Issue # 13.5.2 “28 Days of Drama” (History of the Pool)

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3rd HWCI Women’s World Cup – July 2023
2023 NCAA FINAL @ Houston, Texas
 – The Floor
The Road Ends Here
#5-South
(Seed #17, NET #14, AP #18)
#4-West
(Seed #13, NET #8, AP #10)
 SDSU background
SDSU Aztecs
 Husky Pride
San Diego State University Aztecs (32-6) University of Connecticut Huskies (30-8)
Mountain West Conference – Regular Season and Tourney Champs
San Diego, California
1st Final
def #12 College of Charleston 63-57
#13 Furman 75-52
#1 Alabama 71-64
#6 Creighton 57-56
#9E Florida Atlantic 72-71
Big East Conference (4th Place)
Storrs, Connecticut
5th Final (’99’04’11’14)
def #13 Iona 87-63
#5 Saint Mary’s 70-55
#8 Arkansas 88-65
#3 Gonzaga 82-54
#5MW Miami 72-59

Sunday, April 2, 2023 

UCONN UNDEFEATED IN TITLE GAMES; SDSU BIG UNDERDOGS
Just 2 prize up for grabs as those who entered multiple times benefited this year

FIRESTONE SCOUT RESERVATION, BREA, CA (smt) – If you count the WCC final (March 7) as the first day the madness begins, as that coronates Gonzaga, the first big mid-major to qualify for the tournament, then this Final would be the 28th day of madness.  Appropriate for our 28th HWCI NCAA Pool.

It does seem like the field clears up when #4W-UConn makes the final as other than their first title against heavy favorite Duke in ’99, the past three have seen them play lower seeds, even if they were low themselves (e.g., ’14 they were #7 but faced a #8).  Hence, UConn is a perfect 4-0 in finals and face lower seed #5S-San Diego St, who have won back-to-back games by one point, the last one on a buzzer beater.  In a rematch of the 2011 Sweet 16, #3W-UConn beat #2W-SDSU 74-67 on its way to its 3rd championship.  UConn will try to win a title in Texas for the 4th straight time, winning in San Antonio (2004), Houston (2011), and North Texas (2014).  Everything is new for San Diego St (never advanced past the Sweet 16) while despite 4 titles since ’99, UConn has a hard time getting into the Blue Blood club as they have just made the tournament 4 times since ’14, losing twice in the 1st round and once in the 2nd.  A streak of five straight #1 seeds winning the title ends this year with a #4 (only one was Arizona in ’97) or #5 (first time) taking it.

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Issue # 12.5.1 “Buzzer Beater!”

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Saturday, April 1, 2023   ***APRIL FOOLS DAY***

SDSU HITS BUZZER BEATER; UCONN KEEPS MIAMI AT BAY
Samurai Jack
 or Jah Lives-2 will win pool; 8 clinched money, 2 entries fighting for last spot

SDSU buzzer beater

DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CARSON, CA (smt) – #5S-San Diego St tried to lose against #9E-Florida Atlantic, missing 4 of 5 free throws late with a turnover, but a gutsy call by the SDSU coach to play for the last possession down by one with 38 seconds left worked as SDSU got the rebound with less than 10 seconds left.  Not calling a timeout, SDSU’s Lamont Butler hit a jumper as time expired for the first buzzer beater of the tournament sending the Aztecs into their first final with a 72-71 win.  FAU finished with 35 wins, most in the nation.

#4W-UConn broke open a 19-19 game with a 27-7 run in making their 5th trip to the finals with a 72-59 victory over #5MW-Miami.  The Hurricanes had cut it to 8 (53-45) with less than 12 minutes left but UConn scored the next 7 points to keep the game at double-digits the rest of the way.  Two late free throws prevented UConn with their 5th straight 15+ win, so it will have to be their 5th straight 13+ win.

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Issue # 11.4.3 “What Happened?” (F4 Preview + FF Recap)

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American Lung Association
2023 NCAA FINAL FOUR @ Houston, Texas

4th Final Four (’71 (Astrodome), ’11 (Reliant Stadium), ’16 (NRG Stadium))
 –  –  – 
Hosted by U. of Houston (American Athletic Conf) (3rd Final Four), Rice U. (Conf USA) (4th Final Four), Houston Christian U. (Southland Conf) (1st Final Four), and Texas Southern U. (Southwestern Athletic Conf) (2nd Final Four)
 – The Floor
First SemifinalSecond Semifinal
#5-South
(Seed #17, NET #14, AP #18)

Louisville, Kentucky (7th Regional)

Hosted by U. of Louisville
#9-East
(Seed #33, NET #13, AP #25)

New York City, New York (12th Regional)
– Hosted by Big East Conf and St. John’s U.
#5-Midwest
(Seed #20, NET #35, AP #16)

Kansas City, Missouri (16th Regional)

Hosted by Big 12 Conf
#4-West
(Seed #13, NET #8, AP #10)

Las Vegas, Nevada (1st Regional)

Hosted by U. of Nevada, Las Vegas
San Diego St 
Florida Atlantic 
Miami (Florida) 
UConn (4 star) 
San Diego State University Aztecs (31-6) Florida Atlantic University Owls (35-3) University of Miami Hurricanes (29-7) University of Connecticut Huskies (29-8)
Mountain West Conference – Regular Season and Tourney Champs
San Diego, California
1st Final Four
def #12 College of Charleston 63-57
#13 Furman 75-52
#1 Alabama 71-64
#6 Creighton 57-56 
Conference USA – Regular Season and Tourney Champs
Boca Raton, Florida
1st Final Four
 def #8 Memphis 66-65
#16 Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70
#4 Tennessee 62-55
#3 Kansas St 79-76
Atlantic Coast Conference – Regular Season Co-Champs
Coral Gables, Florida

1st Final Four
def #12 Drake 63-56
#4 Indiana 85-69
#1 Houston 89-75
#2 Texas 88-81
Big East Conference (4th Place)
Storrs, Connecticut
6th Final Four (’99’04, ’09, ’11’14)
def #13 Iona 87-63
#5 Saint Mary’s 70-55
#8 Arkansas 88-65
#3 Gonzaga 82-54

Thursday, March 30, 2023 

UCONN JOINS 3 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
At least $1,332 will be donated to American Lung Association; over $4,470 donated over 13 years

HOME, CA (smt) – Whereas last year we had four teams with a combined 61 Final Fours and 17 championships (20 including pre-NCAA) and each with at least 3 titles, this year we have 3 newbies joining #4W-UConn, who have 4 titles but all won in the past 24 years (this, its 6th Final Four).  Joining the Big East’s UConn is a member from the ACC, but not Duke, UNC, or Virginia, but #5MW-Miami (of Florida, not Ohio). Mid-majors join the fun as the Mountain West has #5S-San Diego St and Conference USA (who just won the NIT with North Texas beating fellow CUSA member UAB taking the title Wednesday in not-NYC) has #9E-Florida Atlantic.  Who would’ve thought the local team would be San Diego St and that two teams from Florida would be in the Final Four?

Seems like a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away that we were talking about defending champion #1W-Kansas not getting the Kansas City regional (they lost in the 2nd round), #1S-Alabama leading a strong SEC contingent (they lost in the Sweet 16 and the SEC had 9 wins after the first weekend but then went 0-3 in the Sweet 16), #1MW-Houston becoming the second team to play in their home city (Butler in Indy in 2010) since 1972 (they lost in Sweet 16), and #2W-UCLA succumbing to injuries (they did, losing to #3W-Gonzaga in another classic in Sweet 16).

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Issue # 9.4.1 “Rally and Rout” [Pub: March 29]

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Saturday, March 25, 2023 

FAU ERASES LATE 6-PT DEFICIT, UCONN WINS BY 28
Samurai Jack
 remains in the lead with 103 pts; Just 19 entries still alive

UConn routBELLINGHAM, WA (smt) – #9E-Florida Atlantic had 22 turnovers yet went on a 13-1 run in three minutes to erase a six-point deficit to beat #3E-Kansas St, 79-76, to reach their first Final Four with their 35th win of the season.  FAU hit their last four free throws and KSU could not get off a shot at the end of the game for a chance to tie.  FAU is the third #9 seed to make the Final Four.

#4W-UConn quickly turned a 7-point halftime lead into a massive 33 points in routing #3W-Gonzaga, 82-54, in making their 6th Final Four, all in our pool era (’99, ’04, ’09, ’11, ’14).  They have won all four games by 15 or more points.  The Bulldogs were a very uncharacteristic 33% from the field and 2/10 from three.  With both #3 seeds falling, only #2MW-Texas is the lone top 12 team left.

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Issue # 8.3.2 “Texas Stands Alone” [Pub: March 29]

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Friday, March 24, 2023 

FINAL TWO #1S FALL, TEXAS LONE TOP 8 TEAM
Samurai Jack
 retakes the lead with 97 pts; Just 31 entries still alive

STEVESTON, BC (smt) – #5S-San Diego St ended the game on a 32-16 run to erase an 11 point deficit to beat #1S-Alabama, 71-64, to reach their first Elite 8.  #5MW-Miami’s Nijel Pack hit 7 three-pointers to lead them to an easy 89-75 win over #1MW-Houston.  Miami is the only team to make back-to-back Elite 8s this year and this is just their second Elite 8.  This was the first time all four #1 seeds did not make the Elite 8 and the Cougars missed a chance to play the Final Four in their home city. 

#6S-Creighton ended #15S-Princeton’s Cinderella run by shooting 71% from inside the 3-point arc in winning 86-75 and making their first Elite 8.  #2MW-Texas’s bench outscored #3MW-Xavier’s 33-5 in making their first Elite 8 since 2008 (83-71 win).  Texas is the lone #1 or #2 seed left and the last team from Texas (started with a tournament high of 7), home of the Final Four.  

The top two predicted champions were eliminated today with 42 losing Houston and 37 Alabama.  Three also lost Xavier.  EMAW (2nd, 95 pts) is the only entry that still can get 3 Final Four teams correct while 80 will go 0-for-the-Final-Four.

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Issue # 10.4.2 “This is the Final Four?”

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Sunday, March 26, 2023 

TWO #5 SEEDS MAKE FINAL FOUR
Samurai Jack
 remains at 103 points; 12 entries still alive

From seat 12A

SEATAC, WA (smt) – Thanks to Delta Airlines, I was able to catch the ending of the #6S-Creighton and #5S-San Diego St game on the plane.  The last SoCal team standing, SDSU benefited from a controversial foul with a 1.2 seconds left in a tie game and managed to hit the 2nd of 2 free throws to win 57-56 to advance to their first Final Four.  It did look like a foul as the defender was beat and the left arm grabbed the shooter while he was in the air.  But was this how the refs were calling the game?  If so, then it’s a valid whistle.  The CBS post-game show was a mess trying to describe this and the end of the game (tip out of bounds).

Meanwhile, hot three-point shooting #5MW-Miami only shot 8 (made 2) and yet still rallied from a 13-point deficit with 13 minutes left to shock #2MW-Texas by 7 points (78-71).  Texas shot 50% but Miami shot 59.2% and hit 28/32 (87.5%) free throws.  It’s Miami’s (of Florida) first Final Four and the Final Four does not have a #1, #2, or #3 seed with three first-timers (plus #9E-Florida Atlantic) and #4W-UConn going for its 5th title.

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Issue # 7.3.1 “Zags-UCLA Did Not Disappoint”

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Thursday, March 23, 2023 

OWLS FLY HIGH, ZAGS WIN THRILLER
March Sadness
 takes the lead as 1 of 4 to go 3-1; 81 entries still alive

HOME, CA (smt) – #7E-Michigan St rallied from five down late to send the game into the tournament’s first overtime and led 92-90 but #3E-Kansas St scored 8 of the last 9 points to win 98-93.  K-State’s Markquis Nowell set a tournament record with 19 assists (while adding 20 points and 5 steals) as the last Big Ten team was eliminated (they started with a tournament-high 8).  #4W-UConn never trailed and used an early 14-0 run and at one point led by 29 in a 88-65 win over #8W-Arkansas.

#9E-Florida Atlantic went on a 18-2 run to turn a 39-33 deficit into a 51-41 lead that they did not relinquish in upsetting #4E-Tennessee, 62-55.  The FAU Owls won their 34th game (#1MW-Houston hopes to join them tomorrow) and makes their first Elite 8 in just their second appearance. 

What is it about #3W-Gonzaga and #2W-UCLA in the tournament?  In 2006 (Sweet 16), UCLA rallies from a 13-point halftime deficit by scoring the last 11 points of the game in 3:26 to win by 2 and end Adam Morrison’s Gonzaga career.  In 2021 (Final Four), UCLA rallied from 5 points down in overtime to tie it only to have the Zags’ Jalen Suggs banked a near half-court buzzer beater to win it. 

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Issue # 6.2.3 “Is Eight Enough?” (3/22) [Prize Distribution & Bonus]

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Netflix's Alice in Borderland - Best Japanese Show
Great Japanese Series on Netflix (the Manga is even better!)

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 

NEW 8TH PLACE PRIZE PLUS THE BONUS ARE UP FOR GRABS
Including Bonus, 165 entries can still win money

HOME, CA (smt) – Just nine top four seeds made the Sweet 16 including #15S-Princeton.  The West has #2-4 (losing #1 Kansas) while the South has #1 Arkansas but a #5, #6, and #15.  The Midwest has #1-3 and #5 while the East has #3 and #4 joined by #7 and #9.  #1E-Purdue became the second team to lose to a #16 seed (FDU) while #2S-Arizona lost in the first round.  But you can’t be worse than POTUS who had Arizona as his champ and Virginia over Alabama in Sweet 16.

There have been no overtime games (there were 5 last year) and very few one possession wins (7, though 3 more than last year after the 2nd Round) in the 48 proper 64 games played thus far.  More than half (25 of 48) have been double-digit wins. 

7 of 8 Big Ten teams are already out and the ACC barely squeaked by getting a team (Miami (FL)) in the Sweet 16 every year since 1979.  It’s the SEC dominating going 9-4 (not including First Four loss) as 11 conferences sent a team to the Sweet 16.  Overall #1 Alabama has won each game by 21 and 22 points while only two other teams, #1MW-Houston and #4W-UConn, have won both games by double-digits.

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Issue # 5.2.2 “Upsets But Little Drama”

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Sunday, March 19, 2023 

#5, #6, #7, and #9 PULL AWAY LATE
Jah Lives-2
 remains on top with 85 pts; 134 entries still alive

LA MIRADA, CA (smt) – After #16E-Fairleigh Dickinson closed the gap to 3 with 3:27 left, #9E-Florida Atlantic went on a 7-0 to put the game away.  Up by 8 (78-70) with seconds left, FAU, not used to winning, tried an uncontested 360 degree dunk (failed miserably) as time ran out, unsportsmanlike to the max.  While FAU was favored, three lower seeds pulled off upsets, but with little drama at the end. 

#7E-Michigan St stunned trendy pick #2E-Marquette by going on a 7-0 run after the lead was cut to one with 3:36 left to win by 9.  #6S-Creighton never allowed #3S-Baylor to get closer than 9 in the last 11 minutes behind Ryan Nembhard’s 30 points.  After #4MW-Indiana went up 49-47, #5MW-Miami (Florida) went on a 16-2 run to win by 16. 

#3MW-Xavier led by 20 and held on to a 9-point win.  #3E-Kansas St trailed by one to #6E-Kentucky with 2:39 left but a couple of clutch 3s and hitting all 8 free throws propelled them to a 75-69 win.  #4W-UConn trailed by one to #5W-St. Mary’s with 16:06 left but went on a 22-7 run to win by 15.  Both #6W-TCU (12/20 60%) and #3W-Gonzaga (16/25 64%) struggled from the line but it was the Zags who pulled away late (buzzer beater three by TCU made the final margin close at 3).

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Issue # 4.2.1 “Finish Strong”

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Saturday, March 18, 2023 

ARKANSAS KNOCKS KANSAS OUT; PRINCETON IN SWEET 16
Jah Lives-2
 leads with 70 pts; PopTop1 goes 7-1

DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CARSON, CA (smt) – #8W-Arkansas used an 11-0 run to erase a 10-point deficit and then battled basket for basket in outlasting defending champ #1MW-Kansas, 72-71.  Up by 3 with 7 seconds left, a smart foul forced Kansas to shoot free throws.  Kansas tried to miss the second but accidentally banked it in and Arkansas ran out the last three seconds.  In the only other upset, #15S-Princeton broke open a 6-point lead with a 19-8 run to rout #7S-Missouri by 15.  #5S-San Diego St easily stomped upstart #13S-Furman by 23 and #1S-Alabama won by 22. 

Other top seeds finished strong with #4E-Tennessee’s Olivier Nkamhoua scored 17 of the teams’ 19 points in outlasting #5E-Duke, #1MW-Houston used second half 14-2 and 8-0 runs after #9MW-Auburn got within one, #2MW-Texas’s Dylan Disu scored 10 points in the last 4 1/2 minutes to help beat #10MW-Penn St, and #2W-UCLA hit their last six free throws (last 32 seconds) to nip #7W-Northwestern by five. 

The Big Ten lost all 3 games and they were the last 3 games of the day and has just two teams left.  The SEC went 3-2 and has nine wins in the tournament with Kentucky playing tomorrow.  All four Big East and both WCC teams play tomorrow.

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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-Purdue63-58, 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 # 2.1.1 “One Bad Pass”

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Thursday, March 16, 2023 

INEXPLICABLE PASS GIVES FURMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL PLAY
A record 194 entries from a record 126 people with 19 teams picked to win it all

HOME, CA (smt) – At least 4S-Virginia can say they are a champion because other than their 2019 title, they have stunk up the pools.  For the second straight time (they missed the tourney last year) they lost to a #13 seed and of course, they remain the only team to lose to a #16 seed (2018).  This time, leading by 2 and with the ball with less than 10 seconds left, a bad hail mary pass (Virginia had a time out!) was easily intercepted by #13S-Furman who quickly nailed a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to win 68-67.  But that wasn’t the biggest shocker as #15S-Princeton (no stranger to shock wins, just ask UCLA) scored the last 9 points to stun #2S-Arizona 59-55.  The Pac 12 champions may be out but the regular season champ #2W-UCLA routed #15-UNC Asheville by 33. 

#5S-San Diego St, #7S-Missouri, #4E-Tennessee, and #1MW-Houston struggled with close wins while #1W-Kansas (though it was tied 33-33), #1S-Alabama, #5E-Duke, #2MW-Texas won by at least 20 points.  #8S-Maryland survived a last second three, #8W-Arkansas never let #9W-Illionois get within 5 in the second half, #9MW-Auburn never let #8MW-Iowa get within 4 in the second half, and #7W-Northwestern never let #10W-Boise St (who are now 0-9 in the tourney) get within 4 in the last 5 minutes.  #10MW-Penn St routed #7MW-Texas A&M as the fourth lower seeded team to win today.

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Issue # 1.0.1 “Top to Bottom”

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American Lung Association - When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters

Sunday, March 12, 2023  **HELP support the American Lung Association (deadline Tue 4:00 pm PDT **)

# 1 PRESEASON BOTTOMS OUT, ALABAMA ON TOP
Our 28th pool will test UCLA loyalists again

OFF STREET CAFE, CERRITOS, CA (smt) – 2W-UCLA was this close to a #1 seed but lost to #2S-Arizona in the Pac 12 final and is on a collision course once again with 3W-Gonzaga (would be 4th tourney meeting since ’06).  Can UCLA do it?  Defending champ 1W-Kansas, who lost to 2MW-Texas in Big 12 final, fell to the #3 overall seeding, missing out on the Midwest, as SEC champ #1S-Alabama was the #1 overall seed with #1MW-Houston (who also lost in the final) second.  #1E-Purdue rounded out the top seeds.  Who we won’t see is #1 preseason pick UNC, who failed to qualify and then turned down the #1 seed in the NIT (as one of the First Four out) because they are too big for the NIT (plus, the NIT won’t be playing its final in NYC for the first time, not counting the pandemic 2021 reduced tourney in Dallas) and too much pressure to beat Youngstown St.  I feel bad for the players.

After 42 years of Coach K, 5E-Duke won the ACC tournament with Jon Scheyer to start the new era and after feeling “snubbed” last year, #7MW-Texas A&M is back in.  And a team with twenty (20!) losses, #16bE-Texas Southern, won the SWAC tournament after entering it 11-20 and will play in their fourth straight First Four game where they are 3-0 (’18, ’21, ’22). 

The SEC and Big Ten (boy, can’t wait until UCLA and #10E-USC switch to the Big Ten) got 8 teams in with the Big 12 seven.  The ACC and Big East each got 5 and the Pac-12 and MWC got 4 each.  31 of 36 at-large bids went to the power conferences (with MWC getting 3 of the 5).

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Issue # 15.6.1 “Jayhawks Rally Like it’s ’08” (4/4)

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Disney+ Star Wars - Obi-Wan Kenobi starts May 27
Kenobi on Disney+ Starts May 27!
2022 NCAA Champions
 #1-Midwest Regional Champions

University of Kansas Jayhawks (34-6)

4th Title
  
2022 Winningest Conference
ACC
Big 12 
The Atlantic Coast Conference (13-5)
8th time
&
The Big 12 Conference (13-5)
5th time

Monday, April 4, 2022   ***HAPPY 82ND BIRTHDAY DAD (BELUCKY2)!!!***

KANSAS RALLIES FROM 16 DOWN TO STUN UNC
Bob, Glen, and Greg join the winner’s circle; Chris wins Bonus

Rebound, Put Back, Kansas up for Good

VERY LONG BOY SCOUT MEETING IN CYPRESS, CA (smt) – In 2008, Kansas was down 9 to Memphis with 2:12 left in the Final and rallied to force overtime and pick up their 3rd NCAA title.  A 15-point halftime deficit?  No big deal.  #1MW-Kansas overcame a record 16-point overall deficit and record 15-point second half deficit to hold off a hobbled #8E-UNC team, 72-69, for their fourth title.  Three different UNC players got injured but played through in turning a 56-50 deficit into a 69-68 lead with 1:42 left.  Hobbled players affected the final minute stumbling with a couple turnovers and forcing bad threes because the quickness wasn’t there anymore.  Up by 3, Kansas ran out of bounds with 4.3 seconds left but UNC’s long three by Caleb Love (who hit deciding threes vs UCLA and Duke) was way short.

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Issue # 14.5.2 “A Perfect Pool, 27 Up, 27 Down” (4/3) (Finals Preview + History)

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Our 7th HWCI World Cup Pool begins in November...
7th HWCI World Cup Pool in November
2022 NCAA FINAL @ New Orleans, Louisiana
 – The Floor
The Road Ends Here
#1-Midwest-vs- #8-East
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas
UNC Tar Heels
Carolina
University of Kansas Jayhawks (33-6)University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels (29-9)
Big 12 Conference – Regular Season and Tourney Champs
Lawrence, Kansas

10th Final (’40’52’53, ’57, ’88, ’91, ’03, ’08, ’12)
def #16a Texas Southern 83-56
#9 Creighton 79-72
#4 Providence 66-61
#10 Miami of Florida 76-50
#2S Villanova 81-65
Atlantic Coast Conference (2nd Place)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

12th Final (’46, ‘57’68’77’81’82’93’05’09’16, ‘17)
def #9 Marquette 95-63
#1 Baylor 93-86 (OT)
#4 UCLA 73-66
#15 Saint Peter’s 69-49
#2W-Duke 81-77

WILL KANSAS SHOW ’22 WAS WHAT WOULD’VE HAPPENED IN ’20?
6 compete for 4th through 7th as 4 guaranteed money; 58 entries can win Bonus

PORTILLO’S, BUENA PARK, CA (smt) – Full blue blood will be on display with 3-time champion #1MW-Kansas (10th final) taking on 6-time champion #8E-North Carolina (12th final) but don’t let the seed difference fool you as I could name Bacot (20+ rebounding), Manek (red hair, ejection, key 3s), and Love (dagger 3s) for UNC and just Agbaji (hot hand) for Kansas.  Star power for UNC, but Kansas once had star power back in ’20 and was the prohibitive favorite to win it all before the pandemic cancelled that year’s tournament three days before Selection Sunday.  This is rematch of the ’57 final where UNC won in triple-overtime over Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain.  Only one #8 seed (Villanova ’85) has won the title whereas the last four titles have come from #1 seeds.

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