2019 NCAA Tournament Pool - FINALS

So the tournament is complete, and so is our pool.  Congratulations to the 9 entrants that selected Virginia as the champion, which was obviously correct.  Even more congratulations to our Top 3, which are tentative Steven Usma #5 of Miami, Florida in third place, Ashley Poer of Lake Worth, Florida in second place, and our champion - MARCUS JACKSON of Reston, Virginia.  Marcus, for those that don't know, was my college roommate.

I say tentative above, because the Final Four is always incredibly hectic for me, and I could have made mistakes.  For those of you close to the winner's circle, please take a look at your totals, and let me know if you final something wrong.  If you notify me within the next couple of days, I will take a look at your bracket, and whoever else's bracket would be affected, and make the appropriate corrections, if any need to be made.


Final Standings

Please let me know if you see any discrepancies so that I can check to make sure I did not miss anything.

1 - Marcus Jackson - 146 - Virginia

2 - Ashley Poer #2 - 137 - Virginia

3 - Steven Usma #5 - 135 - Virginia

4 - Colonel Kareem Montague - 129 - Virginia

5 - Measha Williams #3 - 128

6 - Max Macon #1 - 127 - Virginia


7 - Matt Nieman - 125 - Virginia

8 - Ty Leatherman - 121

  
9 - Measha Williams #2 - 120

10 - Biscuit Zdrowak - 109 - Virginia

11 - Carolyn Fowler - 114

12 - Justin Yung - 113

13 - Steven Usma #3 - 106

14 - Mac Kroesen - 105
       Hannah Sosa - 105 - Virginia

16 - Adam Jorgensen - 104
       Max Macon #2 - 104

18 - Chris Kroesen - 103
       Michael Litsey - 103
       Robert Tanen #2 - 103

21 - Wes Wiggins - 101

       Amy Zdrowak - 101

23 - Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds - 100

       Melanie Scherr - 100

25 - Max Marion #2 - 99

       Brittany Sosa #1 - 99

27 - Matt Hopps - 98

28 - Steven Usma #4 - 97

29 - Jessica Samuels - 96 - Virginia

30 - Mango Merchant - 95

        Pepe Sosa - 95

32 - Bill Ganoe #1 - 94

       Max Marion - 94
       Steven Usma #1 - 94

       Measha WIlliams #1 - 94

36 - Debbie Igdaloff Nieman - 92

37 - Philip Kroesen - 91
       Barkley Sosa - 91

       Brittany Sosa #2 - 91

40 - Jacey Fowler #1 - 90

       Katie Kollmeyer - 90

42 - Alyssa Ave - 89

       Dan Barsky #2 - 89

       Chad Phillips - 89

       George Walks #4 - 89

46 - Coby Kroesen - 88

47 - Max Macon #4 - 87
       Sean McInerney - 87
       Dave Piasecki #2 - 87
       Annette Pritchard #2 - 87
       Harrington Wax III - 87

52 - Dan Barsky #1 - 86

       Duncan Merchant - 86

       Steven Usma #2 - 86

55 - Brian Hinaman - 85

56 - Scott Bieterman - 84
       Paul Cummings - 84

       Dave Piasecki #1 - 84

59 - James Garvin - 83

       Karen Katz - 83

       Silas Nichols - 83

       Allison Parker - 83
       Annette Pritchard - 83

       Meredith Tanen - 83

       Joshua Zdrowak - 83

66 - Alvaro Gonzalez - 82

       William Pujals - 82
       George Walks #2 - 82

69 - Kyle Sheehan - 81

70 - Jonathan Wasserman - 80

71 - Robert Hosmer - 79
       Dana Mandelbaum - 79

       Krystal Travers - 79

74 - Ashley Poer #1 - 78

       Rich Samuels #2 - 78

       Mike Zachary - 78

77 - Glen Merchant - 77
       John Santucci - 77

79 - Jacey Fowler #2 - 76

       Hilary Kroesen 76

       Martha Kroesen - 76
       Jason Spuhler - 76
       Jeremy Spuhler - 76

84 - Arlene Amo Hopps - 75

       Skip LaForte - 75

       Max Macon #3 - 75
       Cheryl Spuhler - 75

88 - Jenna Finkelstein - 74

       Eric Inge - 74
       Samantha Sheehan - 74

91 - Scott Hansel - 73
       Anthony LaPira - 73
       Chris Petit - 73
       Jane Reynolds - 73
       George Walks #3 - 73

96 - Sasha Moon - 72

       Traci Sheehan - 72

       Michael Spicer - 72
       George Walks #5 - 72

100 - Bill Ganoe #2 - 71
         Jeff Pamondon - 71
         Rich Samuels #1 - 71

103 - Josh and Katie Zdrowak - 70

104 - Rachel Bornn - 68

         Edy Pecan - 68

106 - Jordyn Sheehan - 66

         Robert Tanen #1 - 66

108 - Luis Briones - 65

         Jean Calixte - 65
         Kingfish Rod Parham - 65

         George Walks #1 - 65

112 - Griffey Parker - 64 

         Abigail Sosa - 64

114- Tara Elliott - 63

115 - David Olson - 62

116 - Liz Carew - 61

         Hilary Kroesen #2 - 61

         Ira Schulteis - 61

119 - Jennifer Armstrong - 59

120 - Kline Kroesen - 58

121 - Katie Zdrowak - 56

122 - Keith Zdrowak - 48

123 - Cubbie Kroesen - 47

Final Four Chronicles - The Interregnum

April 7

Sunday between the games is always play day.  Usually this day is reserved for golf, except, it's Minneapolis.  And while the weather actually isn't that bad in terms of temperature, none of us brought our sticks this year expecting the worst.  We are pretty sure that we can make the most of it.  Let's see what adventures await.  There is some strong language today, but as journalists we have to report exact quotations as they occur.

11:20 - Ubering to Jax's for brunch.  Sinickal asks the driver why uptown is south of downtown?  Driver responds "Why is America west?"  Curtis asks the driver, "Why are your windshield wipers on?"

11:43 - Windshield wipers are still on.  You can probably surmise from the context, but it is not raining.

11:53 - Jax!  Much brunching will be done.  There is a wait for a table, so we sidle up to the bar.  Aaron the bartender is not ready for what is about to hit him.

12:41 - Amanda and Amber stop by for brunch on their way out of town.

13:15 - Sinickal remarks that he is tired.  Dr. Pepper tells him, "Go stand in the corner and take a nap like a man, instead of showing pictures of sleeping motherfuckers."  We don't know to what Dr. Pepper is referring. [Ed. Note - we do.  It is him].

13:21 - In response to a story told by Pepster, Dr. Pepper exclaims, "That's 7 minutes of my life I won't get back."

13:26 - In describing what they had for dinner at Mercury the night before and what so good, Amber says, "Food was good.  We had some fries and some bullshit!"

13:27 - After continuing her very non-descriptive talk about the food, Tony tells her that if one of her friends ever disappears, that Amber should not be the one to give descriptions to the police.

13:29 - We find out that the piano player takes requests.  Sinickal asks, "Do you know any DMX?"

13:35 - It seems like Amber has been gone a long time.  We ask if anyone knows where she is.  Tony says he thinks she is "playing with the lobsters".  Pepster replies, "Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays".

13:39 - Aaron the bartender explains the buffet to Amanda and Amber as they finally go get something to eat.  "We even have a nice cold table with fruits and vegetables."  Amanda, "We do like us some kale."

13:44 - While the guys were talking about various perks from different airlines, Amanda returns from getting food, "We all like them perky!"

13:56 - Amber remarks that she is going to the bathroom and get a donut.  Pepster tells her that is a pretty decent to-do list.

13:57 - Amber returns with a slice a cheesecake.  Tony tells her, "That's not a donut!"

14:32 - Dr. Pepper needs a mimosa refill.  Turns to Aaron and says, "When the glass is empty, Pepster's not funny".

14:34 - After receiving a re-fill of what apparently is a good cup of coffee, Amber exclaims to Tony, "you gotta smell my cup!"  Sinickal to Curtis who has a nonplussed look on his face, "She said CUP".  Amanda snorts for the second time.

14:38 - Amanda and Amber exit for their drive back to Madison.

14:52 - While discussing the bottomless mimosas, we ask Aaron if the bottomless ends at 3.  Aaron responds, "Sure". 

15:21 - See how it starts.  It starts at home.

15:45 - Discussing the pay phones in the back of the place.  Aaron tells us that when Jax first opened it was Polish mob owned.  "That's why there is a funeral home next door."

15:48 - Finally leaving brunch.  "It's still daytime?"

15:55 - While in the Uber, we see a woman walking on the street.  Dr. Pepper points out her rather prominent posterior.  Uber driver to Dr. Pepper, "Where are you from, Texas?"

16:03 - Jon from the DC metro area meets up with us. 

16:43 - Hang out with Andrea, one of the promo reps from Orange Vanilla Coke.  She does NOT want to be doing the promo work so she asks if she can stand at our table and talk to us for a while pretending to be doing her promo work. 

17:20 - Jon sends us over car bombs.

17:23 - Derrick, a friend of Sinickal and Tony's, joins the party.

18:33 - The entire table next to us is watching the women's final four and cheering loudly for Notre Dame.  They do not know who Arike Ogunbowale is.

18:53 - Brian, a friend of Pepster's from college, joins us.  We will be heading to Burch Steak for dinner shortly, primarily on the recommendation of Leah, the Inter-Continental bartender from Friday.  Brian, who lives in Minneapolis, concurs that it is a good choice.

19:48 - Uber has been a challenge this week. This time, the Uber is on the interstate going away from us. Uber cancelled.  Sinickal orders a second Uber which appears to be less than a block away. that Uber got lost.

20:00 - Finally at Burch Steak.  Meet up with Alan and Joel, Tony and Dr. Pepper's friends from Providence.  Pepster and Sinickal worry that they are definitely going to pick up a RICO charge.

20:15 - Jay Wright with a Villanova entourage at the next table.

20:33 - An older retired coach starts talking to Jay Wright, one table over from us.  Sinickal tries to get Pepster's attention to figure out who it is.  Pepster waves Sinickal off.

20:36 - Pepster waves Sinickal off again.

20:43 - Pepster flips Sinickal off after Sinickal says, "Hey!  Don't worry about it anymore."  No idea who that coach was.

21:50 - Jay Wright leaves.  Lots of pics.  Wife is the enforcer.

21:51 - Mike Brey sits down right behind us.

21:52 - Tony disputing that it is in fact Mike Brey.

22:05 - Derrick and Brian leave.

22:25 - After several hours, several shots and mixing drinking priorities, Pepster heads back to the house.

23:02 - It is now just Sinickal with the Providence crew somewhere north of downtown Minneapolis.  It has taken us 12 minutes to park.

23:05 - In the spot, and Dr. Pepper refers to it as "snug".  That place where players play.  Yup, got that feel.  Tony just went NYC.

23:54 - Blonde in her 60s keeps trying to get men to dance with her, including all 5 of us.

Time Unknown - Uber home for Sinickal, Tony, and Dr Pepper.

2019 NCAA Tournament Pool Standings - the Final Four

1 - Measha Williams #3 - 128

2 - Marcus Jackson - 122 - Virginia

3 - Ty Leatherman - 121

4 - Measha Williams #2 - 120

5 - Carolyn Fowler - 114

6 - Ashley Poer #2 - 113 - Virginia
      Justin Yung - 113

8 - Steven Usma #5 - 111 - Virginia

9 - Steven Usma #3 - 106

10 - Mac Kroesen - 105
        Colonel Kareem Montague - 105 - Virginia

12 - Adam Jorgensen - 104
       Max Macon #2 - 104

14 - Chris Kroesen - 103
       Michael Litsey - 103
       Max Macon #1 - 103 - Virginia
       Robert Tanen #2 - 103

18 - Matt Nieman - 101 - Virginia

       Wes Wiggins - 101

       Amy Zdrowak - 101

21 - Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds - 100

       Melanie Scherr - 100

23 - Max Marion #2 - 99

       Brittany Sosa #1 - 99

25 - Matt Hopps - 98

26 - Steven Usma #4 - 97

27 - Mango Merchant - 95

        Pepe Sosa - 95

29 - Bill Ganoe #1 - 94

       Max Marion - 94
       Steven Usma #1 - 94

       Measha WIlliams #1 - 94

33 - Biscuit Zdrowak - 93 - Virginia

34 - Debbie Igdaloff Nieman - 92

35 - Philip Kroesen - 91
       Barkley Sosa - 91

       Brittany Sosa #2 - 91

38 - Jacey Fowler #1 - 90

       Katie Kollmeyer - 90

40 - Alyssa Ave - 89

       Dan Barsky #2 - 89

       Chad Phillips - 89

       George Walks #4 - 89

44 - Coby Kroesen - 88

45 - Max Macon #4 - 87
       Sean McInerney - 87
       Dave Piasecki #2 - 87
       Annette Pritchard #2 - 87
       Harrington Wax III - 87

50 - Dan Barsky #1 - 86

       Duncan Merchant - 86

       Steven Usma #2 - 86

53 - Brian Hinaman - 85

54 - Scott Bieterman - 84
       Paul Cummings - 84

       Dave Piasecki #1 - 84

57 - James Garvin - 83

       Karen Katz - 83

       Silas Nichols - 83

       Allison Parker - 83
       Annette Pritchard - 83

       Meredith Tanen - 83

       Joshua Zdrowak - 83

64 - Alvaro Gonzalez - 82

       William Pujals - 82
       George Walks #2 - 82

67 - Kyle Sheehan - 81

       Hannah Sosa - 81 - Virginia

69 - Jonathan Wasserman - 80

70 - Robert Hosmer - 79
       Dana Mandelbaum - 79

       Krystal Travers - 79

73 - Ashley Poer #1 - 78

       Rich Samuels #2 - 78
       Mike Zachary - 78

76 - Glen Merchant - 77
       John Santucci - 77

78 - Jacey Fowler #2 - 76

       Hilary Kroesen 76

       Martha Kroesen - 76
       Jason Spuhler - 76
       Jeremy Spuhler - 76

83 - Arlene Amo Hopps - 75

       Skip LaForte - 75

       Max Macon #3 - 75
       Cheryl Spuhler - 75

87 - Jenna Finkelstein - 74

       Eric Inge - 74
       Samantha Sheehan - 74

90 - Scott Hansel - 73
       Anthony LaPira - 73
       Chris Petit - 73
       Jane Reynolds - 73
       George Walks #3 - 73

95 - Sasha Moon - 72

       Jessica Samuels - 72 - Virginia

       Traci Sheehan - 72
       Michael Spicer - 72
       George Walks #5 - 72

100 - Bill Ganoe #2 - 71
         Jeff Pamondon - 71
         Rich Samuels #1 - 71

103 - Josh and Katie Zdrowak - 70

104 - Rachel Bornn - 68

         Edy Pecan - 68

106 - Jordyn Sheehan - 66

         Robert Tanen #1 - 66

108 - Luis Briones - 65

         Jean Calixte - 65
         Kingfish Rod Parham - 65

         George Walks #1 - 65

112 - Griffey Parker - 64 

         Abigail Sosa - 64

114- Tara Elliott - 63

115 - David Olson - 62

116 - Liz Carew - 61

         Hilary Kroesen #2 - 61

         Ira Schulteis - 61

119 - Jennifer Armstrong - 59

120 - Kline Kroesen - 58

121 - Katie Zdrowak - 56

122 - Keith Zdrowak - 48

123 - Cubbie Kroesen - 47

Final Four Chronicles - The Semi-Finals

April 6, 2019

Today is the day when basketball starts.  Fans of all four teams are hopeful that their team will play well tonight and move on to the championship.  Yes - even Auburn fans who know this tourney run is going to be vacated.  Fans of all four teams are out-and-about, milling around, carousing, and having a good time - as will your crew from WeMakeItRain.

8:00 - Tony and Dr. Pepper wake up, make coffee, and almost break the coffee table, thus waking everyone else up.

8:30 - Sinickal and Pepster finally acknowledge the coffee table incident and decide to get out of bed themselves.

9:50 - We have our second Whip Appeal reference of the weekend.

10:10 - Dr. Pepper explains that "I've got something wrong with me!"

10:22 - Pepster asks Sinickal if just by hanging out with two guys from Providence at one time makes us an accessory to something or if it was a RICO violation.

10:45 - To Breakfast at Our Kitchen.

10:49 - Our Kitchen is closed for Plumbing repairs.  Good thing Gigi's is right across the street.

10:47 - What is that, velvet?

10:52 - Gigi's is a place where you order at the counter and pay, then sit down and they bring the food to you.  Waitress that took our order mistakes Sinickal's and Dr. Pepper's orders and has Dr. Pepper pay for Sinickal's.  When Sinickal steps up to pay, the order she recites to him is wrong, and that is when we realize what happened.  She must think they both look alike.  Pepster and Tony say some version of this to themselves at the exact same time, because, you know, apparently they all look alike to the waitress.

10:59 - Sheena Easton's Strut starts playing over the Muzak.  This was way funnier and more important than we can accurately relay here.

11:17 - Dr. Pepper almost spills his coffee on the floor.  This is going to be a long day, or at least a long breakfast.

11:58 - Back to the house.  Watch CBS basketball program Four Sides while getting ready.  Sinickal takes a quick cat nap, but every now and then comes back into the conversation.  Dr. Pepper dubs him "The corpse".

13:48 - Heading downtown.  Crazily enough, two Uber Xs were cheaper than 1 Uber XL.

14:12 - At Runyon's.  This is going to be the home bar for both the WeMakeItRain crew and the Southwestern Central coaching staff.  All the tables are full when we walk in, but one table starts to leave within minutes.  Five Michigan State guys that just walked into the bar try to go claim to the table, by Dr. Pepper subtly sidles pass them and sits down.  I mean, we were there first.

14:42 - In response to Sinickal blurting out a random comment, Dr. Pepper notes that "A non-sequitur is a thinking man's Tourette's.

15:12 - Our new Patron Saint Adia Barnes leads the Arizona basketball team to the Women's NIT Championship.

15:38 - In response to conversations about older siblings, Dr. Pepper makes the comment "it's a problem when your older sister acts like your momma," to which Pepster sneaks in "that's only a problem if you're Oedipus".

15:50 - Waitress asks if we can stay the rest of the day at Runyon's because we have been "like her bodyguards".  We took this as a compliment.

16:00 - Heading toward the stadium.  We have walked less than 2 blocks and Pepster claims he is already thirsty. It must be the time change.

16:12 - Try to stop into the Pourhouse for one last drink before the games.  We are stopped at the door because The Pourhouse was closed for a private party, which is exactly what the manager said.  "The Pourhouse is closed for a private party".  Not "We are closed".  "The Pourhouse is closed".  Apparently pretentiousness exists in Minneapolis also.

16:13 - A second person in the last 3 blocks screams out "Syracuse sucks" in response to Sinickal's pullover.  Sinickal turns and sees the dude repping nobody and replies, "At least I went to college!"

16:14 - Go to Mercury, across the street from the Pourhouse.  Surprisingly, this place is not that crowded.

16:24 - Jody Cox, Pepster's friend from the West Palm area meets up with us at Mercury.

16:32 - Start talking with Amanda and Amber at the bar.  Amber instinctively says, "No, that isn't my stripper name.  It's my real name.  My stripper name is Autumn!"  They had a third friend who left as we arrived by pseudo-arguing with Amanda and Amber about whether or not they should all sleep naked.

16:52 - Tony, admiring a picture of a woman on Amanda's phone decides to show Sinickal, at which point Sinickal tells him, "That's not a woman, that's art".  It was a wooden sculpture.

16:53 - It turns out that Amanda is like us in that she just likes to go to Final Fours.  She has been going since 1998.  She pulls out a spread sheet with a complete list of Final Four parties.  Not the NCAA's events that you can find in a program or online, but of parties.  We will meet up with them later!  This is Amber's first.

16:54 - After finding out that we chronicle our trips on this blog, Amber exclaims, I am going to add to your blog with this story.  Turns out - she did.

16:56 - Amber isn't very girly when it comes to nail maintenance and other things, and she shows a picture of her feet so that Sinickal can tell her, "Yeah, that isn't open-toe worthy!".

17:16 - Leaving Mercury, a girl outfitted head-to-toe in Texas Tech girl stops Tony, dressed in his University of Texas shirt, to say "Congrats on the NIT; 69th best team in the country!".

17:27 - While taking a picture of the outside of the stadium, a shorter, older couple stands next to Sinickal to do the same thing.  While noting that people kept getting in their way, Sinickal tells her, "Well, I am significantly taller than you".  Thinking Sinickal might have undersold that line, Pepster says "I am not sure significantly is the proper adverb".  Lady responds, "Yes, it is!"

17:29 - Enter the stadium.  Stadium is at the concourse level and just walking into the door you can see that this place is amazing.  GREAT stadium.  Pepster tells the ticket-checker that this stadium looks amazing.  She says, "Thank you, I built it myself".

17:31 - They sell beer.  I repeat - THEY SELL BEER!!!  This is astounding.  This is the first year that has been allowed.  We remark that it is great that they sell beer.  The bartender asks us if we want red or white wine!

Mostly radio silence during the first game, except to say Pepster called out "First team to 50 wins" (That was Virginia, by the way).

17:59 - Once again in the beer line, lady behind us asks what did we order.  Pepster says, this is the best beer I have ever had at the Final 4.  She inquires again, "What is it?" Sinickal says, "Doesn't matter!"

19:09 - Stupidest foul in the history of fouls.  Dumb mistake, but you cannot make that foul.  Either way, it meant that Pepster was right, first team to 50 won.  Pepster proclaims the same rule for the second game.

19:26 - Sinickal asks a woman in a generic gray sweater why she wasn't reppin' her school (Michigan).  She replied that this is what the internet told me to wear when she googled "what to wear to a game when you have no rooting interest!"

Mostly radio silence during the second game.

20:55 - A Texas Tech alumna seeing Tony's Texas shirt asks him, "What do you do with an NIT Championship banner?"

21:23 - Sinickal to Dr. Pepper - "Welcome back, bruh - we missed you."

21:50 - Leave stadium with under 3 minutes to go because the game is over.

22:07 - Guy in Kentucky garb walking behind us is asked for which team he was cheering.  His response, "Alcohol."

22:09 - Pedicab driver on the sidewalk ringing his bell and saying "On your left".  After he says this roughly a dozen times, Sinickal tells him that it wouldn't be a problem if he was either on the street or moving faster than we were walking.  Girl in the back of the Pedicab yells out, "He can't help it, I'm a heavy bitch!"

22:15 - Enter the Pourhouse.  Great music, but we are twice as old as everyone there.  Still stuck around for a couple.

23:20 - Head to City Works to meet back up with Amanda and Amber.  They did not go to the game.  So, Amanda goes to the Final Four - just not the games.

23:27 - Head to Gluek's since City Works was apparently too busy to serve its customers.  We hope that we are not seeing a repeat of Houston.

24:31 - Guy wearing a shirt that says, "Good coaches win.  Great coaches cover!"

23:58 - Walking near a couple of people when Sinickal turns to Pepster and says, "Desperate people look at them to see what desperate looks like".

00:22 - Pizza Luce, because IT IS THE ONLY PLACE SERVING FOOD AFTER 11.  THERE ARE NO PLACES SERVING FOOD LATE IN THIS CITY!

00:28 - A really, REALLY uncoordinated couple from Michigan State in line in front of us at Pizza Luce are trying to floss.  One looks at Sinickal and asks, "Do you know how to floss?"  Sinickal responds, "Yeah, two years ago when people were doing it!"

00:51 - Table behind us is 5 early twenty-somethings that don't seem overserved, but definitely have been served this evening.  They get loud in their conversations every now and then.  Not obnoxious, but loud enough so we can hear parts of their stories.  Like this one from one of the ladies. "Sober sex is overrated!"

00:59 - Same table discussing whether or not some other lady is a lesbian, when one of the ladies offers the definitive statement.  "I think she's a lesbian because she has made out with me!"

01:10 - As we are quietly winding down and finishing our pizza, an older man - 70s or 80s, walks up to us and says, "Are you guys in a gang?"  Sinickal pretends not to hear so that he doesn't have to beat this guy up.

01:18 - Lyft home.

Final Four Chronicles - The Arrival

Friday, April 5

Yes, another travel entry.  Yes, your boys from WeMakeItRain are in for another fun-filled adventure at the Final Four.  Travelling with us are 3/4 of the usual suspects, Keyser Soze, Verbal Kint .... oh wait, wrong group.  Its Pepster, Sinickal and Tony.  We are without Hopps this year, and Allison and Racecar also decided to sit this one out.  We are not sure if Allison and Racecar just didn't find Minneapolis appealing, or if its us.  Probably both.  Joining us is Tony's friend Dr. Pepper from Providence by way of Boston.  Oh no, we have two people from Providence with us; there is no way that doesn't go wrong.  We will also have some guest appearances from friends and acquaintances, and likely new friends and acquaintances as well - as we are wont to do.  Unfortunately for you - the reader - the first full moon after the vernal equinox occurs late this year - so no really good puns about that.  As usual, all times are local.

April 4

20:32 - In Uber to airport, driver engages Pepster in conversation about where he is going.  When he says he is going to Minneapolis for the Final Four, she asks him if that is anything like the basketball league started by Ice Cube.  And then she follows with ... "I didn't really know much about him.  My mom listens to Ice Cube.  Yeah, apparently we are old.

21:59  Pepster wheels up to Minneapolis.  Only 2 obvious Final Four fans on the plane - one Michigan State and one Virginia - and they are sitting next to each other exactly one row behind Pepster.  This is going to be fun.

00:46 - Pepster arrives.

April 5

7:35 - Sinickal is in Denver awaiting his flight. Woman restocking Miller Lite in the Sky Club drops a six pack and breaks several bottles.  A guy walks over looking like he is going to help, picks a bottle off the floor that didn't break and starts drinking.

07:55 - Older Chatty Kathy sits next to Sinickal.  It's her first Final Four.  She asks Sinickal if he is a player, then a coach, then if he is going to the Final Four.  She figures out that this is not Sinickal's first Final Four.  Sinickal tells her, "This isn't even my first Final Four .... in Minneapolis."

8:12 - A lot of Texas Tech on Sinickal's flight out of Denver.

09:35 - Dr. Pepper at Logan, drinking coffee and watching the parade of yoga pants at the airport.  Tony notes that yoga pants are the greatest invention since, well ever.

09:46 - Dr. Pepper while still at Logan - and whom Pepster and Sinickal and have never met - texts the group about his arrival at 2.  "I'll be headed to the W Foshay.  Introductory drinks on me at 3?"

11:15 - Sinickal now in Minneapolis.  Walks to meet Pepster at the Intercontinental Hotel attached to the airport.

11:37 - We have a quorum.  Sinickal and Pepster sit down for lunch.

11:40 - Young woman sits near us at the bar wearing a UVA shirt.  Sinickal and Pepster congratulate her on the bounce back year after the biggest, well really 2 biggest, basketball upsets of all time.  She immediately questions her choice of seats, restaurants, and maybe even cities.  Then she begins at least pretending to do work so she can ignore us for the rest of lunch.  [Ed. Note - she was doing work.  Turns out she is a Professor at the University of Richmond]

11:45 - Dr Pepper wheels up to Minneapolis.

11:42  - Bartender Leah recommends a local craft beer for Pepster. Sinickal notes that he shouldn't start drinking yet, so he has a Bud Light.

13:25 -  Sinickal receives notice from Mike and Pete, the proprietors of the Best Dive Bar in America - The Elliott Street Pub in Downtown Atlanta - that they are painting beer cans for the EASTER BEER HUNT!!!  Sinickal remarks - despite Tony's previous assertion - this might be the greatest invention of all time.  Pepster is now mad that every other bar hasn't done this.

13:27 - We decide the the UVA young lady has done enough work, and Sinickal re-engages her in conversation by showing her the post of the painted beer cans.  She might just forgive our previous transgression - if only we could refrain from other UVA upset comments.

13:31 - Sinickal asks her if she was prepared for Virginia to underperform.

13:35 - She pretends to ignore us again.

13:37 - Pepster asks her if she follows UMBC on Twitter.

13:38 - She decides to actually join the conversation.  We introduce ourselves.  Her name is Lauren, she graduated from UVA and is waiting for her father to arrive - he is a UVA alumnus.

13:39 - Rest of the bar decides to join in our conversation.  Older guy who is in town for the Final Four because he thought North Carolina was going to be here - they aren't.  Other kid rooting for Auburn.  That's it.  We are now running this bar. 

13:48 - Leah, who lives downtown, gives us the run of her recommendations for food and drink downtown.  We are going to eat and drink like locals.

14:00 - Dr. Pepper joins the group at the Intercontinental at the airport - so much for the plans to meet at the W Foshay.

14:12 - Lauren - after hours of discussion about our respective alma maters and about 2 hours after Pepster pontificates about how Harvard would be in the Sweet Sixteen next year - and they will - decides to join our conversation on great college rivalries - casually throws out that she has a Masters and a Ph.D. from Yale.  Sinickal erupts ... "You just got GOT".  Dr. Pepper almost falls out of his chair.  Others in the bar laughing hysterically. Pepster could only applaud and gave her a hug.

14:17 - Lauren "Thanks for the Beer."

16:11 - Auburn guy - apparently embracing his Southern roots - talks about how he lived in a trailer park at Auburn, and that all the students do.

16:32 - Lauren - now fully engaged in the trash talk - mentions that we all went to amazing schools.  Turns to Auburn guy - "except for yours!"

16:30 - Lauren now talking more trash that the rest of us turns to Auburn guy - "Is it like a shit show on weekends?"

16:35 - Turns out  Lauren is going to the UVA party tonight at Mansion - which we are also.  We tell her we will see her and hope to meet her dad.

16:45 - Uber to the house.

16:54 - Dr. Pepper, on the phone with his friend taking roll call, "He's three dollars away from two dollars!"

17:30 - Cleaning up to go out for the night.  We feel it is a Southwestern Central type of night.  Stick 'em Scorpions.

18:30 - Tony wheels up to Minneapolis from JFK.

19:13 - While waiting for the Uber, Pepster enjoys the single swing hanging from the tree in the front yard.

19:44 - Dinner and drinks at Runyons, the dive/sports bar recommended by Leah.  Wings are good.

21:09 - Tony lands.

21:10 - Heading to Mansion - the UVA party.

21:14 - Meet up with Christian, Pepe's friend from North Palm Beach and a Virginia alumnus who was not going to miss this Final Four and is our host for the UVA party tonight.  Turns out this was a GREAT party!

21:27 - Run into Lauren and her father.  As her father introduces himself to us, he looks at Pepster and says, "So your the Harvard guy".

22:08 - Not surprisingly, nobody at the UVA party dances to the Wobble.

22:30 - Tony arrives at Mansion - WE ARE WHOLE!

22:58 - Last call at the bar - Christian triples everybody up (he really doubled everyone up but it looked like a lot on the table).  Dr. Pepper realizes Christian is a really good due.

00:40 - Uber back to the house - time to call it a night.

2019 NCAA Tournament Pool Standings - Elite 8/Day 2

Wow - oh wow!  So the greatness of Saturday's games continued through to Sunday's last two Elite 8 games.  All four of the quarterfinals were incredible, and the total point differential was 18.  In our first game, SEC rivals Auburn and Kentucky squared off in Kansas City for the right to go to the Final Four.  Auburn, behind 26 from Jared Harper and 24 from Bruce Brown overcame the loss of Chuma Ekeke to an ACL injury in the previous game to defeat the Wildcats 77-71 in overtime.  The Wildcats, who received 28 points and 13 rebounds from their All-American P.J. Washington, did not receive enough help from their freshman wings Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro, who combined for 21 points, but on 8-24 shooting.  Hopefully this convinces Herro to stay in school another year.  Congratulations to Auburn alumna Jenni Garrison, who was gracious enough to watch the game with me - despite me being a Kentucky fan.

And in the second game - DOWN GOES FRAZIER!!!  Our overwhelming favorite - the Duke Blue Devil - fell to the Big 10 champion Michigan State Spartans 68-67.  Zion Williamson scored 24 (with 14 rebounds) in the loss, to become the first freshman to score 100 points in the tournament since Derrick Rose in 2008 - and Rose played in 6 games as his Memphis Tigers lost in the championship game to the Kansas Jayhawks.  Much like Rose, Williamson will be going straight to the pros after his freshman year.  Michigan State was led by Big 10 Player of the Year Cassius Winston and his 20 points and 10 assists.  Incidentally, Duke haters often complain about how they feel referees favor the Blue Devils.  Ironically enough, it was the lack of fouls against Duke that ended up hurting them in the end, as they did not have enough fouls called on them to send Michigan State to the free throw line, costing time.  But, make no mistake about it, this was no fluke as Michigan State earned the win that narrowly escaped Virginia Tech and UCF.

Congratulations to Auburn and Michigan State.  See you in Minneapolis.

Today's history lesson came to me by virtue of a meandering mind that started with the state from above - Zion Williamson being the first freshman to score 100 points in a tournament since Derrick Rose.  That led me to an article that ranked the top freshman in NCAA history.  This Bleacher Report article had the following players listed:  (1) Carmelo Anthony - legendary run and NCAA Champion; (2) Kevin Durant - too recent for me to write about; (3) Pervis Ellison - already referenced him briefly this tournament; (4) Michael Beasley - too bizarre; (5) Chris Webber - also too recent, and I don't want to have to reference his failed time out; (6) Magic Johnson - too obvious; and (7) Wayman Tisdale - Perfect.  Rounding out the top 20 - Greg Oden, Kenny Anderson, Jason Kidd, Chris Jackson, Mark Aguirre, Omar Cook, Derrick Coleman, Patrick Ewing, Pete Padgett, Derick Rose, Bobby Hurley, Kevin Love and Luol Deng.  I don't want to see how long I have to read to get to Anthony Davis!!!!  (Hint - It is number 40 - RIDICULOUSLY LOW).

But, back to Wayman Tisdale.  Tisdale, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, went to the University of Oklahoma as a much-heralded recruit.  A 6'9", 245 pound power forward, Tisdale, averaged 24.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a freshman.  After his first season, Tisdale was named the Big Eight Conference Player of the Year, a title he would hold for all 3 of his seasons with the Sooners from 1982-1985.  He was also named to the A.P. All-America first team each of his three season with the Sooners, the first person in college history to hold that honor.  He also starred on the 1984 Olympic team that won the gold medal in Los Angeles.  Other stars on that team included Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Alvin Robertson and Sam Perkins.  Notable cuts from that team included Charles Barkley, Johnny Dawkins, John Stockton and Chuck Person - three of which I have written a bit about in this year's tournament summaries.  Barkley was cut despite being on of the two best players at the trials - along with Jordan - simply because of a personality conflict with head coach Bobby Knight.  Even Michael Jordan has said he would not have played had he known what Knight was going to act like.

Once again, back to Tisdale.  Leaving college after his junior year, the Indiana Pacers drafted Tisdale second overall, behind only Patrick Ewing.  Tisdale played 12 years in the NBA for 3 separate franchises before retiring after the 1997 season.

Tisdale was the first player in Oklahoma history - IN ANY SPORT - to have his number retired.  Blake Griffin later came along and received permission from the school to wear Tisdale's number 23, but only after asking Tisdale's blessing for his request first.   The annual freshman on the year award is called the Wayman Tisdale award.

What makes Tisdale interesting to me, however, is what he did after basketball.  Although an amazing basketball player, his first love was always music, and he was a talented jazz musician, playing primarily bass.  His first album, Power Forward, debuted in 1995, and he released 8 albums total, including Face to Face in 2001, which rose to number 1 on the Billboard contemporary jazz charts.

Unfortunately, in 2007, Tisdale fell down a flight of stairs in his home and broke his leg, which led to the finding of osteosarcoma in his knee.  In 2008, doctors amputated Tisdale's right leg, and eventually lost his battle to cancer on May 15, 2009 at the age of 44.  He "credits" Bobby Knight with helping to teach him how to fight - which he used to fight against the cancer.  I say "credits" because, well, let's just let Tisdale tell us in this quote from a 2008 story on ESPN.com...

"I had some coaches that literally didn't want me to make it, and on in particular was Bobby Knight.  At the time I frowned on that ... I look at it today that had I not persevered through a lot of the stuff he put me through, I probably wouldn't be here today.  I thank God for that dude because he pushed me."

Apparently Bobby Knight wasn't really that good of a guy.

If you enjoy jazz, especially contemporary jazz, check out Wayman's music.  He is fantastic.

So, back to the pool.  As you can imagine, yesterday's two games had a TREMENDOUS effect on our pool.  Duke was the most frequent choice as champion, and most of those that did not have them as champion had them advancing to the Final Four.  Kentucky (along with North Carolina in the Kansas City region) was a frequent choice to make the Final Four.  As you can see from the standings, many fewer entries have points they can win in the last two rounds.

Those that can - keep cheering for your selections.  We all know that literally anything can happen in the NCAA Tournament.  Although Marcus Jackson of Reston, Virginia is the highest ranking entry with Virginia as a champion, lurking not too far behind him is Ashley Poer #2 of Lake Worth, Florida, who has Virginia defeating Michigan State in the finals.  Adam Jorgensen of Jupiter, Florida is the highest ranking bracket that has Michigan State winning the championship, and he also has Virginia making the finals.  Nobody has Auburn or Texas Tech winning the championship.  But, 1 person did select Auburn into the Final 4.  For that, my cousin Michael Litsey of Los Angeles, California wins our "Pick of the Day" award.

"Winning" the pool by coming in last place is Cubbie Kroesen of Port St. Lucie, Florida.  The fact that Cubbie doesn't speak English, or human even for that matter, and has four legs may have hindered his basketball knowledge, but Cubbie at lease earns his money back.  Thanks for playing!!!!

Our champions - with the 2 remaining champions in bold are:  Duke, Florida, Florida State, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, Villanova, Virginia.

We have a new leader, who is also a past leader.  Measha Williams #3 of Houston, Texas has re-taken the lead, and is still eligible to earn more points as he has Virginia in the finals.  Second Place Carolyn Fowler of Greenacres, Florida no longer is eligible to score any points, and thus she is hoping for a Texas Tech - Auburn final.

Although I will be posting updated standings after the semi-finals and the finals, this will be the last breakdown, as we will be shifting to pseudo-live blogging our trip from Minneapolis beginning on Friday.

Feel free to double check your scores.  Let me know if you see a discrepancy.  Otherwise, enjoy the break week, and the Final 4!

1 - Measha Williams #3 - 116 - Gonzaga/Virginia

2 - Carolyn Fowler - 114 - Gonzaga/North Carolina

3 - Marcus Jackson - 110 - Virginia/Duke

4 - Ty Leatherman - 109 - Duke/Virginia

5 - Measha Williams #2 - 108 - Gonzaga/Virginia

6 - Steven Usma #3 - 106 - Kentucky/Duke

7 - Mac Kroesen - 105 - North Carolina/Duke

8 - Max Macon #2 - 104 - Tennessee/Michigan State

9 - Chris Kroesen - 103 - North Carolina/Michigan State

10 - Ashley Poer #2 - 101 - Virginia/Michigan State

       Justin Yung - 101 - Gonzaga/Virginia

12 - Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds - 100 - Kentucky/Michigan State

       Melanie Scherr - 100 - North Carolina/Duke

14 - Max Marion #2 - 99 - Duke/North Carolina

       Brittany Sosa #1 - 99 - Duke/North Carolina

        Steven Usma #5 - 101 - Virginia/Gonzaga

17 - Matt Hopps - 98 - Duke/North Carolina

18 - Steven Usma #4 - 97 - Duke/Kentucky

19 - Pepe Sosa - 95 - Kentucky/Michigan State

20 - Bill Ganoe #1 - 94 - North Carolina/Duke

       Steven Usma #1 - 94 - Duke/North Carolina

       Measha WIlliams #1 - 94 - Gonzaga/North Carolina

23 - Colonel Kareem Montague - 93 - Virginia/Duke

24 - Debbie Igdaloff Nieman - 92 - Duke/North Carolina

       Adam Jorgensen - 92 - Michigan State/Virginia

26 - Philip Kroesen - 91 - North Carolina/Duke
       Michael Litsey - 91 - Michigan/Virginia
       Max Macon #1 - 91 - Virginia/LSU

       Barkley Sosa - 91 - Kentucky/LSU

       Robert Tanen #2 - 91 - Gonzaga/Virginia

31 - Katie Kollmeyer - 90 - Tennessee/Duke

32 - Alyssa Ave - 89 - Purdue/Michigan

       Dan Barsky #2 - 89 - Duke/North Carolina

       Matt Nieman - 89 - Virginia/Gonzaga

       Chad Phillips - 89 - Florida State/North Carolina

       Wes Wiggins - 89 - Gonzaga/Virginia

       Amy Zdrowak - 89 - Duke/Virginia

38 - Coby Kroesen - 88 - North Carolina/Duke

39 - Max Macon #4 - 87 - Duke/Houston
       Sean McInerney - 87 - Duke/North Carolina
       Dave Piasecki #2 - 87 - Florida/North Carolina
       Annette Pritchard #2 - 87 - Duke/North Carolina
       Harrington Wax III - 87 - North Carolina/Michigan State

44 - Dan Barsky #1 - 86 - Gonzaga/North Carolina

       Duncan Merchant - 86 - Duke/Houston

       Steven Usma #2 - 86 - Virginia/Michigan State

47 - Brian Hinaman - 85 - Duke/North Carolina

48 - Scott Bieterman - 84 - Duke/Kentucky
       Paul Cummings - 84 - North Carolina/Duke

       Dave Piasecki #1 - 84 - Florida/Kentucky

51 - Karen Katz - 83 - Gonzaga/Houston

       Mango Merchant - 83 - Gonzaga/Virginia

       Silas Nichols - 83 - North Carolina/Michigan

       Allison Parker - 83 - Kentucky/Michigan
       Annette Pritchard - 83 - Gonzaga/North Carolina

       Joshua Zdrowak - 83 - North Carolina/Michigan

57 - Alvaro Gonzalez - 82 - Duke/Tennessee

       Max Marion - 82 - Duke/Virginia

       William Pujals - 82 - Duke/North Carolina

       George Walks #2 - 82 - North Carolina/Duke

61 - Kyle Sheehan - 81 - Duke/Kentucky

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 81 - Virginia/Michigan State

63 - Jonathan Wasserman - 80 - North Carolina/Duke

64 - Dana Mandelbaum - 79 - North Carolina/Duke

       Brittany Sosa #2 - 79 - Gonzaga/Virginia
       Krystal Travers - 79 - Kansas State/Florida State

67 - Jacey Fowler #1 - 78 - Villanova/Texas Tech

       Ashley Poer #1 - 78 - Duke/Tennessee

       Rich Samuels #2 - 78- North Carolina/LSU
       Mike Zachary - 78 - Duke/North Carolina

71 - Glen Merchant - 77 - Duke/Houston
       John Santucci - 77 - Kansas/Michigan
       George Walks #4 - 77 - Duke/Virginia

74 - Jacey Fowler #2 - 76 - North Carolina/Florida State

       Hilary Kroesen 76 - Kentucky/Gonzaga

       Martha Kroesen - 76 - Gonzaga/North Carolina
       Jason Spuhler - 76 - Duke/North Carolina
       Jeremy Spuhler - 76 - Tennessee/LSU

79 - Arlene Amo Hopps - 75 - Villanova/Virginia Tech

       Skip LaForte - 75 - Michigan State/North Carolina

       Max Macon #3 - 75 - Gonzaga/Kentucky
       Cheryl Spuhler - 75 - Duke/Tennessee

83 - Jenna Finkelstein - 74 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Eric Inge - 74 - Duke/North Carolina
       Samantha Sheehan - 74 - Duke/Tennessee

86 - Scott Hansel - 73 - Duke/Kentucky
       Anthony LaPira - 73 - Duke/Tennessee
       Chris Petit - 73 - North Carolina/Duke
       Jane Reynolds - 73 - Duke/Kentucky
       George Walks #3 - 73 - Florida State/Kentucky

91 - Sasha Moon - 72 - Duke/Tennessee
       Traci Sheehan - 72 - Michigan State/Tennessee
       Michael Spicer - 72 - North Carolina/Buffalo
       George Walks #5 - 72 - Gonzaga/North Carolina

95 - Bill Ganoe #2 - 71 - Gonzaga/North Carolina
       James Garvin - 71 - Duke/Virginia
       Jeff Pamondon - 71 - Duke/Tennessee
       Rich Samuels #1 - 71 - Duke/Kentucky
       Meredith Tanen - 71 - Gonzaga/Virginia

100 - Josh and Katie Zdrowak - 70- North Carolina/Duke

101 - Hannah Sosa - 69 - Virginia/Duke

102 - Rachel Bornn - 68 - Duke/Kentucky

         Edy Pecan - 68 - Syracuse/Kentucky

104 - Robert Hosmer - 67 - Duke/Virginia

105 - Jordyn Sheehan - 66 - Duke/Tennessee

         Robert Tanen #1 - 66 - Florida State/North Carolina

107 - Luis Briones - 65 - Duke/Villanova

         Jean Calixte - 65 - Duke/North Carolina
         Kingfish Rod Parham - 65 - Duke/Tennessee

        George Walks #1 - 65 - Kansas/Duke

111 - Griffey Parker - 64 - Houston/Duke

         Abigail Sosa - 64 - Tennessee/Duke

113- Tara Elliott - 63 - North Carolina/Duke

114 - David Olson - 62 - North Carolina/Duke

115 - Liz Carew - 61 - Kentucky/Duke

         Hilary Kroesen #2 - 61 - Kansas/Marquette

         Ira Schulteis - 61 - Duke/North Carolina

118 - Jessica Samuels - 60 - Virginia/Gonzaga

119 - Jennifer Armstrong - 59 - Duke/Wisconsin

120 - Kline Kroesen - 58 - North Carolina/Michigan

121 - Katie Zdrowak - 56 - Duke/Tennessee

122 - Keith Zdrowak - 48 - Duke/North Carolina

123 - Cubbie Kroesen - 47 - Kentucky/Marquette