Saturday, April 5, 2003
Issue # 16.5.2 "Rout and Last #1 Seed Out"
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CERRITOS, CA (smt)- Not much to say about the first game except that #3MW-Marquette, who routed the #1 team in the country last week, once trailed by 41 points (82-41) to #2W-Kansas in losing 94-61. Kansas, who before last year was known for choking in the tournament, reaches their first Championship Game since 1991. In the second semifinal, freshman Carmelo Anthony's 33 points led #3E-Syracuse to a 95-84 win over the last #1 seed in the tourney, #1S-Texas. Texas, which had committed just four turnovers in their Regional Final game had 7 in the first seven minutes. The game was tight throughout before Syracuse pulled away in the last minute. The Orangemen reach the Final for the first time since 1996. So, Kansas will meet Syracuse in the Final on Monday.

At the start of the tournament, Kansas (8th best) was a 12-1 favorite and Syracuse (26th best) 60-1 to win it all (Kentucky had the best odds at 5-2). This will be the first time since 1998 that no #1 seed is in the Final. Two legendary coaches, Roy Williams (KAN) and Jim Boeheim (SYR) will both be trying for their first championship.

Kansas' win (picked by six entries) combined with Texas' loss gave BIG LUTHER (126 pts) the pool championship and the first place prize of $280. Ironically, Kansas' win eliminated GALAXY (16th-Tied, 105), who picked Syracuse to win it all. If Syracuse did win it all, he would be two points away from a 4th place spot, a difference of one 1st Round pick. Syracuse's win, picked by GALAXY and BY SEEDINGS (28th-T, 100), eliminated ZIPPY and SEANITO'S WAY (both at 5th, 116) and guaranteed KRIMSONGUARD and MR. WIZARD (both 2nd-T, 123) money. KRIMSONGUARD can finish 2nd or 3rd while MR. WIZARD, who had a 5 in 8 chance of winning first at the start of the day, can now finish 2nd ($150), 3rd ($100), or 4th ($60). If Kansas wins the championship, BOMB SADDAM (9th, 113) wins 3rd and if Syracuse wins, BINGO (4th, 118) will win 4th.

Final Possibilities

As for the $40 Bonus Prize, 12 have a chance to get the winningest conference/wins right but BIG LUTHER is not eligible (since he wins 1st) and either BINGO or BOMB SADDAM will also be ineligible after the final game is played. The winningest conference is the BIG 12 (picked by 35 entries) and currently has 14 wins. If Kansas wins on Monday, that will give the BIG12 15 wins.

      Teams Curr Max Poss
Conf.  Left Wins   Wins
------ ---- ---- -------
Big 12    2  14  15 (KAN)

# people who have BIG 12 with:
14 wins:  8
15 wins:  4

PT-PK is total points picked

*-Would be ineligible if wins 3rd or 4th