Thanks to everyone who helped make our $477.00 donation to the Lymphoma Research Foundation in honor of my mom, a lymphoma survivor. Myself, David A, Annie F, Tom J, and Andy F helped contribute $238.50 and my company will generously match the amount. The $477 is our third-highest donation total.
We have now donated a total of $5,168.20 to 14 different charities over 14 years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
| 2024 NCAA FINAL FOUR @ Phoenix, Arizona 2nd Final Four (’17) Hosted by Arizona St. U. (Pac 12 Conf) (2nd Final Four) – The Floor | |||
| First Semifinal | Second Semifinal | ||
| #11-South (Seed #45, NET #63, AP #29) Dallas, Texas (6th Regional) Hosted by Big 12 Conference | #1-Midwest (Seed #3, NET #3, AP #3) Detroit, Michigan (5th Regional) – Hosted by U. of Detroit Mercy and Oakland U. | #4-West (Seed #16, NET #9, AP #19) Los Angeles, California (10th Regional) Hosted by Pepperdine U. | #1-East (Seed #1, NET #2, AP #1) Boston, Massachusets (4th Regional) Hosted by Boston College |
 |  |  |  |
| North Carolina State University Wolfpack (26-14) | Purdue University Boilermakers (33-4) | University of Alabama Crimson Tide (25-11) | University of Connecticut Huskies (35-3) |
| Atlantic Coast Conf – Tourney Champs Raleigh, North Carolina 4th Final Four (’50, ’74, ’83) def #6 Texas Tech 80-67 def #14 Oakland 79-73 (OT) def #8 Marquette 67-58 def #4 Duke 76-64 | Big Ten Conf – Regular Season Champs West Lafayette, Indiana 3rd Final Four (’69, ’80) def #16 Grambling State 78-50 def #8 Utah State 106-67 def #5 Gonzaga 80-68 def #2 Tennessee 72-66 | Southeastern Conf – 5th Place Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1st Final Four def #13 Charleston 109-96 def #12 Grand Canyon 72-61 def #5 North Carolina 89-87 def #6 Clemson 89-82 | Big East Conf – Reg Season & Tourney Champs Storrs, Connecticut 7th Final Four (’99, ’04, ’09, ’11, ’14, ’23) def #16 Stetson 91-52 def #9 Northwestern 75-58 def #5 San Diego State 82-52 def #3 Illinois 77-52 |
Thursday, April 4, 2024 ***HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD… RIP***
UCONN AND PURDUE ROLLING OPPONENTS; NC STATE ON A ROLL
At least $477 will be donated to Lymphoma Research Foundation; over $5,168 donated over 14 years
LA MIRADA, CA (smt) – After last year where the top 12 teams (all #1/2/3 seeds) were eliminated before the Final Four, we do have two #1 seeds for the first time since 2021. The one thing that remains the same is #1W-UConn, who are trying to become the first back-to-back champions since Florida did it in 2007. #1MW-Purdue will try to do what Virginia did in 2019 and that is lose to a #16 seed the year before and then win the title. #11S-NC State will try to continue their amazing run, winning 5 games-in-5 days to claim the auto bid for the ACC and then winning the first four games of the tourney including surviving an overtime game vs #14S-Oakland (of Massachusetts, not California). #4W-Alabama is making its first Final Four and while they have not played a better seed yet, they have eliminated two straight ACC teams.
The first round saw 11 upsets including three #11 seeds, two #12 seeds, and #13E-Yale (who knocked off #4E-Auburn) and #14S-Oakland (who knocked off #3S-Kentucky). The second round saw just two worse seeds (#6W-Clemson over #3W-Baylor and #5MW-Gonzaga over #4MW-Kansas) win which led to the Sweet 16 netting all the #1 and #2 seeds for the just the fifth time (but saw just 3 of the 8 make the Elite 8). UConn has built a 30-point lead in all four games and has beaten ten straight tourney opponents by 13 points or more. Purdue’s only trouble was in their last game against #2MW-Tennessee but with Zach Edey scoring 14 straight points for Purdue, ending up winning by six.
Continue readingWhile you decide who will win the tourney, for the 14th year I’m doing the HWCI NCAA First Four for Charity, where I will donate $2 per entry to a charity (and if we get more than 25 responses, I’ll chip in an additional $25), this year to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, whose mission is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease. It is a 99% 4-star charity.
My Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma a few months before my Dad passed away and is doing well after the treatment. She still wants to mow the lawn and still works part-time and at age 78, she’s been doing well mentally and physically. So I will chip in the first $78 in honor of her age. Plus, my company will match so every dollar will be doubled.
Last year, a record $1,554 was raised by us (that’s you!) to go to the American Lung Association. In 13 years, we have raised $4,691.20 for 13 different organizations.
This First Four for Charity is free and you just have to submit (you can comment on this post to enter, email, post to Facebook, tweet @HWCI_Pools) who the four First Four winners will be and by what point margin. The First Four games:
For example: Howard by 2 points, Virginia by 3 points, Grambling by 9 points, and Colorado by 4 points. Get your entry by 4 pm PDT Tuesday. As a bonus, in the end, if we top our record of 194 entries this year, I’ll donate an additional $25. Also, invite your friends and people can enter (since it’s free) this charity contest but not our main pool.
My picks: Howard by 3, Colorado St by 7, Grambling by 1, Colorado by 4.
Thank you!
