There’s Nobrackegrity and Jinx is back!

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If you wanted to know who is who, here is the preview of the decoding ring!  HTML file to posted later tonight (Edit: Posted!)… Post a comment on what your favorite nickname(s) are!

ALPHABETICAL by NAME   ALPHABETICAL by NICKNAME
FIRST NAME LI NICKNAME # Yrs   FIRST NAME LI NICKNAME # Yrs
David A (1) Not Dead Freds 6   Yumi S (1) 9ers in ’14 7
Chris B (1) Crafty Airs 8   John C (2) Baby Tiger 8
Chris B (2) Thomas the Train 7   Russel B (1) Ballz Deep 1
Chris B (3) Sam and Ross 4   Greg J (1) BamaG 8
Darryn B (1) Big Luther 12   Greg J (2) Bamag2 6
Wendy B (1) Buckeye23 8   Stephanie H (1) Bambino 2
Wendy B (2) Nobracketegrity 2   Continue reading »

Will the real Jeff H stand up?

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For the first time in 19 years, we have two people with the same first name and last initial in the same pool.  Yes, we have two “Jeff H“‘s.  Han and Higa.  Now, I’m trying to see if Higa will go by “Jeffrey” or use a middle initial since he’s the newest Jeff H, but if not, Higa will probably be Jeff2 H.  This problem arises since I try to only use the last name initial wherever possible.  Of course, nicknames are the way we roll, and hopefully tonight, the complete nickname-to-person table will be published.

In looking back, it is eerie how close we were to having this same problem but off by a year.  Or one person plays, skips a year or two where another person with the same first/LI plays, and then first player comes back.  Here are the 8 instances where we have the same first name and last initial and years they have played.

Eric S:   Continue reading »

Issue # 6.2.2 “Close But Chalk”

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Well, D-Day is here… find out if you are still alive in our pool (and amazingly, 114 entries are!).  So you may have thought you were out, but you aren’t!  Even I’m still alive with Gonzaga and Georgetown in my Final Four (though I can’t finish higher than 3rd).  Remember, we’ll have 1st-6th prizes (plus a Bonus prize for those eliminated).

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Sunday, March 24, 2013 
Issue # 6.2.2 "Close But Chalk"
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DUNK CITY STILL ALIVE; TOP SEEDS SURVIVE
DenverDunks1 tops pool but ChasCroix has best chance to win
TEMPLE CITY, CA/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- It’s hard to believe that this team is just 17 years old and only in its 2nd year of postseason eligibility.  So no history to hang on to, no legacy to rely on.  But #15S-Florida Gulf Coast is writing the book Continue reading »

Issue # 5.2.1 “Zig Zagged”

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GONZAG-aniYou know, the Gonzaga has not advanced past the Sweet 16 since their incredible Elite 8 run in 1999… that’s 14 years ago yet some of us still think of the Zags as this great mid-major team. And once as a #2 and once as a #3 they lost in the Round of 32.  Like this year but as a #1 seed.  Below is Saturday’s update (original).

Saturday, March 23, 2013 
Issue # 5.2.1 "Zig Zagged"
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ZAGS ONE AND DONE’D
Macie’s Mom regains lead
THE HOME DEPOT CENTER IN CARSON, CA/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Sometimes it hard to admit, but the critics were right, Continue reading »

Issue # 3.1.1 “Who Goofed? I’ve Got to Know”

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A day late as I try to catch up from my week long biz trip – this is Thursday’s recap…

Or View Original

 “LOWLY” PAC-12 OFF TO 3-0 START; HARVARD STUNS
 Despite Apple’s interference, 131 still able to join
TYSON’S CORNER, VA / AA FLIGHT # 263 IAD-LAX (smt)- The NCAA selection committee gave the Pac-12, supposedly a major conference, no respect Continue reading »

Catching up

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Well, my business review is over and it went well.  Drove almost two hours from Pax River in Maryland back to Tyson’s Corner in Virginia.  Got a very good filet, crab bisque, and very fresh scallops (and I don’t care for scallops).  Then walked about 5 miles in DC in sub-freezing weather.  So now, playing catch-up with the pool.  First of all, sorry to everyone if you’re an Apple fanboy/girl and couldn’t load the java applet to see the bracket but thanks to you for being flexible and taking pictures with your smartphone (yes, even iPhones) and sending it to us.  I think I’ve finally entered the last of them delaying David in posting the standings.  If it’s not up soon, then check tomorrow morning.

So it’s weird that at dinner, only half the games have been completed (here in the EDT).  Or is it weird Continue reading »

Cliff T wins First Four for Charity!

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Cliff T and Tom J both got all four games correct but Cliff’s 1-pt margin in both games sealed the tiebreaker with a point differential of just 16 vs. 28 for Tom.  17 of 20 picked James Madison U. while 8 picked La Salle (yesterday, 15 picked NC A&T and 11 picked St. Mary’s (CA).  Vi N and Wendy B both went just 1-3 but Vi took last with a point differential of 55!  Cliff joins ’11 winner David A (only person to go 4-0 (+ 30)) and ’12 winner Michael C (1 of 2 to go 4-0 (+15)).  Right now, the current donation total is $56 (thanks Tom J!) to MathCounts!

# FIRST LI Wins Pts Diff
1 Cliff T 4 16
1 Tom J 4 28
3 Eric F 3 21
3 Kevin T 3 26
5 Roy W 3 34
6 Neil P 3 35
7 Justin P 3 36
8 Charles D 3 40
8 Deven K 3 41
10 Sam S 3 44
10 Ron E 3 45
10 Albert H 2 36
13 Ken B 2 36
14 David A 2 40
15 Keith J 2 42
16 Eric C 2 52
17 Scott T 2 54
18 John C 2 55
19 Wendy B 1 38
20 Vi N 1 55

Update #2: Let’s do the Math (that) Counts

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Issue # 2.0.2 "Let's Do the Math (That) Counts"
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NIT OFF TO A CRAZY START WHILE NC A&T-LIBERTY PROVIDES DRAMA
 Our 3rd First Four for Charity will support MathCounts; Entry deadline is 9 a.m. PDT Thursday
LEXINGTON PARK, MD (smt)- It’s happened, a team has knocked off the overall #1 seed in the first round… except Continue reading »

Halfway through First Four

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As stated earlier, 20 people are in our 3rd annual HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity.  After 2 games, 7 are 2-0 with Cliff T. and Tom J. lead with a point differential of 14.  Wendy B. was the only one to go 0-2.  Here are the current standings which is followed by everyone’s picks:

# FIRST LI Wins Pts Diff
1 Cliff T 2 14
1 Tom J 2 14
3 Deven K 2 15
3 Neil P 2 15
5 Charles D 2 16
6 Sam S 2 18
7 Ron E 2 20
8 Eric F 1 10
8 Keith J 1 10
10 Albert H 1 14
10 Ken B 1 14
10 Roy W 1 14
13 Kevin T 1 15
14 David A 1 20
15 Vi N 1 23
16 John C 1 27
17 Justin P 1 29
18 Scott T 1 31
19 Eric C 1 32
20 Wendy B 0 16

 

Everyone’s picks below: Continue reading »

At least $51 raised! Thank you!

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Thanks to the twenty (20) people submitted their First Four picks on such short notice, raising $40.  Thanks to some additional generosity by Deven K. and Charles D., the current total is $51.  At the end of the tournament, I’ll make the donation and post the receipt (like in 2011 ($100) and 2012 ($83)).

n2013_math-countsAs a person who loves math and science and watching the decline of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills in our younger generation, I think it’s very important to expose boys and girls to STEM skills at a young age regardless of what he/she wants to be when he/she grows up.  So I’ve decided that this year’s charity is MathCounts  Continue reading »

3rd Annual HWCI First Four For Charity

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Just a quick note that our Web Entry is now live!  Click on the Web Entry menu on the top.  Thanks to David for getting it up pretty fast.

For the 3rd straight year, we’ll be using the First Four games as a little friendly competition for charity.  For every entry (it’s free), I’ll personally donate $2 to a charity TBD (if anyone has any ideas, let me know).  Last year, $83 (odd number due to additional donations by generous people) was donated to the American Cancer Society.  In 2011, $100 was donated to the American Red Cross for the tsunami and earthquake relief.  It’s easy to enter.  Just comment to this post or send an email to scott(at)hwci.com with the 4 First Four winners and the winning margin.  Example:  NC A&T wins by 4 points, Middle Tenn by 15 pts, La Salle by 1 pt, and James Madison by 8 pts.  Simple.  Here are the First Four matchups (deadline 3:30 pm PDT Tuesday):

#16MW NC A&T vs Liberty
#11MW Middle Tenn vs St. Mary's (CA)
#16E LIU Brooklyn vs James Madison U.
#13W Boise St. vs La Salle

Poor Anteaters

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Well, UC-Irvine had a chance to make the tourney for the first time but came out short (literally on their late 3-pt attempts).  And the big UC, UCLA lost in the Pac 12 Championship.  San Diego St. may be the only other SoCal team with a chance to make the tourney.  Brackets start to come out at 3 pm PDT (you can add this to your calendar).  We hope to get the online entry done by Monday morning, though in the past we’ve snuck it in before midnight Sunday.  Check often.  Please follow us (@HWCI_Pools) and use #hwcincaa for any tweets and for the latest quick (intra-day) updates.  The initial email has been sent out so if you didn’t get one, please let us know.  Everything is the same as before – $10/entry (up to 3 entries) with a Thursday 9 a.m. PDT deadline.

Issue # 16.7.2 “Youth Wins the Game and the Pool”

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2012 HWCI NCAA Pool Update.  Also mixed in is my annual Nicknames issue.  So checks have been mailed (except for the one who hasn’t contacted me — looking at you Jon J) and checks have been cashed (except for the one that couldn’t be direct deposited by my phone — looking at you Byron W — now I have to actually physically go to an ATM).  Also, don’t forget about our first-ever HWCI Euro 2012 Pool starting in May!