10 chance to win the pool. Those three and The Resistance have a better than 1-in-2 chance to win money. For the Bonus, Ito will win the $40 Bonus if Oklahoma or Oregon win the championship since she is eliminated from money. If those teams don’t win the title, then an ACC team will and Bob’s Ball Hogs (11th-T, 105) will win the Bonus if he doesn’t finish in the money – if he does, Bonus2 takes effect (total points in final) and all eliminated entries are back in play.
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 – 63 picked Oklahoma and 21 picked Villanova… with Sunday’s games moving to TBS, a later start than usual (3 pm PDT) today… 3 still have their Final Four intact (JJ, Buckeye23, and Mikes Bracket (33rd-T, 99)) while 24 will go 0-for-the-Final-Four… The Resistance is 28-2 on the first day of each round and 16-12 on the second day…
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Watch my fall, so slowly… sigh…
Scott
Friday, March 25, 2016
CERRITOS, CA (smt)- The same story as yesterday. 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. #1MW-Virginia and #1E-UNC won easily meaning all four #1 seeds are in the Elite 8 for the first time since 2009. Their #2 counterparts did not make the Sweet 16 setting up interesting 7v6 and 10v11 matchups. Both games featured epic collapses, which seems to be a trend at this tournament. #7E-Wisconsin hit a three to go up 61-58 with 26 seconds left but #6E-Notre Dame’s Demetris Jackson had a couple of steals as the Irish scored the last 8 points for a 61-56 win. #11MW-Gonzaga had a 57-48 lead with 6:20 left but couldn’t hit a field goal the rest of the way while committing five turnovers and allowing 6 offensive rebounds to give #10MW-Syracuse a 63-60 win. So all eight better seeded teams won in the Sweet 16.
In the pool, The Resistance could only get two wins and got them both to hold onto his 2-point lead (110 pts) over Continue reading
Thursday, March 24, 2016
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 Continue reading