Daily Archives: Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Issue # 9.4.1 “Rally and Rout” [Pub: March 29]

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Saturday, 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

UConn routBELLINGHAM, 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.

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Issue # 8.3.2 “Texas Stands Alone” [Pub: March 29]

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Friday, 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.

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