On May 25th, I made an HWCI NCAA record $777.00 (I added to get to the lucky 7’s, as my Dad was fond of the slots) donation via my company, who will match that amount. That means, $1,554 will go the American Lung Association. Thanks to the dozen of you for helping make this record donation.
A grand total of $4,691.20 have been donated to 13 charities over 13 years. Thank you! I’m taking suggestions for charities/causes/funds for 2024 so let me know.
Monday, April 3, 2023
UCONN REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN TITLE GAMES
Jah Lives-2 rides UConn to win the pool; Krispy Seconds takes last top 8 slot
HOME, CA (smt) – #4W-UConn trailed early 10-6 but dominated the rest of the way in winning their 5th title in 24 tournaments, beating #5S-San Diego St, 76-59. UConn won the title for the 4th time coming from the West Regional, the 4th time beating a lower seed, and the 4th time in Texas (twice in Houston). Even after SDSU clawed their way back to 5 points (60-55 with 5:19 left), UConn quickly hit a 3-pointer en route to a 9-0 run to put the game away.
UConn won all six games by 13 or more points and scored 70 or more points in each. Despite being a #4 seed (only the second #4 seed to win it (Arizona in ’97)), they only faced one higher seed (where they routed #3W-Gonzaga by 28). SDSU shot poorly (32%) at one point missing 14 straight after taking the 10-6 lead and also missed their first 7 layups. Once again the mid-major falls just short (last one to win, UNLV in 1990).
Continue reading12:19 am PDT – 18 hours until the final. We already know who 7 of the top 8 prizes will be but we don’t know who will be champion (Samurai Jack if SDSU wins, Jah Lives-2 if UConn wins). We also don’t know who will win the $40 bonus as two can win if SDSU wins (leaving Big East with 11 wins) or ten can win if UConn wins (Big East with 12 wins). The last top prize spot will go to either EMAW (if SDSU wins) or Krispy Seconds (if UConn wins).
1:18 pm – If UConn wins, there is a tiebreaker for 4th to be decided. 149 total pts or less goes to JessaFish, 150 or more goes to Samurai Jack. The over/under is 133 points.
1:27 pm – If SDSU wins, if total pts is 129 or less, the $40 Bonus goes to Suznana, if 131 or more it goes to FV Locals. If 130, they will split $40. If UConn wins, 141 or less will go to Kds911-2 and Kds911-3 (same person so split doesn’t matter) and if 167 or more, it goes to Saratogastephen. In between, 7 others could win with possibilities of 3-way ties!
6:43 pm – SDSU led 10-6 but now it’s UConn 16-10. SDSU was 4/5 from field, now 4/13. 11 min left. Just 116 total pts projected but still early.
6:54 pm – SDSU has missed last 12 FGs. If not for 4 FTs, they’d be stuck on 10. UConn leads 22-14. 7:20 left. Projected 114 total pts.
7:01 pm – First SDSU FG in 11:08. Now 5/20 FGs. UConn leads 26-17.
7:03 pm – Missed open layup (why don’t players dunk?) followed by UConn 3. UConn 36-20.
Half – UConn led by as many as 16 and lead 36-24. Projected total pts only 120. Not pretty with 17 turnovers (9 by SDSU) but UConn still shooting 50% (SDSU 28.6% 8/28). Krispy Seconds looking good to take 8th if UConn holds on and Jah Lives-2 itching for pool title. Low scoring good news for Kds911-2 and Kds911-3 as total would have to go past 141 pts to lose Bonus (if UConn wins).
7:36 – What a long halftime.
7:44 – SDSU missed another layup (0/7) and trail by 13 with 16:33 left.
7:48 – 15:40 left, first SDSU layup made, down by 11 (43-32). Projected 122 pts.
7:54 – UConn is 10/11 on FTs and lead by 12. Will be hard for SDSU to come back. 13:59 left. Projected 126 pts.
8:01 – 11:56 left, UConn not letting SDSU get close, 49-36. UConn already shooting free throw from now on out and are 11/13. Projected 121 pts.
8:08 – 8:33 left and UConn leads 56-45. Projected creeping up to 128 pts.
8:10 – Down by 8 with 8:00 left. Projected to 130.
8:14 – 6:58 left, SDSU free throw narrows deficit to 7 (58-51). Projected 132.
8:18 – Can SDSU hit free throws? They hit 2 to cut it to 5 (60-55). 5:19 left.
8;20 – 3:52 left. UConn 63-55. Projected total 131. Does EMAW have hope now? Maybe Samurai Jack will add a 3rd ring to his finger? But UConn has been good at stopping runs in this Final Four, this time hitting a 3 to put them back up to 8.
8:24 – SDSU missed the front end of a 1-on-1. Just 13/18 on free throws (while UConn is 15/17).
8:26 – UConn up by 12, SDSU back to missing shots. 2:30 left. Projected 130 has lots of margin until 141 (Bonus) and 149 (4th place).
8:28 – UConn was on a 9-0 run as SDSU cuts it to 12 again. 1:55 left, 69-57, projected 133. Jah Lives-2 (title) and Krispy Seconds (8th) singing “hey hey hey, goodbye”.
8:33 – SDSU foul to stop clock at 1:07, now down by 16 75-59 (134).
Final – UConn wins 5th title (all since 1999) and mid-majors will have to wait another year (last UNLV in 1990). Final score 76-59 (135 points). Congrats to our 26th different pool champion, as Winsome T (Jah Lives-2) wins in first year. Robinson C (Samurai Jack) drops from 1st to 5th (a $605 drop), losing the 4th place tiebreaker to Jessica H (JessaFish). Roy W (Krispy Seconds) takes 8th, eliminating Spencer C (EMAW) who drops from 5th to 12th. The $40 Bonus goes to Tom J whose two entries tied for it (Kds911-2 and Kds911-3).
8:44 – As UConn has done, no drama winning all six games by 13 or more. No drama in pool tiebreakers as low scoring beginning never was close to being watched closely (needed 141+). Credit to SDSU to cutting it to five, but too many FG droughts to sustain any momentum, shooting just 32%.
| 2023 NCAA FINAL @ Houston, Texas – The Floor | |
| The Road Ends Here | |
| #5-South (Seed #17, NET #14, AP #18) | #4-West (Seed #13, NET #8, AP #10) |
  |   |
| San Diego State University Aztecs (32-6) | University of Connecticut Huskies (30-8) |
| Mountain West Conference – Regular Season and Tourney Champs San Diego, California 1st Final def #12 College of Charleston 63-57 #13 Furman 75-52 #1 Alabama 71-64 #6 Creighton 57-56 #9E Florida Atlantic 72-71 | Big East Conference (4th Place) Storrs, Connecticut 5th Final (’99, ’04, ’11, ’14) def #13 Iona 87-63 #5 Saint Mary’s 70-55 #8 Arkansas 88-65 #3 Gonzaga 82-54 #5MW Miami 72-59 |
Sunday, April 2, 2023
UCONN UNDEFEATED IN TITLE GAMES; SDSU BIG UNDERDOGS
Just 2 prize up for grabs as those who entered multiple times benefited this year
FIRESTONE SCOUT RESERVATION, BREA, CA (smt) – If you count the WCC final (March 7) as the first day the madness begins, as that coronates Gonzaga, the first big mid-major to qualify for the tournament, then this Final would be the 28th day of madness. Appropriate for our 28th HWCI NCAA Pool.
It does seem like the field clears up when #4W-UConn makes the final as other than their first title against heavy favorite Duke in ’99, the past three have seen them play lower seeds, even if they were low themselves (e.g., ’14 they were #7 but faced a #8). Hence, UConn is a perfect 4-0 in finals and face lower seed #5S-San Diego St, who have won back-to-back games by one point, the last one on a buzzer beater. In a rematch of the 2011 Sweet 16, #3W-UConn beat #2W-SDSU 74-67 on its way to its 3rd championship. UConn will try to win a title in Texas for the 4th straight time, winning in San Antonio (2004), Houston (2011), and North Texas (2014). Everything is new for San Diego St (never advanced past the Sweet 16) while despite 4 titles since ’99, UConn has a hard time getting into the Blue Blood club as they have just made the tournament 4 times since ’14, losing twice in the 1st round and once in the 2nd. A streak of five straight #1 seeds winning the title ends this year with a #4 (only one was Arizona in ’97) or #5 (first time) taking it.
Continue readingSaturday, April 1, 2023 ***APRIL FOOLS DAY***
SDSU HITS BUZZER BEATER; UCONN KEEPS MIAMI AT BAY
Samurai Jack or Jah Lives-2 will win pool; 8 clinched money, 2 entries fighting for last spot
DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CARSON, CA (smt) – #5S-San Diego St tried to lose against #9E-Florida Atlantic, missing 4 of 5 free throws late with a turnover, but a gutsy call by the SDSU coach to play for the last possession down by one with 38 seconds left worked as SDSU got the rebound with less than 10 seconds left. Not calling a timeout, SDSU’s Lamont Butler hit a jumper as time expired for the first buzzer beater of the tournament sending the Aztecs into their first final with a 72-71 win. FAU finished with 35 wins, most in the nation.
#4W-UConn broke open a 19-19 game with a 27-7 run in making their 5th trip to the finals with a 72-59 victory over #5MW-Miami. The Hurricanes had cut it to 8 (53-45) with less than 12 minutes left but UConn scored the next 7 points to keep the game at double-digits the rest of the way. Two late free throws prevented UConn with their 5th straight 15+ win, so it will have to be their 5th straight 13+ win.
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| 2023 NCAA FINAL FOUR @ Houston, Texas 4th Final Four (’71 (Astrodome), ’11 (Reliant Stadium), ’16 (NRG Stadium)) – – – Hosted by U. of Houston (American Athletic Conf) (3rd Final Four), Rice U. (Conf USA) (4th Final Four), Houston Christian U. (Southland Conf) (1st Final Four), and Texas Southern U. (Southwestern Athletic Conf) (2nd Final Four) – The Floor | |||
| First Semifinal | Second Semifinal | ||
| #5-South (Seed #17, NET #14, AP #18) Louisville, Kentucky (7th Regional) Hosted by U. of Louisville | #9-East (Seed #33, NET #13, AP #25) New York City, New York (12th Regional) – Hosted by Big East Conf and St. John’s U. | #5-Midwest (Seed #20, NET #35, AP #16) Kansas City, Missouri (16th Regional) Hosted by Big 12 Conf | #4-West (Seed #13, NET #8, AP #10) Las Vegas, Nevada (1st Regional) Hosted by U. of Nevada, Las Vegas |
  |   |   |  |
| San Diego State University Aztecs (31-6) | Florida Atlantic University Owls (35-3) | University of Miami Hurricanes (29-7) | University of Connecticut Huskies (29-8) |
| Mountain West Conference – Regular Season and Tourney Champs San Diego, California 1st Final Four def #12 College of Charleston 63-57 #13 Furman 75-52 #1 Alabama 71-64 #6 Creighton 57-56 | Conference USA – Regular Season and Tourney Champs Boca Raton, Florida 1st Final Four def #8 Memphis 66-65 #16 Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 #4 Tennessee 62-55 #3 Kansas St 79-76 | Atlantic Coast Conference – Regular Season Co-Champs Coral Gables, Florida 1st Final Four def #12 Drake 63-56 #4 Indiana 85-69 #1 Houston 89-75 #2 Texas 88-81 | Big East Conference (4th Place) Storrs, Connecticut 6th Final Four (’99, ’04, ’09, ’11, ’14) def #13 Iona 87-63 #5 Saint Mary’s 70-55 #8 Arkansas 88-65 #3 Gonzaga 82-54 |
Thursday, March 30, 2023
UCONN JOINS 3 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
At least $1,332 will be donated to American Lung Association; over $4,470 donated over 13 years
HOME, CA (smt) – Whereas last year we had four teams with a combined 61 Final Fours and 17 championships (20 including pre-NCAA) and each with at least 3 titles, this year we have 3 newbies joining #4W-UConn, who have 4 titles but all won in the past 24 years (this, its 6th Final Four). Joining the Big East’s UConn is a member from the ACC, but not Duke, UNC, or Virginia, but #5MW-Miami (of Florida, not Ohio). Mid-majors join the fun as the Mountain West has #5S-San Diego St and Conference USA (who just won the NIT with North Texas beating fellow CUSA member UAB taking the title Wednesday in not-NYC) has #9E-Florida Atlantic. Who would’ve thought the local team would be San Diego St and that two teams from Florida would be in the Final Four?
Seems like a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away that we were talking about defending champion #1W-Kansas not getting the Kansas City regional (they lost in the 2nd round), #1S-Alabama leading a strong SEC contingent (they lost in the Sweet 16 and the SEC had 9 wins after the first weekend but then went 0-3 in the Sweet 16), #1MW-Houston becoming the second team to play in their home city (Butler in Indy in 2010) since 1972 (they lost in Sweet 16), and #2W-UCLA succumbing to injuries (they did, losing to #3W-Gonzaga in another classic in Sweet 16).
Continue readingSaturday, March 25, 2023
FAU ERASES LATE 6-PT DEFICIT, UCONN WINS BY 28
Samurai Jack remains in the lead with 103 pts; Just 19 entries still alive
BELLINGHAM, WA (smt) – #9E-Florida Atlantic had 22 turnovers yet went on a 13-1 run in three minutes to erase a six-point deficit to beat #3E-Kansas St, 79-76, to reach their first Final Four with their 35th win of the season. FAU hit their last four free throws and KSU could not get off a shot at the end of the game for a chance to tie. FAU is the third #9 seed to make the Final Four.
#4W-UConn quickly turned a 7-point halftime lead into a massive 33 points in routing #3W-Gonzaga, 82-54, in making their 6th Final Four, all in our pool era (’99, ’04, ’09, ’11, ’14). They have won all four games by 15 or more points. The Bulldogs were a very uncharacteristic 33% from the field and 2/10 from three. With both #3 seeds falling, only #2MW-Texas is the lone top 12 team left.
Continue readingFriday, March 24, 2023
FINAL TWO #1S FALL, TEXAS LONE TOP 8 TEAM
Samurai Jack retakes the lead with 97 pts; Just 31 entries still alive
STEVESTON, BC (smt) – #5S-San Diego St ended the game on a 32-16 run to erase an 11 point deficit to beat #1S-Alabama, 71-64, to reach their first Elite 8. #5MW-Miami’s Nijel Pack hit 7 three-pointers to lead them to an easy 89-75 win over #1MW-Houston. Miami is the only team to make back-to-back Elite 8s this year and this is just their second Elite 8. This was the first time all four #1 seeds did not make the Elite 8 and the Cougars missed a chance to play the Final Four in their home city.
#6S-Creighton ended #15S-Princeton’s Cinderella run by shooting 71% from inside the 3-point arc in winning 86-75 and making their first Elite 8. #2MW-Texas’s bench outscored #3MW-Xavier’s 33-5 in making their first Elite 8 since 2008 (83-71 win). Texas is the lone #1 or #2 seed left and the last team from Texas (started with a tournament high of 7), home of the Final Four.
The top two predicted champions were eliminated today with 42 losing Houston and 37 Alabama. Three also lost Xavier. EMAW (2nd, 95 pts) is the only entry that still can get 3 Final Four teams correct while 80 will go 0-for-the-Final-Four.
Continue readingSunday, March 26, 2023
TWO #5 SEEDS MAKE FINAL FOUR
Samurai Jack remains at 103 points; 12 entries still alive
SEATAC, WA (smt) – Thanks to Delta Airlines, I was able to catch the ending of the #6S-Creighton and #5S-San Diego St game on the plane. The last SoCal team standing, SDSU benefited from a controversial foul with a 1.2 seconds left in a tie game and managed to hit the 2nd of 2 free throws to win 57-56 to advance to their first Final Four. It did look like a foul as the defender was beat and the left arm grabbed the shooter while he was in the air. But was this how the refs were calling the game? If so, then it’s a valid whistle. The CBS post-game show was a mess trying to describe this and the end of the game (tip out of bounds).
Meanwhile, hot three-point shooting #5MW-Miami only shot 8 (made 2) and yet still rallied from a 13-point deficit with 13 minutes left to shock #2MW-Texas by 7 points (78-71). Texas shot 50% but Miami shot 59.2% and hit 28/32 (87.5%) free throws. It’s Miami’s (of Florida) first Final Four and the Final Four does not have a #1, #2, or #3 seed with three first-timers (plus #9E-Florida Atlantic) and #4W-UConn going for its 5th title.
Continue readingThe possibilities and Bonus possibilities are now updated. The update will be delayed as I was traveling today and missed the four games. Got lots of notes but have to collect it tomorrow during my meeting (maybe). Might get a double update tomorrow night.
Thursday, March 23, 2023
OWLS FLY HIGH, ZAGS WIN THRILLER
March Sadness takes the lead as 1 of 4 to go 3-1; 81 entries still alive
HOME, CA (smt) – #7E-Michigan St rallied from five down late to send the game into the tournament’s first overtime and led 92-90 but #3E-Kansas St scored 8 of the last 9 points to win 98-93. K-State’s Markquis Nowell set a tournament record with 19 assists (while adding 20 points and 5 steals) as the last Big Ten team was eliminated (they started with a tournament-high 8). #4W-UConn never trailed and used an early 14-0 run and at one point led by 29 in a 88-65 win over #8W-Arkansas.
#9E-Florida Atlantic went on a 18-2 run to turn a 39-33 deficit into a 51-41 lead that they did not relinquish in upsetting #4E-Tennessee, 62-55. The FAU Owls won their 34th game (#1MW-Houston hopes to join them tomorrow) and makes their first Elite 8 in just their second appearance.
What is it about #3W-Gonzaga and #2W-UCLA in the tournament? In 2006 (Sweet 16), UCLA rallies from a 13-point halftime deficit by scoring the last 11 points of the game in 3:26 to win by 2 and end Adam Morrison’s Gonzaga career. In 2021 (Final Four), UCLA rallied from 5 points down in overtime to tie it only to have the Zags’ Jalen Suggs banked a near half-court buzzer beater to win it.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2023
NEW 8TH PLACE PRIZE PLUS THE BONUS ARE UP FOR GRABS
Including Bonus, 165 entries can still win money
HOME, CA (smt) – Just nine top four seeds made the Sweet 16 including #15S-Princeton. The West has #2-4 (losing #1 Kansas) while the South has #1 Arkansas but a #5, #6, and #15. The Midwest has #1-3 and #5 while the East has #3 and #4 joined by #7 and #9. #1E-Purdue became the second team to lose to a #16 seed (FDU) while #2S-Arizona lost in the first round. But you can’t be worse than POTUS who had Arizona as his champ and Virginia over Alabama in Sweet 16.
There have been no overtime games (there were 5 last year) and very few one possession wins (7, though 3 more than last year after the 2nd Round) in the 48 proper 64 games played thus far. More than half (25 of 48) have been double-digit wins.
7 of 8 Big Ten teams are already out and the ACC barely squeaked by getting a team (Miami (FL)) in the Sweet 16 every year since 1979. It’s the SEC dominating going 9-4 (not including First Four loss) as 11 conferences sent a team to the Sweet 16. Overall #1 Alabama has won each game by 21 and 22 points while only two other teams, #1MW-Houston and #4W-UConn, have won both games by double-digits.
Continue readingSunday, March 19, 2023
#5, #6, #7, and #9 PULL AWAY LATE
Jah Lives-2 remains on top with 85 pts; 134 entries still alive
LA MIRADA, CA (smt) – After #16E-Fairleigh Dickinson closed the gap to 3 with 3:27 left, #9E-Florida Atlantic went on a 7-0 to put the game away. Up by 8 (78-70) with seconds left, FAU, not used to winning, tried an uncontested 360 degree dunk (failed miserably) as time ran out, unsportsmanlike to the max. While FAU was favored, three lower seeds pulled off upsets, but with little drama at the end.
#7E-Michigan St stunned trendy pick #2E-Marquette by going on a 7-0 run after the lead was cut to one with 3:36 left to win by 9. #6S-Creighton never allowed #3S-Baylor to get closer than 9 in the last 11 minutes behind Ryan Nembhard’s 30 points. After #4MW-Indiana went up 49-47, #5MW-Miami (Florida) went on a 16-2 run to win by 16.
#3MW-Xavier led by 20 and held on to a 9-point win. #3E-Kansas St trailed by one to #6E-Kentucky with 2:39 left but a couple of clutch 3s and hitting all 8 free throws propelled them to a 75-69 win. #4W-UConn trailed by one to #5W-St. Mary’s with 16:06 left but went on a 22-7 run to win by 15. Both #6W-TCU (12/20 60%) and #3W-Gonzaga (16/25 64%) struggled from the line but it was the Zags who pulled away late (buzzer beater three by TCU made the final margin close at 3).
Continue readingSaturday, March 18, 2023
ARKANSAS KNOCKS KANSAS OUT; PRINCETON IN SWEET 16
Jah Lives-2 leads with 70 pts; PopTop1 goes 7-1
DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CARSON, CA (smt) – #8W-Arkansas used an 11-0 run to erase a 10-point deficit and then battled basket for basket in outlasting defending champ #1MW-Kansas, 72-71. Up by 3 with 7 seconds left, a smart foul forced Kansas to shoot free throws. Kansas tried to miss the second but accidentally banked it in and Arkansas ran out the last three seconds. In the only other upset, #15S-Princeton broke open a 6-point lead with a 19-8 run to rout #7S-Missouri by 15. #5S-San Diego St easily stomped upstart #13S-Furman by 23 and #1S-Alabama won by 22.
Other top seeds finished strong with #4E-Tennessee’s Olivier Nkamhoua scored 17 of the teams’ 19 points in outlasting #5E-Duke, #1MW-Houston used second half 14-2 and 8-0 runs after #9MW-Auburn got within one, #2MW-Texas’s Dylan Disu scored 10 points in the last 4 1/2 minutes to help beat #10MW-Penn St, and #2W-UCLA hit their last six free throws (last 32 seconds) to nip #7W-Northwestern by five.
The Big Ten lost all 3 games and they were the last 3 games of the day and has just two teams left. The SEC went 3-2 and has nine wins in the tournament with Kentucky playing tomorrow. All four Big East and both WCC teams play tomorrow.
Continue readingFriday, March 17, 2023 **HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY**
FDU 2ND 16 SEED TO BEAT 1 SEED; WEST IS CHALK
Samurai Jack leads going 27-5 as 16 lose Purdue as champ
HOME, CA (smt) – #16E-Fairleigh Dickinson, who didn’t win the regular season or tournament in the NEC, rode their First Four win momentum to down #1E-Purdue, 63-58, becoming the second #16 seed to beat a #1 seed. FDU only made the tournament because NEC champion Merrimack (who beat FDU in final) is still ineligible due to D-II to D-I transition. And yet, with one three-point dagger to put FDU up by 5 with a minute left, FDU (never better than a 15 seed) now has 3 tournament wins (2 in First Four), which is three more than mid-major Boise St. Purdue had big droughts losing a 47-41 lead to fall behind 49-47 and then going over 5:40 without scoring as FDU increased their 54-53 lead to 58-53. Purdue has now lost to a #16, a #15 (St. Peter’s last year in Sweet 16), and a #13 seed (North Texas in 1st Round) the past three years. In their last 10 tourneys, Purdue has lost to a double-digit seed five times (all as a 5 seed or better).
It’ll be FDU vs FAU as #9E-Florida Atlantic won their 32nd game (same as Houston) getting a generous jump ball (while two #8E-Memphis players tried to call time out) with 5.5 seconds left and converting a lay in to win 66-65. #14MW-Kennesaw St led 61-48 with 9:56 left but #3MW-Xavier ended the game on a 24-6 run to advance. #11W-Arizona St hit a tying 3 but #6W-TCU got a lay in with 1.5 seconds left to win 72-70. #5MW-Miami (Florida) ended their game on a 16-1 run to win by 7 over #12MW-Drake.
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