Final 4 edition - first 2 eliminations

Good morning everyone.  As some of you may remember when I was discussing the Dayton / Stanford, whenever there's a Cinderella, an interesting dynamic happens.  If you have the favorite, you probably want them to crush the Cinderella team.  If you have anyone other than the favorite, you want the Cinderella run to continue, so that it brings the pack back to you.  The first game today is such a game.

For all the people that took Florida to the Final 4, you probably want them to win.  The only possible exception to that is if you are really far back in the points, and Florida winning puts catching the people ahead of you too far ahead with too few games to go.  For all people that had anyone other than Florida making the Final 4, you probably want Dayton to win.  That makes this game interesting because there are a lot of people that will be eliminated if Dayton loses that never in a million years thought that their pool hoped hinged on a #11 knocking off a #1 seed.  This pool makes for some strange bedfellows...

Here are the eliminations if Dayton pulls off the upset:

Ally H. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Amelia H. is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Andrea A. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Becky H. is eliminated from 1st & 3rd place contention.

Ben J. #3 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Brent E. #1 is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Brent E. #3 is eliminated from 1st & 3rd place contention.

Brent E. #4 is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Carrie P. #4 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Chad L. #2 is eliminated from 1st & 3rd place contention.

Chris M. #3 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Chun W. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Daisy N. #4 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Damien R. #1 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Dan D. #2 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Dan S. is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Erica A. is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Gary M. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Greg F. is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Irene L. #2 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Jack K. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Joe K. #2 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

John M. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Larry G. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Larry G. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Marc R. #1 is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Mason A. #1 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Matt J. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Mike L. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Mike L. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Peter J. #3 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Peter J. #5 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Ray W. #2 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Ron B. is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Ryan G. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Ryan H. is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Scott Hass. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Stephanie P. #2 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Stephanie P. #3 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Taima B. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Tim N. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Tomas L. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Zachary V. is eliminated from 1st & 2nd place contention.

However, there is almost an equal number of people that really, really want Florida to lose.  Here are the eliminations if Florida wins:

Ally H. is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Ben J. #3 is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.
Brent E. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Brent E. #3 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.
Brent E. #4 is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Brent E. #6 is eliminated from 1st, 3rd & 4th place contention.
Brett K. #2 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.
Christina S. #3 is eliminated from 1st place contention.
Christina S. #4 is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Daisy N. #2 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.
Daisy N. #5 is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Dan S. is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Daryl J. is eliminated from 4th place contention.
David S. #2 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.
Dimitris M. #5 is eliminated from 1st & 2nd place contention.
Erica A. is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.
Josh S. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Josiah T. #4 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.
Julie S. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.
Karen C. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.
Kyle V. is eliminated from 2nd place contention.
Marissa W. #2 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.
Mason A. #1 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.
Mason A. #4 is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Meredith R. is eliminated from 4th place contention.
Robert H. #1 is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.
Terry F. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.
Todd K. #1 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.
Todd K. #2 is eliminated from 2nd & 4th place contention.
Tracy V. is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.
Virginia L. #1 is eliminated from 1st place contention.
William G. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

The West regional final promises to be an even bigger disaster for brackets.  It is the only region where the seeds more or less held.  In every other region, a #7 seed or lower is in the elite 8, knocking off a lot of brackets and rewarding a lot of brave pickers.  For example, the South region has 156 people that still get a Final 4 team (all Florida).  131 brackets can get a team from the East (mostly MSU), and only 57 brackets still have a Final 4 team from the Midwest (mostly Michigan).  The West region has 182 brackets that still have hope of capturing the 8 points for getting the Final 4 team from that region right.  That makes this a pretty high stakes game, and the eliminations reflect that.

If Arizona wins:

Andrzej R. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Becky H. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Ben J. #3 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Brent E. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Brent E. #3 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Brent E. #4 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Brent S. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Carrie P. #4 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Chad L. #2 is eliminated from 1st & 3rd place contention.

Chris M. #3 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Chun W. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Daisy N. #5 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Dan D. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Dan S. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

David S. #2 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Dimitris M. #5 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Gary M. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Irene L. #2 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Jack K. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Joe K. #2 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Josiah T. #4 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Larry G. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Marissa W. #2 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Mark N. #1 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Matt J. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Meredith R. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Peter J. #3 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Ray W. #3 is eliminated from 2nd & 4th place contention.

Ryan G. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Scott Hass. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Stephanie P. #3 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Todd K. #1 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Zachary V. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

...and if Wisconsin wins:

Ally H. is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Amelia H. is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Andrea A. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Becky H. is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Brent E. #6 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Brett K. #2 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Christina S. #3 is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Christina S. #4 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Daisy N. #2 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Daisy N. #4 is eliminated from 1st & 2nd place contention.

Damien R. #1 is eliminated from 1st, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Dan D. #2 is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Daryl J. is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Erica A. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Greg F. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Jay K. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd & 3rd place contention.

John M. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Josh S. #1 is eliminated from 1st & 4th place contention.

Josh S. #2 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Julie S. is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Karen C. #1 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Kyle V. is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Larry G. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Marc R. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Mason A. #1 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Mason A. #4 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Mike L. #1 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Mike L. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Mike L. #3 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Ray W. #2 is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Robert H. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Ron B. is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Ryan H. is eliminated from 1st & 2nd place contention.

Stephanie P. #2 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Taima B. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Terry F. #1 is eliminated from 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

Tim N. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Todd K. #2 is eliminated from 2nd & 4th place contention.

Tomas L. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Tracy V. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Virginia L. #1 is eliminated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place contention.

William G. #2 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

For those that still care about the points, here is the current standings, broken down by champion:

Florida:

1. Ryan H.: 69 (-35)

6. Damien R. #1: 67 (-37)

6. Greg F.: 67 (-37)

6. Ron B.: 67 (-37)

13. Chad L. #2: 66 (-38)

15. Zachary V.: 66 (-54)

18. Andrea A.: 64 (-54)

19. Mike L. #2: 64 (-56)

19. Taima B. #1: 64 (-56)

31. Jack K. #1: 63 (-57)

31. James G. #1: 63 (-57)

31. Larry G. #1: 63 (-57)

40. Gary W.: 62 (-50)

42. Ben J. #3: 61 (-35)

42. Joe K. #2: 61 (-35)

47. Becky H.: 60 (-36)

50. Gutless Dimitris: 60 (-52)

52. Esteban D.: 60 (-60)

52. Marc R. #2: 60 (-60)

62. April K.: 59 (-53)

63. Gene B. #1: 59 (-61)

63. John E.: 59 (-61)

63. Scott Her. #2: 59 (-61)

79. Luis B. #2: 58 (-46)

82. Ben J. #1: 58 (-54)

84. Dominic M.: 58 (-62)

86. Luis B. #1: 58 (-70)

93. Peter J. #3: 57 (-47)

99. Carl B.: 57 (-63)

99. Luis B. #3: 57 (-63)

99. William G. #1: 57 (-63)

103. Klei R. #1: 57 (-71)

113. Gary M. #2: 56 (-48)

116. Carrie P. #3: 56 (-72)

125. Brett W.: 55 (-49)

125. David S. #1: 55 (-49)

128. Jay H. #3: 55 (-65)

129. Chris M. #1: 55 (-73)

129. James K.: 55 (-73)

129. Larry G. #4: 55 (-73)

143. Hutch H. #2: 54 (-50)

146. Justin G.: 54 (-66)

155. Matt J. #1: 53 (-59)

169. Ray W. #2: 52 (-44)

172. Josiah T. #1: 52 (-68)

172. Karl K.: 52 (-68)

181. Chun W. #1: 51 (-61)

187. Steve H.: 50 (-54)

202. Jim D. #1: 48 (-80)

209. Mason A. #2: 46 (-74)

Michigan State:

1. Brent E. #6: 69 (-35)

4. Jay K.: 68 (-36)

4. Marissa W. #2: 68 (-36)

6. Todd K. #2: 67 (-37)

12. Mike L. #1: 67 (-53)

19. Larry G. #2: 64 (-56)

26. Andrzej R.: 63 (-41)

26. Julie S.: 63 (-41)

31. Brett K. #1: 63 (-57)

31. Peter J. #2: 63 (-57)

38. Daisy N. #4: 62 (-34)

39. Mike L. #3: 62 (-42)

44. Brent S. #1: 61 (-43)

44. Dimitris M. #5: 61 (-43)

48. Daryl J.: 60 (-44)

52. Scott Hass.: 60 (-60)

63. Chun W. #4: 59 (-61)

63. Joseph H.: 59 (-61)

77. Brent E. #3: 58 (-38)

84. Matt N.: 58 (-62)

91. Brent E. #1: 57 (-39)

91. Brent E. #4: 57 (-39)

93. Ryan G.: 57 (-47)

99. James G. #2: 57 (-63)

114. William G. #2: 56 (-56)

125. Todd K. #1: 55 (-49)

144. Stan C. #1: 54 (-58)

169. Brad R.: 52 (-44)

172. Brent E. #5: 52 (-68)

189. Karen C. #3: 50 (-78)

Arizona:

28. Erica A.: 63 (-49)

28. Mason A. #1: 63 (-49)

36. Brett K. #2: 63 (-73)

48. Josh S. #2: 60 (-44)

50. Stephanie P. #2: 60 (-52)

52. Virginia L. #1: 60 (-60)

63. Robert H. #1: 59 (-61)

70. Dennis R. #3: 59 (-77)

79. Amelia H.: 58 (-46)

79. Marc R. #1: 58 (-46)

82. Josh S. #1: 58 (-54)

86. Daisy N. #2: 58 (-70)

93. Tomas L. #1: 57 (-47)

97. Chun W. #2: 57 (-55)

97. Damien R. #2: 57 (-55)

103. Christina S. #3: 57 (-71)

103. Christina S. #4: 57 (-71)

144. Tomas L. #3: 54 (-58)

148. Chad C.: 54 (-74)

154. Tim N.: 53 (-51)

181. Kyle V.: 51 (-61)

195. Josiah T. #3: 49 (-55)

196. Tomas L. #2: 49 (-63)

200. Karen C. #1: 48 (-64)

202. Howard S. #1: 48 (-80)

210. Steve M. #3: 46 (-82)

212. Dimitris M. #4: 46 (-90)

216. Matt J. #2: 45 (-67)

227. Chris M. #4: 43 (-93)

Michigan:

3. Ally H.: 68 (-28)

52. Stephanie P. #3: 60 (-60)

148. Tracy V.: 54 (-74)

156. Mason A. #4: 53 (-75)

180. Dan D. #2: 51 (-53)

217. Irene L. #2: 45 (-75)

Wisconsin:

6. Mark N. #1: 67 (-37)

13. Daisy N. #5: 66 (-38)

78. Dan S.: 58 (-44)

183. Meredith R.: 51 (-85)

189. David S. #2: 50 (-78)

227. Carrie P. #2: 43 (-93)

Connecticut:

28. Ray W. #3: 63 (-49)

Eliminated:

16. Josiah T. #2: 65 (-87)

16. Rich F.: 65 (-87)

22. Chris M. #3: 64 (-88)

23. Mike San #2: 64 (-96)

23. Scott K. #1: 64 (-96)

25. Howard S. #3: 64 (-112)

41. Peter J. #1: 62 (-114)

46. Karen C. #2: 61 (-115)

57. Kirt R.: 60 (-92)

57. Stan C. #2: 60 (-92)

57. Stephanie P. #4: 60 (-92)

60. Daisy N. #1: 60 (-100)

61. Scott K. #2: 60 (-116)

71. Sarah G.: 59 (-93)

72. David S. #3: 59 (-101)

72. Howard S. #4: 59 (-101)

75. Virginia L. #2: 59 (-125)

89. Amos W.: 58 (-102)

90. Robert H. #2: 58 (-118)

108. Hal R. #1: 57 (-95)

108. Scott Her. #1: 57 (-95)

110. Chun W. #3: 57 (-103)

110. Eric V.: 57 (-103)

119. Jack K. #2: 56 (-96)

119. Taima B. #2: 56 (-96)

121. Mike San #1: 56 (-104)

123. Chris L. #1: 56 (-128)

135. Jay H. #2: 55 (-97)

135. Josiah T. #5: 55 (-97)

140. Josh C.: 55 (-129)

151. Steve D.: 54 (-98)

159. Brent S. #2: 53 (-99)

160. Bosun S.: 53 (-107)

160. William G. #3: 53 (-107)

163. Todd K. #3: 53 (-115)

164. Michelle L. #4: 53 (-123)

164. Roth W.: 53 (-123)

166. Kansas C.: 53 (-131)

175. Jim D. #2: 52 (-100)

176. KenPom: 52 (-108)

176. Matt J. #4: 52 (-108)

176. Stephanie P. #1: 52 (-108)

179. Christina S. #2: 52 (-116)

184. Adam E. #1: 51 (-117)

185. Hutch H. #1: 51 (-133)

185. Klei - Alex O.: 51 (-133)

192. Abel R.: 50 (-126)

198. Terry F. #1: 49 (-103)

204. Stephanie P. #5: 48 (-104)

205. Dennis R. #1: 48 (-120)

206. Ben J. #2: 48 (-128)

214. Marissa W. #1: 46 (-122)

220. Steve M. #1: 45 (-115)

222. Missy W. #1: 45 (-139)

225. Klei R. #2: 44 (-132)

233. David S. #4: 42 (-142)

233. Dennis R. #2: 42 (-142)

233. Todd K. #4: 42 (-142)

241. Klei R. - RND: 36 (-148)

242. Chris L. #3: 35 (-149)

Those astute readers will notice that we have a lock for last place.  John M. #2 amassed a mere 32 points, and can get no more.  Since brackets can't lose points, he will be alone in last place this year.  He managed to lose 3 of his Final 4 teams in the first round (Ohio State, Cincinnati, Duke) and his other Final 4 team didn't last much longer (Creighton).  That's brutal.  There were a few contenders for this honor, but this year it's all John M. #2.  Luckily, John M. #1 is still eligible for 2nd and 3rd, so there may be some consolation for him.

I am completely eliminated from all contention, so my goal for the rest of the pool is to hope that we don't have to use the tie breaker.  That is a sketchy prospect for places that aren't 1st.  The further you go down the standings, the more likely a tie is to happen.  I don't like deciding things with a tie-breaker, so let's hope it doesn't come down to that, especially if it's something like a 4-way tiebreaker.  Those are no fun.

Anyway, I'll be back after the games tonight.  Remember that just because you weren't listed as losing on a single game today, you could still be eliminated by a combination of the two games, so the eliminations in the Arizona / Wisconsin are probably somewhat incomplete.

Good luck to everyone!!!!!!