The Loyola Ramblers are going to the Final Four in San Antonio. And yes, there is a 100% chance I am making all types of Gryffindor jokes if I see their fans traipsing around San Antonio in their scarves.
Also, if I see team chaplain Sister Jean, then I will buy her a shot of the sacramental wine! As it turns out, Loyola can play. CBS showed the fact that 7 of Loyola's players won state championships in high school, and another won a championship at a JUCO. To quote one person in the pool, "Do you know what winners do? WIN!".
Loyola becomes just the fourth 11 seed to make it to the Final Four, joining LSU in 1986, George Mason in 2006 and Virginia Commonwealth in 2011. This brings us to today's tournament history.
LSU, led by leading scorer John Williams, who in 2006 set - and still holds - the SEC record for most rebounds in a season with 313, and coached by the incomparable Dale Brown, defeated Purdue in double overtime in the first round, and then beat Memphis on a last second shot in the second round. LSU knocked off Georgia Tech 70-64 in the Sweet Sixteen and then the top seeded Kentucky Wildcats 59-57 in the Elite 8. :LSU traversed the hardest possible road for an 11 seed by beating the 6 seed (Purdue), 3 seed (Memphis), 2 seed (Georgia Tech) and 1 seed (Kentucky). LSU lost in the Final Four to eventual champion Louisville, which was led by remarkable freshman Pervis Ellison. LSU was helped by the fact that even as an 11 seed - it hosted the first two round games. After this season the NCAA instituted the rule that no team can play a game in a stadium/arena in which it played 4 games or more in during the regular season.
In 2006, in a Final Four that Your Tournament Host remembers well - as do a lot of you Gators in the Pool, George Mason made it to the Final Four in Indianapolis (MMMmmmm - St. Elmo Steakhouse!!!). George Mason's fans traveled IN FORCE to this game, which should have come as no surprise as George Mason is not exactly a small school - it is the largest university in Virginia. The Patriots were a remarkably well-balanced team with all five starters averaging between 11.0 and 13.7 points per game. George Mason was led by Jim Larranaga, the best Cuban coach in all of sports. George Mason was selected into the tournament as an at-large team, as they lost in the semi-finals of their conference tournament. In the first round the Patriots took down the six seed in Michigan State 75-65, and then the 3 seed North Carolina 65-60 to make the Sweet Sixteen. There, George Mason defeated fellow mid-major Wichita State 63-55 and then top seeded Connecticut 86-84 to reach the Final Four, where they were ultimately trounced by eventual champion Florida 73-58.
Virginia Commonwealth was led by senior forward Jamie Skeen, and coached by my personal favorite Shaka Smart. Like LSU and George Mason before them, VCU received an at-large bid, which is rare for the typical mid-majors. This at-large bid came with a catch; VCU had to play USC in the "Play-In Game", which they won 59-46. With one win already under their belt, the Rams easily dispatched Georgetown in the first round 74-56, and Purdue in the second round 94-76. The Sweet Sixteen was a tougher matchup as VCU beat Florida State 72-71, and then defeated top-seeded Kansas 71-61 to reach the Sweet Sixteen. In the Final Four in Houston, VCU ran into a stout Butler team that advanced to their second consecutive championship game, losing to Duke in 2010 and Connecticut in 2011.
Joining Loyola will be the Big 10 Champion Michigan Wolverines. This means that the questions asked by one person in this pool of "Can we get FSU ... in the Final Four ... in a warm weather city ... with no open container laws?' is now answered with a resounding "NO!" This Michigan win was important to more than just their team, school and fans. It was very important to this pool. Because ...
WE HAVE A NEW LEADER. Day Yi 2 of New York City has catapulted himself into first place. Not only that, but Thomas Bean 1 of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida is now in second place. In fact, our early round leader Bryan van Gorder of Canajoharie, New York and Hollywood, California has fallen from first to sixth, as those that selected Michigan into the Final Four vaulted up the standings.
In fact 19 different entries had the Wolverines in the Final Four, and since nobody selected Loyola, this could be a 19 way tie for first for the "Pick of the Day". But, I just don't want to type that many people's name down, so I will select one person from those 19. The "Pick of the Day" goes to Hannah Sosa of Riviera Beach, Florida, not just for selecting Michigan, but for putting up with many during NCAA Tournament time!!!
We still have only four of the original thirteen different champions remaining, and that is guaranteed to change as Kansas and Duke face-off in the last Elite 8 game. The only question is ... will Villanova join that winner.
Those teams will continue to be listed in every update in bold so long as they remain in the pool. Arizona, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Villanova, Virginia and Xavier.
Remember to check my math, and let me know if you have any questions regarding your bracket.
On to the standings ...
1. Day Yi 2 - 77 - Villanova
3. Anthony LaPira - 72 - Michigan State
Ty Leatherman - 72 - Virginia
7. Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds - 69 - Villanova
George Walks 3 - 69 - Virginia
10. George Walks 6 - 68 - Michigan State
11. Dan Barsky - 67 - Virginia
Steven Usma 3 - 67 - Michigan
13. Greg Kummerlen - 66 - North Carolina
Jane Reynolds - 66 - Michigan State
Rich Samuels 2 - 66 - Villanova
Joshua Zdrowak - 66 - Kansas
17. Jessica Samuels - 65 - Villanova
18. Adam Jorgensen 2 - 64 - Michigan State
Max Macon 4 - 64 - Virginia
21. Steffan Alexander - 63 - Florida
Carolyn Fowler 63 - Kansas
Chris Kroesen - 63 - Xavier
Jacey Fowler 1 - 63 - North Carolina
Debbie Igdaloff Nieman - 63 - Virginia
Rich Samuels 1 - 63 - Kansas
Rich Samuels 1 - 63 - Kansas
27. Kyle Sheehan - 62 - Duke
Barkley Sosa - 62 - Kentucky
Day Yi 1 - 62 - Virginia
30. Jen Armstrong - 61 - Michigan State
Thomas Bean 2 - 61 - Michigan State
Jim Coleman - 61 - Gonzaga
Max Macon 2 - 61 - Michigan State
Brittany Sosa - 61 - Duke
Steven Usma 2 - 61 - Villanova
Justin Yung - 61 - North Carolina
37. Alvaro Gonzalez - 60 - Michigan State
Allison Parker - 60 - Virginia
Hannah Sosa - 60 - Florida
Cheryl Spuhler - 60 - Duke
Josh and Katie Zdrowak - 60 - Villanova
42. Adam Jorgensen 1 - 59 - Duke
Katie Kollmeyer - 59 - Villanova
47. Jenna Finkelstein - 58 - North Carolina
58. James Garvin - 54 - Villanova
61. Cathy Donahue - 53 - Duke
Traci Sheehan - 59 - Duke
Wes Wiggins 1 - 59 - Arizona
Measha Williams 3 "Spread" - 59 - Virginia
47. Jenna Finkelstein - 58 - North Carolina
Albert Harper III - 58 - Michigan State
Mango Merchant - 58 - Michigan State
Max Macon 3 - 56 - Villanova
Noel Martinez 2 - 56 - Villanova
Abigail Sosa - 56 - Michigan State
Jeremy Spuhler - 56 - Duke
54. Bill Ganoe 2 - 55 - Virginia
54. Bill Ganoe 2 - 55 - Virginia
Arlene Amo Hopps - 55 - Villanova
Edy Pecan - 55 - Michigan
Measha Williams 2 "Upset City"- 55 - Duke
58. James Garvin - 54 - Villanova
Steven Usma 5 - 54 - Villanova
Jonathan Wasserman - 54 - Duke
61. Cathy Donahue - 53 - Duke
Steve Jorgensen - 53 - Arizona
Pepe Sosa - 53 - Villanova
Wes Wiggins 2 - 53 - Michigan State
65. Samantha Sheehan - 52 - Duke
Pepe Sosa - 53 - Villanova
65. Samantha Sheehan - 52 - Duke
George Walks 2 - 52 - Kansas
Bill Ganoe 1 - 51 - North Carolina
67. Paul Cummings - 51 - Villanova
Noel Martinez 1 - 51 - Duke
Jeff Plamodon - 51 - Virginia
George Walks 4 - 51 - North Carolina
72. Kent Armstrong - 50 - Villanova
Matt Hopps - 50 - Virginia
George Walks 1 - 50 - Kansas
Keith Zdrowak - 50 - Duke
76. Duncan Merchant - 49 - Virginia
Katie Zdrowak - 49 Villanova
78. Bill Foman - 48 - North Carolina
Jacey Fowler 2 - 48 - Cincinnati
Glen Merchant - 48 - Villanova
Kingfish Rod Parham - 48 - Kentucky
82. Brent Bellinger - 47 - Virginia
Colleen Hamilton 1 - 47 - Virginia
George Walks 4 - 51 - North Carolina
72. Kent Armstrong - 50 - Villanova
76. Duncan Merchant - 49 - Virginia
78. Bill Foman - 48 - North Carolina
82. Brent Bellinger - 47 - Virginia
Mac Kroesen - 47 - Gonzaga
Measha Williams 1 - "Gut" - 47 - Virginia
86. Carter Alexander - 46 - Florida
Joe Carter - 46 - Virginia
Martha Kroesen - 46 - Villanova
Steven Usma 1 - 46 - Kansas
90. Karen Katz - 45 - Virginia
86. Carter Alexander - 46 - Florida
90. Karen Katz - 45 - Virginia
Silas Nichols - 45 - Arizona
92. Colleen Hamilton 2 - 44 - Villanova
Steven Usma 4 - 44 - Duke
92. Colleen Hamilton 2 - 44 - Villanova
George Walks 5 - 44 - Arizona
95. Bill Danner - 43 - Virginia
98. Eric Inge - 42 - Virginia
Col. Kareem Montague - 42 - Villanova
101. Amy Zdrowak - 38 - Michigan State
Col. Kareem Montague - 42 - Villanova
100. Michael Litsey - 41 - Villanova
102. Colleen Hamilton 3 - 37 - North Carolina
103. Doug Tuttle - 36 - Florida
104. Griffey Parker - 31 - Xavier
103. Doug Tuttle - 36 - Florida
104. Griffey Parker - 31 - Xavier
105. Ashley Poer - 30 - Virginia
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