2022 NCAA Tournament Pool - Elite 8/Day 2

The Road to New Orleans is set, with Kansas, Duke, Villanova and North Carolina all set to play in the Final Four.  I don't know that I have too much to say today as the games yesterday were just utterly awful.  Horrible.  A travesty, a sham, a mockery of the game.  A traveshamockery. 

I honestly calculated the scores yesterday, but just couldn't figure out what to say about the day.  Not sure that I have figured it out yet today, but you all deserve to at least see the standings, so I will give it the old college try, which is more than I can say about Miami and St. Peter's.

First of all, nobody picked North Carolina in the Final Four (or St. Peter's for that matter), so the only game of consequence was the Kansas-Miami bout.  We actually did have 2 entries with Miami in the Final Four, but that did not come to fruition, and I do not award an "Almost Selection of the Day" award.  Given that Kansas was a 1 seed, it wouldn't have been a stretch for the half or so of us that had them in the Final Four, so I am just going to not give the award.  I will just say that if you had Kansas, you made up some ground, if you did not, you lost some ground, and leave it at that.  The top of the standings stayed mostly the same with Day Yi 2 of Forest Hills, New York, and Jeremy Spuhler of St. Petersburg, Florida, remaining in first and second place respectively, but we have a new entrant in third place, as Dawn Lamb (Keith) of Delray Beach, Florida has risen into the show position.

I point out that since nobody selected North Carolina the North Carolina/St. Peter's game had no consequences in our pool, but it sure did for the bookmakers, especially in New Jersey.  See, a New Jersey law does not allow the Jersey books to accept bets on games involving New Jersey schools, and an additional law requires that all futures bets have a winner.  So, anybody that made a future bet on North Carolina to win the eastern bracket would have paid out EVEN IF ST. PETER'S WON THE GAME.  As it turns out, St. Peter's was not an option, and North Carolina advanced the furthest in the tournament in that quadrant.  I thank my friend Todd Betzag of Tampa, Florida (not in the pool) for circulating the story, which can be found, HERE.  The article also mentions just how much money sports books stood to lose on a St. Peter's victory.

Our champions list remains the same, with only Kansas in play today.  Our champions are: Auburn, Arizona, Baylor, DUKE, Gonzaga, Illinois, KANSAS, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas Tech, VILLANOVA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin.

Since the games were SOOOOOO bad yesterday, my heart just really isn't in it to add a history section.  I try my best to let the outcome of the games, or a play, or player, or team dictate what story I bring forth in this write-up, and I really hope the connection between on the court and the tournament memories are understandable, or at least you can see them.  Today, I feel like if I wrote anything about North Carolina, Kansas, Miami or St. Peter's, it would just seem forced.

But, you all deserve something for putting up with my updates (hell, for just reading the rules), so in lieu of a story, I am just going to ask a tournament trivia question, which was posited to me by Silas Nichols of Washington, D.C. (answer to come in the next update, or maybe just later this week).  And, if I get enough responses via comments on the blog, I may make this a regular/semi-regular addition to the update.

Three people have won the NCAA basketball championship as both a player and a coach.  Can you name them?

As far as on the Court ...

Players of the Day

Honorable Mention.  Justin Moore, Villanova - He didn't play yesterday, but the official news of his torn Achilles might have more effect on the Final Four than anything that did happen yesterday.  His surgery reportedly went well according to Villanova Coach Jay Wright.

5.  K.C. Ndefo, St. Peter's - Ndefo finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 6 blocks.  That is filling up the stat sheet for a team that lost 69-49 (and it wasn't that close).

4.  Brady Manek, North Carolina - Finished with 19 points (on 7-11 shooting, including 4-6 from three-point range) and 8 rebounds, even chipping in 1 assist in North Carolina's victory.

5.  Ochai Agbaji, Kansas - Another stat sheet stuffing performance by the first-team All-American as he scored a game-high 18 points, had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

2.  Armando Bacot, North Carolina - Scored 20 points and had 22 rebounds.  22!!!

1.  Christian Pulisic, USMNT - Scored a hat trick as the US Men's National Team annihilated Panama 5-1 and put the national team on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup.  So long as the US loses by 5 goals or better against Costa Rica on Wednesday night (or ties or wins the game), the US will qualify for Qatar.

Stats of the Day

5.  K.C. Ndefo from St. Peter's had 6 blocks, giving him 14 for the tournament.  Ndefo is 6'7", 195.  By contrast, Mark Williams from Duke has 16 blocks in the tournament and he is 7'1", 245.

4.  Kansas outscored Miami 47-15 in the second half!

3.  The four schools in the Final Four have won 9 of the last 20 titles!  (Duke - 3, North Carolina - 3, Villanova - 2, Kansas -1)

2.  Armando Bacot of North Carolina had 22 rebounds!!!

1.  Christian Pulisic had a hat trick against Panama, scoring 3 of the 5 goals for the US.

Best Social Media Posts

2.  Bill Walton on twitter (possibly - or I just made it up) - This game is HORRIBLE!!!

1.  Charles Barkley on twitter (possible - or I just made it up - Just TURRIBLE!

STANDINGS

Remember, please double-check your scores, and let me know if you think I made a mistake.

1.  Day Yi 1 - 105 - DUKE/ VILLANOVA

2.  Jeremy Spuhler - 93 - DUKE/Auburn

3.  Dawn Lamb (Keith) - 92 - KANSAS/DUKE

4.  Javier Rodriguez 2 - 91 - Gonzaga/Arizona

5.  Bill Ganoe 3 - 87 - Arizona/Gonzaga

6.  George Fox 1 - 84 - Gonzaga/Iowa

     Jeff Plamondon 1 - 84 - KANSAS/Kentucky

8.  John Hopps - 80 - Baylor/KANSAS

     George Walks 2 - 80 - Arizona/Gonzaga

10.  Sean McInerney 2 - 79 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Allison Parker - 79 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       George Walks 1 - 71 - Arizona/Purdue

13.  Rich Samuels 1 - 78 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

       Jonathan Wasserman - 78 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Justin Yung - 78 - DUKE/Auburn

16.  Colonel Kareem Montague - 77 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Ron Stewart - 77 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Josh Zdrowak - 77 - Arizona/Baylor

19.  Scott Bieterman 1 - 76 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Alyssa Hopps - 76 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 76- VILLANOVA/Purdue

       Scott Kroesen - 76 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Jessica Samuels - 76 - DUKE/Auburn  

       Mike Wolff - 76 - Gonzaga/Arizona

25.  Bill Ganoe 1 - 75 - Baylor/Arizona

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 75 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

27.  Justine Frank - 74 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Silas Nichols - 74 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Ryan Rodriguez - 74 - Baylor/Auburn

       Steven Usma 1 - 74 - Arizona/Gonzaga

31.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 73 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Mac Kroesen - 73 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 3 - 73 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

34.  Guy Hughes - 72 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Blake Jackson - 72 - Kentucky/VILLANOVA

       Chris Simmons - 72 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

37.  Quinn Jackson - 71 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Sean McInerney 1 - 71 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Brian McMahon - 71 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 71 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 4 - 71 - KANSAS/DUKE

42.  Braeden Helland 3 - 70 - KANSAS/Alabama

       Javier Rodriguez 3 - 70 - Arizona/Gonzaga

44.  Rachel Bornn - 69 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Mark Holbert - 69 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Chris Kroesen - 69 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

47.  Paul Cummings 1 - 68 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Larry Green - 68 - Arizona/Gonzaga

        Kevin Kroesen - 68 - Gonzaga/Auburn

        Hannah Sosa - 68 - Auburn/Baylor

        Steven Usma 2 - 68 - Gonzaga/Arizona

        Amy Zdrowak - 68 - Auburn/DUKE

53.  Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 67 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Jacey Fowler 1 -67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Kline Kroesen - 67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Glen Merchant - 67 - Arizona/Purdue

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 67 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Bubba Zdrowak - 67 - KANSAS/Texas

59.  Bill Ganoe 2 - 66 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Steph Stewart - 66 - VILLANOVA/Kentucky

61.  Jen Armstrong - 65 - Wisconsin/Kentucky

       Dawn Lamb (Colbie) - 65 - KANSAS/Texas Tech

       Rich Samuels 4 - 65 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Brandon Satterwhite - 65 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Jamie Toole - 65 - Arizona/Baylor

66.  Brian Hinaman - 64 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Philip Kroesen - 64 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Annette Pritchard - 64 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Annette Pritchard 2 - 64 - Baylor/KANSAS

       Rich Samuels 3 - 64 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

       Keith Zdrowak - 64 - Arizona/Baylor

72.  Gracie Kroesen - 63 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Dawn Lamb - 63 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Kisha Marzouca 1 - 63 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Sean McInerney 3 - 63 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Barkley Sosa - 63 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Pepe Sosa 2 - 63 - Gonzaga/Arizona

      Katie Zdrowak - 63 - DUKE/KANSAS

79.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 62 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Matt Hopps - 62 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Edith Pecan - 62 - Virginia Tech/LSU

82.  Braeden Helland 1 - 61 - Tennessee/Baylor

       Braeden Helland 2 - 61 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Dan Laishley - 61 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Ty Leatherman - 61 - DUKE/Arizona

       Sasha Moon - 61 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 61 - Kentucky/Auburn

       George Walks 4 - 61 - Gonzaga/Arizona

89.  Scott Bieterman 2 - 60 - Arizona/Purdue

       George Fox 2 - 60 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Alvaro Gonzalez - 60 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Adam Jorgensen - 60 - Gonzaga/Iowa

       Jeff Kroesen - 60 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Amanda Staudt - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

95.  Paul Cummings 2 - 59 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Marcus Jackson - 59 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Emily Lawson 2- 59 - Gonzaga/Arizona

98.  Dawn Lamb (Mitch) - 58 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Emily Lawson 1 - 58 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

100.  Daniel Barsky - 57 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         George Fox 3 - 57 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Eric Inge - 57 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         Dave Marzouca 2 - 57 - Gonzaga/Auburn

         Nancy McInerney - 57 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

105.  Jenna Finkelstein - 56 - Auburn/Texas Tech

         Hilary Kroesen - 56 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

         Martha Kroesen - 56 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

         Emily Lawson 3 - 56 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         George Walks 3 - 56 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

110.  Jim Coleman - 55 - Arizona/Kentucky

        Carolyn Fowler - 55 - Arizona/Gonzaga

        Jane Reynolds - 55 - Auburn/Baylor

        William Pujals - 55 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

114.  Kisha Marzouca 2 - 54 - Baylor/Auburn

115.  Jonathan Cox - 53 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

        James Garvin - 53 - DUKE/Arizona

        ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 1 - 53 - Arizona/Texas Tech

        Katie Kollmeyer - 53 - Gonzaga/Auburn

        Ashley Poer 2 - 53 - Kentucky/Arizona

120.  Dave Piasecki 2 - 52 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Carl Walker - 52 - Gonzaga/Auburn

122.  James Davis - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

        Miles Jackson - 51 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

124.  Jacey Fowler - 50 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Chris LaForte 1 - 50 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

126.  Dave Marzouca 1 - 49 - Texas Tech/Auburn

         Matt Nieman - 49 - Arizona/Gonzaga

128.  ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 2 - 47 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

         Chris LaForte 2 - 47 - Michigan State/Tennessee

         Brittany Sosa - 47 - Gonzaga/Iowa

131.  Rich Samuels 2 - 45 - Kentucky/Iowa

         Jason Spuhler - 45 - DUKE/Auburn

133.  Dave Marzouca 3 - 44 - Arizona/Kentucky

         Jeff Plamondon 2 - 44 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

135.  Scott Bieterman 3 - 43 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Kingfish Parham - 43 - Gonzaga/Arizona

137.  Kisha Marzouca 3 - 42 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

138.  Randy Pacheco - 34 - Gonzaga/Arizona

139.  Ashley Poer 1 - 33 - Gonzaga/Iowa

140.  Dawn Lamb (Quarter) - 30 - Texas Tech/Iowa

141.  Day Yi 2 - 28 - Gonzaga/Auburn

2022 NCAA Tournament Pool - Elite 8/Day 1

 

Even with both favorites winning yesterday, there was not a lot of movement in yesterday's pool, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any changes.  Basically, if you had either Duke or Villanova, you blasted up the standings.  If you scored 0 points yesterday, you dropped.  Pretty simple.  I say either Duke or Villanova, because only Day Yi 2 of Forest Hills, New York, Jeremy Spuhler of St. Petersburg, Florida, Jessica Samuels of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and Steph Stewart of Miami, Florida had BOTH Duke and Villanova advancing to the Final Four.  Yes, you did just read Day Yi 2, so yes the rich get richer, or, the lead get leadierer (I want credit if this word ever catches on).  So Day Yi not only remains in first place, he increases his lead!  Jeremy Spuhler sits in second place, and cheering for every underdog from here forward is George Fox 1 of West Palm Beach, Florida, who is currently in third place, but can no longer earn any points.  So, for picking both Duke and Villanova when almost everyone else selected Gonzaga and Arizona, Day Yi 2, Jeremy Spuhler, Jessical Samuels and Steph Stewart earn the "Selection of the Day" Awards.  

Our champions list remains the same, with only Kansas in play today.  Our champions are: Auburn, Arizona, Baylor, DUKE, Gonzaga, Illinois, KANSAS, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas Tech, VILLANOVA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin.

As far as on the Court ...

Players of the Day

5.  Taze Moore, Houston - Led the Cougars with 15 points and 10 rebounds, along with 3 steals.  Fifteen points isn't ordinarily a lot, but when the game ends 50-44, then 15 points is commendable.

4.  A.J. Griffin, Duke - Scored 18 points to lead the Blue Devils, on 7-9 shooting, 2-3 from three point range, and hit a key three as it looked like Arkansas was trying to make a game of it by cutting a double-digit lead to 5 points. 

3.  Jermaine Samuels, Villanova - The wing was the best player on the Court in the Villanova-Houston game, and he scored 16 points to go with 10 rebounds to pace the Wildcats.

2.  Jaylin Williams, Arkansas - Williams received almost no help from anyone on the Razorbacks and finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.  Numbers might have been higher if he hadn't been forced to the bench with 5 minutes left in the first half because of his second foul.

1.  Mark Williams, Duke - Easily the best player of the day, or more accurately the most dominating.  He controlled the game in the paint, on both ends of the floor.  He finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and countless other altered shots.

Stats of the Day

5.  J.D. Notae from Arkansas had 5 fouls.  With the Razorbacks best player on the bench having fouled out, there was no chance Arkansas could even think about a comeback.  Even though Notae still played 35 minutes, they were largely ineffective as he could not be his normal relentless self for most of the game, and it showed.

4.  Mark Williams of Duke won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award in this, his sophomore season.  But, his sister Elizabeth Williams also played at Duke and was first team All-ACC 4 times, Conference Defensive Player of the Year twice, and NCAA Defensive Player of the Year once.  She is 9th in NCAA history in total blocks.

3.  Jaylin Williams of Arkansas led the NCAA with 54 charges drawn this year.  This includes two that he drew in the first half last night.

2.  The shooting percentage in the Houston-Villanova game was atrocious:  Houston shot 29.8% from the field (17-57); Villanova shot a worse 28.8% (15-52) for a combined 29.3% (32-109).  This is just horrible, and Villanova won despite shooting so poorly.

I remember a while ago, 1985 to be exact, when Villanova shot much, much better from the field.  (And you thought you were going to get through this without a bit of tournament history.)  Villanova had some talent in starters Ed Pinckney, Harold Pressley, Gary McClain and Dwayne McClain, and with sharpshooter Harold Jensen coming off the bench.  But, this team was way undersized, with Pinckney the center only 6'9", and not very deep, with only Jensen playing meaningful minutes off the bench.  Villanova entered the tournament as an 8 seed - and to this day is the lowest seeded tournament to ever win the tournament.

In the first round, Villanova played 9th seeded Dayton, and won 51-49 behind Pinckney's 20 points.  The fought another close game in the second round, narrowly defeating the number 1 seed Michigan Wolverines with Roy Tarpley, Gary Grant and Richard Rellford, 59-55, this time led by Dwayne McClain's 20 points.  Things stayed tough in the Sweet Sixteen, but Villanova outlasted the Maryland Terrapins 46-43, with Ed Pinckney leading the way with 16 points, but more importantly holding Len Bias to only 8 points.  The Elite 8 was easier as Villanova defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 56-44 to earn a trip to the Final Four in Lexington, Kentucky, where they joined two other Big East Conference foes, Georgetown and St. John's.  North Carolina received 17 points and 12 rebounds from Brad Daugherty and 5 assists from Kenny Smith, but just couldn't match the four players in double figures for Villanova, led by Harold Pressley's 15.

In the Final Four, Villanova met the Memphis Tigers led by Keith Lee (the same Keith Lee from a previous update in this year's tournament), and won 52-45.  Dwayne McClain's 19 led the Wildcats into the championship game against a powerful Georgetown Hoyas team that not only was the defending champions, but had also defeated Villanova twice already that year.  Georgetown was led by Patrick Ewing, but had plenty of other talent around him in the forms of Reggie Williams, David Wingate, Michael Jackson and Horace Broadnax - one of the best names in college basketball history.  The Hoyas played pretty well in the finals with all 5 starters scoring at least 8 points (and four in double digits), led by David Wingate's 16, but the fell to Villanova 66-64 because VILLANOVA SHOT 78.6% FROM THE FIELD!!!  78.6!!!!  Dwayne McClain scored 16, Ed Pinckney scored 16 and Gary McClain and Harold Jensen didn't miss a shot in scoring 8 and 14 respectively!

Villanova's 1985 shooting percentage in this game is still the highest single-game shooting percentage in the tournament, and it just happened to occur in the championship!

Pinckney was named the Most Outstanding Player and was drafted 10th in the first round of the NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.  After playing in the NBA for 12 seasons.  Harold Pressley was the 17th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings where he played for 4 seasons, before playing several more overseas.  Dwayne McClain was a second-round pick by the Phoenix Suns, where he played 2 seasons, before playing 10 more overseas in 4 different leagues.  Harold Jensen was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Cavaliers but never played a game in the NBA and only played once season professionally.  Gary McClain was drafted in the 7th round by the New Jersey Nets, but never played a professional game.  McClain was the subject of a famous Sports Illustrated article in 1987 in which he admitted that he had been doing drugs since junior high school and started doing cocaine at Villanova.  He admitted to doing cocaine at the Final Four, but was adamant that he played the championship game clean.

The most famous member of that Villanova Wildcat team was easily its coach, Rollie Massimino.  Massimino continued to coach at Villanova until 1992, was the head coach at UNLV from 1992-1994, at Cleveland State from 1996-2003, and at Northwood University (down the street from me actually), which was sold to and became Keiser University 2006-2017.  Massimino was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.  He died in West Palm Beach, Florida, in August 2017.

1.  Duke went on an 8-0 run in the last 2:00 minutes of the first half to take a 45-33 lead into halftime before winning the game 78-69.  Coincidentally, Jaylin Williams of Arkansas was on the bench with 2 fouls during the entire run.

Best Social Media Posts

2.  Grayson Allen is going to be tripping all over himself to try to get to the Final Four in New Orleans. - Nobody on social media (I just made it up), but I just felt a good Grayson Allen tripping joke was in order.

1.  Sean Farnham of ESPN on Twitter about the Villanova-Arkansas 50-44 game.  "I can't wait to watch the second half of this battle!"

STANDINGS

Onto the standings, and remember, please double-check your scores, and let me know if you think I made a mistake.

1.  Day Yi 1 - 105 - DUKE/ VILLANOVA

2.  Jeremy Spuhler - 93 - DUKE/Auburn

3.  George Fox 1 - 84 - Gonzaga/Iowa

     Dawn Lamb (Keith) - 84 - KANSAS/DUKE

5.  Javier Rodriguez 2 - 83 - Gonzaga/Arizona

6.  Bill Ganoe 3 - 79 - Arizona/Gonzaga

7.  Jonathan Wasserman - 78 - Arizona/Kentucky

     Justin Yung - 78 - DUKE/Auburn

9.  Colonel Kareem Montague - 77 - Arizona/Gonzaga

10.  Scott Bieterman 1 - 76 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Scott Kroesen - 76 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Jeff Plamondon 1 - 76 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Jessica Samuels - 76 - DUKE/Auburn  

14.  Bill Ganoe 1 - 75 - Baylor/Arizona

15.  Justine Frank - 74 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Silas Nichols - 74 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Ryan Rodriguez - 74 - Baylor/Auburn

18.  Steven Usma 3 - 73 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

19.  John Hopps - 72 - Baylor/KANSAS

       Blake Jackson - 72 - Kentucky/VILLANOVA

       George Walks 2 - 72 - Arizona/Gonzaga

22.  Sean McInerney 2 - 71 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Brian McMahon - 71 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Allison Parker - 71 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 71 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

       George Walks 1 - 71 - Arizona/Purduen

27.  Rich Samuels 1 - 70 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

28.  Ron Stewart - 69 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Josh Zdrowak - 69 - Arizona/Baylor

30.  Alyssa Hopps - 68 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 68- VILLANOVA/Purdue

       Kevin Kroesen - 68 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Hannah Sosa - 68 - Auburn/Baylor

       Mike Wolff - 68 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Amy Zdrowak - 60 - Auburn/DUKE

36.  Kline Kroesen - 67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 67 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

39.  Bill Ganoe 2 - 66 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Steph Stewart - 66 - VILLANOVA/Kentucky

       Steven Usma 1 - 66 - Arizona/Gonzaga

42.  Jen Armstrong - 65 - Wisconsin/Kentucky

       Brent Bellinger 2 - 65 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Mac Kroesen - 65 - Arizona/Gonzaga

45.  Brian Hinaman - 64 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Guy Hughes - 64 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Chris Simmons - 64 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Keith Zdrowak - 64 - Arizona/Baylor

49.  Quinn Jackson - 55 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Sean McInerney 1 - 63 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Barkley Sosa - 63 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Steven Usma 4 - 63 - KANSAS/DUKE

53.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 62 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Braeden Helland 3 - 62 - KANSAS/Alabama

       Matt Hopps - 62 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Edith Pecan - 62 - Virginia Tech/LSU

       Javier Rodriguez 3 - 62 - Arizona/Gonzaga

58.  Rachel Bornn - 61 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Braeden Helland 2 - 61 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Mark Holbert - 61 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Chris Kroesen - 61 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Ty Leatherman - 61 - DUKE/Arizona

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 61 - Kentucky/Auburn

64.  Scott Bieterman 2 - 60 - Arizona/Purdue

       Paul Cummings 1 - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       George Fox 2 - 60 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Larry Green - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Adam Jorgensen - 60 - Gonzaga/Iowa

       Jeff Kroesen - 60 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Amanda Staudt - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 2 - 60 - Gonzaga/Arizona

72.  Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 59 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Jacey Fowler 1 -59 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Marcus Jackson - 59 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Glen Merchant - 59 - Arizona/Purdue

       Bubba Zdrowak - 59 - KANSAS/Texas

77.  Eric Inge - 57 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Dawn Lamb (Colbie) - 57 - KANSAS/Texas Tech

       Dave Marzouca 2 - 57 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Rich Samuels 4 - 57 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Brandon Satterwhite - 57 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Jamie Toole - 57 - Arizona/Baylor

83.  Jenna Finkelstein - 56 - Auburn/Texas Tech

       Hilary Kroesen - 56 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

       Martha Kroesen - 56 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Philip Kroesen - 56 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Annette Pritchard - 56 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Annette Pritchard 2 - 56 - Baylor/KANSAS

       Rich Samuels 3 - 56 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

90.  Jim Coleman - 55 - Arizona/Kentucky

      Carolyn Fowler - 55 - Arizona/Gonzaga

      Gracie Kroesen - 55 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

      Dawn Lamb - 55 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

      Kisha Marzouca 1 - 55 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

      Sean McInerney 3 - 55 - KANSAS/Kentucky

      Jane Reynolds - 55 - Auburn/Baylor

      Pepe Sosa 2 - 55 - Gonzaga/Arizona

      Katie Zdrowak - 55 - DUKE/KANSAS

99.  Jonathan Cox - 53 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       James Garvin - 53 - DUKE/Arizona

       Braeden Helland 1 - 53 - Tennessee/Baylor

       Katie Kollmeyer - 53 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Dan Laishley - 53 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Sasha Moon - 53 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Ashley Poer 2 - 53 - Kentucky/Arizona

       George Walks 4 - 53 - Gonzaga/Arizona

107.  Alvaro Gonzalez - 52 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

         Dave Piasecki 2 - 52 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Carl Walker - 52 - Gonzaga/Auburn

110.  Paul Cummings 2 - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

        James Davis - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

        Miles Jackson - 51 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

        Emily Lawson 2- 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

114.  Chris LaForte 1 - 50 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Dawn Lamb (Mitch) - 50 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Emily Lawson 1 - 50 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

117.  Daniel Barsky - 49 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         George Fox 3 - 49 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Dave Marzouca 1 - 49 - Texas Tech/Auburn

         Nancy McInerney - 49 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

         Matt Nieman - 49 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         George Walks 3 - 48 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

123.  ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 2 - 47 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

         Chris LaForte 2 - 47 - Michigan State/Tennessee

         William Pujals - 47 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

         Brittany Sosa - 47 - Gonzaga/Iowa

127.  Kisha Marzouca 2 - 46 - Baylor/Auburn

         ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 1 - 45 - Arizona/Texas Tech

         Rich Samuels 2 - 45 - Kentucky/Iowa

         Jason Spuhler - 45 - DUKE/Auburn

131.  Dave Marzouca 3 - 44 - Arizona/Kentucky

         Jeff Plamondon 2 - 44 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

133.  Scott Bieterman 3 - 43 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Kingfish Parham - 43 - Gonzaga/Arizona

135.  Jacey Fowler - 42 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Kisha Marzouca 3 - 42 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

137.  Emily Lawson 3 - 40 - Arizona/Gonzaga

138.  Randy Pacheco - 34 - Gonzaga/Arizona

139.  Ashley Poer 1 - 33 - Gonzaga/Iowa

140.  Dawn Lamb (Quarter) - 30 - Texas Tech/Iowa

141.  Day Yi 2 - 28 - Gonzaga/Auburn

2022 NCAA Tournament Pool - Sweet Sixteen/Day 2

So, yesterday was National Peacock Day.  No, seriously.  So, of course, the St. Peter's Peacocks play Purdue, and beat Purdue, to advance to the Elite 8.  I mean, this team is the Cock of the Walk.  Seriously running around Peacocking all over the NCAA Tournament.  With this many bad puns, it is probably a good thing that they didn't play South Carolina!!!

What is St. Peter's, and how on earth have they - as a 15 seed - advanced to the Sweet 16?  They are the only 15th seed to win a Sweet Sixteen game.  Well, it probably starts with the coach.  Their Coach is Shaheen Holloway ...

Holloway was a high school All-American playing for St. Patrick's in Elizabeth City, New Jersey.  During his senior year, Holloway averaged 22.5 points, 9.1 assists, and an amazing 5.3 steals per game.  He finished his St. Patrick's career with 2,151 points, 727 assists, and 520 steals.  He was named second team Parade All American and selected to play in the McDonald's All-American game in 1996, where he was the starting point guard for the east team.  In the game he scored 7 points, had 8 assists and 6 steals, leading the east team to victory.  He was named the games Most Valuable Player, over other star players such as Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, Richard Hamilton, Tim Thomas, and Ed Cota.  AND THAT WAS JUST FROM THE EAST SQUAD!!!  The West team was headlined by Mateen Cleaves, Mike Bibby, Loren Woods, Jason Collier and Lester Earl.  (Seriously, check out just the point guards on those teams - Holloway, Cota, Bibby and Cleaves - ridiculous!)

Holloway attended Seton Hall over offers from California, Duke and Georgia Tech.  After enrolling, he immediately started for the Pirates, and averaged 17.3 points per game (5th in the Big East behind the likes of Victor Page from Georgetown, Pat Garrity of Notre Dame, Austin Croshere and Derrick Brown from Providence), with 6.3 assists per game (3rd in the conference behind Admore White of Notre Dame [6.7] and Providence's God Shammgod, [6.6] who is a whole separate posting in himself) and second in steals per game at 2.8 (tied with Jason Hart of Syracuse just behind Kelli Taylor of Pittsburgh.)  He was named to the conference All-Rookie team and was named Second Team All Conference.  Interestingly, the Conference Rookie of the Year Award went to Tim Thomas of Villanova, despite scoring less, having less assists.

His stats stagnated his sophomore year, but he still led the Big East in assists per game at 6.5, scored 15 points per game and was named Third Team All-Big East.  His statistics did plummet his junior year - leading some to suspect he might have been playing injured - but he still finished second in the conference in assists per game at 5.0, behind Vernon Jennings from Miami.  He rebounded his senior year averaging 13.2 points per game, 5.6 assists per game (fifth in the conference, behind Vernon Jennings, Jason Hart from Syracuse and Jimmy Dillon from Notre Dame), and even chipped in 5.1 rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game to be named Most Improved Player in the conference and Second Team All-Big East.  He led his team to a 22-9 record and a 10th seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Pirates, then coached by now Harvard coach Tommy Amaker, headed into the East Regional in Buffalo, New York where they played the Oregon Ducks on St. Patrick's Day.  St. Patrick, you might recall, was Shaheen Holloway's alma mater.  Seton Hall upset Oregon 72-71 in overtime, and Holloway PUT IN WORK.  Holloway played 42 of the 45 minutes, scored a game-high 27 points, had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.  In scoring his 27 points, Holloway shot 11-17 from the field, including 3-3 from three-point range.  Seton Hall advanced to the second round where they played the second seeded Temple Owls, led by one of my favorite players Pepe Sanchez.  Temple was favored by 11 points, yet the Pirates, behind Ty Shine's 26 points off the bench, defeated the Owls 67-65.  Alas, the tournament run was over for Shaheen Holloway, who 8 minutes into the game sustained an ankle injury on a fast break, was out for the tournament.  Holloway did hit the shot in which he was injured, and finished with 2 rebounds and 2 assists.  Seton Hall hung in the Sweet Sixteen without their leader, but ultimately succumbed to the Oklahoma State Cowboys 68-66.  Holloway likely would have been the difference in that round.

Holloway went undrafted in the 2000 NBA Draft, and played professionally for 7 years on 9 teams in 7 leagues in 7 different countries before entering coaching, ultimately becoming St. Peter's head coach in 2018.  In other words, this is also HIS NCAA Tournament that he never got to finish, and his calm yet tough, experienced and confident demeanor is a large part of St. Peter's story.  They have already advanced further in the tournament than any other 15 seed, so it would be imprudent for North Carolina to overlook them tomorrow.

Now, back to our brackets.

WE HAVE A WINNER, I mean, WE HAVE A LOSER!!!  Day Yi 2 of Forest Hills, New York had two opportunities to gain points yesterday, and lost both games, meaning he is currently in last place and has no opportunities to win more points going forward.  Day thus finishes in last place and will be receiving his money back.  The return of the money is symbolic in that it is the entire pool just saying that bracket was so bad we cannot accept your money.

Conversely, Day Yi 1, crazily enough also from Forest Hills, New York, remains in first place as we had very little movement among the standings.  Why so little movement you ask?  It is because most people selected Kansas (if you did not you likely dropped a few spots), and absolutely nobody selected St. Peter's.  We had 8 people select St. Mary's in that spot, but wrong patron so no points.  I initially thought that I was going to mention those that selected St. Mary's, but then I saw that Steven Usma 3 of Miami, Florida successfully picked Miami to make it to the Elite 8.  But even then that wasn't enough to earn him the coveted "Selection of the Day" Award as Braeden Helland 1 of Jacksonville, Florida picked BOTH Miami and North Carolina into the next round.  Unfortunately for him, he did not have Kansas winning, otherwise he would have moved up more spots on the leaderboard.  Congratulations anyway.

No movement among our champions as the only Champion in play yesterday, Kansas, defeated Providence despite a late run by the Friars.  Our remaining champions stay the same, and they are: Auburn, Arizona, Baylor, DUKE, Gonzaga, Illinois, KANSAS, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas Tech, VILLANOVA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin.

Players of the Day

Honorable Mention.  Doug Edert's Mustache, St. Peter's - Edert himself didn't have a great game, scoring only 10 points on 1-6 shooting (but 7-8 from the free throw line), but his mustache is one of the all-time worst.  Seriously, shave that thing!  Otherwise he may be forced to register under Megan's Law.

Honorable Mention.  Trevion Williams, Purdue.  He scored 16 points with 10 rebounds in Purdue's loss to St. Peter's.  I am mostly putting him in here because I neglected to mention his 22 points and 7 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench against Texas last round.

5.  Armando Bacot, North Carolina - Finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds, including the key tip-in of a R.J Davis miss with 15 second left in the game to seal the win for the Tar Heels.  He also had a key save after a Love miss that lead to a Love three with 1:47 left in the game, that might have been the actual turning point of North Carolina's win.

4.  Remy Martin, Kansas - Martin scored a silky, smooth 23 points and finished with a taste of dried figs, raisins, brazil nuts, dark cocoa, licorice and caramel.  Wait, sorry, wrong Remy Martin.  He finished with 7 rebounds and was the best player on the court that featured his own All-American teammate. 

3.  Kameron McGusty, Miami - Scored 27 points, with 6 rebounds and 4 steals as Miami defeated Iowa State 70-56.

2.  Aliyah Boston, South Carolina - Boston scored 28 points with 22 rebounds as the overall number 1 women's seed advanced to the Elite 8.

1.  Caleb Love, North Carolina - Finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists and virtually willed North Carolina over UCLA (along with Bacot).

Stats of the Day

5.  Ochai Agbaji of Kansas had 4 blocks as Kansas defeated Providence 66-61.

4.  Zach Edey of Purdue only played 17 minutes in Purdue's loss to St. Peter's despite scoring 11 points during that time.  He was not in foul trouble either, as he committed 0 fouls during those 17 minutes.  Edey, the 7'4" center, was left out of the game as coach Matt Painter tried to counter St. Peter's smaller lineup, however it would appear that forcing the Peacocks to guard Edey may have been a better strategy.  ONLY 17 MINUTES!!!

3.  Iowa State committed 9 turnovers in the first half against Miami (17 total).  Prior to last night's game, Miami had committed 7 turnovers for the first 2 games!

2.  Aliyah Boston of South Carolina scored all 13 of South Carolina's points in the 4th quarter.

1.  Armando Bacot of North Carolina earned his 29th double-double of the year, the most in North Carolina's history.  The Tar Heels have had some really good college big me, too, like - in no particular order - Bob McAdoo, James Worthy, Bobby Jones, Mitch Kupchak, Sam Perkins, J.R. Reid, Vince Carter (not technically a big, but his jumping ability helped him rebound ALOT,) Antawn Jamison, Tyler Hansbrough, Rasheed Wallace and Eric Montross.  Bacot has more double-doubles that ALL of them (at least over the course of a season.)

Best Social Media Posts

To be fair, no social media posts compare to University of Maryland - Baltimore County's live tweets of its 1018 upset over Virginia.

Before you begin watching today/tonight's games, remember that for this round each win is worth 8 points!

Onto the standings, and remember, please double-check your scores, and let me know if you think I made a mistake.

1.  Day Yi 1 - 89 - DUKE/ VILLANOVA

2.  Javier Rodriguez 2 - 83 - Gonzaga/Arizona

3.  Bill Ganoe 3 - 79 - Arizona/Gonzaga

4.  Colonel Kareem Montague - 77 - Arizona/Gonzaga

     Jeremy Spuhler - 77 - DUKE/Auburn

6.  Scott Bieterman 1 - 76 - Gonzaga/Arizona

     George Fox 1 - 76 - Gonzaga/Iowa

     Scott Kroesen - 76 - Arizona/Gonzaga

     Dawn Lamb (Keith) - 76 - KANSAS/DUKE

     Jeff Plamondon 1 - 76 - KANSAS/Kentucky

11.  Silas Nichols - 74 - Gonzaga/Arizona

12.  John Hopps - 72 - Baylor/KANSAS

13.  Sean McInerney 2 - 71 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Brian McMahon - 71 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Allison Parker - 71 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       George Walks 1 - 71 - Arizona/Purduen

17.  Jonathan Wasserman - 70 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Justin Yung - 70 - DUKE/Auburn

19.  Josh Zdrowak - 69 - Arizona/Baylor

20.  Alyssa Hopps - 68 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Mike Wolff - 68 - Gonzaga/Arizona

22.  Bill Ganoe 1 - 67 - Baylor/Arizona

       Kline Kroesen - 67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

25.  Justine Frank - 66 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Bill Ganoe 2 - 66 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Ryan Rodriguez - 66 - Baylor/Auburn

       Steven Usma 1 - 66 - Arizona/Gonzaga

29.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 65 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Mac Kroesen - 65 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 3 - 65 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

32.  Brian Hinaman - 64 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Guy Hughes - 64 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Blake Jackson - 64 - Kentucky/VILLANOVA

       George Walks 2 - 64 - Arizona/Gonzaga

36.  Sean McInerney 1 - 63 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

     Dave Piasecki 1 - 63 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

     Barkley Sosa - 63 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

39.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 62 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Braeden Helland 3 - 62 - KANSAS/Alabama

       Matt Hopps - 62 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Edith Pecan - 62 - Virginia Tech/LSU

       Javier Rodriguez - 62 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Rich Samuels 1 - 62 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

45.  Rachel Bornn - 61 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Braeden Helland 2 - 61 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Chris Kroesen - 61 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 61 - Kentucky/Auburn

       Ron Stewart - 61 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

50.  Scott Bieterman 2 - 60 - Arizona/Purdue

       Paul Cummings 1 - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Larry Green - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 60- VILLANOVA/Purdue

       Adam Jorgensen - 60 - Gonzaga/Iowa

       Kevin Kroesen - 60 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Jessica Samuels - 60 - DUKE/Auburn

       Hannah Sosa - 60 - Auburn/Baylor

       Amanda Staudt - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 2 - 60 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Amy Zdrowak - 60 - Auburn/DUKE

61.  Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 59 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Jacey Fowler 1 -59 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Glen Merchant - 59 - Arizona/Purdue

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 59 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Bubba Zdrowak - 59 - KANSAS/Texas

66.  Jen Armstrong - 57 - Wisconsin/Kentucky

       Eric Inge - 57 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Dawn Lamb (Colbie) - 57 - KANSAS/Texas Tech

       Dave Marzouca 2 - 57 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Brandon Satterwhite - 57 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Jamie Toole - 57 - Arizona/Baylor

72.  Jenna Finkelstein - 56 - Auburn/Texas Tech

       Martha Kroesen - 56 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Philip Kroesen - 56 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Annette Pritchard - 56 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Rich Samuels 3 - 56 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

       Chris Simmons - 56 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Keith Zdrowak - 56 - Arizona/Baylor

79.  Jim Coleman - 55 - Arizona/Kentucky

      Carolyn Fowler - 55 - Arizona/Gonzaga

      Quinn Jackson - 55 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

      Dawn Lamb - 55 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

      Kisha Marzouca 1 - 55 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

      Sean McInerney 3 - 55 - KANSAS/Kentucky

      Jane Reynolds - 55 - Auburn/Baylor

      Pepe Sosa 2 - 55 - Gonzaga/Arizona

      Steven Usma 4 - 55 - KANSAS/DUKE

88.  Jonathan Cox - 53 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Mark Holbert - 53 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Katie Kollmeyer - 53 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Dan Laishley - 53 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Ty Leatherman - 53 - DUKE/Arizona

       Sasha Moon - 53 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Ashley Poer 2 - 53 - Kentucky/Arizona

       George Walks 4 - 53 - Gonzaga/Arizona

96.  George Fox 2 - 52 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

       Alvaro Gonzalez - 52 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Jeff Kroesen - 52 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Dave Piasecki 2 - 52 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

100.  Paul Cummings 2 - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

        James Davis - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

        Marcus Jackson - 51 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

        Miles Jackson - 51 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

        Emily Lawson 2- 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

105.  Chris LaForte 1 - 50 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Dawn Lamb (Mitch) - 50 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Steph Stewart - 50 - VILLANOVA/Kentucky

108.  Daniel Barsky - 49 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         George Fox 3 - 49 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Dave Marzouca 1 - 49 - Texas Tech/Auburn

         Matt Nieman - 49 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         Rich Samuels 4 - 49 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

113.  Hilary Kroesen - 48 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

         Annette Pritchard 2 - 48 - Baylor/KANSAS

         George Walks 3 - 48 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

116.  ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 2 - 47 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

         Gracie Kroesen - 47 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

         Chris LaForte 2 - 47 - Michigan State/Tennessee

         William Pujals - 47 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

         Brittany Sosa - 47 - Gonzaga/Iowa

         Katie Zdrowak - 47 - DUKE/KANSAS

122.  Kisha Marzouca 2 - 46 - Baylor/Auburn

123.  James Garvin - 45 - DUKE/Arizona

         Braeden Helland 1 - 45 - Tennessee/Baylor

         ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 1 - 45 - Arizona/Texas Tech

         Rich Samuels 2 - 45 - Kentucky/Iowa

127.  Dave Marzouca 3 - 44 - Arizona/Kentucky

         Jeff Plamondon 2 - 44 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

         Carl Walker - 44 - Gonzaga/Auburn

130.  Scott Bieterman 3 - 43 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Kingfish Parham - 43 - Gonzaga/Arizona

132.  Jacey Fowler - 42 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Emily Lawson 1 - 42 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

         Kisha Marzouca 3 - 42 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

135.  Nancy McInerney - 41 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

136.  Emily Lawson 3 - 40 - Arizona/Gonzaga

137.  Jason Spuhler - 37 - DUKE/Auburn

138.  Randy Pacheco - 34 - Gonzaga/Arizona

139.  Ashley Poer 1 - 33 - Gonzaga/Iowa

140.  Dawn Lamb (Quarter) - 30 - Texas Tech/Iowa

141.  Day Yi 2 - 28 - Gonzaga/Auburn

2022 NCAA Tournament Pool - Sweet Sixteen/Day 1

 

Down Goes Frazier!!!  Down Goes Frazier!!!  And no, I didn't repeat myself, as we lost not 1, but 2 number 1 seeds last night as the number 1 overall seed Gonzaga lost to Arkansas, and the number 2 overall seed Arizona fell to Houston.  This had tremendous implications for our pool as Gonzaga was selected by a large plurality of our entrants.  And, the most common finals matchup was Gonzaga and Arizona.  With both of those teams now sitting at home, a lot of entries with other champions now can be excited about a possible win.  Entrants like ...

OUR NEW LEADER, Day Yi 1 of Forest Hills, New York.  Day, who eschewed the number 1 seeds to select Duke over Villanova is sitting pretty atop the stands, IF his selections keep winning.  Conversely, Day Yi 2 sits at the very bottom of the pool.  However, Dawn Lamb (Quarter) of Delray Beach, Florida sits just above him in 140th place, and can amass a grand total of ZERO more points.  So, the fight for last place will be over tonight.  If either Providence or UCLA wins, Dawn Lamb (Quarter) will receive her money back as the 141st place finisher.  If both of those teams lose, Day Yi 2 will finish in last place, and Day himself will seek the unprecedented bookend double.

Not only did Gonzaga and Arizona lose, but Duke beat a game Texas Tech squad so in four games we lost 3 champions.  That means we only have 3 remaining, with Kansas in action tonight.  Our remaining  champions are: Auburn, Arizona, Baylor, DUKE, Gonzaga, Illinois, KANSAS, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas Tech, VILLANOVA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin.

Most of the games were very close last night as Arkansas and Gonzaga went close to the wire, with the Razorbacks pulling out the 74-68 win, all while their best player had a horrible shooting night from the field.  Michigan used its tremendous size advantage over Villanova to make several good runs, but the Wildcats took Juwan Howard's team's best punch and pulled away 63-55.  Texas Tech held a lead in a back-and-forth game with Duke, before the Blue Devils clinched it 78-73.  Houston just out-athleted Arizona to win 72-60.

In our pool, yesterday's most common selection was Villanova, followed by Duke.  Even 13 entries thought that Houston would return to the Elite 8 for the second consecutive year.  But, only 2 prescient souls thought that the Arkansas Razorbacks would be playing this weekend, and so the Selection of the Day Award goes to Guy Hughes of Lexington, Kentucky, and Braeden Helland 3 of Jacksonville, Florida.  Congratulations gentlemen.

This reminds me of one of my favorite teams to watch from back-in-the-day, the 1994/1995 Arkansas Razorbacks teams. 

Arkansas entered the SEC in 1992, and made its mark immediately, winning the regular season conference championship in 1992 and 1994.  The 1994 team was led by athletic win Scotty Thurman and big man Corliss "Big Nasty" Williamson.  They also received key contributions from Corey Beck, Dwight Stewart, with shooter Alex Dillard contributing off the bench.  

In the NCAA Tournament, Arkansas earned a 1 seed, and defeated North Carolina A&T 94-79 in the first round behind 24 from Williams, 19 from Thurman, and Dillard chipping in 13 off the bench.  In the second round, the Razorbacks dispatched the Othella Harrington-led Georgetown Hoyas 85-73, with Williamson scoring 21 and Dwight Stewart scoring 16 off then bench.  In the Sweet Sixteen, Arkansas trucked Tulsa 103-84, despite Gary Collier scoring 35 in 29 minutes for the Golden Hurricane.  Williamson and Thurman each scored 21, with Williamson grabbing 9 rebounds.  In the Elite 8, the Michgan Wolverines of Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson were waiting (sans Chris Webber), and despite a battle, Arkansas prevailed 76-68.  Juwan Howard scored a game-high 30, but it was not enough to defeat a balanced Arkansas attack, led by Scotty Thruman's 20, and 3 other players in double digits.  A shootout followed in the Final Four as Arizona, led by Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves, put up 82, only to lose to Arkansas by 9 as the Razorbacks scored 91.  Corliss Williamson had a monster game with 29 points and 13 rebounds.  Scotty Thurman contributed 14 as Arkansas proceeded to the final game against the Grant Hill-led Duke Blue Devils.  Duke had a balanced scoring attack among its starters as Antonio Lang, Cherokee Parks, Jeff Capel, Grant Hill and Chris Collins all scored in double figures (15,14,14,12,12 respectively).  However, the Blue Devils only played 2 players off the bench, and eventually succumbed to Arkansas 76-72.  Corliss Williamson, the Most Outstanding Player, scored 23 and had 8 rebounds.  Scotty Thurman and Corey Beck each scored 15.  One big key, however, was Arkansas' depth, as the Razorbacks' bench scored 17 points compared to 5 for Duke's bench.  Arkansas was NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!

In 1995, the Razorbacks returned hoping to defend their title.  Virtually the entire team returned to go 28-6 and the NCAA rewarded Arkansas with a 2 seed in the tournament.  Arkansas, starting Williamson, Thurman, Beck, Clint McDaniel and Darnell Robinson, with Stewart and Dillard again playing key roles for the squad.  The first-round game against Texas Southern was close, as Arkansas eeked out a 79-78 win.  Stewart scored 21 off the bench and Williamson scored 19 to advance to the second round.  Arkansas had another tough battle in the second round as John Wallace and Lawrence Moten scored 29 and 27 respectively for the Syracuse Orangemen.  Arkansas survived 96-94 on 27 points from Scotty Thurman (on 5-8 shooting from three) and 25 points and 10 rebounds from Corliss Williamson.  Arkansas won another tough battle in the Sweet Sixteen defeating Memphis 96-91behind Williamson's 27 points and 13 rebounds and Alex Dillard's 19 off the bench (4-8 from three point range.)  A much lower scoring battle in the Elite 8 resulted in an Arkansas 68-62 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers.  Williamson again led the way with 21 points and 9 rebounds to send Arkansas back to the Final Four.

In the Final Four in Seattle, Washington, Arkansas won its semi-final game over North Carlina 75-68.  North Carolina had stars Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, but Corliss Williams 21 points and 10 rebounds led the way, with Dwight Stewart adding 15 off the bench to send Arkansas to its second consecutive championship game.  It is here where Arkansas' 11 tournament game winning streak comes to an end, as the UCLA Bruins, led by Ed O'Bannon and Toby Bailey (and helped by Tyus Edney's coast-to-coast last second layup in 4.8 seconds to defeat Missouri), coasted to the championship 89-78.   Clint McDaniel led the Razorbacks in scoring with 16, while Corliss Williamson only scored 12 on 3-16 shooting.

With a championship and a runner-up finish in consecutive years, these Arkansas Razorback teams were GOOD, and Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman were exciting to watch!

Now back to yesterday's action.

Players of the Day

5.  Jamal Shead, Houston - Socred 21 points with 4 rebounds and 6 assists as Houston cruised past Arizona.

4.  Drew Timme, Gonzaga - Scored 25 points with 7 rebounds, and would have been higher had Gonzaga actually won.

3.  Jermaine Samuels, Villanova - 22 points and 7 rebounds in a victory over Michigan.

2.  JD Notae, Arkansas - Scored 21 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and 6 assists in an upset win over Gonzaga.

1.  Paolo Banchero, Duke - Probably the best individual player remaining (with apologies to Jaden Ivey), scored 22 points, and added 4 rebounds and 4 assists in Duke's win over Texas Tech.

Stats of the Day

3.  Bennedict Mathuri, Arizona - Arizona's best player shot 4-14 from the field.  That is not going to get it done, and subsequently, Arizona lost to Houston.

2.  JD Notae, Arkansas - Notae scored 21 points in spite of shooting 2-12 from three-point range.  He is going to have to be more accurate tomorrow against Duke.

1.  Jamal Shead, Houston - Shead shot 9-10 from the free throw line, which is how teams advance in this tournament.

Best Social Media Posts

I was at bar trivia, so I didn't actually pay attention to social media during the games.

Onto the standings, and remember, please double-check your scores, and let me know if you think I made a mistake.

1.  Day Yi 1 - 85 - DUKE/ VILLANOVA

2.  Javier Rodriguez 2 - 79 - Gonzaga/Arizona

3.  George Fox 1 - 76 - Gonzaga/Iowa

4.  Bill Ganoe 3 - 75 - Arizona/Gonzaga

5.  Colonel Kareem Montague - 73 - Arizona/Gonzaga

     Jeremy Spuhler - 73 - DUKE/Auburn

7.  Scott Bieterman 1 - 72 - Gonzaga/Arizona

     Scott Kroesen - 72 - Arizona/Gonzaga

     Dawn Lamb (Keith) - 72 - KANSAS/DUKE

     Jeff Plamondon 1 - 72 - KANSAS/Kentucky

11.  Silas Nichols - 70 - Gonzaga/Arizona

12.  John Hopps - 68 - Baylor/KANSAS

13.  Kline Kroesen - 67 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Sean McInerney 2 - 67 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Brian McMahon - 67 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Allison Parker - 67 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       George Walks 1 - 67 - Arizona/PURDUE

18.  Justine Frank - 66 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Jonathan Wasserman - 66 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Justin Yung - 66 - DUKE/Auburn

21.  Josh Zdrowak - 65 - Arizona/Baylor

22.  Brian Hinaman - 64 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Alyssa Hopps - 64 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Mike Wolff - 64 - Gonzaga/Arizona

25.  Bill Ganoe 1 - 63 - Baylor/Arizona

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 63 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 63 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

28.  Bill Ganoe 2 - 62 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Edith Pecan - 62 - VIrginia Tech/LSU

       Ryan Rodriguez - 62 - Baylor/Auburn

       Steven Usma 1 - 62 - Arizona/Gonzaga

32.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 61 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Mac Kroesen - 61 - Arizona/Gonzaga

34.  Scott Bieterman 2 - 60 - Arizona/PURDUE

       Guy Hughes - 60 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Blake Jackson - 60 - Kentucky/VILLANOVA

       Adam Jorgensen - 60 - Gonzaga/Iowa

       George Walks 2 - 60 - Arizona/Gonzaga

39.  Sean McInerney 1 - 59 - Gonzga/KANSAS

       Barkley Sosa - 59 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

41.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 58 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Braeden Helland 3 - 58 - KANSAS/Alabama

       Matt Hopps - 58 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Javier Rodriguez - 58 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Rich Samuels 1 - 58 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

46.  Rachel Bornn - 57 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Eric Inge - 57 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Chris Kroesen - 57 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 57 - Kentucky/Auburn

       Ron Stewart - 57 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 3 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

52.  Paul Cummings 1 - 56 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Larry Green - 56 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 56 - VILLANOVA/PURDUE

       Kevin Kroesen - 56 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Jessica Samuels - 56 - DUKE/Auburn

       Hannah Sosa - 56 - Auburn/Baylor

       Amanda Staudt - 56 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 2 - 56 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Amy Zdrowak - 56 - Auburn/DUKE

       Keith Zdrowak - 56 - Arizona/Baylor

62.  Jim Coleman - 55 - Arizona/Kentucky

       Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 55 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Jacey Fowler 1 -55 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Glen Merchant - 55 - Arizona/PURDUE

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 55 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Bubba Zdrowak - 55 - KANSAS/Texas

68.  Jen Armstrong - 53 - Wisconsin/Kentucky

       Jonathan Cox - 53 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

       Braeden Helland 2 - 53 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Dawn Lamb (Colbie) - 53 - KANSAS/Texas Tech

       Dave Marzouca 2 - 53 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Brandon Satterwhite - 53 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Jamie Toole - 53 - Arizona/Baylor

75.  Jenna Finkelstein - 52 - Auburn/Texas Tech

       Martha Kroesen - 52 - Gonzaga/Wisconsin

       Philip Kroesen - 52 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Annette Pritchard - 52 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

       Rich Samuels 3 - 52 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

       Chris Simmons - 52 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

81. James Davis - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

      Carolyn Fowler - 51 - Arizona/Gonzaga

      Marcus Jackson - 51 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

      Quinn Jackson - 51 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

      Dawn Lamb - 51 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

      Kisha Marzouca 1 - 51 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

      Sean McInerney 3 - 51 - KANSAS/Kentucky

      Jane Reynolds - 51 - Auburn/Baylor

      Pepe Sosa 2 - 51 - Gonzaga/Arizona

      Steven Usma 4 - 51 - KANSAS/DUKE

91.  Chris LaForte 1 - 50 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

       Dawn Lamb (Mitch) - 50 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Steph Stewart - 50 - VILLANOVA/Kentucky

94.  Mark Holbert - 49 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Katie Kollmeyer - 49 - Gonzaga/Auburn

       Dan Laishley - 49 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

       Ty Leatherman - 49 - DUKE/Arizona

       Sasha Moon - 49 - Gonzaga/Arizona

       Matt Nieman - 49 - Arizona/Gonzaga

       Ashley Poer 2 - 49 - Kentucky/Arizona

       George Walks 4 - 49 - Gonzaga/Arizona

102.  George Fox 2 - 48 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

         Alvaro Gonzalez - 48 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

         Jeff Kroesen - 48 - Gonzaga/Auburn

         Hilary Kroesen - 48 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

         Dave Piasecki 2 - 48 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

107.  Paul Cummings 2 - 47 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Miles Jackson - 47 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Chris LaForte - 47 - Michigan State/Tennessee

         Emily Lawson - 2 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Brittany Sosa - 47 - Gonzaga/Iowa

112.  Daniel Barsky - 45 - Arizona/Gonzaga

         George Fox 3 - 45 - Tennessee/Gonzaga

         Dave Marzouca 1 - 45 - Texas Tech/Auburn

         Rich Samuels 2 - 45 - Kentucky/Iowa

         Rich Samuels 4 - 45 - Gonzaga/VILLANOVA

117.  Dave Marzouca 3 - 44 - Arizona/Kentucky

         Jeff Plamondon 2 - 44 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

         Annette Pritchard 2 - 44 - Baylor/KANSAS

         Carl Walker - 44 - Gonzaga/Auburn

         George Walks 3 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

122.  ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 2 - 43 - Gonzaga/Tennessee

         Gracie Kroesen - 43 - KANSAS/Gonzaga

         William Pujals - 43 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

         Katie Zdrowak - 43 - DUKE/KANSAS

126.  Kisha Marzouca 2 - 42 - Baylor/Auburn

         Kisha Marzouca 3 - 42 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

128.  James Garvin - 41 - DUKE/Arizona

         Braeden Helland 1 - 41 - Tennessee/Baylor

         ShaneDog Millionaire - 41 - Arizona/Texas Tech

131.  Scott Bieterman 3 - 39 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Kingfish Parham - 39 - Gonzaga/Arizona

133.  Jacey Fowler - 38 - Gonzaga/Arizona

         Emily Lawson 1 - 38 - Gonzaga/KANSAS

135.  Nancy McInerney - 37 - VILLANOVA/Gonzaga

         Jason Spuhler - 37 - DUKE/Auburn

137.  Emily Lawson 3 - 36 - Arizona/Gonzaga

138.  Randy Pacheco - 34 - Gonzaga/Arizona

139.  Ashley Poer 1 - 33 - Gonzaga/Iowa

140.  Dawn Lamb (Quarter) - 30 - Texas Tech/Iowa

141.  Day Yi 2 - 28 - Gonzaga/Auburn

2022 NCAA Tournament Pool Standings/Listing of Finalists

 

A quick reminder, if you have not paid, please do not forget.  Instructions in the rules/information sheet.  Or ask.

The standings have not changed; I am just adding each entry's finalists so you can judge where you stand among others that have the same winner as you.  If your pick is still alive, it will be capitalized and bolded.  If not, well, it won't be.

1.  Javier Rodriguez 2 - 75 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

2.  Day Yi 1 - 73 - DUKE/VILLANOVA

3.  Jeff Plamondon - 72 - KANSAS/Kentucky

4.  Bill Ganoe 3 - 70 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

5.  Scott Kroesen - 68 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

     Scott Bieterman 1 - 68 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

     George Fox 1 - 68 - GONZAGA/Iowa

     Dawn Lamb (Keith) - 68 - KANSAS/DUKE

9.  Brian McMahon - 67 - Kentucky/Tennessee

10.  Silas Nichols - 66 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

11.  Colone Kareem Montague - 65 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Jeremy Spuhler - 65 - DUKE/Auburn

       Josh Zdrowak - 65 - ARIZONA/Baylor

14.  Sean McInerney  2 - 63 - ARIZONA/Kentucky

       George Walks 1 - 63 - ARIZONA/PURDUE

16.  Bill Ganoe 2 - 62 - GONZAGA/Auburn

       Justin Yung - 62 - DUKE/Auburn

18.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 61 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

19.  Scott Bieterman 2 - 60 - ARIZONA/PURDUE

       Brian Hinaman - 60 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Alyssa Hopps - 60 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       John Hopps - 60 - Baylor/KANSAS

       Adam Jorgensen - 60 - GONZAGA/Iowa

24.  Kline Kroesen - 59 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

       Allison Parker - 59 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 59 - VILLANOVA/GONZAGA

       Barkley Sosa - 59 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

28.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 58 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       Justine Frank - 58 - GONZAGA/Wisconsin

       Edith Pecan - 58 - Virginia Tech/LSU

       Jonathan Wasserman - 58 - ARIZONA/Kentucky

32.  Mac Kroesen - 57 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 57 - Kentucky/Auburn

34.  Guy Hughes - 56 - ARIZONA/Kentucky

       Blake Jackson - 56 - Kentucky/VILLANOVA

       Mike Wolff - 56 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

37.  Jim Coleman - 55 - ARIZONA/Kentucky

       Bill Ganoe 1 - 55 - Baylor/ARIZONA

       Sean McInerney 1 - 55 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 55 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

41.  Braeden Helland 3 - 54 - KANSAS/Alabama

       Matt Hopps - 54 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       Javier Rodriguez 3 - 54 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Ryan Rodriguez - 54 - Baylor/Auburn

       Steven Usma 1 - 54 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

46.  Rachel Bornn - 53 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

       Jonathan Cox - 53 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

       Braeden Helland 2 - 53 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Eric Inge - 53 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Chris Kroesen - 53 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

       Dawn Lamb (Colbie) - 53 - KANSAS/TEXAS TECH

       Ron Stewart - 53 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

53.  Paul Cummings 1 - 52 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Jenna Finkelstein - 52 - Auburn/TEXAS TECH

       Rich Samuels 3 - 52 - Tennessee/GONZAGA

       Amanda Staudt - 52 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Steven Usma 2 - 52 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       George Walks 2 - 52 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Amy Zdrowak - 52 - Auburn/DUKE

60.  Carolyn Fowler - 51 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds - 51- GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       Jacey Fowler 1 - 51 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

       Sean McInerney 3 - 51 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 51 - Kentucky/Tennessee

       Bubba Zdrowak - 51 - KANSAS/Texas

66.  Chris LaForte - 50 - Tennessee/GONZAGA

67.  Dan Laishley - 49 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

       Dave Marzouca 2 - 49 - GONZAGA/Auburn

       Ashley Poer 2 - 49 - Kentucky/ARIZONA

       Brandon Satterwhite - 49 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Jamie Toole - 49 - ARIZONA/Baylor

       Steven Usma 3 - 49 - GONZAGA/VILLANOVA

       George Walks 4 - 49 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

74.  Alvaro Gonzalez - 48 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

       Larry Green - 48 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 48 - VILLANOVA/PURDUE

       Kevin Kroesen - 48 - GONZAGA/Auburn

       Martha Kroesen - 48 - GONZAGA/Wisconsin

       Philip Kroesen - 48 - Illinois/GONZAGA

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 48 - Tennessee/GONZAGA

       Annette Pritchard 1 - 48 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

       Jessica Samuels - 48 - DUKE/Auburn

       Hannah Sosa - 48 - Auburn/Baylor

       Keith Zdrowak - 48 - ARIZONA/Baylor

85.  James Davis - 47 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       Marcus Jackson - 47 - GONZAGA/VILLANOVA

       Chris LaForte 2 - 47 - Michigan State/Tennessee

       Dawn Lamb - 47 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

       Emily Lawson 2 - 47 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       Kisha Marzouca 1 - 47 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

       Glen Merchant - 47 - ARIZONA/PURDUE

       Jane Reynolds - 47 - Auburn/Baylor

       Brittany Sosa - 47 - GONZAGA/Iowa

       Pepe Sosa 2 - 47 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

       Steven Usma 4 - 47 - KANSAS/DUKE

96.  Dawn Lamb (Mitch) - 46 - KANSAS/DUKE

       Rich Samuels 1 - 46 - VILLANOVA/GONZAGA 

98.  Jen Armstrong - 45 - Wisconsin/Kentucky

       Daniel Barsky - 45 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       George Fox 3 - 45 - Tennessee/GONZAGA

       Mark Holbert - 45 - KANSAS/Kentucky

       Katie Kollmeyer - 45 - GONZAGA/Auburn

       Ty Leatherman - 45 - DUKE ARIZONA

       Dave Marzouca 1 - 45 - TEXAS TECH/Auburn

       Matt Nieman - 45 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA

       Rich Samuels 2 - 45 - Kentucky/Iowa

107.  George Fox 2 - 44 - GONZAGA/VILLANOVA

         Jeff Kroesen - 44 - GONZAGA/Auburn

         Hilary Kroesen - 44 - VILLANOVA/GONZAGA

         Dave Marzouca 3 - 44 - ARIZONA/Kentucky

         Jeff Plamondon - 44 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

         Chris Simmons - 44 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

         George Walks 3 - 44 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

114.  Paul Cummings 2 - 43 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

         Quinn Jackson - 43 - GONZAGA/VILLANOVA

         ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 2 - 43 - GONZAGA/Tennessee

         William Pujals - 43 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

118.  Steph Stewart - 42 - VILLANOVA/Kentucky

119.  ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan - 41 - ARIZONA/TEXAS TECH

         Sasha Moon - 41 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

121.  Annette Pritchard 2 - 40 - Baylor/KANSAS

         Carl Walker - 40 - GONZAGA/Auburn

123.  Scott Bieterman 3 - 39 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

         Miles Jackson - 39 - Tennessee/GONZAGA

         Kingfish Parham - 39 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

         Katie Zdrowak - 39 - DUKE/KANSAS

127.  Jacey Fowler 2 - 38 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

         Kisha Marzouca 2 - 38 - Baylor/Auburn

         Kisha Marzouca 3 - 38 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

130.  James Garvin - 37 - DUKE/ARIZONA

         Braeden Helland 1 - 37 - Tennessee/Baylor

         Rich Samuels 4 - 37 - GONZAGA/VILLANOVA

133.  Emily Lawson 3 - 36 - ARIZONA/GONZAGA    

134.  Gracie Kroesen - 35 - KANSAS/GONZAGA

135.  Emily Lawson 1 - 34 - GONZAGA/KANSAS

136.  Nancy McInerney - 33 - VILLANOVA/GONZAGA

         Jason Spuhler - 33 - DUKE/Auburn

138.  Dawn Lamb (Quarter) - 30 - TEXAS TECH/Iowa

         Randy Pacheco - 30 - GONZAGA/ARIZONA

140.  Ashley Poer 1 - 29 - GONZAGA/Iowa

141.  Day Yi 2 - 28 - GONZAGA/Auburn

2022 NCAA Tournament Pool - Round 2/Day 2

Sorry for the late posting of the standings, but yesterday I had to do some actual work.

Phew!  Somehow we made it through the opening weekend, with some of us more successful than others.  Those that rested on Kentucky, Baylor and Tennessee have previously been disappointed.  More disappointment followed yesterday, as champions Auburn, Illinois and Wisconsin will not be making the trip to the Sweet Sixteen.  That leaves us with these champions: Auburn, ARIZONA, Baylor, DUKE, GONZAGA, Illinois, KANSAS, Kentucky, Tennessee, TEXAS TECH, VILLANOVA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin.

Illinois was a particularly disappointing loss, since I just added them as a champion in the last update!  Their best player, Kofi Cockburn (pronounced Co-burn) was held so much in check that Houston must have been made of penicillin.   (Yeah, that is a bad joke, but I really have been saving that one up all year for their ultimate tourney loss).

Duke and Arizona survived really close battles, otherwise we would be shy additional 1 or 2 seeds.  Did the closeness of the games show vulnerabilities in these teams, or will the battle-testing make them tougher?  We shall see.

With the dismissal of Auburn and Wisconsin we had to potential bonuses in the second round.  Nobody was prescient enough to select both Iowa State over Wisconsin and Miami over Auburn.  But, we did have entrants select each of those teams.  Ten picked Iowa State over Wisconsin, and nine selected the Hurricanes.  With that,  Jeff Plamondon of Lincoln, Rhode Island, Edith Pecan of West Palm Beach, Florida, Braeden Helland 1 of Jacksonville, Florida, Dawn Lamb (Colbie) of Delray Beach, Florida, Jamie Toole of Springfield, Illinois, Steven Usma 3 of Miami, Florida, George Fox 3 of West Palm Beach, Florida, Dawn Lamb of Delray Beach, Florida, and Steven Usma 4 of Miami, Florida have the Co-Selections of the Day. 

Another favored team that lost, the Illinois Fighting Illini lost to Houston in a 4-5 matchup.  Illinois lost primarily because of a lack of scoring punch from its guards, even though the Illini start three guards in their lineup.  Trent Frazier, Da'Monte Williams, and Alfonso Plummer - and primary backup Andre Curbelo - combined to score 16 points.  This hasn't always been a problem for Illinois.

The 1989 Illinois Fighting Illini advanced all the way to the Final Four behind a three-guard lineup led by Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill, and Steven Bardo.  These high-powered, high-flying guards were joined in the rotation by the uber-athletic Marcus Liberty, Kenny Battle, Larry Smith and J.P. Bowman.  Nick Anderson, who would ultimately come to define choking in the NBA, was the leading scorer, with Kendall Gill filling it up and second on the team in steals, and Bardo, the floor general, not only scoring, but passing, playing defense, and doing whatever the team needed to win.  These guards garnered plenty of awards and honors, with Nick Anderson winning the NCAA regional Most Valuable Player award, and Steven Bardo winning the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Illinois earned a 1 seed that year, and started the tournament playing 16th seed McNeese State winning 77-71 with the three guards scoring 33 points.  Incidentally, the team was led by Kenny Battle's 18.  In the second round Illinois defeated Ball State 72-60, with Anderson, Gill and Bardo combining for 43, led by Anderson's 24.  In the Sweet Sixteen, Illinois defeated Louisville 83-69, with the trio scoring 49 to advance to the Elite Eight where they played Syracuse.  The guard trio scored 42 to outpace the Orangemen of Derrick Coleman, Billy Owens, Sherman Douglas and Stephen Thompson to advance to the Kingdome in Seattle.  In the Final Four, the Illini ran into the buzzsaw that was Glen Rice, who scored 28, while the guard trio for Illinois only scored 35 as Michigan prevailed 83-81.  Michigan would go on to win the title defeating Seton Hall 80-79.

In 2005 Illinois advanced one round further, making it to the NCAA Championship game paced by a three-guard lineup of Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head.  The three were the top three scorers that year for the Illini, paced by Head's 15.9, Brown's 13.3 and Williams' 12.5.

Ilinois, the 1 seed in the tournament, defeated Farleigh Dickenson in the opening round 67-55, with the trio scoring 40 of the 67 points.  In the second round, Illinois defeated Nevada 71-59.  The guards only scored 31 as the team was paced by James Augustine's 23 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  There, Illinois played Milwaukee, defeating them 77-63.  Dee Brown and Deron Williams each scored 21 and Luther Head chipped in 12.  In the Elite 8, Illinois beat the Arizona Wildcats 90-89 to advance to the Final Four in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis as the guards scored 57 points.  Illinois defeated the Louisville Cardinals 72-57, being paced by Luther Head's 20, with Williams and Brown chipping in 13 collectively.  The Illini's magical run ends in the finals, falling to North Carolina 75-70, despite the 50 collective points scored by Illinois' starting guards.  In the end, Most Outstanding Player Sean May had too much size, and scored 26 with 10 rebounds.  Illinois finished the season 37-2.

And even though Illinois could not win a title in 1989 or 2005, the one thing that could not be said is that its guards had problems scoring.

Back to 2022.

Players of the Day

5.  Jordan Miller, Miami - It isn't his actual statistics that were important, but rather his defense on Jabari Smith.

4.  Taze Moore, Houston - 21 points and 7 rebounds as Houston defeated Illinois.

3.  Kevin Obanor, Texas Tech - Following up his last year's run to the Sweet Sixteen with Oral Roberts with 15 points and 15 rebounds as Texas Tech defeated Notre Dame.

2.  Isaiah Wong, Miami - 21 points 6 rebounds in Miami's upset of Auburn.

1.  Christian Koloko and Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona.  28 points/12 rebounds and 30 points/8 rebounds collectively, as Arizona narrowly avoided being upset by TCU.

Stats of the Day

2.  Kevin Obanor of Texas Tech had 7 OFFENSIVE rebounds!

1.  With Texas losing to Purdue, Chris Bears just narrowly missed by the second coach to defeat one school with 3 separate schools, having previously beaten Purdue as the head coach of University of Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas Tech.  This leaves Tubby Smith, who defeated UCLA with three different schools.

Best Social Media Posts

1.  From Tim Reynolds on Twitter:  "Hurricanes v. Cyclones in the Sweet 16.  Send Jim Cantore for the greatest weather event in sports history."

Now, back to the pool.  Javier Rodriguez 2 of Coral Gables, Florida remains the leader, with Day Yi of Forest Hills, New York still hanging in second place.  When you review the standings, keep in mind I will be adding things like each bracket's champions during the week prior to the beginning of the Sweet Sixteen, so you will all have more information to gauge your possibilities of winning.

Please double check your scores, and let me know if you think I made a mistake.

1.  Javier Rodriguez 2 - 75

2.  Day Yi 1 - 73

3.  Jeff Plamondon - 72

4.  Bill Ganoe 3 - 70

5.  Scott Kroesen - 68

     Scott Bieterman 1 - 68

     George Fox 1 - 68

     Dawn Lamb (Keith) - 68

9.  Brian McMahon - 67

10.  Silas Nichols - 66

11.  Colone Kareem Montague - 65

       Jeremy Spuhler - 65

       Josh Zdrowak - 65

14.  Sean McInerney  2 - 63

       George Walks 1 - 63

16.  Bill Ganoe 2 - 62

       Justin Yung - 62

18.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 61

19.  Scott Bieterman 2 - 60

       Brian Hinaman - 60

       Alyssa Hopps - 60

       John Hopps - 60

       Adam Jorgensen - 60

24.  Kline Kroesen - 59

       Allison Parker - 59

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 59

       Barkley Sosa - 59

28.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 58

       Justine Frank - 58

       Edith Pecan - 58

       Jonathan Wasserman - 58

32.  Mac Kroesen - 57

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 57

34.  Guy Hughes - 56

       Blake Jackson - 56

       Mike Wolff - 56

37.  Jim Coleman - 55

       Bill Ganoe 1 - 55

       Sean McInerney 1 - 55

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 55

41.  Braeden Helland 3 - 54

       Matt Hopps - 54

       Javier Rodriguez 3 - 54

       Ryan Rodriguez - 54

       Steven Usma 1 - 54

46.  Rachel Bornn - 53

       Jonathan Cox - 53

       Braeden Helland 2 - 53

       Eric Inge - 53

       Chris Kroesen - 53

       Dawn Lamb (Colbie) - 53

       Ron Stewart - 53

53.  Paul Cummings 1 - 52

       Jenna Finkelstein - 52

       Rich Samuels 3 - 52

       Amanda Staudt - 52

       Steven Usma 2 - 52

       George Walks 2 - 52

       Amy Zdrowak - 52

60.  Carolyn Fowler - 51

       Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds - 51

       Jacey Fowler 1 - 51

       Sean McInerney 3 - 51

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 51

       Bubba Zdrowak - 51

66.  Chris LaForte - 50

67.  Dan Laishley - 49

       Dave Marzouca 2 - 49

       Ashley Poer 2 - 49

       Brandon Satterwhite - 49

       Jamie Toole - 49

       Steven Usma 3 - 49

       George Walks 4 - 49

74.  Alvaro Gonzalez - 48

       Larry Green - 48

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 48

       Kevin Kroesen - 48

       Martha Kroesen - 48

       Philip Kroesen - 48

       Dave Piasecki 1 - 48

       Annette Pritchard 1 - 48

       Jessica Samuels - 48

       Hannah Sosa - 48

       Keith Zdrowak - 48

85.  James Davis - 47

       Marcus Jackson - 47

       Chris LaForte 2 - 47

       Dawn Lamb - 47

       Emily Lawson 2 - 47

       Kisha Marzouca 1 - 47

       Glen Merchant - 47

       Jane Reynolds - 47

       Brittany Sosa - 47

       Pepe Sosa 2 - 47

       Steven Usma 4 - 47

96.  Dawn Lamb (Mitch) - 46

       Rich Samuels 1 - 46

98.  Jen Armstrong - 45

       Daniel Barsky - 45

       George Fox 3 - 45

       Mark Holbert - 45

       Katie Kollmeyer - 45

       Ty Leatherman - 45

       Dave Marzouca 1 - 45

       Matt Nieman - 45

       Rich Samuels 2 - 45

107.  George Fox 2 - 44

         Jeff Kroesen - 44

         Hilary Kroesen - 44

         Dave Marzouca 3 - 44

         Jeff Plamondon - 44

         Chris Simmons - 44

         George Walks 3 - 44

114.  Paul Cummings 2 - 43

         Quinn Jackson - 43

         ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan 2 - 43

         William Pujals - 43

118.  Steph Stewart - 42

119.  ShaneDog Millionaire Jernigan - 41

         Sasha Moon - 41

121.  Annette Pritchard 2 - 40

         Carl Walker - 40

123.  Scott Bieterman 3 - 39

         Miles Jackson - 39

         Kingfish Parham - 39

         Katie Zdrowak - 39

127.  Jacey Fowler 2 - 38

         Kisha Marzouca 2 - 38

         Kisha Marzouca 3 - 38

130.  James Garvin - 37

         Braeden Helland 1 - 37

         Rich Samuels 4 - 37

133.  Emily Lawson 3 - 36

134.  Gracie Kroesen - 35

135.  Emily Lawson 1 - 34

136.  Nancy McInerney - 33

         Jason Spuhler - 33

138.  Dawn Lamb (Quarter) - 30

         Randy Pacheco - 30

140.  Ashley Poer 1 - 29

141.  Day Yi 2 - 28