Tag Archives: Purdue

Issue # 13.6.1 “Husky Domination” (4/9)

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2024 NCAA CHAMPIONS


UCONN Champions		#1-East Regional Champions
 UConn (6 titles)
University of Connecticut Huskies (37-3)
6th Title
     
2024 WINNINGEST CONFERENCE
ACCThe Atlantic Coast Conference (12-4)
9th Time

Tuesday, April 9, 2024
UCONN, DESTROYER OF TEAMS
Flying Ace wins 1st pool; Zippy’sWife Nets Bonus; 71 picked UConn

49% SOLAR ELCIPSE, CA (smt) –  #1E-UConn let #1MW-Purdue’s Zach Edey get two points at a time (ended with 37 pts, a good number in garbage time) while the Huskies allowed just one three while hitting six en route to a 75-60 rout to complete the back-to-back championships.  UConn never panicked and methodically destroyed their 12th straight tournament team by 13 or more points.

UConn dominated opponents for a second straight year, this time averaging a record 23.3 points per win for six games (since ’85).  UConn spread their love again with four of the starters in double-figures in points and all with at least 5 rebounds.

Purdue failed to duplicate Virginia’s accomplishment of losing to a #16 seed and winning the title a year later.  Like Iowa in the Women’s final, the team seemed to believe too much of the hype of their star player and forgot they were good as well, as Edey scored 37 of the 60 points (61.6%) and took 46.2% of the shots (Clark scored 40% of Iowa’s points and took 44.4% of the shots).  The loss extends the Big Ten’s title drought to 24 years (23 tourneys).

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Purdue vs UConn Live!

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12:20 am – 18 hours to tip off! Lots of excitement in the pool as only two have locked up prize money.

  • If 6-point favorite UCONN wins: Byron W (Flying Ace) will win the pool, Roy W (Krispy Seconds) will win 3rd, Jessica H (JessFish) 4th, either Billy H (Sunscar22) or Blakeley H (Bweakewey 3) 5th and 6th, Ken G (WinnerTown) will win 7th, and our admin David F (The Mighty Mobelfakta) will take 8th.
  • If Purdue upsets: Andy F (Joey JoJo Jr Shabadoo) will win the pool, Greg P (Eggman1) will win 2nd, Everett J (EveritoDaBurrito) or Byron W will take 3rd and 4th, Deven K (SlumDawg 1) will take 5th, Alex K (Juggernaut) will take 6th, Benjamin D 7th, and either Emily W (Emilybama2) or Charles D (Sisyphus13) will take 8th.
  • For the $40 Bonus the total points tiebreaker will be the Bonus (Bonus2).  65 entries can win the Bonus if UConn wins and 65 can win if Purdue wins, meaning a total of 85 entries are eligible to win (top 8 finishers are not eligible).

5:43 pm – Geez, on East Coast you have to wait until 9:20 for tip off. In the first round, Spokane games began at 10:30 am local. Brooklyn and Pitt last games announced a 9:40 pm local start, but usually started later.

6:30 pm – UConn 11-9 early 15:04 left. 20 pts projects to 160 pts.

6:38 pm – Edey has scored Purdue’s last 11 points but UConn still leads 18-16.

6:48 pm – Tied at 23. 6:50 left. Project about 142 pts.

7:15 – UConn leads 36-30. 66 halftime pts projects to 132 pts. Miss Mia 3 would win Bonus. Sunscar22 would win 5th place tiebreaker .

7:40 pm – UConn 43-34 15:54 left. . Edey no pts in last 10 min. 77 pts projects to 128 (Jouez Bien) as scoring pace slows down. Android app failing big time. Trying to use Max app.

7:44 – UConn has built a 13 point lead (47-34), their margin of victory on last 9 tourney games.

7:51 – UConn running away 51-38 11:31 left. Project 125 pts (Alfred Moniaga).

7:58 – UConn up 16! 56-40. 9:27 left. Project to 126 (SKG23).

8:31 – Back to Back. Late flurry pushes to 135 total pts. Zippy’sWife takes $40 bonus. Last UConn basket gives Bwakewey 3 5th place over Sunscar22.

Issue # 13.5.2 “Every Four Pools” (4/7) (Final Preview & History of the Pool)

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2024 NCAA FINAL @ Phoenix, Arizona
 – The Floor
The Road Ends Here
#1-Midwest
(Seed #3, NET #3, AP #3)		-vs-#1-East
(Seed #1, NET #2, AP #1)
 Purdue - Boiler Up

 Husky Pride

Purdue University Boilermakers (34-4)University of Connecticut Huskies (36-3)
Big Ten Conf – Regular Season Champs
West Lafayette, Indiana
2nd Final (’69)
 def #16 Grambling State 78-50
def #8 Utah State 106-67
def #5 Gonzaga 80-68
def #2 Tennessee 72-66
def #11S North Carolina State 63-50		Big East Conf – Reg Season & Tourney Champs
Storrs, Connecticut
6th Final (’99, ’04, ’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
def #4W Alabama 86-72

Sunday, April 7, 2024 
UCONN JUST ROUTS, PURDUE HOPING FOR VIRGINIA MAGIC
Two guaranteed money leaving 13 vying for final 6 money spots

YARD WORK, HOME, CA (smt) – Like a leap year which adds a 29th day to February (most years), almost every four pools has yielded something interesting with this being our 29th pool.  1995 was our first pool and the Pac-12’s last title (UCLA).  1999 saw UConn upset Duke for the 1st of 5 titles.  2003 saw Syracuse win their first title as a 3 seed (only picked by one).  2007 saw Florida go back-to-back, the last team to do so, and the last time the top 2 picked teams met in the final.  2011 saw another #3 seed, UConn, win the title.  2015 saw Coach K win his last title with Duke.  2019 saw Virginia win the title a year after losing to a #16 seed.  With 2020 canceled, 2024 is the fourth year and we will either see #1E-UConn win back-to-back titles or #1MW-Purdue do what Virginia did, win a title a year after losing to a #16 seed.

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Issue # 12.5.1 “Close Doesn’t Count” (4/6)

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Saturday, April 6, 2024
PURDUE AND UCONN FINISH STRONG
Flying Ace takes over first; Bigtenfan clinches money; 30 go 2-0

CYPRESS, CA (smt) – #1MW-Purdue’s lead was cut to 7 with 8 minutes left but then went on a 13-1 run to put away #11S-NC State, 63-50, to advance to their 2nd finals appearance.  NC State’s incredible 9-game win streak was snapped and made it 0-8 for double-digit Final Four teams in the semifinals.  Zach Edey was a force on the court but not necessarily on the stat sheet (“just” 20 pts, 12 rebounds) as his teammates excelled in the low-scoring game.

#1E-UConn never led by 30 like the other four games and found itself tied at 56 with 12:44 left but then went on an 11-2 run in winning by 13+ for the 11th straight tourney game, 86-72, over #4W-Alabama.  UConn is vying to become the first back-to-back champion since Florida (2006-2007) and is undefeated in the finals (5-0).  Alabama was hot in the first half hitting 8/11 from three but still trailed 44-40 at halftime (they cooled hitting just 3/12 in the 2nd half).  UConn had great team dynamics with 20 assists on 31 made baskets while Purdue only had 9 assists on 26 baskets.

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Issue # 10.4.2 “Edey is Too Biggie” (3/31)

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Sunday, March 31, 2024 (Posted Tuesday April 2)
NC STATE BEATS DUKE AGAIN, EDEY POWERS PURDUE
Concrete Kidstays in first; Concrete Kid and Figure Four go 2-0

MANZANAR NHS/DEATH VALLEY, CA (smt) – #1MW-Purdue’s 7′-4″ center Zach Edey had a career-high 40 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Boilermakers to their first Final Four since 1980 with a 72-66 win over #2MW-Tennessee.  Edey shot 22 free throws (made only 14) and had just one block, but a key one with 33 seconds left (zero last game).  Edey is so tall he didn’t even need a ladder to cut a piece of the net for himself.  Purdue only made 20% of their threes and just 63.6% of their free throws but still overcame the Vol’s 11 threes and Dalton’s Knect’s 37 points.  Purdue outscored Tenn 11-6 to end the game.

#11S-NC State continued their magical run in knocking off #4S-Duke for the second time during their 9-game winning streak, 76-64, to make their first Final Four since 1983.  The Wolfpack slowly chipped away at Duke’s 6-point halftime lead and after tying it at 35, went on a 23-9 run and never let the Blue Devils cut the lead to single digits.  NC State becomes the 7th double-digit Final Four team since 1985 (when field expanded to 64) and will try to become the first to make the final. 

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Issue # 1.0.1 “Purdue Gets a Do-Over”

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Sunday, March 17, 2024  **HELP support the Lymphoma Research Foundation (deadline Tue 4:00 pm PDT **)
UCONN STILL KING, PURDUE & HOUSTON GET #1 SEEDS AGAIN
Our 29th pool will be without UCLA and the last of the Pac 12 as a major conference

SUNNY CHERRY BLOSSOM SEATTLE, WA (smt) – After the top 12 seeds failed to make the Final Four for the first time, let’s hope the seeding this year matters.  Defending champ #1E-UConn was the #1 overall seed with #1W-UNC returning to glory as the last #1 seed.  #1S-Houston and #1MW-Purdue returned as #1 seeds with Purdue getting a chance to wash away last year’s loss to #16 FDU.  When #10aMW-Virginia lost to #16 UMBC in 2018, the next year they got a #1 seed again and won the title (2019).  UConn is the only #1 seed to actually win their conference tournament (Big East).

There is no UCLA or USC but the Pac 12 did manage to get 4 teams in with #10bS-Colorado getting a First Four berth.  Of course, the Pac 12 will just Oregon St and Washington St next year as 10 teams bolted to 3 different major conferences.  All 3 got at least 5 teams in with the Big 12 getting 8, the Big Ten 6, and the ACC 5.  The SEC also got 8 teams with the Mountain West getting a whopping 6. 

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Issue # 3.1.2 “Purdue is Poodoo”

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Friday, March 17, 2023  **HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY** 

FDU 2ND 16 SEED TO BEAT 1 SEED; WEST IS CHALK
Samurai Jack leads going 27-5 as 16 lose Purdue as champ

HOME, CA (smt) – #16E-Fairleigh Dickinson, who didn’t win the regular season or tournament in the NEC, rode their First Four win momentum to down #1E-Purdue, 63-58, becoming the second #16 seed to beat a #1 seed.  FDU only made the tournament because NEC champion Merrimack (who beat FDU in final) is still ineligible due to D-II to D-I transition.  And yet, with one three-point dagger to put FDU up by 5 with a minute left, FDU (never better than a 15 seed) now has 3 tournament wins (2 in First Four), which is three more than mid-major Boise St.  Purdue had big droughts losing a 47-41 lead to fall behind 49-47 and then going over 5:40 without scoring as FDU increased their 54-53 lead to 58-53.  Purdue has now lost to a #16, a #15 (St. Peter’s last year in Sweet 16), and a #13 seed (North Texas in 1st Round) the past three years.  In their last 10 tourneys, Purdue has lost to a double-digit seed five times (all as a 5 seed or better).

It’ll be FDU vs FAU as #9E-Florida Atlantic won their 32nd game (same as Houston) getting a generous jump ball (while two #8E-Memphis players tried to call time out) with 5.5 seconds left and converting a lay in to win 66-65.  #14MW-Kennesaw St led 61-48 with 9:56 left but #3MW-Xavier ended the game on a 24-6 run to advance.  #11W-Arizona St hit a tying 3 but #6W-TCU got a lay in with 1.5 seconds left to win 72-70.  #5MW-Miami (Florida) ended their game on a 16-1 run to win by 7 over #12MW-Drake. 

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Issue # 9.4.1 “Buzzer Beater”

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Saturday, March 30, 2019 

MISTAKE COSTS ZAGS; HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT WON BY VIRGINIA
Carseroni is one of 11 to get both games and jumps to 4 point lead; Just 7 can win pool

Zags' Perkins technical foul

HOME/LABCORP, LOS ALAMITOS, CA (smt)- After falling behind 69-62 with 52 seconds left, #1W-Gonzaga got within two at 71-69 before Josh Perkins made the accidental mistake heard around the world with 11 seconds left when his hand knocked the inbound player’s hand meaning it was a 2-shot technical foul plus #3W-Texas Tech got to keep the ball.  The resulting four free throws gave the Red Riders their first Final Four ever in their 75-69 upset of the Zags.  It was a harsh penalty but it’s there to prevent intentional delay tactics which this wasn’t.  Texas Tech hit their last six free throws and the best defense held off the best offense as the Zags shot just 42.4% and had 16 turnovers.

The second half of the #1S-Virginia-#3S-Purdue game had everything a fan would want with clutch shots, clutch rebounds, a buzzer beater, and a mano y mano matchup between the Cavs’ Kyle Guy and the Boilermakers’ Carsen Edwards. Guy hit 3 threes to start the second half in helping build a 45-37 lead but then Edwards caught fire hitting 6 of 8 three pointers and 24 points in a 32-22 run to put Purdue up by 2 with 1:11 left (Guy had 10 of those 22 points).  But Purdue’s Ryan Cline missed a free throw leaving the game at 70-67 and Purdue smartly fouled before Guy or anyone else could take a three with 5 seconds left.  The second free throw was missed and a long rebound was won by Virginia in the back court and a great pass up to Mamadi Diakite in the arc was put in at the buzzer sending the game into overtime tied at 70.  The overtime was tight as Guy was held to just two late free throws and Edwards had just a jumper (finished with 42 points and 10 threes) and then missed a three with 7 seconds left down 76-75.  The Cavs hit their final four throws to win 80-75.  So surprised that the clutch three specialist from the last game, Ryan Cline, didn’t get a chance to shoot a three late in overtime.  Just six of 58 games have been one possession games (9 if you just include regulation) and 37 of 58 have been double-digit blowouts.  

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Issue # 7.3.1 “Ones and Threes”

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Thursday, March 28, 2019 

ONE VS THREE IN BOTH WEST AND SOUTH
ChuckPersonCellBlock leads by two while 99 entries are still alive

Tennessee last second "foul"

HOME, CA (smt)- #1W-Gonzaga held #4W-Florida St to just two points in the last 4:11 to expand a scant four point lead (60-56) to a 72-58 victory while #1S-Virginia held #12S-Oregon to no field goals in the last 5:43 to turn a 45-42 deficit into a 53-49 win.  The Cavs actually shot worse (35.7%) than the Ducks (37.8%) but pulled out the win after Oregon scored more points in their 23-12 run than in the first half (22).  #3W-Texas Tech held #2W-Michigan to just 16 first-half points en route to Wolverine-record tourney low 44 for the game in their 63-44 victory.  Michigan missed their first 18 three-point attempts (finished 1 of 19) and shot just 32.7% from the field. 

#2S-Tennessee who blew a large lead (25 points) and needed overtime to win in the 2nd round saw their fortunes reverse, as they rallied from a large deficit (18 points) but lost in overtime to #3S-Purdue, 99-94.  Both teams shot as well or better from the field than the free throw line (Purdue 54.0% FG, 48.4% FT; Tennessee 50.0% FG, 50.0% FT) so this game could’ve been won easily by either team if they just hit their free throws (Purdue missed 17 including two front ends of a one-and-one and were at one point 3 of 13; Tennessee missed 12).  Tennessee had an 82-80 lead but with 1.7 seconds left they “fouled” (Purdue player may have kicked out but if you lean into the player, the ref may call it, ticky-tack as it was) on a 3-point attempt and Purdue only made 2 of 3 to send the game to OT.  Tennessee lived too much on the edge blowing a 16-point lead to #15S-Colgate and the aforementioned 25-point lead to #10S-Iowa.  Purdue did have Ryan Cline who not only hit four 3-pointers in the last five and a half minutes, he hit fadeaways and shots the defender knew he was going to take, a la Stephen Curry… but did it with class.  A joy to watch even though I picked Tennessee.

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