Since no one can win Bonus1 (best conference wins), Bonus2 is now in effect (total pts in final). Anywhere from 44-48 entries now have a chance to win the $40. The scenarios are now online depending on what happens next weekend.
Monthly Archives: March 2010
Issue # 12.4.2 “The Big Boys Are Back”
2010 HWCI NCAA Pool Update. A day late, but hey, sleep is supposed to be good for you. Good luck to the remaining 13! Also, the Bonus possibilities (no one can win the Bonus1, so Bonus2 is in effect!) will be put up later this week.
Reluctantly Duke
Never cared for Duke. But I’ll need them to win it all and score a lot of points to try and take 5th place. One person who’s happy for Duke’s win is You’re My Boy Blue who has guaranteed himself at least 3rd place ($170) so he can start spending the money now. The other 12 will have to wait and see what happens next week. Here are the Final Four Possibilities:
If MICHIGAN ST/BUTLER beats W VIRGINIA in the final, then the possible winners are... The Pride Of Troy! Score:118 (place 1 winner) Max Approved Score:114 (place 2 winner) You're My Boy Blue Score:108 (place 3 winner) Another Two-Peat Score:107 (place 4 winner) Larzby Score:106 (tiebreak=137) The Mighty Mobelfakta Score:106 (tiebreak=142) Hummeless Score:106 (tiebreak=145) Blue Devil Blues Score:106 (tiebreak=169) If W VIRGINIA beats MICHIGAN ST/BUTLER in the final, then the possible winners are... The Pride Of Troy! Score:118 (place 1 winner) Max Approved Score:114 (place 2 winner) You're My Boy Blue Score:108 (place 3 winner) Another Two-Peat Score:107 (tiebreak=128) Punani59 Score:107 (tiebreak=131) If MICHIGAN ST/BUTLER beats DUKE in the final, then the possible winners are... You're My Boy Blue Score:116 (place 1 winner) Hummeless Score:114 (tiebreak=145) Blue Devil Blues Score:114 (tiebreak=169) The Pride Of Troy! Score:110 (place 4 winner) Another Two-Peat Score:107 (tiebreak=128) Jinx Score:107 (tiebreak=160) If DUKE beats MICHIGAN ST/BUTLER in the final, then the possible winners are... Blue Devil Blues Score:126 (place 1 winner) You're My Boy Blue Score:116 (place 2 winner) Eros Score:115 (place 3 winner) Hummeless Score:114 (place 4 winner) FOMI Score:111 (tiebreak=140) Deemed to Win Score:111 (tiebreak=144)
Good or Bad Calls?
Was watching but unable to listen to the game but there seemed to be some questionable calls (including allowing just 0.2 seconds to run off the clock on the intentionally missed free throw). Will have to see what happened there.
But congrats to Michigan St. (again) for making the Final Four. They always seem to sneak in, especially in broken brackets. No one picked them but it did eliminate Another Two-Peat (who was the only one to pick Tenn) from winning first. The next game is crucial in terms of standings. If Baylor wins, only 9 can win the money spots with 4 still having a chance for 1st. It’ll also give The Pride of Troy! at least 4th place and Marinomac at least a tie or 5th place (could lose the tiebreaker). If Duke wins, 13 will still be alive but only 3 could win 1st (You’re My Boy Blue, The Pride of Troy!, and Blue Devil Blues) with You’re My Boy Blue guaranteed at least 3rd place.
Issue # 11.4.1 “Three of Free; Butler Heads Home”
2010 HWCI NCAA Pool Update. Wow, what a crazy tourney. Can Duke be the lone #1 in the Final Four? Only 17 remain…
Bonus Possibility
With the Big 12 down to just one team, this is the scenario for the Bonus. If Baylor loses in the Final to Butler or Tennessee, then my mom Besst will win the $40 Bonus Prize. Anything else and no one wins Bonus1 and we go to Bonus2. This will open the Bonus back up to everyone who won’t finish in the top 5. The winner will be the closest to the total points in final and if entries are tied, then the most points in the pool.
Congrats, Cal Poly Pomona!
Cal Poly Pomona wins Division II championship – ESPN. One of my alma maters won the Div II basketball championships! Congrats! Way to go Broncos!
I Don’t Know What to Think
WVU goes 0 for its first 17 16 from 2-point range; Kentucky goes 0 for its first 20 from 3-point range. West Virginia misses 8 free throws after taking a 61-45 lead with 4:25 left. Somehow, WVU is going to the Final Four for the first since 1959. Duke is now the last #1 seed. 29 picked WVU. Larzby is still in first and has a 12.5% chance for first but can’t pick up any more points. The overwhelming favorite is The Pride of Troy! who has a 87.5% chance for money and a 50% chance for 1st. He is also trying to get his 3rd year in the money (the previous were 4th place finishes). Six have a 12.5% chance for 1st. Just 17 can win money.
Three or Free Only
2 pointers: 0/17! 3 pointers: 8/14! WV’s first 24 points off 3’s (last 4 off FTs). WV can’t possibly keep this up… they’re up by 2 at the half.
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).
Issue # 10.3.2 “It is a Team Game”
2010 HWCI NCAA Pool Update. Hard to believe there are only 7 games left! Good luck to the 33 who are still alive! If you want to know which of the 128 possible outcomes you can win money on, post it on our discussion board (you don’t have to register).
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.
Issue # 9.3.1 “Round the Rim, Off the Top Backboard, Nothing But Net”
2010 HWCI NCAA Pool Update. After tomorrow’s games, there are 128 possible outcomes of the tournament. If you would like to know which of these 128 (if you’re still alive) will get you money, please post a comment on any of these posts or post your request on the discussion forum.
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.