First Four for Charity – Day Two

Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2015 by Scott

Final Standings

#16aS-North Florida started off strong but eventually, like in their conference final, #16bS-Robert Morris chipped away and pulled off a 4-point win, 81-77. That meant Wendy B and Kevin T were tied at 2-1 with Kevin holding a 2-point lead in the point differential tiebreaker (18 to 20). Home-team-wearing-road-uniforms #11Eb-Dayton took the lead, trailed late, and eventually came back to pull off a 1-point win, 56-55, thanks to a no-call-that-is-usually-called on a buzzer-beating 3-point attempt by #11Ea-Boise St. That margin gave Kevin T the HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity title, holding off Wendy B by 3 points (3-1, 22 to 25 differential). The Flyers win also meant Scott T (10th) and Eric C (last) didn’t go 0-4. Elizabeth W, despite being 50 points off in her picks, finished 8th. North Florida will be a footnote in our pool as only teams who make the 64 are counted in our pool. So only 4 new teams made it.

So thanks for playing but we’re not done yet. In addition to the $22 (11 x $2) I will be donating based on the entries to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, I should be getting at least $15 from other generous people, and, since we look like we’re passing 138 entries (see below), I’ll be chipping in another $25. So at least $62.

As of 2:15 am, we have 133 entries (from 91 people, 18 who are brand new!), well on our way of breaking the 138 we had last year (I still have 2 entries and we have 2 mail-in entries (yes, mail-in!)). We had a record-breaking 72 entries on Wednesday, shattering the old record of 63 in 2013 and ended with 123 which blitzed by the old record of 110 set last year. We have also set a record of 32 people entering more than one entry (we had 26 in 2012 and 25 last year) which may reflect the balancing point of picking Kentucky and not picking Kentucky.

Issue # 2.0.2 “What are We Pool Geeks Called?”

Posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 by Scott

Archive

FIRST FOUR AS FIRST ROUND CLOSING SOON
At 3 p.m., 2015 pace eclipsing last year’s record pace of entries received

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt)- Some good Tuesday games as under #16bMW-Hampton won their 5th game in a row to reach .500 (17-17) and the right to lose to #1MW-Kentucky while #11aW-Ole Miss rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to beat #11bW-BYU in a high-scoring affair, 94-90. In 2012, BYU had rallied from a 25-point deficit in a First Four game. As #16aS-North Florida leads by six at the half and tries to make the Round of 64 proper for the first time, a rare home game will see host #11bE-Dayton battle #11aE-Boise St. After the First Four is done with, it will no longer be considered the 1st Round, thus confusing as Thursday starts the 2nd Round. We will revert back to the 1st Round being the Round of 64 games and the 2nd Round being the Round of 32 games next year. Small victory. Haven’t really seen any Kentucky backlash (as in the world is now not picking the Wildcats to win it all) yet.

So as I am excited to attend Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim (who else will be there??) and meeting all the great Star Wars fans (geeks, if you may), I was wondering what pool geeks are called. Poeeks? Brackeeks? Bracketeers? We love this March Madness and last year Continue reading »

First Four For Charity – Day One

Posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 by Scott

We had 11 brave souls enter picks in our 5th HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity (the others must be really trying to figure out who can beat Kentucky). So that’s at least $22 going to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation but with other commitments, I hope to write a much bigger check! But on to the standings… below .500 Hampton rolled over Manhattan winning by 10 while ~~a year~~ a few years after BYU staged a 25-point comeback in the First Four, Ole Miss staged their own 17-point comeback against… BYU. Hampton was only picked by Kevin T while Ole Miss’s 4 point win was picked by just 3. As a result, there is a 4-way tie for 1st with Kevin T holding the Points Differential tiebreaker at 15. Boy, this doesn’t bode well for a lot of us, going 0-2 already.

37 hours after the bracket was announced, at midnight we have received 51 entries (from 39 people – 8 who are brand new to our pool), which is the 2nd most at this point in time (60 in ’14). Still lots of time to get your entries in.

Issue # 1.0.1 “Of Legal Age!”

Posted on Monday, March 16, 2015 by Scott

Archive

Monday, March 16, 2015 **HELP Support Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation**

KENTUCKY PERFECT FOR NOW – CAN ANY OTHER TEAM WIN?
Our HWCI Pool is of legal age, as 21st pool commences

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Who can stop Kentucky? The Wildcats completed their perfect regular season (34-0) and claimed the #1 of #1 seeds holding serve in their home state in the Midwest Region. Incredibly, you can pick the field (any of the other 67 teams) at even money to win the tournament. The Wildcats beat Wichita St last year, who was also undefeated entering the tournament. The other #1 seeds were E-Villanova, S-Duke, and W-Wisconsin, who won the Big Ten tournament shutting out #7E-Michigan St in overtime. Despite not getting a #1 seed, the Big 12 got 7 of their 10 teams in the tournament matching the Big Ten. The new Big East got six teams in and when joined with the other Power 5 conferences, garnered 29 of 36 at-large bids. One of the biggest surprises, though great for us local folks, was #11S-UCLA making it not only in the tournament, but not as a bubble last 4 in team. And one of the more entertaining parts of the slow Selection Show was watching the deer-caught-in-the-headlights look of Chairman Scott Barnes try to explain why UCLA made it and ignoring they are playing #6S-SMU, coached by ex-Bruin coach Larry Brown. Our very own Anteaters of #13E-UC-Irvine are in their very first tournament (beating my local favorite Hawai’i) and rounding out the last California team, #8S-San Diego St. will travel to Charlotte.

Besides the Bruins, Continue reading »

5th HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity (Due: 3:40 pm PDT Tuesday)

Posted on Sunday, March 15, 2015 by Scott

While you decide who will win the tourney, for the 5th year I’m doing the HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity, where I will donate $2 per entry to a charity, this year the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation for breast cancer research which rates high on spending donations responsibly. This First Four for Charity is free and you just have to submit (you can comment on this post to enter) who the four First Four winners will be and by what point margin. For example: Hampton by 3, BYU by 6, North Florida by 1, and Dayton by 15. The four games are Hampton vs Manhattan, Ole Miss vs BYU, North Florida vs Robert Morris, and Boise St vs Dayton. Get your entry by 3:40 pm PDT Tuesday. As a bonus, Continue reading »

From 64 to 13

Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2015 by Scott

I think we have a problem…

Talk about timing. My 64″ Plasma HDTV has gone kaput after just 3 1/2 years. I did get a Squaretrade warranty and we’ll see how that goes next week. Always been skeptical of these warranties so I was surprised I bought one from Costco. I think it’s just a logic board change and unfortunately, since I got such a great deal from Amazon, if it’s a complete replacement, I’ll only get a fraction of what it was worth. But when I think about last year, I was watching the games mostly on my laptop (13″), iPad Air (yes, I do like innovative Apple products (iPhone is not one)) (10″) or Moto X (4.7″) since my kids were watching shows on the TV. So I’m not as upset as I thought I’d be. The pic shows the initial stages on Friday morning but in an hour it was completely black. Sigh.

Newbie vs Newbie

Posted on Friday, March 13, 2015 by Scott

One of things I like to track are the new teams that enter our pool. Since we started (64 teams) in 1995, every year has had at least one new team we haven’t seen before (and every year at least one team that had never qualified for the tourney before). This year, another handful of teams were poised to make the tournament either for the first time or the first time since before 1995. Of the five charter members who have not made the tourney (The Citadel, Army, and Northwestern being the others), two were in great position and both failed (at home) with #1 CAA seed William & Mary losing in the title game for the fourth time in 8 years and #1 NEC seed St. Francis (NY) choking (down by 3 with free throws, missed the first 2 and then intentionally missed the 3rd but forgot to hit the rim resulting in a turnover). #10 SoCon seed Furman (last appeared in ’80) nearly pulled off the upset in the title match.

So in order to get a new team, we needed two teams to face each other in the final! And we got two, guaranteeing two new teams as North Florida beat USC Upstate (also trying to make the tourney for the 1st time) in the A-Sun final and Northeastern (1st since ’91) beating said St. Francis. In a rejiggered WAC where 6 of the 8 teams haven’t made the tourney and Seattle having not made it since ’69, it looks like the lone veteran New Mexico, the #1 seed, is likely to win the WAC tourney. Those still fighting for the first bid are Stony Brook, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Buffalo, Sac State, CS-Bakersfield, Buffalo, and UMKC with Seattle (’69), SMU (’93), Louisiana Tech (’91), Yale (’62), Toledo (’80), and Georgia Southern (’92) still alive to return for the first time in at least 21 years.

Issue # 16.6.2 “Historic Moments”

Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2014 by Scott

Archive

*2014 Champions Roll Call*
(76th Annual NCAA Tournament)	The University of Connecticut Huskies (32-8)
(20th Annual HWCI NCAA Pool)	Karen F, aka, Badzy (40-23, 121 points)
(4th Annual HWCI First Four for Charity)Friends of Renee	Guilio B (4-0, 25 point diff) & Friends of Renee – To raise cash to help Renee and Ugo meet their financial burden &raise awareness of Lyme disease, which is the fastest growing infectious disease in the United States. $69 Raised (22 participants x $2 = $44 + Add’l donations by Charles D, Bob S, and Jeff H)

Wednesday, April 16, 2014  **** HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER **** 

HISTORIC MOMENTS IN 20 YEARS

Badzy is only person to pick UConn and rallies to win our 20th pool title

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- So Karen F thought UConn sounded like a cool name and she rode that to winning the 20th HWCI NCAA pool among some crazy games in the tournament. IUPUI sounds cool to me but I don’t think I could pick them to win if they ever get back in. But she did keep the streak alive of someone in our pool picking the correct champion, making it 16 years in a row. She was also one of a handful of players who skipped 2013 (2nd year, ’11) and included Bing F (9th year, 1st since ’09), Bar L (8th year, 1st since ’09 and 1st not nicknamed Indy), Nikki N (10th year, 1st since ’09 and 1st not including Bluestars in the nickname), Brian Z (9th year, 1st since ’10 and still named Zippy), Ken G (7th year, first since ’10), Don M (6th year, 1st since ’11). In our 20 years, we have seen some crazy plays and games that have affected our pool.

’95 Mizzou vs UCLA. Probably the defining moment in our pool. If you remember, Continue reading »

Issue # 15.6.1 “Freshmen Hazed”

Posted on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 by Scott

Archive

5th HWCI World Cup Pool Begins in May

*2014 NCAA Champions*
#7-East (New York, NY)	The University of Connecticut Huskies (32-8) 4th Title: ’99, ’04, ’11, ’14
**2014 Winningest Conference**
	The Southeastern Conference (11-3) 3rd time: ’06, ’07, ’14

UCONN SCHOOLS KENTUCKY FOR 4TH TITLE
Badzy is only person to pick UConn and rallies to win our 20th pool title

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- The veteran starting lineup of #7E-UConn, some who stayed on despite the Huskies being banned from postseason last year, came out hungry against the all-freshmen starting lineup from #8MW-Kentucky jumping to a 30-15 lead and eventually hanging on to a 60-54 victory. The Huskies never trailed in winning their 4th title (the same number as Duke!), all in the last 16 years and two years removed from retired coach Jim Calhoun and one year removed from a postseason ban due to academics. While UConn was a perfect 10/10 from the charity stripe, Kentucky bookended 6/7 by missing 7 of their first 13 free throws and their last three (including a front end of a one-and-one). Senior Shabazz Napier, while taking some ill-advised or quick shots, scored 22 pts and had 6 rebounds as he was one of the few who stayed on through the postseason ban. This capped a wild tournament partially aided by bad seeding by the selection committee and that sometimes, just the name on the shirt (with a little luck) is enough to propel you to the finals.

In a strange twist, all 8 entries alive to win money were guaranteed to finish at least tied for 6th (before the dreaded tiebreaker), meaning two would lose the tiebreaker and go home empty handed. But first, Continue reading »

UConn vs Kentucky – Live

Posted on Monday, April 7, 2014 by Scott

Halftime: UConn built a 15-point lead at 30-15 giving Badzy a great chance for 1st but at the half, Kentucky had cut the deficit to 4 (35-31) bringing Bigtenfan2 back into the mix. One of these 2 will win our 20th HWCI NCAA Pool. As for the Bonus, the 66 combined projects to 132 which would give LuckyNumberSlevin the $40 bonus.

Start 2nd: Kentucky has trailed or been tied at the half in 5 of the 6 tourney games and we know how the other four ended up. And a 3 puts the Wildcats within one.

18:05: Geez, another monitor review. Boy, dunks are hard for UConn.

15:14: UConn just up by 1 (37-36). Slow going, projecting to 117 which would Coach K’s Recruiters the Bonus.

12:45: UConn dunk blocked again! Kentucky needs to hit their free throws (6 of 13 while UConn is perfect 6-6). UConn 41-37.

10:40: Kentucky’s first field goal in almost 5 minutes, still trail 48-42 (after made free throw). The 90 combined points is about 120 at end of game which would give Pinkocean the Bonus (and her 2nd bonus).

9:00: UConn’s Boatright’s injured. Timeout. UConn leads 48-45. Still on track for 120 pts.

7:54: Since I harped on their free throwing, Kentucky has hit 6 of 7 to pull within 1 (48-47).

6:00: Back to back 3’s put UConn back up by five 54-49. Kentucky still has never led.

3:47: Kentucky had hit 7 of 8 free throws but have now missed 2 in a row (including the front end of a 1-on-1). They get 1 more trailing 56-52 (and he missed). Amazingly, still projecting to 120 pts.

1:49: UConn slowing things down, Kentucky missing shots. Now a key offensive rebound as the Huskies try to hold a 58-52 lead. Now we’re projecting to 115 pts which would give Elizabeth the Bonus.

25.1: UConn still hasn’t missed a free throw today (10/10) leading 60-54.

0.0: Boy that last 25 seconds was a blur, before you knew it the game was over as Kentucky, for once, couldn’t get a late 3 to fall. UConn are your champions and Karen F (Badzy) is our HWCI NCAA Pool champion! She is our 5th female champion and first since 2010. The 60-54 victory means 114 is our total points in final. So Elizabeth W (Elizabeth) wins the Bonus! So who wins 6th?

0.0: With Badzy out of the way and the low total points total, Rick F (Fabio) easily won the tiebreaker to take 6th, leaving Paul T (The Downtown Fiction) and Don M (Wooden-Soldier) penniless. Benjamin D (Bigtenfan2), Randy E (Hawkeye), Ken B (Beyond Elite 8), and Eric F (ShivaBlast) each dropped a spot to claim 2nd/3rd/4th/5th.

Issue # 14.5.2 “Our Vigintennial”

Posted on Monday, April 7, 2014 by Scott

Archive

The Final @ North Texas (Arlington) (AT&T Stadium)
(31-8) #7-East (New York, NY)	vs.	(29-10) #8-Midwest (Indianapolis, IN)

2ND YEAR ENTRANTS VIE FOR TITLE

A record 138 entries start strong, fizzle at end ROSEMEAD/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Two teams people would associate with titles made the final, but this year UConn was a #7 seed and Kentucky was a #8 seed. Both teams didn’t win their conference title nor tournament (both were 12-6 in conference play). Yet they’ve outlasted an undefeated team, last year’s champion and dark horse, curious seeding, high number of close games, and lengthy monitor replay delays. The Wildcats have not only had a difficult route to the final (beating 3 of last year’s Final Four teams including undefeated Wichita St) but they have also closed out five straight close games, thanks to Aaron Harrison’s clutch 3-point shooting in the final minute. The Huskies were nearly upset in overtime in their first game and then proceeded to knock off the #2, #3, and #4 seeds in the East before finally snapping #1 overall seed Florida’s 30-game win streak thanks to incredible free throw shooting. Kentucky and their fab five starting freshmen are 3 point favorites. Interestingly, UConn was 2-0 vs Florida while Kentucky was 0-3.

We will have our 19th different champion in 20 years as a couple of second-year players will battle for the title and get their first taste at money in our pool. Bigtenfan2 hasn’t picked up any points since last Saturday but can win the 20th HWCI NCAA Pool title if Kentucky wins. Otherwise, it will be Badzy and her riding UConn to the title. The other six players are also guaranteed a chance at money with the tiebreaker Continue reading »

Issue # 13.5.1 “#7 vs #8, Oy Vey!”

Posted on Sunday, April 6, 2014 by Scott

Archive

UCONN DOES IT AGAIN; FRESHMEN TOP UPPER CLASSMEN
Bigtenfan2 is still holding on to 1st while 8 are “guaranteed” with a chance to finish in money

FOUNTAIN VALLEY/ROSEMEAD, CA (smt)- The UConn Huskies have Florida’s number. The Gator’s 30-game winning streak came to a screeching halt bookended by losses to the Huskies four months apart. The last #1 seed to fall made UConn the first #7 seed in the championship. The Huskies 63-53 win, led by DeAndre Daniels 20 points and 10 rebounds, means they are now 7-1 in the Final Four and will try to win their 4th title in 16 years.

In a wild game that saw Kentucky go on a 15-0 second half run only to be answered by Wisconsin’s 15-4 run, Aaron Harrison made his 3rd straight go-ahead 3-pointer in 3 games, this time with 5.7 seconds left to give the Wildcats a 74-73 win over the Badgers. The Kentucky freshmen (66 points, a Final Four record) once again Continue reading »

Issue # 12.4.3 “The Great Programs Finish”

Posted on Saturday, April 5, 2014 by Scott

Archive ( ***HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELUCKY2!***)

The Final Four @ North Texas (Arlington) (AT&T Stadium)
(36-2) #1-South (Memphis, TN)	(30-8) #7-East (New York, NY)		(30-7) #2-West (Anaheim, CA)	(28-10) #8-Midwest (Indianapolis, IN)

FLORIDA, UCONN, KENTUCKY - BUT THIS YEAR?

Guilio B wins First Four for Charity; at least $69 raised for Friends of Renee

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Well, we were denied the first 40-0 team but we do have a team on a 30-game win streak that went undefeated in the SEC (1st team to do so) in Florida. They are joined by their SEC brethren Kentucky, who matured over the tournament in winning four straight close games by a combined 17 points and beating 3 teams from last year’s Final Four. Could they meet in the final?

Well, the last team to beat Florida was Continue reading »

Issue # 11.4.2 “Big 10 Implosion”

Posted on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 by Scott

Archive

MICHIGAN TEAMS FALL; UCONN & KENTUCKY BACK IN FINAL FOUR

Bigtenfan2 is our leader but can’t get any more points

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Two Big Ten Michigan-based schools fell while the only 2 teams who have won 3 titles in our HWCI NCAA Pool era advanced to the Final Four. #7E-UConn rode the home away from home Madison Square Garden crowd to a 60-54 victory over #4E-Michigan St to reach the Final Four for the fifth time since 1999 (but their previous 4 trips have come from the West Region). UConn once again was unstoppable from the free throw line, hitting 21 of 22. Hard to believe UConn is back in the Final Four a year after being ineligible for the post-season and two years after Jim Calhoun left. Once again, a dumb foul on a 3-point attempt sinks a team, and this time it allowed UConn to push the lead from 2 to 5 (hitting all 3 free throws) sealing the win.

NCAA Titles Since 1995

Year	Sd	Region	Team
1997	4	SE	ARIZONA
2006	3	M(MIN)	FLORIDA
2007	1	MW	FLORIDA
2008	1	MW	KANSAS
1996	1	MW	KENTUCKY
1998	2	S	KENTUCKY
2012	1	S	KENTUCKY
2013	1	MW	LOUISVILLE
2002	1	E	MARYLAND
2000	1	MW	MICHIGAN ST
2005	1	E(SYR)	N CAROLINA
2009	1	S	N CAROLINA
2003	3	E	SYRACUSE
1999	1	W	U CONN
2004	2	W(PHX)	U CONN
2011	3	W	U CONN
1995	1	W	UCLA
2001	1	E	DUKE
2010	1	S	DUKE

#8MW-Kentucky rallied and beat #2MW-Michigan, 75-72, on Aaron Harrison’s 4th straight 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left. With the game tied and playing for the last shot, the long 3 wasn’t as ill-advised but it worked out (why Continue reading »

Issue # 10.4.1 “Long Time Back to Final Four”

Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2014 by Scott

Archive

GATORS & BADGERS END FINAL FOUR DROUGHT
Bigtenfan2 is our new leaderCERRITOS, CA (smt)- #1S-Florida used a 19-3 run to end the first half in coasting to a 62-52 win over Cinderella-wannabe #11S-Dayton.

It’s the Gators first Final Four appearance since 2007 when they won the back-to-back championships. Close calls in the final 3 seconds (a charge and a 50/50 ball out of bounds) put the refs center stage but #1W-Arizona failed to get a shot off in time in losing for the 4th time in the Elite 8 in this same Anaheim arena (’98, ’03, ’11). #2W-Wisconsin’s 64-63 thrilling overtime win sends them to the Final Four for the first time since 2000. The 1 vs 2 matchup lived up to they hype.

Didn’t see any of the Florida game but watched the last part of the second game. It was nice to see a true big dominate (though listed as a forward, Frank Kaminsky was clutch, getting 28 pts and 11 rebounds) in a trend where finesse and shooting are in the spotlight. Also, though I needed Arizona to win, Continue reading »

2024 HWCI NCAA Pool

The latest on our HWCI NCAA Pool…

First Four for Charity – Day Two

Issue # 2.0.2 “What are We Pool Geeks Called?”

First Four For Charity – Day One

Issue # 1.0.1 “Of Legal Age!”

5th HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity (Due: 3:40 pm PDT Tuesday)

From 64 to 13

Newbie vs Newbie

Issue # 16.6.2 “Historic Moments”

Issue # 15.6.1 “Freshmen Hazed”

UConn vs Kentucky – Live

Issue # 14.5.2 “Our Vigintennial”

Issue # 13.5.1 “#7 vs #8, Oy Vey!”

Issue # 12.4.3 “The Great Programs Finish”

Issue # 11.4.2 “Big 10 Implosion”

Issue # 10.4.1 “Long Time Back to Final Four”