Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Issue # 8.2.4 "Lots of Hope"
[ Home | Updates ]

CERRITOS, CA (smt)- While great matchups between Duke-Kansas and Pitt-Marquette will take place tomorrow, the much more watched matchups will take place in the HWCI NCAA pool. While BINGO and BIG LUTHER share the lead with 90 points, they, along with third-place BLOOMERS123, have at least three of their Elite 8 out (the later two have 4 out), leaving room for someone to overtake them. 4th-place DENVER BLIZZARD has two of his Final 4 teams out. So watch out. In fact, 13 entries have at least 7 of their Elite 8 teams still in the tournament with GWEN SIX, sitting tied for 58th place, as the only entry with ALL 8 teams alive (though in such a hole she can't finish higher than 2nd). So the top players will be hoping for some upsets.

BOMB SADDAM (11th-Tied, 83 pts) and LUKIE (28th-T, 77) could pick up valuable ground as they are the only two to have #5W-Notre Dame instead of #1W-Arizona in the Elite 8. LUKIE is also the only person to pick #10E-Auburn into the Elite 8, a possible 8 point (4 pts per win) pickup if he's lucky. DARA (16th-T, 81) and GHOST OF VALVANO (52nd-T, 70) are the only ones to have #7S-Michigan St. into the Elite 8 (in fact, both have them in their Final 4) while 17 chose its opponent, #6S-Maryland. A Maryland win will have the biggest impact as six people have them in their Final 4.

Twenty people still have their Final 4 intact and just 4 people have lost their pick for champion. BLUEBERRY (52nd-T, 70) is the only entry that has lost all four of his/her Final 4 teams.

And with the Bonus Prize for picking the winningest conference, even more rides on this weekend's games as 10 out of the 13 eliminated from 1st-4th are now back in the running for $40.

And now, the Sweet 16 Thoughts & Observations:

1) War. With news media concentrating on war coverage, the NCAA Tournament drifted into the background. And with it, our first decline in number of entries, although the 63 entries is our 2nd highest ever.
2) Pool Disaster. Almost. The BYU situation nearly rendered every bracket pool (both free and fee ones) obsolete. Although the NCAA forbids gambling, I know I wouldn't watch any of the NCAA games (except the Final) if it weren't for being in a tournament pool.
3) Boldest Failed Pick. CHENMAN was the only one that picked #13E-Austin Peay over #4E-Louisville. Wasn't even close.
4) Boldest Successful Pick. Both GALAXY and LUKIE had #10E-Auburn making it to the Sweet 16.
5) Most Unusual Final Four- Dead. BLUEBERRY had #4S-Stanford over #7MW-Indiana in the Final with #4W-Illinois and #5E-Mississippi St.
6) Most Unusual Final Four- Alive. SOURCE still has his four intact- #2MW-Pitt over #1S-Texas joined by #1W-Arizona and #3E-Syracuse.
7) Surprising non pick. No one picked #1S-Texas to win it all.
8) Surprising pick-failed. Eight entries had #4E-Louisville in their Final Four.
9) Surprising pick-successful. 35 picked defending champ #6S-Maryland to reach the Sweet 16 and three have them in the Final Four. If that last 3-pt shot did not go in vs UNC-Wilmington...
10) Best performance in the 1st Round. BLUEBERRY at 29-3.
11) Worst performantce in the 2nd Round. BLUEBERRY at 4-12.
12) Oddest Stat. GWEN SIX has all eight Elite 8 alive despite being tied for 58th place.
13) Biggest upset. Just five of 63 entries had #2S-Florida and five had #2E-Wake Forest not making the Sweet 16.
14) One-Sided. 54 of 63 entries have the champion coming out of the left side of the bracket (Midwest and West).
15) By Seedings. If you voted straight ticket, you would have 75 points (tied for 36th).
16) By SeedLings. Of course, if you are nicknamed BY SEEDLINGS, you would have 70 points (tied for 52nd).