Butler Heads Home!

Well, they would’ve either way, but now they get to go home (Indianapolis) as the West Regional Champs as the #5 seed.  This guarantees that at best, a #5 seed will reach the NCAA Final.  Butler’s 19 turnovers kept Kansas St. in the game but a bizarre, almost 43-second possession by Kansas St in the last minute sealed their fate.  Two actually picked Butler (they should also play the Lottery now), but it only benefited Larzby who retakes the lead.  Cnollfan was the other.  Larzby now has a 4-point lead but it’s Another Two-Peat who is almost guaranteed money at 81.3%.  Ten brackets were eliminated (leaving 23) and only 8 can win first, including a possible 2-time champion for Ken B (25.0%) or Lawrence M (15.6%) (only Robinson C has ever won our pool twice).

Cinderella Run Over

Michigan St. and Duke pulled away late to advance to the Elite 8.  It was fun watching Northern Iowa while we could.  2 of the 3 Big 10 teams lost today.  No changes due to Michigan St’s win but 2 more were eliminated with Duke’s win, leaving 33 vying for money.  Only 12 can win 1st.  Suznana was the only one to pick Michigan St., but she was already eliminated.

If you want to know which of the 128 remaining possible outcomes winning money, post a comment here or on the discussion board.  For example, GoTerps possible winning outcomes are already posted there.

Midwest in Shambles

Live from the Home Depot Center in Carson!  Tennessee made its first Elite 8 in defeating Ohio St.  In the Midwest, a #5, #6, or #9 team will make the Final Four.  The Vols win eliminated 10 brackets and 8 from winning 1st.  Baylor dominated St. Mary’s, sparked by an early 30-7 run, and will face either Duke or Purdue.  Baylor knocked Larzby from 1st and now You’re My Boy Blue is in first followed by Another Two-Peat.  Just 35 now can win money and only 13 can win 1st.

It’s Over?

Well, for me, at least.  Eliminated once again on the first day of the Sweet 16.  But the Kansas St.-Xavier game finally ended after 2 OTs.  Larzby, the defending champ, is in first, going 4-0. 

I traded half-price Todai’s for missing possibly the best game of the tourney, but considering the team I wanted (Xavier) lost and the Kentucky-Cornell was a rout, I’m happy with the dozens of sushi I ate.

The Butler Did It (C’mon, you knew that was coming)

Butler started with a very long 3 which started an 11-0 run to make the Elite 8 over #1 Syracuse.  Is it because Syracuse had the furthest to travel as a #1 seed?  By not getting the 3rd #1 seed, they went to Salt Lake City instead of Houston.  So the Orange (what was wrong with Orangemen?) are the 2nd #1 seed to fall.  How will Kentucky and Duke do?   Five entries, believe it or not, picked Bulter into the Elite 8.  This propelled Larzby into a tie for first with SilverSurfer (84 pts).  ChasCroix5 went from 100th to 76th and still has a chance for 1st.  14 entries were eliminated (leaving 61) and 10 were eliminated from winning (leaving 32).

Update:  In the second game, it was a turnover-fest but West Virginia easily held off Washington even without Darryl “Truck” Bryant (broken foot).  88 picked WVU and three more were eliminated (leaving 58) and only 30 can win 1st.  Can’t wait for the big game and hope it’s not a blowout, between Kentucky & Cornell.

FOMI, IlliNI.T, and MB Camel Jockies all still have their Final Four intact.  Marty the Greek joined previously Sisyphus as the only ones who will go 0-for-the-Final-Four.

Offline for a while…

Got to get some actual work done, but David has put up the standings.

Edit: The update page has the possibilities and if you are clever (hint: how many picked Kansas to win it all?), somewhere on that page you can click to find the money prize breakdown – or you can wait til tomorrow night.

‘Cuse I Said So

Marinomac was the only entry to pick Gonzaga so he falls from 7th to 28th.  The other interesting thing is that of the six who still have their Final Four intact, ChasCrois5 is the only who hasn’t gotten any of them yet… they (Ohio St., Duke, Pitt, West Virginia) all play later today.