The Final Four Chronicles: Day 4 - The Finals

 

We survived our meat coma and are raring to go.  Today is the Finals.  The culmination of the entire college basketball season, the culmination of every NCAA Tournament gambling pools, and the zenith of our trip.  Who will win:  The Florida Gators or the Houston Cougars?!

07:30 - Pepster awakens.

07:45 - Sinickal comes out of his room.

08:10 - Tony comes downstairs.  With laundry.  One of the "joys" of travelling a lot for work is you have to find a way to get some laundry done.

09:30 - The Bourne Identity is on.

11:11 - Watching The Right Time with Bomani Jones.  He has this gem about Houston's win over Duke, "Houston did it for everybody that has ever been raised right on this earth!"

11:13 - And this one, "Cooper Flagg doesn't feel nearly as insufferable as you would expect someone named 'Cooper Flagg' to be."

11:52 - Enter the Ridge at the Hill for lunch.

12:06 - Kev-O says that Southwestern Central is like the beignets we had at NOLA yesterday, fluffy and substantial on the outside, but lacking any substance on the inside.

12:20 - Sinickal to Tony, "You are just using a fork to eat french fries to taunt us right now."

12:51 - To the Riverwalk we go.

12:57 - Pepster is talking about his issues getting a seat reserved for his flight home. Sinickal suggests that he must be flying Southwest. Pepster replies "I wish!"

13:12 - Enter Mad Dog's British Pub.

13:13 - While walking up to the bar, each of us hit a Florida fans' Cowboy hat that was sticking into the aisle as he was wearing it, because IT WAS IN THE AISLE.  He looked at us as if we did something wrong.  Buddy, that hat is wrong.

13:22 - Techno dance remix of "I Won't Back Down!" Eight Gator fans just pulled a Sally from When Harry Met Sally

13:26 - Tony asks the bartender if they have Topo Chico.  She says, "Yes!"  Comes back, "No."  Maybe some downstairs?

13:28 - Throwback stained glass at the British pub.

Maybe the "God Save the King" one is on back-order.

13:39 - So many people wearing Florida hockey sweaters.

13:52 - They don't really like Ted Cruz in this part of the state.  This is in the bathroom.

13:53 - We think Ted Cruz and Rick Pitino are related vampires.

14:08 - DJ plays Kendrick Lamar, and at the correct part, nobody in the bar is chanted "O-V-Ho".  We are so disappointed, and none more disappointed than Pepster.

14:09 - Never mind.  More disappointed.  Nobody else yells out "A-Minor!"  That is a worse omission.

14:30 - Crazy discussion on the Intricacies of Monitoring the Transfer Portal for NAIA schools.

14:46 - We remember the discussion we had about Zach Collins at River North Icehouse yesterday while watching the Bulls game.  Sinickal says, "That is a good-looking white man.  6'9".  NBA player.  Just running through the Chi.  I fully expect to see in the news come playoff time that "Collins is out for 2 to 3 weeks.  Unspecified STD."

14:49 - Free Green Tea shots!

15:12 - Free Coors Lites.

15:13 - DJ plays Baby Got Back.  Sinickal remembers that back in the day, white girls with small assess on the dance floor trying to twerk.  Pepster chimes in, and when a guy starts to push up on her and she backs it up, guy gets injured!

15:18 - DJ LAZ!!!

15:19 - Pepster tells a story about DJ LAZ being from Miami and getting in an accident resulting in him now having one leg shorter than the other. Sinickal is angry that he can't come up with the correct G-Reg, 7th Floor Crew joke.

15:30 - Time to journey to the Hard Rock.  This is the University of Florida's home bar.

15:36 - While waiting to order a drink at the bar, a much older gentleman walks up to Pepster to ask him if he could order a margarita on the rocks for his wife.  Pepster asks if he can have the wife's number.  Man responds, "I don't know it!"  After that line, yes, we can order a margarita for your wife.  Guy tries to hand Pepster money, Pepster says, it's OK.  Your response was hilarious.  Turns out the guy lives in Pepster's home town, and the lady he gave the margarita to was a smokeshow.  Turns it it was his daughter-in-law.  Not sure why he called her his wife, but we are too many drinks if for a psychological evaluation.

16:00 - Sinickal meets another Syracuse alumnus and they start a Let's Go Orange chant.

16:11 - On to County Line Barbecue.  Sinickal and Pepster immediately recognize this place as the location where we crucified Hopps back in 2018.  You can see some of that HERE!

16:12 - We tell Kev-O about the curcifixion story.

16:18 - Tony and Sinickal's friends from the "Profession" join us.  Marty and Craig were in town as sponsors of a golf tournament.

17:54 - Leave County Line.

17:55 - As we are walking the Riverwalk, we hear Freestyle coming out of Fat Tuesday's - Lil Suzy and Gucci Crew!

18:04 - Pepster receives a text from Racecar.  It reads, "Have so much fun.  Go Gators.  Don't be sloppy.  That was for the Gators not you.

18:08 - Tony's friend from the "Profession", Diane, joins us for the walkup to the game.

18:28 - Enter Francis' Bogside.  You might remember this is the official Duke bar for the weekend.  Pepster orders a Makers rocks, splash of Duke tears.  Waitress says that they are only serving simple drinks this weekend.  We think Pepster's order broke her.

19:06 - We are disappointed that we did not keep a running tally on cougars spotted.

19:37 - Leave Bogside for stadium.  It's two blocks away.

19:51 - Tipoff.  We forgot to get a picture.

Radio Silence during game.

20:44 - Houston dance team dances to Teach Me How to Dougie.

21:01 - Second half starts.  After only 4 fouls in the first half, there is no way anybody can get into foul trouble.

22:09 - Florida wins!!!

22:13 - While making our way into the lower bowl to watch One Shining Moment, we pass a guy wearing a "Girls Are Drugs" tshirt.

22:21 - Olivier Rioux stands on his own two feet to cut the net.

22:23 - One Shining Moment.  They have like 4 total plays from the Finals.  Definitely had to re-cut that to add some good plays from the earlier rounds.

22:42 - Leave the Alamodome.

23:10 - In the car.

23:30 - Home already, after some seriously Brooklyn driving by Tony to get us out of the parking lot!

23:31-00:00 - Final beers and reminiscing as we prepare for next year.

2025 NCAA Tournament Pool Semi-Finals Results

 

Final Four Standings (Post-Semi-finals)

1.  Measha Leonardo Williams - 156 - FLORIDA

2.  Max Macon 3 - 147 - HOUSTON

3.  Paul Cummings - 142 - FLORIDA

4.  Brent Bellinger - 138

5.  Steven Usma 2 - 137 - FLORIDA

6.  Matt Hopps - 135 - FLORIDA

7.  Preston Holbert - 134 - /FLORIDA

8.  Dan Barsky 1 - 133 - HOUSTON

      George Walks 3 - 133 - FLORIDA

10.  Jonathan Cox - 132

11.  Justine Frank - 131 - FLORIDA

       Jane Reynolds & Carolyn Fowler - 131 - FLORIDA

       Measha Donatello Williams - 131 - FLORIDA

14.  Bill Ganoe 1 - 130 - FLORIDA

15.  Guy Hughes - 129 - FLORIDA

       Shane Jernigan - 129 - HOUSTON

17.  Alyssa Hopps - 127 - FLORIDA

18.  Kingfish Parham - 126

       Pepe Sosa - 126 - FLORIDA

20.  Theo Frank - 124 

       Mike Wolff 2 - 124 - FLORIDA

22.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 123 - FLORIDA

       Christina Gomez - 123

       Adam Jorgensen - 123

25.  Vincent Plamondon - 122 - FLORIDA

26.  Rachel Bornn - 121 - FLORIDA

       Javier Rodriguez 2 - 121

       Rich Samuels 1 - 121

       Day Yi 2 - 121

      

30.  Xavier Conway - 120 - FLORIDA

        Bill Ganoe 3 - 120

        Alvaro Gonzalez - 120

        Marcus Jackson - 120 - HOUSTON

34.  Sean McInerney III - 119

       Sean McInerney IIII - 119 - FLORIDA

       Silas Nichols - 119 - FLORIDA

37.  Mark Holbert - 118 - FLORIDA

       Dan Laishley - 118

       Measha Raphael Williams - 118

40.  Shane Dogmillionaire - 117 - FLORIDA

41.  Dan Barsky 2 - 116 - HOUSTON

       Eric Inge - 116

       Kisha Marzouca - 116

       Brigadier General Kareem Montague - 116

       Jazz Piasecki - 116 - FLORIDA

46.  Kyle Henderson 1 - 115 - FLORIDA

       Measha Michaelangelo Williams - 115 - HOUSTON

       Dave Wilson - 115 - FLORIDA

49.  Max Macon 1 - 114 - FLORIDA

       Chris Simmons - 114

       Marcus Spruill- 114

       Steven Usma 3 - 114

53.  Katie Kollmeyer - 113 - FLORIDA

       Kline Kroesen - 113 - HOUSTON

55.  Steven Usma 1 - 112

56.  Kevin Dick - 110 - FLORIDA

       Kyle Henderson 2 - 110 - HOUSTON

       James Garvin - 110 - FLORIDA

       Lily Spuhler - 110 - FLORIDA

       Jonathan Wasserman - 110 - FLORIDA

61.  Jenna Finkelstein - 109 - FLORIDA

       Colleen Giamberini - 109

       Natalie Moon - 109

64.  Sean and Barbie McInenery - 108 - FLORIDA

       Sasha Moon - 108

       Jeremy Spuhler - 108 - FLORIDA

67.  Ty Hedgpeth - 107

       Chuck Whitcomb - 107

69.  Paul Cummings 2 - 106 - HOUSTON

       Salvatore Plamondon - 106

       Jason Spuhler - 106 - FLORIDA

       Joshua Zdrowak - 106

73.  Joel Chernoff - 105

       Karen Katz 2 - 105 - HOUSTON

       Dave Piasecki - 105 - FLORIDA

       Mike Wolff 1 - 105 - FLORIDA

77.  Benny Frank Finkelstein - 104 - FLORIDA

       George Walks 2 - 104

79.  Christina Zanzig - 103

80.  Martha Kroesen - 102 - FLORIDA

       Dustin Lansing - 102

       Si Nichols - 102 - HOUSTON

83.  Rich Samuels 2 - 101

84.  Max Macon 2 - 100

       Justin Yung - 100

86.  Caroline Spuhler - 99 - FLORIDA

87.  Barbie McInerney - 98 - FLORIDA

       Ashley Poer 2 -98 - FLORIDA

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 98

       Brittany Sosa - 98 - FLORIDA

       Stacia Wilkaitis - 98 - FLORIDA

92.  Max Macon 4 - 97 - FLORIDA

93.  Jacey Fowler II - 96

       Allison Parker - 96

       Hannah Sosa - 96 - FLORIDA

       George Walks 4 - 96

97.  John Hedgpeth - 94

       William Pujals - 94 - FLORIDA

       Cheryl Spuhler - 94 - FLORIDA

100.  Jeff Plamondon - 93

101.  Bill Ganoe 2 - 91 - HOUSTON

         Karen Katz 1 - 91

         Kisha Marzouca 2 - 91

104.  Braeden Helland - 90 - FLORIDA

         Day Yi - 90

106.  Jim Coleman - 89

         Brandon Satterwhite - 89 - FLORIDA

         Bubba Zdrowak - 89 - FLORIDA

         Katie Zdrowak - 89

 110.  Sean McInerney 1 - 87

          Biscuit Zdrowak - 87 - HOUSTON

112.  Ashley Poer 1 - 85

        Logan Spuhler - 85 - FLORIDA

        Keith Zdrowak - 85

115.  Quinn Jackson - 84

         Steven Usma 4 - 84 - FLORIDA

117.  Sean McInerney II - 83 - FLORIDA

118.  Carolyn Fowler - 82

         Jane Reynolds - 82

120.  Jacey Fowler I - 81

121.  George Walks 1 - 77

122.  Tyler Giamberini - 75

123.  Jessica Samuels - 74

         Amy Zdrowak - 74

125.  Arlene Amo Hopps - 73

         Dave Marzouca - 73

127.  Chris LaForte - 71

128.  Ferris Spuhler - 69

129.  Dave Marzouca 2 - 66

         Amanda Staudt - 66

131.  Stephanie Henderson - 63

132.  Luna Frank - 60

133.  Wes Wiggins - 59

134.  Barkley Sosa - 41

The Final Four Chronicles: Day 2 - The Semifinals

 

Yes, we are here for fun and camaraderie, but it is all about the games - AND BOY WERE WE TREATED TO TWO GREAT ONES (at least the endings).  But, we will get to that.

07:00 - Sinickal awakens.

07:30 - Pepster comes downstairs.

07:42 - Liz, who was too tired to drive home last night, stayed in our spare bedroom.  She departs for home.

08:00 - Kev-O comes downstairs, all showered and ready for the day.

08:44 - Talking football and in somehow defending Bryce Young in that he just has a horrible team around him.  To prove it, Kev-O starts asking us (a) if we know who some of the players on their roster are; and (2) if we know where they went to college.  Pepster gets way more right (3) than he should have, but we went through like 20 people on the roster.  It is putrid.

0:900 - Nothing like a pre-10:00 Fat Joe reference.

09:45 - 8 mile is on, and it is the final rap battle scene!

10:12 - Everybody screaming "3-1-3.  Fuck Free World!"

10:30 - No Crossover:  The Trial of Allen Iverson.  Got to start off with a basketball 30-for-30.

11:00 - Heading to the Pearl for breakfast.

11:12 - Find $14 per 24-hour parking.

11:24 - Enter Southerleigh.  It turns out that Southerleigh received a Michelin Bib Gourmand.  And they are very proud of that.  Something "Michelin" is on every apron, and other accoutrements of the employees.

11:25 - See a Happy Hour table tent that advertises $1 wings.  Sinickal asks the bartender if those are available now.  Bartender says no, only on happy hour during the week.  Sinickal goes - well that was my next question.

11:42 - Tony drops fork, with sausage link still attached. Tony nearly jumped out of his skin trying to catch the falling fork. This was way funnier than it should have been.

11:52 - Our primary orders arrive (2 chicken and waffles, 1 sausage hash and 1 fried chieken-egg-cheese-bacon sandwich), and it is good.

13:03 - Tony comes back from the restroom and says, "You should never take a phone call while you are grunting in the bathroom."

13:05 - Sinickal and Tony's friends arrive, whom they know from "The Profession." Rozbeh and Krystina have their 2-year daughter Riley with them and although she is super tired, she is high fiving, toasting, and giving kisses to everyone. She is having a ball and so are we. 

13:25 - Sinickal relays the story from Krystina and Rozbeh's wedding of another of their geotechnical engineering friends, who asked Allison "Do you work outside of the home?"  Allison only is able to reply with, "Do you mean do I have a job?"

13:53 - A group of Houston fans walk in with a shirt that reads:  "Ready 4 more" - More what?  Final Four losses?

13:58 - Great discussion on the overrated academic credentials of the University of Virginia.

14:28 - Group picture before we all have to spilt up.

15:21 - Uber Ordered.  Not giving up this precious parking space.

15:37 - Driver immediately calls us to negotiate a route and a drop off point. He takes a weird route, but gets us really close to where we wanted to be in the Riverwalk!

15:41 - Holey Moley?  Kev-O asks.  "You mean like the Steph Curry tv show?"

15:41:15 - Yes, it is.  We are not here for indoor mini-golf, but they do have beer!

15:58 - Start our way up out of the Riverwalk and toward the Alamodome.

16:27 - Stop into Francis Bogside Irish Pub, one of a string a bars just a couple of blocks from the dome.  Turns out it is the Duke home bar.  Interestingly, the bartender only pours Kev-O, who is wearing his Kentucky shirt - a half pour.

16:30 - Sinickal walks out back to discover that Duke has used the patio areas in the back to link four bars together. All one big Duke bar. This makes Kev-O very unhappy. He doesn't need another reason to hate private equity.

16:34 - Discussed possible majors of some of the Duke fans we see.  That is all.

16:42 - Stop one Duke fan to ask, "Why are you wearing Carolina blue Jordans?"

16:43 - Tell another group of Duke fans to, "Not get cocky.  You only have Cooper Flagg for a few more days.  Maybe 1!"

16:49 - Discuss possible reactions by Duke fans if Kev-O makes, and wears, his "Christian Laettner was offsides" t-shirt.

16:54 - In Alamodome.

17:08 - In seats!!!  We are way up!

17:09 - Dude about 12 rows in front of us wearing a Harvard Jeremy Lin jersey.  Sinickal remarks that you couldn't even buy one of those when he was playing for Harvard.

17:10 - Tipoff of Florida-Auburn!

17:11 - Radio Silence for the first half.

17:11:05 - Pepster says, "A 7'9" guy would have won that tip!"

17:12 - Who are we kidding.  Kevin had this gem, "Is there a limit on ear size for males to be admitted to Auburn?"

17:13 - And, we found the blimp parking!

17:19 - From up here we can't tell the difference between Condon, Haugh, and Handlogten.  Chinyelu, though ...

17:52 - The McNeese State team manager comes up the stairs.  He is two seats in front of us and is a star.  We watched him take pictures with practically everybody.

18:39 - Auburn player flops.  Tony says, "Shoot him like a horse!"

18:57 - An older Duke fan was walking down the stairs.  He stops, puts on his sunglasses, and then puts two hands on the railing as he goes step-by-step, Kev-O asks if he is repelling.

19:49 - Florida wins behind Walter Clayton, Jr.'s 34 points and Alijah Martin's mesmerizing slam over two defenders.

20:25 - Auburn kids sitting next to Tony do not return to their seats for game 2.

20:26 - Tipoff Game 2.

21:19 - Kev-O, observationally, "Do they not teach college guys to wear a belt anymore?"

21:44 - On the concourse, Sinickal encounters members of the USA Basketball Under 19 team. They are trying to pick up some University of Houston students. Elite work from the young men.

22:43 - Put back dunk!!!!  WOW!!!

22:50 - HOUSTON WINS!!!

22:57 - As we are outside the Alamodome making our way off the campus, we pass an older guy with a really big Southern drawl talking on the phone.  he says, "They were crying like a little bitch!" Kev-O then walks into a pole.

23:04 - Head back to Francis Bogsides - Duke's home bar.  The bourbon tastes just a little sweeter.  Tony orders a vodka - ginger ale - with Duke tears!

23:42 - Head to Yardhouse, as it is the closest above-street access point to the Riverwalk.

23:43 - On our way out of Bogsides, Pepster starts a "Fi-re.  Shey-er!" Chant.

23:51 - Enter Yardhouse.  It is crowded!

23:52 - Exit Yardhouse.

00:09 - Pass by a Mobile smoke shop.  Think food truck, but for weed!

00:15 - Enter Dick's.

00:23 - We are in the streetside entrance, which has a bar for about 15 people.  Lots of Houston fans in this area of Dick's.  One of the particularly friendly Houston fans is from South Africa.  We tell him to take Elon back.

00:23:20 - "Elon is f'in American.  He is yours now!"

00:29 - White boy walks into Dick's wearing a "White Boy of the Year" hat!

00:57 - Acquiesce.  It's a big word like mayonnaise.

01:10 - Sinickal and Pepster explain the story behind Pepster's 2003 R. Kelly joke to Kev-O.

01:25 - Head home.

01:40 - Kev-O orders Taco Cabana breakfast tacos. Shooting for Bacon,egg and cheese. Uber Eats shows that the delivery person is on a bike. on the interstate. Shows up completely wrong order, but hey free tacos...

NCAA Tournament Pool - Elite 8/Day 1

So two teams have booked their flights to - and hotel rooms in - Indianapolis.  Oh wait, they were already there.  Anyway, two teams have made their reservations in the Final Four.  In the early game, Houston held off a furious late-game/second half rally by the Oregon State Beavers to earn the school's 6th berth in the Final Four.  In the late game, Arkansas gamely kept coming back, and coming back, but Baylor's physicalness was just too much, earning the Bears their spot in next weekend's championships.  And, Baylor is doing this with their All-American Jared Butler playing sub=par basketball as he went 4-11 last night, although perhaps a glimmer of hope for him as he went 2-3 from three.  If he gets hot - look out!

Since Baylor, a 1 seed and number 2 overall tournament seed, and Houston, a 2 seed, both won, no bonus points for everyone, and most entrants won 1 or the other of the games.  And, since a significant portion of us had both games, no "Pick of the Day" award today.

But, we do have a new/old leader.  William Pujals, of Charlotte, North Carolina has jumped back into the possession he held after day 1 of round 1.  And, he is in sole possession of first place, thanks to his selection of both Baylor and Houston into the Final Four.  For those that want to go back and try to figure how someone that wasn't in first place yesterday jumped someone who was in first and got both games right yesterday, it was a calculation error on my part, having short-changed William 2 points.  Those have been added.  He and Matt Hopps of Quincy, Massachusetts have different champions anyway, so that mistake will sort itself out.

Today's games are also worth 8 points apiece, so some serious change in the standings could be had, especially if the two California teams (or even one of them), can make a splash today.  The Gonzaga/USC tilt is also important because, as outlined yesterday, the winner of that game will determine the last place finisher in our pool.  As a refresher, if Gonzaga wins, Sean McInerney of Atlantic Beach, Florida will finish last and earn his money back.  IF USC wins, Bubba Zdrowak of Orlando, Florida has that dubious distinction.  Bubba, it should be noted, is an alligator.

With the twin victories from the two Texas schools, the remaining champions in our pool stay intact:  Baylor, Gonzaga, Houston, and Michigan.  Those that have fallen are Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan State, Ohio State and Virginia.  And, as a reminder, somebody selected Michigan State even though they did not make it to the main bracket!

Players of the Day

5.  Davion Mitchell, Baylor.  Dude only had 12 points, but he did have 6 assists, with 1 rebound and 1 steal.  But, this man controlled the game.  As fast as anyone with the ball, and a sick change of speeds.  If we want to see pure athleticism and skill and knowledge of the game from our points guards, we will get Michigan and Mike Smith, UCLA and Tyger Campbell, joining Mitchell in the Final Four.  Mitchell did go 0-3 from the free throw line in what Baylor is hoping is not foreboding foreshadowing.

4.  Quinten Grimes, Houston.  Solid performance from Grimes, who had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

3.  Marcus Sasser, Houston.  Sasser led the Cougars in scoring with 30, and added 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

2.  MaCio Teague, Baylor.  The transfer from UNC-Asheville scored 22 points with 5 rebounds, to lead Baylor in scoring in its win over Arkansas.

1.  Charlie Melton, Director of Athletics Performance, Baylor.  In essence Melton is the team's Strength and Conditioning Coach (with better pay and title).  Seriously, did you see those guys.  To quote 2 separate entrants from our pool last night, "Baylor is a team of MEN" (emphasis supplied.)  OK, those 2 entrants were Silas Nichols 1 and Silas Nichols 2, both of Washington, DC, but that does not make the point less valid.  Look at that team and tell me which other team is going to out-physical them.  Maybe the Baltimore Ravens.

Stats of the Day

6.  Not basketball related, but astronomical anyway.  University of Texas Swimming & Diving coach Eddie Reese retiring after the Longhorns just captured their 15th national championship under Reese, to go with 12 second-place finishes.  But, the stat of the day is that Texas this year just won their 42nd consecutive conference championship.  42!!!

5.  Only 1 team east of the Mississippi made it to the Elite 8 (Michgan).  Not so much a stat as an observance.

4.  Arkansas won their first 3 games after being down double digits in each.  This stat would have been higher had they been able to convert it to 4, having trailed Baylor by as many as 18.

3.  Oregon State had 2 turnovers in the second half, and the second one came down 6 with 20 or so seconds remaining.  This is how you stage a comeback.

2.  Baylor is shooting 40.8% from three-point range ON THE SEASON!!!  They went 8-15 last night.

1.  Houston grabbed 19 OFFENSIVE rebounds.  Just offensive.  That is ridiculous.

Social Media Post of the Day

1.  On Twitter from Nneka Ogwumike:  "It's women's basketball for me #marchmadness".  So Connecticut and Baylor battled against each other in an awesome Elite 8 game in San Antonio, which featured four separate swings of 10 points or more, and culminating in this Baylor shot, with the Bears down 1 to Connecticut at the end of the game, by DiJonai Carrington, which apparently wasn't a foul.

Seriously though, basketball twitter was ablaze as every player, former player, coach, former coach, family member, former family member, acquantaince, former acquaintance and stranger (no, I will not type "former stranger") was commenting on this game, and in particular on this play.

Today's history lesson was difficult for me to decide about what to write.  Baylor returns to the final four for the first time since 1950, but that tournament was not very memorable, and neither were any of the standout players.   Plus, the CCNY point-shaving scandal didn't hit until the next year, so that didn't work.  Had Arkansas won and returned to the Final Four for the first time since 1995, I could have written about that awesome 1995 team with Big Nasty Corliss Williamson, Scotty Thurman, Clint McDaniel, and Corey Beck.  But alas, that doesn't work here.  I had already mentioned Oregon State's 1983 squad, and they lost anyway.  The obvious answer is to write about Houston, who made the Final Four for the first time since their 1982-1984 run of three straight, but earlier this year I highlighted former Cougars coach Guy Lewis.  So, as I decide my topic I will add this story about Houston's recruitment of Hakeem Olajuwon.

Olajuwon never played basketball until he was 15, having previously been a soccer goalie in Nigeria.  After he started playing basketball, he received a few looks and tryouts, and eventually earned the eye of 3 schools, Providence, Louisville, and Houston.  Olajuwon had tickets to all 3 cities, and upon his arrival at the airport in New York, he had to decide which plane ticket to take.  He walked outside the airport, and it was ridiculously cold.  Olajuwon spotted a man working the cab line or as a porter and either by his facial structure or name knew he was Nigerian.  Olajuwon walked up the man, showed him all 3 tickets and asked, "Which place has weather that is closest to Lagos?"  The man handed him the ticket to Houston.  And that is how Hakeem Olajuwon came to play for Guy Lewis and the Houston Cougars.  For a great history of the 1982-1984 era of Houston basketball, please watch the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Phi Slama Jama.

And guess what, that is tournament History!

Now, onto the standings.  Remember kids, let me know if you think you see an error in my scoring.  I will double check.

1.  William Pujals - 95 - Gonzaga/Houston

2.  Matt Hopps - 94 - Michigan/Baylor

3.  Edy Pecan - 90 - Baylor/Alabama

4.  Day Yi 1 - 86 - Gonzaga/Houston

5.  Jeff Plamondon - 85 - Gonzaga/Houston

     Measha WIlliams 2 - 85 - Gonzaga/Houston

7.  Colleen Hamilton 4 - 85 - Ohio State/Texas

8.  Katie Zdrowak - 83 - Iowa/Houston

9.  Silas Nichols 1 - 81 - Gonzaga/Illinois

10.  Chris Igtiben 1 - 79 - Illinois/Gonzaga

11.  Brent Bellinger 1 - 78 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       George Walks 2 - 78 - Illinois/Kansas

       Justin Yung - 78 - Alabama/Houston

14.  Skip LaForte - 77 - Michigan State/Baylor

       Dave Mazourca 1 - 77 - Baylor/Kansas

       Silas Nichols 2 - 77 - Illinois/Gonzaga

17.  Javier Rodriguez - 76 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Steven Usma 1 - 76 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Measha Williams 3 - 76 - Gonzaga/Baylor

20.  Ashley Poer 2 - 74 - Houston/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 3 - 74 - Baylor/Gonzaga

       Steven Usma 4 - 74 - Baylor/LSU

23.  Brent Bellinger 2 - 73 - Illinois/Iowa

       Brian Hinaman - 73 - Baylor/Gonzaga

25.  Jenna Finkelstein - 72 - Kansas/Baylor

       Kingfish Parham - 72 - Gonzaga/Arkansas

       Pepe Sosa - 72 -Gonzaga/Illinois

28.  Jacey Fowler-Reynolds 2 - 71 - Alabama/Baylor

       Max Macon 4 - 71 - Baylor/Michigan

       Nancy McInerney - 71 - Alabama/Syracuse

31.  Braeden Helland - 70 - Gonzaga/Houston

       Ty Leatherman - 70 - Baylor/Gonzaga

       Measha Williams 4 - 70 - Gonzaga/Illinois

34.  Ashley Poer 3 - 69 - Baylor/FSU

       Rich Samuels 1 - 69 - Houston/Gonzaga

       George Walks 4 - 69 - Houston/Alabama

37.  James Garvin - 68 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       Colleen Hamilton 2 - 68 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       Kisha Marzouca 2 - 68 - Baylor/Michigan

       Amy Zdrowak - 68 - Gonzaga/Illinois

41.  Chris Igtiben 2 - 68 - Michigan/OSU

42.  Martha Kroesen - 67 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Brittany Sosa - 67 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 67 - Baylor/Iowa

45.  Rachel Bornn - 66 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Braeden Helland - 66 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       Emily Lawson 2 - 66 - Baylor/Gonzaga

       Jeremy Spuhler - 66 - Gonzaga/Illinois

49.  Jacey Fowler-Reynolds 1 - 65 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Larry Green - 65 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Carey Taylor - 65 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Measha Williams 1 - 65 - Gonzaga/Baylor

53.  Colleen Hamilton 3 - 64 - Ohio State/Gonzaga

       Adam Jorgensen 1 - 64 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Jason Spuhler - 64 - 64 - Gonzaga/Illinois

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56.  Guy Hughes - 63 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       Adam Jorgensen 2 - 63 - Iowa/Illinois

       Adam Jorgensen 3 - 63 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Steven Usma 2 - 63 - Illinois/Michigan

       Joshua Ward - 63 - Baylor/Michigan

61.  Paul Cummings 62 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Jonathan Wasserman - 62 - Michigan/West Virginia

63.  Dan Barsky 1- 61 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Stephanie Henderson - 61 - Baylor/Iowa

       Ashley Poer 1 - 61 - Gonzaga/Villanova

       Cheryl Spuhler - 61 - Baylor/Alabama

67.  Dan Laishley - 60 - Baylor/FSU

       Emily Lawson 1 - 60 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       Colonel Kareem Montague - 60 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Jane Reynolds - 60 - Alabama/Illinois

71.  Chis LaForte - 59 - Michigan/Houston

       George Walks 3 - 59 - Michigan/Illinois

       Ken Ward - 59 - Virginia/Baylor

74.  Justin Hallack - 58 - Baylor/Gonzaga

       Brandon Satterwhite - 58 - Alabama/Ohio State

76.  Liz Carew - 57 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Kyle Henderson 1 - 57 - Gonzaga/Oklahoma State

       Max Macon 2 - 57 - Michigan/West Virginia

79.  Arlene Amo Hopps - 56 - Villanova/Kansas

       Eric Inge - 56 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Miles Jackson - 56 - Illinois/Alabama

       Max Macon 3 - 56 - FSU/Arkansas

       Sasha Moon - 56 - Gonzaga/Illinois

84.  Karen Katz - 55 - Illinois/Iowa

       Katie Kollmeyer - 55 - Michigan/Illinois

       Max Macon 1 - 55 - Gonzaga/Baylor

       Keith Zdrowak - 55 - Ohio State/Gonzaga

88.  Scott Bieterman - 54 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Rich Samuels 3 - 54 - Gonzaga/Illinois

90.  Mac Kroesen - 53 - Gonzaga/Illinois

       Joshua Zdrowak - 53 - Baylor/Michigan

92.  Colleen Hamilton 1 - 52 - FSU/Arkansas

       Kyle Henderson 2 - 52 - Baylor/Gonzaga

       Greg Lieberman - 52 - Michigan/Ohio State

       Kisha Marzouca 1 - 52 - Illinois/Michigan

       Rich Samuels 2 - 52 - Baylor/Iowa

       Hannah Sosa - 52 - Florida/Michigan

98.  Braeden Helland 1 - 51 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Quinn Jackson - 51 - Illinois/Gonzaga

       Jessica Samuels - 51 - Gonzaga/West Virginia

       Day Yi 2 - 51 - Michigan/Illinois

102.  Luis Briones - 50 - Ohio State/Gonzaga

         Carolyn Fowler - 50 - Illinois/Alabama

         Alvaro Gonzalez - 50 - Gonzaga/Baylor

         Amanda Staudt - 50 - Illinois/Michigan

106.  Carolyn Fowler & Janey Reynolds - 49 - Illinois/Gonzaga

         Marcus Jackson - 49 - Gonzaga/Illinois

         Shane Dogmillionaire Jernigan 1 - 49 - Illinois/Gonzaga

         Michael McNally - 49 - Illinois/Gonzaga

         George Walks 1 - 49 - Gonzaga/Illinois

111.  Shane Dogmillionaire Jernigan 2 - 48 - Gonzaga/Illinois

112.  Dan Barsky 2 - 47 - Illinois/Gonzaga

113.  Dave Marzouca 2 - 45 - Ohio State/Kansas

         Barkley Sosa - 45 - Florida/Virginia

115.  Blake Jackson - 44 - Alabama/Ohio State

116.  Wes Wiggins - 43 - Gonzaga/Oklahoma State

117.  Braeden Helland 2 - 41 - Iowa/Ohio State

118.  Sean McInerney - 39 - Ohio State/Iowa

         Brian McMahon - 39 - Gonzaga/Ohio State

120.  Bubba Zdrowak - 35 - Alabama/Oklahoma State