The 10th HWCI NCAA Tournament Pool

HW Basketball Logo 2004 HWCI NCAA Pool Update
Saturday, April 3, 2004
Issue # 17.5.2 "One Comeback Foiled, One Successful"
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LATE RALLIES MAKE BOTH GAMES CLASSIC; LAST #1 SEED GONE
Three guaranteed $$$, but for first time, champ is undecided

CARSON/CERRITOS, CA (smt)- #2E-Oklahoma St. used a 6-0 run in 2:20 late in the game to tie the score, but that left 26 seconds left in the game for Will Bynum of #3MW-Georgia Tech to hit a tough running layup with 1.5 seconds left and send the Yellow Jackets into the Final for the first-time ever, 67-65. The Cowboys were playing catch-up all game long (down by 12 in the 2nd half) and poor free throw shooting (17/25, 68%) didn't help matters.

#1S-Duke led 75-67 with 2:47 left but #2W-UConn used a 12-0 run in 2:44 to stun the Blue Devils, 79-78. Emeka Okafor was held scoreless in the first half but scored 18 in the second to rally the Huskies. UConn ran out to the early lead at 15-4, but Duke quickly outscored UConn 32-11 and eventually built an 11-point 2nd half lead (45-34). The rematch of the '99 Final again went to UConn, who reaches the Final for the 2nd time. This makes it the second straight year no #1 seed is in the final.

The heart-pumping games made RANDOM PICKS (1st, 128), FABIO (2nd, 125), and OMG (4th, 119) richer. But where they will finish is another story. For the first time ever in the HWCI NCAA Pool, the Champion was not decided after the Semifinals. If Georgia Tech wins, RANDOM PICKS stays in first; if UConn wins, FABIO becomes our new champion. THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA can take 3rd if UConn wins, knocking BINGO (124) (who coincidentally, happens to be his Dad) out of 3rd place. BINGO had the worst day of all, losing both his Finalists in one day, falling out of first place, and with only a 50% chance of winning money (he had 7 of 8 chances before).

If Ga Tech beats Connecticut in the final, then the possible winners are...
   Random Picks Score:128 (1st $370)
   Fabio Score:125 (2nd $180)
   Bingo Score:124 (3rd $120)
   OMG Score:119 (4th  $80)
If Connecticut beats Ga Tech in the final, then the possible winners are...
   Fabio Score:137 (1st $370)
   OMG Score:131 (2nd $180)
   The Mighty Mobelfakta Score:130 (3rd $120)
   Random Picks Score:128 (4th  $80)
Tech's win eliminated six entries and UConn's win eliminated three more. Just two picked Georgia Tech and 22 picked UConn, but no one got both right. Twenty-four (24) went 1-1 leaving 55 with a big goose egg.

For the Bonus Prize, Georgia Tech upped the ACC's win total to 14 and if they win on Monday, it'll be 15. Tech's win eliminated 12 from the prize and Duke's loss eliminated 12 more. Also, RANDOM PICKS is ineligible (since he will win money), so that leaves 22 still in contention for the $40 award.

HWCI NCAA Bonus Prize Scenarios

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Classic matchups did indeed become classic games...
Scott


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