SANTA ANA, CA/CERRITOS, CA (smt)-  Whereas yesterday starting out with two nail biters while the nightcap had two routs, today started out with two routs and ended with last-minute heroics.  #2E-North Carolina closed out the first half on a 32-5 (38-5 overall) run to rout #11E-Marquette, 81-63, while #1SW-Kansas bolted to a big 35-11 lead in beating upstart #12SW-Richmond (the Spiders!), 77-57.  #4E-Kentucky and #1E-Ohio St. did not call a timeout in the final 35 seconds with the Buckeyes getting a tying 3-pointer, Kentucky getting the go ahead jumper by Brandon Knight, and then Ohio St. missing the game-winning three at the buzzer.  In the equally entertaining double-digit matchup, #11SW-Virginia Commonwealth blew an 8-point lead in the last 7 minutes but prevailed in overtime over #10SW-Florida St, 72-71, on a sneaky inbound play with 7 seconds left.  VCU has now beat a Pac 10, Big East, Big 10, and ACC team with the Big 12 (Kansas) next.  And if they somehow get past Kansas, the SEC, the last of the Big 6 conferences, is likely next (Florida).

Ohio St's loss (picked by 41 to win it all) neutered a lot of brackets.  With only one #1 seed left there aren't many points to be picked up.  Thus, this gives Craig a 100% chance to win money in leading by 7 (106 pts).  Thirty-one (31) are now trying to claim the remaining 5 mone spots with only 7 having a chance to win 1st.  Three went 3-1 for the day with Samurai Jack using that to move from 29th-Tied to 9th (94).  No one got more than 4 Elite 8 teams correct (27 tied) while PFC Bradley Manning (99th-T, 74) becomes just the third person ever to go 0-for-the-Elite 8.  Even worse, he sets a new record by losing his last 16 games (1 S16, 8 E8, 4 FF, 2 Semi, Champ).  The Downtown Fiction (2nd) is stuck at 99 points but can still win 2nd.  Pack Rat will try to do the improbable by climbing from 99th-T (74) to 1st - but it's possible.  It looks like there could be a lot of tiebreakers in play.

As for the Bonus, the Big East has 10 wins with a chance for 13.  The SEC has six wins with a chance for 11 and the ACC has 7 wins with a chance for 10.  Only six are still eligible to win this.  Again, if no one wins this, Bonus2 will take effect.