Tag Archives: Possibilities

Final Four Possibilities

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Just to separate it out, here are the 8 possible winning scenarios.  Is your name on this list?  18 entries are alive, 5 can win the pool.

2018 HWCI NCAA Pool – Final Four Possibilities 03/25/18

If LOYOLA CHI beats VILLANOVA in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Philly Eagles Again Score:117 (place 1 winner)
                   SacKings4Ever Score:115 (place 2 winner)
                     Slamjam51-3 Score:113 (place 3 winner)
               Spermicidal State Score:110 (tiebreak=131 | 4th if <=135 | 5th if >=136)
                         Billiam Score:110 (tiebreak=140 | 5th if <=135 | 4th if >=136)
                         BamaG 2 Score:107 (tiebreak=143 | 6th if <=143)
                          Larzby Score:107 (tiebreak=144 | 6th if >=144)
If VILLANOVA beats LOYOLA CHI in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Philly Eagles Again Score:129 (place 1 winner)
                   SacKings4Ever Score:127 (place 2 winner)
                     Slamjam51-3 Score:125 (place 3 winner)
                         Billiam Score:122 (place 4 winner)
                         BamaG 2 Score:119 (place 5 winner)
                      Bwakewey 1 Score:118 (place 6 winner)
If LOYOLA CHI beats KANSAS in the final, then the possible winners are...
            AlmostBaseballSeason Score:110 (place 1 winner)
             Philly Eagles Again Score:109 (place 2 winner)
                   SacKings4Ever Score:107 (tiebreak=101 | 3rd if <=122  | 4th if >=123)
                          Larzby Score:107 (tiebreak=144 | 4th if <=122  | 3rd if >=123)
            Kona Coast Sliders 1 Score:106 (tiebreak=134 | 5th if <=141   | Tied 5th if 142 | 6th if 143-149)
                      Bwakewey 3 Score:106 (tiebreak=150 | 6th if <=141   | Tied 5th if 142 | 5th if 143-157 | 6th if >=158)
                 Bob's Best Bets Score:106 (tiebreak=165 | 6th if 150-157 | 5th if >=158)
If KANSAS beats LOYOLA CHI in the final, then the possible winners are...
            Kona Coast Sliders 1 Score:118 (tiebreak=134 | 1st if <=141 | Tied 1st if 142 | 2nd if 143-149 | 3rd if >=150)
                      Bwakewey 3 Score:118 (tiebreak=150 | 2nd if <=141 | Tied 1st if 142 | 1st if 143-157 | 2nd if >=158)
                 Bob's Best Bets Score:118 (tiebreak=165 | 3rd if <=149 | 2nd if 150-157  | 1st if >=158)
                     Flying Elvi Score:116 (place 4 winner)
                    MistressNine Score:113 (place 5 winner)
                      MMMtheBOSS Score:111 (place 6 winner)
If MICHIGAN beats VILLANOVA in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Philly Eagles Again Score:125 (place 1 winner)
           STORMY Fever-Catch It Score:123 (place 2 winner)
                     Slamjam51-3 Score:121 (place 3 winner)
                         We Fam! Score:117 (place 4 winner)
                   SacKings4Ever Score:115 (tiebreak=101 | 5th if <=122 | 6th if >=123)
                          Larzby Score:115 (tiebreak=144 | 6th if <=122 | 5th if >=123)
If VILLANOVA beats MICHIGAN in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Philly Eagles Again Score:137 (place 1 winner)
                     Slamjam51-3 Score:133 (place 2 winner)
                   SacKings4Ever Score:127 (place 3 winner)
                         Billiam Score:122 (place 4 winner)
                     ChasCroix-1 Score:119 (tiebreak=128 | 5th if <=135 | 6th if >=136)
                         BamaG 2 Score:119 (tiebreak=143 | 6th if <=135 | 5th if >=136)
If MICHIGAN beats KANSAS in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Philly Eagles Again Score:117 (place 1 winner)
           STORMY Fever-Catch It Score:115 (tiebreak=144 | Tied 2nd)
                          Larzby Score:115 (tiebreak=144 | Tied 2nd)
                     Slamjam51-3 Score:113 (place 4 winner)
            AlmostBaseballSeason Score:110 (place 5 winner)
                         We Fam! Score:109 (place 6 winner)
If KANSAS beats MICHIGAN in the final, then the possible winners are...
            Kona Coast Sliders 1 Score:118 (tiebreak=134 | 1st if <=141 | Tied 1st if 142 | 2nd if 143-149 | 3rd if >=150)
                      Bwakewey 3 Score:118 (tiebreak=150 | 2nd if <=141 | Tied 1st if 142 | 1st if 143-157 | 2nd if >=158)
                 Bob's Best Bets Score:118 (tiebreak=165 | 3rd if <=149 | 2nd if 150-157  | 1st if >=158)
             Philly Eagles Again Score:117 (place 4 winner)
                     Flying Elvi Score:116 (place 5 winner)
                          Larzby Score:115 (place 6 winner)

Continue reading »

Issue # 6.2.3 “Winners and Losers” (3/21) **Prize Distribution & Bonus Details”

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Cinema for the Blind

TOP 6 AND BONUS WINNERS WILL SHARE $1,560 POT
52 eliminated entries can now win the Bonus

EL SEGUNDO/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- The #1 most expected not to last fell in the 2nd round (W-Xavier) but the overall #1 who became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed was a shocker (S-Virginia).  The two #1 seeds (E-Villanova and MW-Duke) don’t have much elite company as they are only joined by five other teams in the top 16 (last time in the pool era was 2000).  Incredibly two #7s, two #9s, and two #11s are in the Sweet 16.  Three #5 seeds fill up the remaining spots.  There has been one buzzer beater (#3W-Michigan over #6W-Houston) and a few near buzzer beaters in one of the more exciting tournaments in recent years.  #11S-Loyola-Chicago has won on two shots in the final seconds (0.3 and 3.6 seconds left) to win by a combined total of 3 points while #7S-Nevada has twice rallied from 14-point second half deficits (14 to #10S-Texas and 22 to #2S-Cincy).  #11MW-Syracuse became the eighth straight First Four team to win 1st Round and the fourth to win in 2nd Round.  Eleven games have gone to overtime (2) or decided by 3 points or less.  Whew.

While you are taking a breather, take a listen to She’s Forever” from one of the unsigned bands Paul T (Poolrider (102nd-T, 63 pts) helps promote and always his 3rd entry, Cinema for the Blind (25th-T, 73), a young brother-sister duo).  Our 24th year saw a 156 entries (and our first removed entries (4) since 2002) from 108 people, some making their appearance for the first time since 2014.  We will have six money spots as we have $1,560 to divvy out. The top prize will be $620, $70 less than last year when we had a record 178 entries. The prize distribution is listed below and as always, all fee money goes into prizes. So we have those top six spots plus the Bonus. What’s the Bonus? Read on…

As it has been for the past 14 years, the Conference Wins is the Bonus Prize (as detailed below) (aka, Bonus1). However, if no one wins it, the Bonus2 takes effect and the entry who is closest to the Total Points in Final tiebreaker gets the Bonus Prize. We have used this Bonus to give hope to those who get eliminated early as only those who do not finish in the top 6 will be eligible to win. Rules follow below…

Bonus1 – Winningest Conference

When you completed your online entry and saw your picks (to print out), Continue reading »

Issue # 10.4.2 “The Vet and the Other SEC Team”

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The Amazing Race is back! Season 29 starts Thursday March 30 10/9c

Sunday, March 26, 2017 

UNC WINS BATTLE OF BLUE BLOODS, USC WINS BATTLE OF SEC TEAMS
Jbwsaijo jumps to 1st but it’s Dboyz17 who is guaranteed money

ROSEMEAD, CA (smt)- The Carolinas are in.  The battle of the SEC saw rivals #7E-South Carolina (the other USC) and #4E-Florida play for more than 14 minutes with neither side taking more than a 3-point lead (from 44-41 Florida to 65-63 South Carolina).  But Maik Kotsar ended that with a jump shot to give the Gamecocks a four-point lead with 1:57 left.  The last minute saw Florida still down by four but they had their chances as South Carolina missed four free throws but the only thing the Gators could come up with were two painful turnovers in losing 77-70.  South Carolina joins #1W-Gonzaga in making their first Final Four and one of these teams will make their first Final as they will face off in the early game Saturday.

The battle of the blue bloods, part 2 (after #2S-Kentucky beat #3S-UCLA two days ago) proved to live up to its billing in the first part and the last ten minutes.  #1S-North Carolina and Kentucky battled early with the Tar Heels holding on to a 34-30 lead with 4:30 left.  But then the game turned out to be a slog to watch, one of the poorest performances for the tournament, as the middle 20 minutes (4:30 1st half to 9:30 2nd half) saw both teams grind out to a partly 19 points each (15 of those 38 points on free throws).  Kentucky missed all six three-point attempts and made just 7 of 27 shots overall while committing two turnovers.  UNC turned the ball over eight times and was just 2 of 8 from three-point range and made just 5 of 17 shots.  Imagine taking just 17 shots in 20 minutes?  Ugly.

But luckily for us, the teams turned it up sprinting to a 24-22 (Wildcat advantage) finish in the last 9:30.  Kentucky got on track outscoring UNC 17-6 to take a 64-59 lead with under 5 minutes left.   But then UNC went on a 12-0 run to take a 71-64 lead with 53 seconds left.  After missing 8 straight three-pointers, the Wildcats hit 3 threes in the final minute (two in 8 seconds aided by an inbound 5-second violation and the last aided by UNC missing the front end of a 1-and-1), with Malik Monk somehow shooting over two defenders to tie the game at 73 with 8 seconds left.  But instead of a timeout, Continue reading »

Issue # 6.2.3 “Six Conferences Battle it Out for Supremacy”

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Foreign Figures - Listen to "Fire"

Tuesday, March 21, 2017 

RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES ADD 7TH MONEY SPOT
ACC implosion means just 7 eliminated entries can win $40 Bonus

CERRITOS APT/EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt)- The top overall seed Villanova and 2 seeds Duke and Louisville are no more in somewhat of a chalk tournament thus far.  12 of the top 16 seeds are in the Sweet 16.  While there have been no buzzer beaters or overtime games, there has been a lot of drama watching teams make clutch play after play (while you are taking a breather, take a listen to one of the unsigned bands Paul T (Poolrider) helps promote, Foreign Figures).  Our 23rd year saw a record number of entries (178) from a record number of people (124), some making their appearance for the first time since 2002.  For the first time, we will have SEVEN money spots as we have $1,780 to divvy out. The top prize will be $690, $95 more than last year. The prize distribution is listed below and as always, all fee money goes into prizes. So we have those top seven spots plus the Bonus. What’s the Bonus? Read on…

As it has been for the past 13 years, the Conference Wins is the Bonus Prize (as detailed below) (aka, Bonus1). However, if no one wins it, the Bonus2 takes effect and the entry who is closest to the Total Points in Final tiebreaker gets the Bonus Prize. We have used this Bonus to give hope to those who get eliminated early as only those who do not finish in the top 7 will be eligible to win. Rules follow below…

Bonus1 – Winningest Conference

When you completed your online entry and saw your picks (to print out), some of you might have been wondering what the heck “Winningest Conference(s): ?? | Wins: #” meant. And thus, subliminally, you were also picking which conference would get the most wins in the tournament and how many wins that conference would get via your direct picks. Neat, eh? So that output, which in my case (Air Fabone 23), says Continue reading »

Issue # 12.5.1 “High Scoring Affair”

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(Note: This is recap for Saturday’s games)

Watch the best animated show on TV, Star Wars Rebels!
Saturday, April 2, 2016 [Published 4/4]

VILLANOVA TURNS ON SWITCH, UNC BREAKS ZONE
For the first time since the end of the 1st round, Buccos 1 back on top

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- #2S-Villanova had a 21-4 run in the first half but #2W-Oklahoma chipped away and cut it to 9 with 16:22 left.  Cut to the Wildcats going crazy with a 33-4 run in just over 9 minutes to demolish Buddy Hield and the Sooners, 95-51, in the biggest Final Four blowout ever.  ‘Nova shot 71.4% and missed just five shots in the explosive second half.  #1E-UNC missed their first 12 three-point shots but it didn’t matter as the Tar Heels scored 50 in the paint in holding off #10MW-Syracuse, 83-66.  The Orange 2/3 zone couldn’t prevent UNC from scoring at will within the arc shooting 64.6% from 2-point range.

Resistance is futile as The Resistance watches from the sidelines as three pass him putting him in a tie for 4th (122 pts).  Buccos 1, who led after Round 1, leads again with 128 pts with JJ in second with 126.  It will be one of these two who will win our 22nd pool, and each would pick up their first ever money prize as well.  Ten can still finish in the top 6.  Those two and Honey Badger have a 100% chance at money, although the latter would have to win a tiebreaker for 6th if Villanova wins the title.  JJ, Honey Badger, and The Hip-Hopopotamus (10th-T, 119) got both teams correct while 108 missed both.

For the Bonus, if Villanova wins the championship, Ito (129th-T, 84) wins Continue reading »

You’re too good of a player to do that

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Thanks, Coach K.  But there are 14 good entries that can finish in the top 6 including six who will win our 22nd pool. There are 8 possible outcomes and the tiebreaker information.  The tiebreaker is very key this year as it could decide 1st place and it could decide 6th place (and thus, some will miss out).

Ito will win the $40 bonus if Villanova or Oklahoma win the NCAA championship (ACC with 19 wins).   If Syracuse beats Oklahoma, Bob’s Ball Hogs wins the Bonus! Bob’s Ball Hogs will win money if UNC wins the title or if Syracuse beats Villanova (ACC with 20 wins).  Therefore no one picked the ACC with 20 wins and Bonus2 is in effect which is the closest to the total points in final.  The tiebreaker here is placement, so if there are multiple entries with the same tiebreaker (e.g., 144), then it’s the entry that has the most pool points (highest placement) that would win.  49 would be eligible to win this.

Edit: Corrected bonus.

Issue # 6.2.2 “Comeback of the Ages”

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Sunday, March 20, 2016

TEXAS A&M TRIES TO LOSE, BUT CAN’T
Bwakewey 1 joins The Resistance on top; Just 31 entries eliminated

Texas A&M v Northern Iowa - Last 44 secondsCERRITOS, CA (smt)- A whole paragraph for this game!  #3W-Texas A&M seemed defeated and #11W-Northern Iowa was hitting their free throws, the last two building the lead to 12 with 44.3 seconds left.  Crazy comebacks usually happen because:  1) opponent misses free throws (not true here since UNI didn’t even take a free throw in the final 44 seconds), 2) comeback team reigns in threes (not true here since TAM only hit one 3-pointer – amazingly, they only attempted two 3-pointers in the final 44 seconds and the first one was a miss before the 14-2 run), or 3) lots of turnovers.  Yup, that was it.  Four turnovers leading to 9 points.  TAM scored 9 points in 14.4 seconds.  There were two intangibles in play:  1) No timeouts (they called their last one before their first turnover) and 2) like a reliable placeholder in football, UNI’s inbound guy Matt Bohannon injured his left leg and was on the bench just before the collapse, and by the two inbound turnovers and two inbound passes that put guys in a tough corner, they needed him.

Poor Paul Jesperson, the half-court buzzer-beating hero in the last game.  He did not challenge two layups (foul trouble?), challenged one weakly and was called for a foul (3-point play), got the ball in the corner and proceeded to Continue reading »

Are you alive?

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The possibilities have been posted (also look in the menu above) and there are 118 entries that can still finish in the top 6 and there are 63 entries that can win the pool!  Michigan St did do a lot of damage but there are still quite a few who had them winning it all with a chance to win the pool.  And for the 31 entries who can’t finish in the top 6, we will see later this week how many can still win the $40 bonus.  Good luck!

Issue # 6.2.2 “Izzo Does It Again, Bragging Rights to Shockers”

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Sunday, March 22, 2015

PAIR OF 7’S IN SWEET 16 WHILE KS BELONGS TO SHOCKERS
 Bwakewey 1 goes 8-0 to take 4 point lead; 52 entries eliminated 

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- For the 2nd straight year, #7E-Michigan St knocked out #2E-Virginia as coach Tom Izzo is now 13-1 in the Round of 32 (the last year it will be called the 3rd Round).  For the 2nd straight year, #1W-Wisconsin knocked out #8W-Oregon in the Round of 32 with a late surge.  And for the 2nd straight year, #2MW-Kansas chokes in the Round of 32, this time to the rival-they-never-want-to-play-in-case-they-lose #7MW-Wichita St.  Will Kansas wait another 22 years before playing Wichita St again?  No games were closer than six points as #1S-Duke, #2S-Gonzaga, and #4E-Louisville cruised while #3E-Oklahoma and #5MW-West Virginia pulled away late.  The ACC has 5 teams in the Sweet 16 which ties the record.

Bwakewey 1 went a perfect 8-0, just the Continue reading »

Elim the Impossible

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As we head into the Elite 8, there are 128 possible outcomes.  If you want to know your exact winning outcome, post a comment here, tweet @HWCI_Pools or #hwciNCAA, or post on our Facebook page.  For example, my Elim the Impossible pick is somehow alive (was 1 in 256, now 1 in 128).  In order for that entry to win 5th place, I need Kentucky to beat Michigan St. in the final with Dayton & Wisconsin in the Final Four.  A little better (not much) chance for my main entry, The Fabone XX.  Here are my 14 winning scenarios (note that I could lose a tiebreaker and get nothing in some “winning” scenarios):

2014 HWCI NCAA POOL INDIVIDUAL POSSIBILITIES      03/28/14
For: The Fabone XX
                                               | Possible Tournament Results |
                                               ||
                                               ||
                    Entry       Place          1st 2nd
------------------------------- -----          --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
                  The Fabone XX   3*           Fla AZ  MiS Ken Day Con Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Fla Ken MiS AZ  Day Con Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Ken Fla MiS AZ  Day Con Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Day AZ  MiS Ken Fla Con Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   6*           Day Ken MiS AZ  Fla Con Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   6*           Ken Day MiS AZ  Fla Con Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   3*           Fla AZ  Con Ken Day MiS Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Fla Ken Con AZ  Day MiS Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Ken Fla Con AZ  Day MiS Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   6*           Day AZ  Con Ken Fla MiS Wis MI  
                  The Fabone XX   6*           Fla Ken MiS Wis Day Con AZ  MI  
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Fla AZ  MiS MI  Day Con Wis Ken 
                  The Fabone XX   6*           Day AZ  MiS MI  Fla Con Wis Ken 
                  The Fabone XX   4*           Fla AZ  Con MI  Day MiS Wis Ken 
                                   * = subject to tie-break

We have a champion! Steve N!

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Steve N (The Rat Pack) needed 2 things to happen:  Louisville to win and Michigan to win.  And he got both to become our 18th different HWCI NCAA Pool Champion and win the $530 prize.  This is the first time he has won money in 8 years (9 total entries).  Blakeley H (Bwakewey Cubed) will win 2nd or 3rd, his 2nd win in 4 years (Bonus in ’11) (10 entries).  Kevin T (Shake N’ Bake) will win 3rd or 4th, his 2nd win in 8 years (Bonus in ’09).  Paul T (Poolraider)  joins the winners as he will win either 4th, 5th, or 6th since his tiebreaker is in the middle of the 3 tied.  This is his 2nd win in 9 years (2nd in ’05) (12 entries).  Only 2 of these 3 will join the winners list:  Kevin J (Cliff Paul), Van P (Lastminute), and Byron W (Flying Ace).

As for the $40 Bonus, 26 entries are alive (only 25 can win since Van P would finish 4th and be ineligible in her winning scenario).

Here are the final scenarios for the top money & Bonus: Continue reading »

Issue # 12.4.3 “Crazy Tourney, SportsNation Style”

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Two more games today.  Although 10 are alive for the 6 money spots, an additional 50 40 are alive for the Bonus.  So good luck to the 60 50 entries (out of 131) with a chance to win money.  Can Louisville be upset?  We’ll see…

Here’s today’s update (or read original)…

The Final Four @ Atlanta (Georgia Dome)
[U. of Louisville Cardinals]
(33-5)
#1-Midwest
(Indianapolis, IN)		 [Wichita St. U. Shockers]
(30-8)
#9-West
(Los Angeles, CA)		 [U. of Michigan Wolverines]
(30-7)
#4-South
(Arlington, TX)		 [Syracuse U. Orange]
(30-9)
#4-East
(Washington, DC)		 
[ SportsNation, Weekdays 1 pm PT ESPN2 ]
Friday, April 5, 2013 **HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELUCKY2 **
Issue # 12.4.3 "Crazy Tourney, SportsNation Style"
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SEEMS LIKE AN EASY PATH FOR LOUISVILLE
Can The Rat Pack secure 1st Saturday?
CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Despite just one #1 seed in the Final Four and a #9 seed, all four teams have won at least 30 games this season.  With darling Gonzaga losing in the 3rd round, Continue reading »

Issue # 11.4.2 “Michigan Dominates Early, Louisville Dominates Late”

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Just one #1 seed joining 2 #4’s and a #9.  What a wacky tournament.  Disaster everywhere but for some reason, 3 can still win the pool (thank you Syracuse & Michigan lovers) making it still competitive in the final weekend.  Of course, with just 10 entries alive, 3 have guaranteed spots.  Which ones?  Read on (or read original)…

Sunday, March 31, 2013 ** HAPPY EASTER!!! **
Issue # 11.4.2 "Michigan Dominates Early, Louisville Dominates Late"
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WOLVERINES EAT GATORS FOR LUNCH; LAST #1 ADVANCES
The Rat Pack alone in 1st and 1 of 3 guaranteed money
HOME OF IN IT TO NGUYEN IT‘S MOM IN ALHAMBRA, CA / CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Before you could seemingly blink, #4S-Michigan built a 41-17 lead and when #3S-Florida was trying a comeback, Continue reading »