The basketball gods geant me a huge gift edition

There can be only 1!!!  This is exactly what I was hoping for!!!!!  A mammoth upset, and a giant middle finger to all the gutless cowards who picked exclusively by the seeds.  It's so great.  I am back in love with the tournament.  I think it's fair to now put Villanova squarely in the "Gonzaga-zone".  Every year they put together a great record and a very high seed, but almost inevitably go out earlier than the seeds would have you believe.  The great thing about this loss is that while Iowa State and Baylor were big, they were supposed go out 2 games in.  Villanova was the overall #2.  They were really supposed to go out in the Championship game if you followed the seeds.  It also makes that region up for grabs.  Woo Hoo!!!

Amazingly, Kolton D., who happened to be leading the pool, also had NC State winning that game, so he extends his lead to 3 points over the field.  He is also the last perfect bracket on the day.  The fact that there are any perfect brackets with Xavier and UCLA thrown in is incredible.  The only downside for him is that he has Georgetown winning the whole thing. Based on what I'm watching, that could be a bad bet.

Here are the standings.  A huge shake-up, especially for anyone who happened to get points for NC State.  If you had Villanova, it all depends on how many points you lost as a result....  Some people it was a lot.

1. Kolton D.: 36 (-12)

2. John M. #1: 33 (-9)

3. Marissa W. #1: 33 (-25)

4. Steve H. #1: 33 (-73)

5. Bhav R. #2: 32 (-10)

6. Bhav R. #1: 32 (-12)

7. Szecho L.: 32 (-14)

8. Bret K. #1: 32 (-18)

8. Peter J. #6: 32 (-18)

10. Daisy N. #1: 32 (-26)

11. Ben S. #1: 32 (-28)

12. Ben J. #4: 32 (-38)

12. Brent E. #4: 32 (-38)

14. Irene H. #2: 31 (-11)

15. Jonathan M. #1: 31 (-13)

16. Daisy N. #4: 31 (-15)

16. Kai Q.: 31 (-15)

18. James G. #3: 31 (-17)

19. Ron B.: 31 (-19)

19. Mike W.: 31 (-19)

19. Jessica B.: 31 (-19)

22. Kye G. #1: 31 (-23)

23. Dylan B.: 31 (-37)

24. Brent E. #2: 31 (-71)

25. Chad L. #3: 30 (-16)

25. Brent S. #2: 30 (-16)

25. Chun W. #3: 30 (-16)

25. James G. #2: 30 (-16)

25. Ken P.: 30 (-16)

25. Larry G. #2: 30 (-16)

25. Larry G. #4: 30 (-16)

32. Scottt #1: 30 (-18)

32. Jonathan M. #2: 30 (-18)

32. Scottt #2: 30 (-18)

35. Jeff W.: 30 (-20)

35. Rich F. #1: 30 (-20)

35. Rich F. #2: 30 (-20)

38. Daisy N. #2: 30 (-24)

38. Gigi Q.: 30 (-24)

40. Missy W. #1: 30 (-28)

40. Jim D. #2: 30 (-28)

42. Harrell R. #1: 30 (-40)

42. Larry G. #1: 30 (-40)

44. Chris La. #3: 30 (-44)

44. Hutch H. #2: 30 (-44)

46. Shane B.: 30 (-48)

47. Peter J. #2: 30 (-52)

48. Kansas C.: 30 (-74)

49. Jay H. #3: 29 (-13)

49. Todd K. #2: 29 (-13)

49. Dan D. #1: 29 (-13)

52. Chad L. #2: 29 (-17)

52. Steve K. #1: 29 (-17)

52. Jim K.: 29 (-17)

52. Angie B.: 29 (-17)

52. Mark N. #1: 29 (-17)

57. Brandon H.: 29 (-19)

58. Dan S.: 29 (-21)

58. Dustin B.: 29 (-21)

58. Irene H. #1: 29 (-21)

58. Jim D. #1: 29 (-21)

58. Scott H. #1: 29 (-21)

63. Amber W.: 29 (-25)

63. Kirt R. #1: 29 (-25)

65. Jack Q. #2: 29 (-29)

66. Ben J. #1: 29 (-31)

66. James R.: 29 (-31)

66. Jason G.: 29 (-31)

69. Scott H. #2: 29 (-41)

69. Brandon B.: 29 (-41)

71. Bret K. #2: 29 (-53)

71. Chun W. #2: 29 (-53)

73. Mindi W.: 29 (-55)

74. Kirt R. #2: 29 (-73)

75. Brad E.: 29 (-79)

76. William G. #4: 29 (-89)

77. James G. #1: 28 (-14)

77. Jack Q. #3: 28 (-14)

79. Mark N. #2: 28 (-16)

79. Jack Q. #4: 28 (-16)

81. Steve D.: 28 (-18)

81. April K.: 28 (-18)

81. Steve K. #2: 28 (-18)

81. Harrell R. #2: 28 (-18)

81. Chris La. #2: 28 (-18)

81. Todd K. #3: 28 (-18)

81. Ally H.: 28 (-18)

81. Steve H. #2: 28 (-18)

81. Veronica A.: 28 (-18)

90. Brent E. #1: 28 (-20)

90. Justin L.: 28 (-20)

90. Becky H.: 28 (-20)

90. Ben S. #2: 28 (-20)

94. Dennis R. #1: 28 (-22)

95. Eric V. #2: 28 (-24)

96. Daisy N. #3: 28 (-26)

96. Kye G. #2: 28 (-26)

96. Christy K. #1: 28 (-26)

96. Matt N.: 28 (-26)

100. Sue L.: 28 (-28)

101. Hutch H. #1: 28 (-30)

102. Jay K.: 28 (-32)

102. Ben J. #3: 28 (-32)

104. Chun W. #1: 28 (-34)

105. Julie S.: 28 (-46)

106. Paul W.: 28 (-48)

107. Gary W.: 28 (-54)

107. Dan D. #2: 28 (-54)

109. Damian M. #2: 28 (-78)

109. Larry G. #3: 28 (-78)

111. Bret K. #3: 27 (-15)

111. Todd K. #1: 27 (-15)

113. Ben J. #2: 27 (-17)

114. Todd K. #4: 27 (-19)

114. Joseph H.: 27 (-19)

116. Jim W.: 27 (-21)

116. Carl B.: 27 (-21)

116. Brett W.: 27 (-21)

116. Alex Q.: 27 (-21)

116. Eric V. #3: 27 (-21)

121. Chris Lu. #1: 27 (-23)

121. John M. #2: 27 (-23)

123. Michelle L. #3: 27 (-25)

124. Alyssa B.: 27 (-27)

124. Chun W. #4: 27 (-27)

124. Virginia L. #1: 27 (-27)

124. Andrew D. #2: 27 (-27)

128. Dave M.: 27 (-29)

129. Damien R. #2: 27 (-33)

130. Hutch H. #3: 27 (-35)

131. Marissa W. #3: 27 (-39)

132. Mason A. #1: 27 (-43)

132. Jonathan M. #3: 27 (-43)

134. Klei R. #1: 27 (-45)

135. John E.: 27 (-47)

136. Chad L. #1: 27 (-57)

137. Marissa W. #2: 27 (-75)

138. Michelle R. #2: 27 (-105)

139. Daryl J.: 26 (-20)

139. Ryan W.: 26 (-20)

139. Michelle R. #1: 26 (-20)

139. Eric V. #1: 26 (-20)

139. Daisy N. #5: 26 (-20)

139. Missy W. #2: 26 (-20)

139. Dennis R. #2: 26 (-20)

146. Bobby H.: 26 (-22)

146. Brent E. #3: 26 (-22)

148. Mason A. #2: 26 (-24)

148. Chris Lu. #2: 26 (-24)

148. Jenny E.: 26 (-24)

151. Damian M. #1: 26 (-26)

151. Damian M. #3: 26 (-26)

153. Brent S. #1: 26 (-28)

153. Brent S. #3: 26 (-28)

153. Joe R.: 26 (-28)

153. Jack Q. #1: 26 (-28)

157. Taima B #2: 26 (-36)

158. Brian G. #1: 26 (-46)

159. Chris L. #1: 26 (-48)

160. Mike G.: 26 (-56)

161. Andrew D. #1: 26 (-58)

161. Taima B. #1: 26 (-58)

163. Jay H. #1: 26 (-78)

164. William G. #2: 25 (-17)

165. Michelle L. #2: 25 (-23)

165. Howard S. #2: 25 (-23)

167. Seth D.: 25 (-25)

167. Peter J. #3: 25 (-25)

169. Joe K. #1: 25 (-27)

170. Damien R. #1: 25 (-33)

170. Tomas L. #2: 25 (-33)

172. Chris La. #4: 25 (-39)

172. Michelle L. #1: 25 (-39)

174. Tomas L. #1: 25 (-41)

175. Luis B. #1: 25 (-47)

176. Mike S. #2: 25 (-49)

177. Scott K. #1: 25 (-55)

178. Peter J. #1: 25 (-63)

179. Irene H. #3: 25 (-77)

179. Virginia L. #2: 25 (-77)

181. Scott K. #2: 25 (-83)

182. Roth W.: 24 (-22)

182. Mike S. #1: 24 (-22)

184. John M. #3: 24 (-24)

184. Jax Q.: 24 (-24)

186. Adam E.: 24 (-26)

187. Joe K. #2: 24 (-28)

187. Ray R.: 24 (-28)

187. John B.: 24 (-28)

190. Peter J. #4: 24 (-32)

191. Luis B. #2: 24 (-34)

191. Luis B. #3: 24 (-34)

193. William G. #1: 24 (-60)

194. Brad R.: 23 (-23)

195. Joe K. #3: 23 (-35)

196. Michelle L. #4: 23 (-51)

197. Peter J. #5: 23 (-53)

198. Howard S. #1: 23 (-93)

199. Brian G. #2: 22 (-42)

200. William G. #3: 22 (-52)

201. Jonathan O.: 22 (-66)

202. Jay H. #2: 22 (-68)

203. Christy K. #2: 21 (-37)

204. Marc R.: 21 (-39)

205. Tim N.: 21 (-59)

206. Sally R.: 20 (-54)

There's still another game started.  Here are the stats:

North Carolina: 160

Arkansas: 39

Other: 7

Vegas Line:  North Carolina -5

I'm going to eat dinner and watch some more basketball.  I am also going to bask in the sunny afterglow of a humongous upset.  Life is sooooo good.....