The Final Four Chronicles: THE DEPARTURE

 

So the Michigan Wolverines are the champions, and we are EXHAUSTED!  That does not mean that we cannot get a few more shots up on the way out.  

07:45 - All are up.  It is still freakin' cold - 36 degrees Fahrenheit!!!  Isn't this April?

09:53 - AirBnB cleaned, and we are showered, packed and leaving for breakfast.

10:05 - Reacting to Trump's tweet today about destroying a civilization today, Sinickal notes that "We might actually be the terrorists."

10:08 - We enter Lincoln Square Pancake House.  As we sit down at our table we notice that Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean is playing.  Oh yeah, we picked the right place!

10:15 - After coffee, and while perusing the menu, we notice that they have Boston Creme pancakes - AS A SIDE to their egg entrees (skillets and omelets)!!!  Yes please (at least for Sinickal and Pepster)!

11:00 - I think it is important to note that this place is AMAZING!!!  Traditional diner with mostly traditional breakfasts, but some slight twists.  To quote our waitress Michelle, "Everything here is good.  Even the butter.  We make it in house!"

11:03 - Leave Lincoln Square Pancake House.  It has not warmed up one degree.  In fact, it feels colder!

11:21 - Drop off Pepster at IND.

11:42 - After Pepster clears security and is walking to his gate, he sees a police officer walking through the concourse with a sealed and clearly labeled evidence box.  

11:47 - As Pepster enters his concourse, he sees a police handler with a dog that is going ABSOLUTELY NUTS!!!  Nobody is around and neither is anything.  This can't be good.

12:17 - Pepster is posted up at the bar nearest his gate, several people who are not together but only started talking because the bartender admonished them for looking at their phones begin talking about Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman-winning, soon-to-be 1st overall draft pick from Indiana via California via Miami.  The bartender chimes in that he was just in the airport the other say sitting at her bar.  One of the guys - wearing Indiana gear - says that people look at him like Jesus around these parts.  Pepster reminds them his name is Mendoza, so they probably look at him like Hay-Zues.  Laughter ensues, but only after a two-second delay.

12:20 - On the drive to CVG, Sinickal remarks that "you know you are in the middle of nowhere when you see 4G on your phone." Tony replies that he knows because he is looking out the window. 

12:59 - Sinickal, Kev-O and Tony arrive at the CVG rental car return center, then head to the Delta Sky Club. Unfortunately, we have arrived more than 3 hours before our flight. Agent takes pity on us and lets us through.

13:10 - Sinickal and Kev-O realize that the long weekend requires a soft landing. To the bar for bourbon!

14:02 - While finishing the final work on the tournament squares, Sinickal reminds Tony how close he was to winning the final square (he needed Michigan to miss two free throws at the end of the game). He then is told how much the square was worth and says that "if I had known how much the square was worth last night, I would have shot the guy myself."

14:00 - 14:20 - A guy sitting two stools down at the bar is asked by another two people if he could move down one seat so they can sit together.  He obliges.  She starts talking to him and at first he is cordial answering her questions:  He is a famous criminal lawyer in DC, Maryland; he went to Morehouse; is an Alpha Phi Alpha, Incorporated (his words); he defends white-collar criminals - like drug dealers; and they know someone in common.  She starts to ask him incessantly how he knows this guy Tony, she says they should call him, and then just starts to cross-examine him about everything.  Finally the guy tells her that he used to bust Tony's ass, that is how he knows Tony.  Not taking the hint, she then starts to talk about everything else, including that Michigan won the championship (she is an alumna), and that Morehouse hasn't won anything.  He tells her he has won a lot of trials, then she tells him if she was a lawyer she would beat his ass.  Finally guy next to me looks to the other guy in the couple in a way that says, "Come get your girl."  Other guy, getting the hint just says, "She ain't my girl.  I mean, we traveled to the game together because we both went to Michigan, but she ain't my girl.  I don't control her like that."  And this was only part of the conversation for that 20 minute time period.  Pepster almost wishes he didn't have to leave to go board my flight.

14:41 - Pepster boards his flight behind a kid in his 20s wearing a Duke hoodie.  Fifty or 60-something guy in the aisle seat on the last row of first class asks Duke kid to lean down and tells him, "You guys played hard."  He said this, but sarcastically.  Duke kid keeps walking.  Women, who does not look like she is with UConn man but is sitting next to him says, "He thinks you're being an asshole."  He retorts, "So what if I am?"

14:59 - Pepster wheels up to CLT.

15:05 - Mike and Larissa Hanpeter enter the CVG Delta Sky Club and join us. They know Sinickal and Kev-O from their golf club in Washington DC and are on their way home from Oakland. We are all on the same flight back to DCA

16:24 - Pepster wheels down in CLT.

16:30 - Tony found our Uber driver with too much cologne's girlfriend on his flight.  Ladies, what is the ladies' perfume equivalent of Drakkar Noir?  Seriously, we need to add it to our repertoire of disses.

16:32 - Sinickal and Kev-O board flight. Mary Washington basketball team - the team that just won the Division III national championship, is on the flight.  One dude is still wearing a part of the net he cut down around his neck!  THAT is a flex! They walked past us in first class to their coach seats as we all said congratulations.

16:50 - Sinickal and Kev-O wheels up to DCA.

17:55 - Tony wheels up to LGA.

18:31 - Sinickal and Kev-O land in DCA. 

18:53 - Pepster wheels up to PBI.  After his Indianapolis bar experience he is happy for quiet in Charlotte.

19:30 - Tony lands in LGA!

20:43 - Pepster lands at PBI, maybe his last flight before it changes to DJT.

It has been another great tournament weekend, even if the basketball wasn't.  See everyone in a revamped and renewed, and apparently vibrant Detroit!!!  Might even bring the passports for a sojourn into Windsor!!!

Final Four Chronicles: THE FINALS

 

Can UConn win its third title in four seasons?  Will Michigan just continue what it started this season and maul the Huskies?  Let's find out!!!

08:00 - All up ... almost.

10:37 - Signs of life from Kev-O.

10:59 - Continuing a conversation from yesterday, Sinickal texts Allison to remind her that "funny is the point!"

11:19 - We have scheduled Maguire University for a home-and-home series next year.

11:38 - Off to lunch.

11:39 - So we messed up big time.  For the first time ever, the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, the National Invitational Tournament, and the Division II and III Championships were all here in the same location.  Since it was the first time ever, we did not expect or anticipate it.  There could have been A LOT more basketball this weekend.  We will rectify this next year.  [Ed. Note - This scheduling was changed because the NABC annual convention is always on-site of the Final Four.  With all the tournaments here, all of the coaches can also be in attendance.]

11:44 - We pass a building that is very obviously an old/former church.  It is now a dispensary.  The stained-glass windows framing the front door are of Bob Marley and Willie Nelson.

11:50 - Enter Fat Dan's Deli.  After walking around the block to find it.

11:51:30 - It is a Chicago-Style deli.  The Chicago Combo with is 1/2 sausage and 1/2 Italian Beef with peppers, dipped, is calling Sinickal's name.  Pepster orders the same.

11:56 - It arrives and is glorious.  Tony orders the Italian Beef, and Kev-O has one of the best Cuban Sandwiches he has ever had.

11:59 - The guy at the bar sitting next to Sinickal strikes up a conversation.   He ends up being the President of the Indy Eleven, a USL soccer team.

12:06 - A sign behind the bar of Champagne Velvet Brand Beer.  Apparently, Miller High Life ISN'T the champagne of beers!

12:07 - The bar does not carry Champagne Velvet.

12:21 - Kev-O notices this gem on one of the walls.

12:23 - OK, this place is just loaded with amazing signs.  One is from Burn Em Brewing, whose motto is "Comforting the Disturbed and Disturbing the Comfortable!"

13:11 - Pepster buys Tony a hug from the bartender.  They are actually listed on the menu.  Hugs are free, but kisses are $5.

13:50 - As Kev-O is on a call outside, the bartender catches Sinickal, Pepster, and Tony all looking at their phones.  She asks why everyone is so serious.  Sinickal said that it's bad as he was doom scrolling.  Pepster goes, "Serious? I was checking some gambling odds."  Tony, "I was just looking at porn!"  [Ed. Note - He wasn't.  We think.]

13:58 - We all started to notice the pheromones.

13:59 - Bartender asks Pepster if he would like another Old Style.  He says "No.  I would love another Old Style."  Bartender immediately yelled, "Woooooo!"   Out of nowhere from some other region of the deli a waitress yells, "Wooooooo!"

14:08 - Sinickal after returning from a bio break mentioned that there is a cuck chair (and a spare) in the bathroom.  Seriously, a chair sitting against the wall facing the toilet.  Kev-O says, "Yeah, I tied my shoes on it earlier!"

14:17 - Discussing the reasons for the chair being in the bathroom, the bartender says, "I have not heard of untoward things happening in that chair.  I have heard not a thing." Do we believe her, or is she hiding something?

14:35 - A local couple sits down next to us, although the guy is covered head-to-toe in Michigan gear.  She roots for Auburn, so she watched the NIT final last night.  He, obviously, is a Michigan fan.  Strike up one of many conversations, but when he says he is from Marysville, Ohio, where a Honda plant is, he notes, "I hope you don't drive a Honda, because it was likely made by my classmates.  That isn't good."

14:59 - Discussing Southwestern Central and our merch shop with this couple as Sinickal is going to text the link to the lady.  Kev-O tells him he should just get a QR code, followed by, "Damnit, why am I helping you."  He claims he has Stockholm Syndrome and will likely be the first recipient of the Southwestern Central Stockholm Syndrome Scholarship.  Pepster immediately starts to call him "Patty Hearst!"

15:18 - Having a discussion about extroverts and introverts.  Trying to convince everyone that he is an introvert, Sinickal explains that he set his mancave up so he can just be in his basement by himself, and that Allison doesn't even want to go down there.  Pepster remarks, "So introverts include people hiding from their spouses?  That's like 90% of the population!"

15:21 - Sinickal re-sent the text to the couple next to us because he messed up the area code the first time and mistakenly sent it to someone in Quebec.  Kev-O tells Pepster to start brushing up on international law because we are going to need help with all the tariff issues.

15:21:04 - Sinickal notices HE SAID WE!!!!

15:24 - While perusing the merch store, the lady says on her upcoming girls' golf trip her team is going to be the Scorpions and wear polos!!!!

15:25 - We tell her that every time one of them nails a putt, they have to yell, "Stick 'Em!"

15:44 - Tony notices that they have actual bleachers seats - two of them - outside of the bathroom door.  (This place loves it some Chicago!).  We immediately dub it "The On-Deck Circle."

15:56 - We leave Fat Dan's and notice we have received a parking ticket.  Sinickal goes, "But I paid!  Have we been here more than two hours?"

15:57 - We all stop laughing.

16:21 - Back at home after a stop at the store.

16:30 - Another 48 Hours is on!  We somehow always find an Eddie Murphy flick on these trips!

16:45 - Nice little power nap time.

17:50 - Uber ordered.

17:56 - In Uber to Tom's Watch Bar.

18:07 - At Tom's Watch Bar.  This line is way too long to wait in queue.  We are walking to the stadium until we find a place with a shorter line.

18:14 - Dick's Last Resort it is.  No line.

18:22 - Glancing at the television sets behind the bar, and the temperature is going to be a low of 32 tonight.  We thought it was April?!

18:51 - Unc is definitely trying to hit on the waitress that is 40+ years his junior.

19:47 - Guy on the other side of the bar is lifting his shirt and taking selfies of himself.

19:55 - One bartender asks the other if he has vehicular transportation.  Yes, those words exactly.

20:24 - We head to the stadium.

20:34 - Enter Lucas Oil Stadium.

20:42 - A whole lot of Michigan fans being incredibly disrespectful during the national anthem.  We don't think anybody will be protesting them.

20:48 - House DJ does a pre-game yell, and this place is about 90% Michigan fans.

20:50 - Tip-Off.  Radio Silence.

21:14 - We eschewed our seats and decided to stand in the standing room only area, which is close to three separate concessions, the largest men's room we have ever seen in a stadium, and the exit.  As we are standing, guy walking down the concourse just yelling at everybody, "This isn't football.  This isn't football."  Security actually came up to us to ask what he was saying, because they thought he might be trying to start something.

21:20 - We refer to this game as a "Rock Fight" because of how poorly both teams are shooting.

21:23 -We found Waldo.  Student in the Michigan section dressed up as Waldo and got pictured on the Jumbotron.

21:47 - Halftime.  Michigan up 33-29.

21:59 - UConn's "Spirit Program" performs.  Not cheerleaders.  Spirt Program.  We are doomed as a country.

22:00 - UConn's mascot is still a furry.

22:21 - They show Bruce Pearl on the Jumbotron.  Everybody, and we mean EVERYBODY, Boos.

22:45 - During a second-half break, they play Journey's Don't Stop Believing, which apparently won a fan poll over Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and the Black-Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling.  Kev-O goes, "Yeah.  This one is on us."

23:03 - We call time of death.

23:19 - Michigan wins the national championship!  Hail to the Victors!  Wait a minute.  We have not heard Hail to the Victors all night.  That is odd.

23:28 - Elliott Cadeau is named MOP.  

23:34 - There it is.  Hail to the Victors is finally being played.

23:58 - ONE SHINING MOMENT!

00:02 - Leave Lucas Oil Stadium.

00:15 - Loughmillers is closed!  Huh?

00:20 - To Ten Hands at the Westin.

00:39 - We get our drinks and are sitting out in the lobby.  A group of 6 or so people in the couch/table area next to us is talking about the game.  They are all Michigan fans.  One of them says that if Lendeborg had two good legs this would have been a much different game.  The only woman in the group said, "He had 2 good legs.  He didn't have 3 good legs!"

00:40 - One of the guys at the same table jokes, "Such bad shooting.  We need to fire the coach!"

00:45 - Pepster starts talking to the Michigan people next to us when one of them shows a picture on his phone of himself guarding Magic Johnson in high school.

01:03 - Checking some news about the game and The Score Mobile app has the headline, "Michigan Thrives in Rock Fight."  Were they listening in on our conversation from earlier?

01:05 - Enter our Uber home.  Way too much Drakkar Noir going on.  Either the driver spilled some, or he dropped off some high school kids earlier in the evening.

01:11 - Home.

01:17 - The Rundown is on.

01:32 - Pepster and Tony turn in.  Sinickal and Kev-O not far behind!

NCAA Tournament Pool 2026 - The Final Four

 

This is a quick update to the standings going into tonight's Championship Game.  This is unofficial.  Please give me a week or so after tonight's game to finalize calculations, re-score all of the sheets in contention, and to distribute payments.  Tonight's game is worth 28 points.

Standings after the Elite 8/Day 2

1.  Benny Merchant - 130 - MICHIGAN

     Silas Nichols - 130 - MICHIGAN

3.  Katie Zdrowak - 128 - UCONN

4.  Jeff Plamondon 1 - 116 - MICHIGAN

5.  Ashley Poer 1 - 112 - MICHIGAN

    Chuck Whitcomb - 112

7.  Kyle Henderson - 111 - UCONN

8.  Jason Spuhler - 110

9.  Brent Bellinger B - 107 - MICHIGAN

     Floyd Fonte 1 - 107 - MICHIGAN

     Rich Samuels - 107

12.  Colleen Giamberini - 106 - MICHIGAN

       John Hedgpeth - 106

       Justin Yung - 106 - MICHIGAN

15.  Shane Jernigan 1 - 105 - MICHIGAN

       David Kennedy - 105

       Mac Kroesen - 105 - MICHIGAN

       Martha Kroesen - 105

       Measha Williams (Canes 2 Bracket) - 105

       Mike Wolff 1 - 105

21.  Josh Zdrowak - 103

22.  Shane Jernigan 2 - 102

23.  Jim Coleman - 101

24.  Stephanie Henderson - 100

       Steven Usma 2 - 100

26.  Joel Chernoff - 99 - MICHIGAN

       Gracie Fonte - 99

       Hazy Frank - 99 - MICHIGAN

       Max Macon 2 - 99 - Florida

       Measha Williams (Buddy Canes 1 Bracket) - 99

31.  Glen Merchant - 98

       Steven Usma 3 - 98

33.  Jonathan Cox 2 - 97

       Mark Holbert 2 - 97 - UCONN

       Guy Hughes - 97

       Monte Lambert 1 - 97 - Houston

       Salvatore Plamondon - 97

       Bubba Zdrowak - 97

39.   Randy Bennett - 96 - MICHIGAN

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 96

41.  Trey Angus - 95

       Sean McInerney 2 - 95 - MICHIGAN

       Sean McInerney 3 - 95

       William Pujals - 95

       George Walks 4 - 95

46.  Paul Cummings 3 - 94 - MICHIGAN

       Rylee Montague - 94 - MICHIGAN

       Jonathan Wasserman - 94

49.  Jenna Finkelstein - 92

50.  Brent Bellinger A - 91

       Barbara Curlett - 91

       Mango Merchant - 91

       Brigadier General Kareem Montague - 91

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 91

       Day Yi 2 - 91

56.  Daniel Barsky 1 - 90

       Ty Hedgpeth - 90

       Braeden Helland - 90

       Mike Litsey - 90

       Steven Usma 1 - 90

61.  Carolyn Fowler - 89 - UCONN

       Adam Jorgensen - 89

       Steven Usma 4 - 89 - MICHIGAN

64.  Steven Usma 5 - 88

65.  Daniel Barsky 2 - 87

       Paul Cummings - 87

       Crew Ferguson - 87

       Alyssa Hopps - 87

       Si "Papa Si" Nichols - 87

       Brittany Sosa - 87

       Cheryl Spuhler - 87

       Jonathan Wasserman 2 - 87 - MICHIGAN

73.  Justine Frank - 86

       Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 86

       Annette Pritchard 1 - 86

       Amy Zdrowak - 86

77.  Jonathan Cox 2 - 85

       Karen Katz 2 - 85

       Jane Reynolds - 85

80.  Mitchell K (Lamb) - 84

81.  Floyd Fonte 3 - 83

       Matt Thibaut - 83

83.  Max Macon 4 - 82

       Chris Simmons - 82

       Stephanie Soplop 2 - 82 - UCONN

86.  Matt Hopps - 81

       Karen Katz 1 - 81

       Katie Kollmeyer - 81 - MICHIGAN

89.  Megan Corrado - 80

       Paul Cummings 2 - 80

       Arlene Amo Hopps - 80 - UCONN

       Vincent Plamondon - 80

       Amanda Staudt - 80

       Measha Williams (Canes 3 Bracket) - 80

95.  Marcus Jackson - 79

96.   Henry Transecki - 78

        Biscuit Zdrowak - 78

98.  Duncan Merchant - 77

99.  Blake Jackson - 76

100.  Hannah Sosa - 75

101.  Quinn Jackson - 74

         Paul Kludt - 74

         Dave Piasecki - 74

104.  Ashley Poer 2 - 73

         George Walks 2 - 73

         Day Yi 1 - 73

107.  Dwayne Cushman - 72

         Max Macon 3 - 72

         Natalie Moon - 72

         Kingfish Parham 2 - 72

         Annette Pritchard 2 - 72 

         Pepe Sosa 2 - 72

113.  Keith Zdrowak - 71

114.  Sasha Moon - 70

         Jeff Plamondon - 70

         Lily Spuhler - 70

117.  Jenna Finkelstein - 69

         Keith W. (Lamb) - 69

         Javier Rodriguez 2 - 69

         Jasmine Tran - 69

         George Walks 1 - 69

122.  Skip LaForte - 68

         Monte Lambert 2 - 68

124.  Stacia Wilkaitis - 67

125.  Barkley Sosa - 66 - UCONN

126.  James Garvin - 65

         Mark Holbert 1 - 65

         Max Macon 1 - 65

         Caroline Spuhler - 65

130.  Floyd Fonte 2 - 63

         George Walks 3 - 63

132.  Megan Cox - 61

         Jacey Fowler - 61

134.  Sean McInerney 1 - 60

135.  Dawn Lamb - 55

136.  Stephanie Soplop 1 - 54

         Mike Wolff 2 - 54

138.  Kingfish Parham 1 - 52

139.  Colbie (Lamb) - 51

140.  Keith W 1 (Lamb) - 49

141.  Allison Parker - 47

NCAA Tournament Pool 2026 - Elite 8/Day 2

 

A note - this is the last full post during this tournament pool.  Yes, I will drop a standings update, maybe after the Semi-Finals, or perhaps only after the Finals, and I am going to try to do a quick synopsis of who will win on the different scenarios in the final four so that you are all clear as to what could happen, but those will just be quick updates since, as most of you longer-time participants know, I will be in Indianapolis for the festivities.  I, along with Sinickal, Tony, and Kev-O, will be plausibly-live blogging our experience and posting those on this site, so you can follow along with us.  

But for now, WE HAVE A WINNER!!!  No matter what occurs in Indianapolis, nobody can catch our last place participant, Allison Parker of Washington, DC.  She is in last place, and she has no possibilities of earning any more points.  And yes, this is the same Allison that put little red hearts around every one of her Duke selections, just to try to get under my skin.  Well, Duke broke her little read hearts and bracket.  She will receive her money back for her efforts!!!  Congratulations.

But, she was not alone in having her heart broken by Duke.  Duke was the overall number 1 seed in the tournament, and a favorite among a lot of brackets to win the whole tournament.  They are removed as potential champions in our brackets, but all teams that remain have entrants that chose them.  Once again, our collective champions are:  Alabama, ARIZONA, CONNECTICUT, Duke, Florida, Houston, ILLINOIS, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, MICHIGAN, Michigan State, North Carolina, Purdue, St. John's and Virginia.

But, Duke didn't break everybody's heart.  I, for instance, had Duke in the Final Four - but I am absolutely ecstatic over UConn's comeback, mainly because of the way it occurred.  Duke up 19 at one point, and up 15 at halftime (more on this later).  After Duke scored to start the second half, I turned to Racecar as we were watching the game at a local Happy Hour spot, and told her, "UConn is in this game as long as they keep their point differential to almost the same as minutes remaining in the game."  In other words, they don't have to do it all at once.  And they didn't.  They nipped away here-and-there until it was close at the end.  And then Braylon Mullins happened.  

We could get into the fact that UConn blew it by not fouling immediately upon the inbounds with ten seconds left in the game, or that freshman Boozer-not-named Cameron panicked and tried to pass over two attacking defenders - including Mullins - that were clearly intending to foul him, or that the Boozer-that-will-not-be-drafted-in-the-lottery-this-year didn't even have to advance the ball past the midcourt line and could have just stood there until he was fouled, or that the Duke frontcourt performers were nowhere to be found as outlets for the not-as-good-as-my-twin-brother-Boozer, or any of a number of other mistakes on this play, but the bottom line is Mullins stole the ball, passed it to Alex Karaban - he of the most wins of any player in UConn history, who quickly gave it back to Mullins - the Gatorade Player of the Year from his state last year - who drained a shot that will go down in history.  Not just because it was a last second buzzer-beater, and not just because it sent UConn to the Final Four, and not just because it was against Duke, but because it completed this MAJOR comeback!

As soon as the ball went through the hoop, I turned to Racecar next to me at the bar and started singing One Shining Moment!"  But don't just take it from me.  Take it from fellow Final Four traveler Kev-O, a Kentucky alumnus, who stated in a text, "Oh wow, Duke, what's it gonna be like to see that fucking shit for the next three decades?!"  Esteemed television journalist Willie Geist even said, "Every time Duke loses on a buzzer beater, an angel gets its wings."

But, enough making fun, especially since we have at least one Duke alumna in the pool, and it always hurts to lose on that type of play.  Duke has historically been on the giving end of those, it was just their turn.  And, they had not been playing championship caliber basketball this tournament - and certainly not like Michigan and Arizona.  Remember Siena took them to the brink in round 1, and if they just had a sixth man that could stand up and run, they probably would have won, which would have made Barkley Sosa of Riviera Beach, Florida happy as that was an upset selection of hers.

Michigan is just trucking people, as shown by the fact that its victory over Tennessee was the largest margin of victory in the Elite 8 since Michigan defeated Virginia in 1989.  That reminds me, here are the Stats of the Day.

Stats of the Day

4.  12 years old - Braylon Mullins age when he hit his game-winner against Duke.  Seriously, look at him.

3.  33 points - Michigan's margin of victory which is the largest in the Elite 8 since 1989.

2.  90 points - Michigan has scored 90 points in 4 straight tourney games, the first time since UConn in 1995.  (Foreshadowing).

1.  134-1 - The overall records in the NCAA Tournament of number 1 seeds when holding a 15-point lead at halftime.  Prior to yesterday it was 134-0.

OK, so I admit, it probably isn't exactly foreshadowing if the thing being foreshadowed is only 2 sentences after the foreshadowed occurrence.  But here we are in the 1995 men's tournament, one of my absolute favorite tournaments.  I will start by giving the rundown of the UConn Huskies, and the 4 straight games in which they scored 90 points.

UConn entered the tournament 26-4, and earned the second seed in the west bracket, and played its first two games in Salt Lake City, Utah.  This team was absolutely loaded, especially in the backcourt with Ray Allen at the 2, Doron Sheffer at Kevin Ollie at the point (they ran a 3-guard lineup), and Donny Marshall and Travis Knight in the front court.   Three-point shooting specialist Brian Fair played significant minutes off the bench.  In the first game, the Huskies overmatched Chattanooga, which was led by Maurio Hanson's game-high 28 points, but fell to UConn 100-71.  The Huskies spread out the scoring with 5 players in double digits, led by Donny Marshall's 22.  In the second round, Cincinnati awaited, led by strong man Danny Fortson.  UConn was able to flummox the Bearcats leader on offense, as he was limited to 20 minutes because of foul trouble and ultimately fouled out.  Donny Marshall again led UConn in scoring with 25 points and 7 rebounds, with Ray Allen adding 24 and 5 himself, as UConn advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in Oakland, California with a hard-fought 96-91 win.

In the Sweet Sixteen, UConn had to play the Maryland Terrapins, led by future number 1 overall NBA draft pick Joe Smith, Keith Booth, Duane Simpkins, and one of the best names in college sports history - Exree Hipp (pronounced X-Ray).  The Terrapins were gamely led by Smith and Johnny Rhodes, who each scored 22 points, but that wasn't enough as the Huskies won 99-89.  Donny Marshall led the way with 27 points and 9 rebounds.  Ray Allen added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Travis Knight scored 15, Doron Sheffer had 12 points with 7 assists, and Eric Hayward hit double figures off the bench with 12.  In the Elite 8, the number 1 seeded UCLA Bruins would prove to be a formidable competition to the Huskies, but even UCLA could not hold UConn under 90 points, surrendering 96.  The good news for UCLA is that they won the game by scoring 102.  The team was led by superstar Ed O'Bannon and his brother Charles, slick point guard Tyus Edney, uber-athletic wing Toby Bailey and man mountain George Zidek.  Against UConn, Bailey proved to be too much to handle scoring 26 points and adding 6 rebounds and 9 assists.  Edney scored 22 and dished 10 assists.  The O'Bannon brothers each scored in double digits, as did J.R. Henderson, Jr. off the bench.  UCLA advanced to the final four, but none of that would have happened had Tyus Edney not made this miraculous play in the second round to defeat Missouri, after the Tigers took a one-point lead with 4.8 seconds remaining.  All Edney did was go COAST-TO-COAST.   

In the semi-finals, UCLA would face the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who had "Big Country" Bryant Reeves, and a bunch of spare parts.  Reeves scored a game high 21 and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds in Okie State's first round 73-49 victory over Drexel.  He then bettered fellow future-NBAer Antonio McDyess of Alabama to a draw (26 points and 7 rebounds to 22 and 17!).  Randy Rutherford's 18 allowed the Cowboys to coast to an easy 66-52 win.  Wake Forest was next in East Rutherford in the Sweet 16.  The Deamon Deacons were loaded, with Tim Duncan - Yes, THAT Tim Duncan, and Randolph Childress, dominating most games.  Duncan only scored 12 points in this game, but grabbed 22 rebounds, while Childress led with 22 points, but on 6-16 shooting.  Reeves was somewhat neutralized by Duncan, scoring only 15 with 9 rebounds, but Randy Rutherford shone again, with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, to get to the Elite 8. Another dominant big man in Marcus Camby awaited as the UMass Minutemen were soaring.  UMass was no one-man team however, as Lou Roe and Dana Dingle ran the wings, with Carmelo Travieso handling point guard duties.  This was not enough firepower to defeat Oklahoma State as Reeves exploded for 24 and 10, and Rutherford added another 19.  Their defense was astounding, holding UMass to only two double digit scorers, led by Travieso's 11.  The Final Four it is.  

On the other side of the semi-finals was North Carolina and Arkansas.  I won't belabor any stories of Arkansas, as I have previously discussed their 1994 team in a previous year's update.  Here is that update of the champion ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS from 2022. But in the semi-finals, the Razorbacks defeated a loaded, AND I MEAN LOADED, North Carolina squad 75-68.  The stars for the Tar Heels that year were Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse, ably assisted by Jeff McInnis, Donald Williams, Dante Calabria (who I played a lot against in an over-40 league), Pat Sullivan, Shammond Williams and Serge Zwikker.  Williams had 18 points to lead the Tar Heels, but shot 7-19 from the floor.  Stackhouse added 18, McInnis 13, and Wallace scored 19, with 10 rebounds and 5 technical fouls (OK I made that last one up).  Arkansas was paced by Corliss "Big Nasty" Williamson's 21 and 10, Dwight Stewart contributed 15 off the bench, and Clint McDaniel added 13, to send the Razorbacks to the title game.

In the championship, UCLA's Ed O'Bannon had one of the best championship games scoring 30 points, grabbing 17 rebounds, dishing 3 assists and creating 3 steals.  He was ably aided by Taby Bailey's 26 and 9, and even George Zidek scored 14.  The Razorbacks just couldn't repeat 1994's magic, as the starters shot 15-43 for the field, and were paced by Clint McDaniel's 16 points.  UCLA won the championship 89-78, and Ed O'Bannon was named the MOP (although seriously a case could have been made for Bailey!).

But when I say favorite tournaments, look at some of the players I mentioned just in this recap of a few teams:  Ray Allen, Donny Marshall, Danny Fortson, Ed O'Bannon, Toby Bailey, Tyus Edney, Bryant Reeves, Tim Duncan, Randolph Childress, Marcus Camby, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Jeff McInnis, Donald Williams, Corliss Williamson, Scotty Thurman.   That tournament was LOADED!!!  Much as expert say this year's freshman class is loaded.  And none of them even mention Braylon Mullins!!!

And speaking of UConn's victory, WE ONCE AGAIN HAVE A NEW LEADER!!!  Jason Spuhler of Acworth, Georgia has taken over first place.  Good for you Jason.  However, as you will see in the standings, Jason has Houston winning it all, so it is still a free-for-all among a lot of the top scorers, including Rich Samuels of Palm Beach Gardens, and Jim Coleman of Boynton Beach, Florida, who sit in second and third.  Remember, 16 points per game in the semi-finals and 28 for the championship game, so if you have teams alive, you have a chance.  And speaking of top scorers ...

Players of the Day

10.  Blanca Quinonez, UConn - 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

9.  Elliot Cadeau, Michigan - 8 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

8.  Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame - 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

7.  Cameron Boozer, Duke - 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks

6.  Taina Mair, Duke - 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals

5.  Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan - 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks

4.  Sarah Strong, Duke - 21 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals, 3 blocks

3.  Braylon Mullins, UConn - 10 points, 1 rebound - 1 really huge buzzer beater!

2.  Lauren Betts, UCLA - 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks

1.  Tarris Reed, UConn - 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks

And now for what you all really care to see - the standings.  Remember, I am only human and you can feel free to check me on my calculations.  I will be happy to review if you have a different number than I.  I will, however, check your entire bracket for errors, and abide by the recount.  Onto the standings ...

Standings after the Elite 8/Day 2

1.  Jason Spuhler - 110 - Houston/ARIZONA

2.  Rich Samuels - 107 - ARIZONA/Duke

3.  Jim Coleman - 101 - ARIZONA/ILLINOIS

4.  Stephanie Henderson - 100 - ILLINOIS/ARIZONA

     Jeff Plamondon 1 - 100 - MICHIGAN/Florida

     Steven Usma 2 - 100 - Duke/ARIZONA

7.  Max Macon 2 - 99 - Florida/ARIZONA

     Measha Williams (Buddy Canes 1 Bracket) - 91 - Duke/ARIZONA

9.  Benny Merchant - 98 - MICHIGAN/UCONN

     Glen Merchant - 98 - Duke/ARIZONA

     Silas Nichols - 98 - MICHIGAN/UCONN

12.  Jonathan Cox 2 - 97 - Houston/ARIZONA

       Monte Lambert 1 - 97 - Houston/ARIZONA

14.  Ashley Poer 1 - 96 - MICHIGAN/Houston

       Pepe Sosa 1 - 96 - ARIZONA/Florida

       Chuck Whitcomb - 96 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       Katie Zdrowak - 96 - UCONN/MICHIGAN

18.  Kyle Henderson - 95 - UCONN/Gonzaga

19.  Jenna Finkelstein - 92 - Florida/ARIZONA

20.  Brent Bellinger A - 91 - ARIZONA/Florida

       Brent Bellinger B - 91 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State

       Floyd Fonte 1 - 91 - MICHIGAN/Florida

       Mango Merchant - 91 - ARIZONA/Duke

       Brigadier General Kareem Montague - 91 - ARIZONA/Michigan State

25.  Daniel Barsky 1 - 90 - ARIZONA/Florida

       Colleen Giamberini - 90 - MICHIGAN/Houston

       John Hedgpeth - 90 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       Ty Hedgpeth - 90 - Duke/ARIZONA

       Steven Usma 1 - 90 - ARIZONA/Michigan State

       Justin Yung - 90 - MICHIGAN/Duke

31.  Carolyn Fowler - 89 - UCONN/Purdue

       Shane Jernigan 1 - 89 - MICHIGAN/Duke

       Adam Jorgensen - 89 - ARIZONA/ILLINOIS

       David Kennedy - 89 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       Mac Kroesen - 89 - MICHIGAN/ILLINOIS

       Martha Kroesen - 89 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Measha Williams (Canes 2 Bracket) - 89 - ARIZONA/UCONN

       Mike Wolff 1 - 89 -  Duke/MICHIGAN

39.  Steven Usma 5 - 88 - Florida/Iowa State

40.  Daniel Barsky 2 - 87 - Houston/ARIZONA

       Paul Cummings - 87 - Duke/Purdue

       Crew Ferguson - 87 - Duke/ARIZONA

       Si "Papa Si" Nichols - 87 - ARIZONA/Michigan State

       Brittany Sosa - 87 - Florida/ARIZONA

       Cheryl Spuhler - 87 - Florida/PURDUE

       Josh Zdrowak - 87 - Duke/MICHIGAN

47.  Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 86 - Alabama/Duke

       Shane Jernigan 2 - 86 - ILLINOIS/MICHIGAN

       Annette Pritchard 1 - 86 - Florida/ARIZONA

50.  Karen Katz 2 - 85 - ARIZONA/Michigan State

51.  Jonathan Cox 2 - 85 - Duke/ARIZONA

52.  Mitchell K (Lamb) - 84 - ARIZONA/Houston

  

53.  Joel Chernoff - 83 - MICHIGAN/Duke

       Gracie Fonte - 83 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Hazy Frank - 83 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State

56.  Max Macon 4 - 82 - Purdue/Duke

       Chris Simmons - 82 - ARIZONA/Florida

       Steven Usma 3 - 82 - Duke/MICHIGAN

59.  Mark Holbert 2 - 81 - UCONN/Purdue

       Matt Hopps - 81 - ARIZONA/Michigan State

       Guy Hughes - 81 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Karen Katz 1 - 81 - ARIZONA/Houston

       Salvatore Plamondon - 81 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Bubba Zdrowak - 81 - Florida/MICHIGAN

65.   Randy Bennett - 80 - MICHIGAN/Florida

        Megan Corrado - 80 - Houston/ARIZONA

        Paul Cummings 2 - 80 - ARIZONA/Michigan State

        Vincent Plamondon - 80 - Duke/Purdue

        Amanda Staudt - 80 - ARIZONA/ILLINOIS

        Measha Williams (Canes 3 Bracket) - 80 - Duke/ARIZONA

71.  Trey Angus - 79 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       Sean McInerney 2 - 79 - MICHIGAN/Florida

       Sean McInerney 3 - 79 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       William Pujals - 79 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       George Walks 4 - 79 - Florida/MICHIGAN

76.  Paul Cummings 3 - 78 - MICHIGAN/DUKE

       Rylee Montague - 78 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State

       Henry Transecki - 78 - Florida/Iowa State

       Jonathan Wasserman - 78 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       Biscuit Zdrowak - 78 - BYU/Duke

81.  Duncan Merchant - 77 - ARIZONA/Duke

82.  Blake Jackson - 76 - ARIZONA/Florida

83.  Barbara Curlett - 75 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Javier Rodriguez 1 - 75 - Duke/MICHIGAN

       Hannah Sosa - 75 - Florida/Purdue

       Day Yi 2 - 75 - Duke/MICHIGAN

87.  Braeden Helland - 74 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Paul Kludt - 74 - Florida/Purdue

       Mike Litsey - 74 - Florida/MICHIGAN

       Dave Piasecki - 74 - Florida/Iowa State

91.  Ashley Poer 2 - 73 - ARIZONA/Duke

       Steven Usma 4 - 73 - MICHIGAN/Florida

       George Walks 2 - 73 - ARIZONA/Kansas

       Day Yi 1 - 73 - St. John's/ARIZONA

95.  Dwayne Cushman - 72 - Duke/ARIZONA

       Max Macon 3 - 72 - Houston/ARIZONA

       Natalie Moon - 72 - Duke/Iowa State

       Kingfish Parham 2 - 72 - Duke/Arkansas

       Annette Pritchard 2 - 72 - ARIZONA/Duke

       Pepe Sosa 2 - 72 - ARIZONA/Florida

101.  Alyssa Hopps - 71 - Duke/MICHIGAN

        Jonathan Wasserman 2 - 71 - MICHIGAN/Duke

        Keith Zdrowak - 71 - ARIZONA/Duke

104.  Justine Frank - 70 - Florida/MICHIGAN

         Sasha Moon - 70 - Florida/ARIZONA

         Jeff Plamondon - 70 - ARIZONA/Houston

         Lily Spuhler - 70 - Florida/ARIZONA

         Amy Zdrowak - 70 - Duke/MICHIGAN

109.  Jenna Finkelstein - 69 - Florida/ARIZONA

         Keith W. (Lamb) - 69 - Houston/ARIZONA

         Jane Reynolds - 69 - Florida/MICHIGAN

         Javier Rodriguez 2 - 69 - Duke/ARIZONA

         Jasmine Tran - 69 - Florida/Alabama

         George Walks 1 - 69 - Duke/ARIZONA

115.  Skip LaForte - 68 - Michigan State/ARIZONA

         Monte Lambert 2 - 68 - ARIZONA/Florida

117.  Floyd Fonte 3 - 67 - Michigan State/MICHIGAN

         Matt Thibaut - 67 - Florida/MICHIGAN

         Stacia Wilkaitis - 67 - Florida/ARIZONA

120.  Stephanie Soplop 2 - 66 - UCONN/Purdue

121.  James Garvin - 65 - Florida/Purdue

         Mark Holbert 1 - 65 - ARIZONA/Florida

         Katie Kollmeyer - 65 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State

         Max Macon 1 - 65 - Florida/Purdue

         Caroline Spuhler - 65 - Florida/Texas Tech

126.  Arlene Amo Hopps - 64 - UCONN/Virginia

127.  Floyd Fonte 2 - 63 - Iowa State/Houston

         Marcus Jackson - 63 - Duke/MICHIGAN

         George Walks 3 - 63 - Kansas/Gonzaga

130.  Megan Cox - 61 - Virginia/Duke

         Jacey Fowler - 61 - North Carolina/Alabama

132.  Sean McInerney 1 - 60 - Duke/Iowa State

133.  Quinn Jackson - 58 - Kentucky/MICHIGAN

134.  Dawn Lamb - 55 - Kansas/Gonzaga

135.  Stephanie Soplop 1 - 54 - Florida/Miami

         Mike Wolff 2 - 54 - Duke/Texas Tech

137.  Kingfish Parham 1 - 52 - ARIZONA/Florida

138.  Colbie (Lamb) - 51 - Kansas/Iowa State

139.  Barkley Sosa - 50 - UCONN/Gonzaga

140.  Keith W 1 (Lamb) - 49 - Kansas/Iowa State

141.  Allison Parker - 47 - Virginia/North Carolina

Everybody in the 313, Throw Your Hands Up: The Tournament Squares Pool

I am really sorry for the delay in updating the pool today. I had to catch a really early flight this morning to Detroit to attend a relatives' funeral and I had no breaks to post until late in the afternoon. 

No matter, we are here and it is fitting that I had to come to Detroit Metro today since I have thought for months that the University of Michigan is the best team in the country. They are my bracket pick to win it all. 

It's a quick trip, but I have been in the airport (Romulus), Oak Park, Southfield, Eastpointe, Hamtramck, and a number of locations on the East Side. 

Have I been searching this hotel, the streets and the bars for hints of Hail to the Victors? Hell yeah I have! 

Am I searching ethnic neighborhoods looking for 7-footers of Spanish or German descent to see if they are related to centers playing for the team? Maybe. 

After that Arizona beatdown of Arkansas, am I concerned? Not even a little.

Look there are two juggernauts in this tournament and a number of really good teams that can win. This tournament is as talent rich as any we have seen in a number of years. There were two great finishes last night and two coaching blunders (same games), and I can only hope for more tonight.

As for the squares pool, your tournament host has not broken into the winners circle yet and this is making me anxious. For those of you who know me, an anxious host is a bitter and petty host. Let's hope that I can get a winner soon.

Good luck tonight everyone!

--Your Tournament Host