The "Prevent" offense edition

So I was watching the second half of the Kentucky / Wisconsin and I kept thinking back to the very first morning of the tournament.  The game in particular I was thinking of was the Baylor / Georgia State game.  In that game, Baylor had a lead in the second half and they spent possession after possession winding down the shot clock and then getting a terrible shot off and not scoring. Georgia State came down and cut into the lead time after time and eventually won the game.

Kentucky tonight looked a lot like that.  It seemed like they were content with a 4 point lead, so they kept sitting on the ball and putting up terrible shot after terrible shot with the shot clock going to zero.  I think at one point they had a shot clock violation in something like 4 out of 5 possessions.  I don't understand this strategy.  It's like playing the prevent defense in football.  It takes you totally out of any offensive rhythm you had and lets the other team in the game.  It's a total head scratcher for me.  They played decent tonight until they got that 4 point lead and changed offenses.  I'd be pissed if I was a Kentucky fan.

In regards to the pool, an amazing thing happened.  4 people nailed the Championship game of Wisconsin vs Duke.  That's a pretty low number given that it is a 1 seed vs. a 1 seed.  All 4 people that nailed that are alive for one of the payouts.  One of them (Bobby H.) was eliminated from 1st place contention at the Sweet 16, but can still get 3rd place, proving that it's not over until you can't count yourself out until you are mathematically eliminated from all spots.

The amazing thing is that all 4 people that nailed the Championship game, none of them picked Duke to beat Wisconsin, making for some strange possibilities for the winners of the pool.

One thing is decided:  Mark N. #2 is going to win something.  He can win or get 3rd or 4th place depending on the outcome of the final game.

Here's the places for the outcomes of the Championship game:

If Wisconsin wins:

1st: Mark N. #2

2nd: Jay K.

3rd: Bobby H.

4th: Dennis R. #1

If Duke wins:

1st: Daisy N. #4

2nd: Brent S. #1

3rd: Winner of tie breaker between Szecho L. & Mark N. #2

4th: Loser of tie breaker between Szecho L. & Mark N. #2

I don't know if I have tiebreaker scores for Szecho L. and Mark N. #2, but I will contact you both if I don't. 

Mark N. #2 has Wisconsin winning it all, but he will still win something if Duke wins because he has such a huge lead in points.  The unfortunate person in all this is Veronica A.  She currently has 100 points, which is currently 4th in points for anyone with Duke winning it all.  However, Mark N. #2 has 134 points and Wisconsin, so even if she gets the 32 points for Duke, she can't catch Mark N. #2 and will finish in 5th place.  That sucks....  I guess nailing the middle rounds can really make a difference sometimes.

It's also tough luck for Todd K., who might be having the worst night of anyone.  He came into tonight as an MSU alum, and having 3 different brackets alive for places.  He's still an MSU alum, but they lost and all 3 of his brackets are out of the running, despite currently sitting in 2nd and 3rd place overall.

We also had one person this year that decided he wanted to get cute and pick more or less by the seeds, only he took Duke over Villanova in the national semi-finals.  Villanova was the overall #2 seed, but that was the only place where he picked an upset.  I think that was a product of ignorance more than an actual strategy.  Anyway, that bracket (Kye G. #1) is finally eliminated from all contention.  That made me smile.

For those interested, here's the points totals after tonight:

1. Mark N. #2: 134 (-26)

2. Todd K. #3: 122 (-70)

3. Chad L. #2: 121 (-71)

3. Todd K. #2: 121 (-71)

5. Jay K.: 120 (-40)

6. Bobby H.: 116 (-44)

7. Dennis R. #1: 114 (-46)

8. Jim W.: 113 (-79)

9. Todd K. #1: 111 (-81)

10. Daisy N. #4: 109 (-51)

11. Brent S. #2: 108 (-84)

12. Mike W.: 107 (-85)

12. Marissa W. #1: 107 (-85)

14. Rich F. #2: 106 (-54)

15. Kye G. #1: 105 (-87)

16. Brent S. #1: 104 (-56)

16. Chris La. #3: 104 (-56)

18. Chris La. #2: 104 (-88)

18. Chun W. #3: 104 (-88)

18. Ryan W.: 104 (-88)

18. Gigi Q.: 104 (-88)

18. Larry G. #4: 104 (-88)

18. James G. #2: 104 (-88)

24. Dan D. #1: 103 (-89)

25. Szecho L.: 102 (-58)

26. Daisy N. #1: 102 (-90)

26. Harrell R. #2: 102 (-90)

28. Mark N. #1: 101 (-91)

29. Veronica A.: 100 (-60)

29. Steve D.: 100 (-60)

29. Christy K. #1: 100 (-60)

29. Hutch H. #2: 100 (-60)

33. Eric V. #1: 100 (-92)

33. Missy W. #1: 100 (-92)

33. Taima B #2: 100 (-92)

33. Dennis R. #2: 100 (-92)

37. James G. #3: 99 (-93)

38. Brent S. #3: 98 (-62)

38. Larry G. #2: 98 (-62)

38. Chris L. #1: 98 (-62)

41. James G. #1: 98 (-94)

41. Scottt #2: 98 (-94)

41. Rich F. #1: 98 (-94)

41. Jim D. #2: 98 (-94)

41. Peter J. #4: 98 (-94)

46. Dan S.: 97 (-63)

47. Ron B.: 97 (-95)

48. Mike S. #1: 96 (-64)

49. Matt N.: 96 (-96)

49. Ben S. #1: 96 (-96)

51. Brandon H.: 95 (-65)

51. Peter J. #5: 95 (-65)

51. Jonathan M. #3: 95 (-65)

54. Dave M.: 95 (-97)

54. Alyssa B.: 95 (-97)

56. Kye G. #2: 94 (-66)

57. Adam E.: 94 (-98)

57. Daryl J.: 94 (-98)

57. Bret K. #1: 94 (-98)

57. Brent E. #1: 94 (-98)

61. Michelle L. #3: 93 (-67)

62. Virginia L. #1: 93 (-99)

62. Damien R. #2: 93 (-99)

64. Chad L. #3: 92 (-68)

64. April K.: 92 (-68)

64. Ben J. #3: 92 (-68)

67. Jenny E.: 92 (-100)

67. Chris Lu. #2: 92 (-100)

69. Joe K. #1: 91 (-69)

70. Virginia L. #2: 91 (-101)

71. Luis B. #2: 90 (-102)

72. Damien R. #1: 89 (-71)

72. Jessica B.: 89 (-71)

74. Brett W.: 89 (-103)

74. Seth D.: 89 (-103)

76. Chun W. #1: 88 (-72)

76. Becky H.: 88 (-72)

78. Brent E. #4: 88 (-104)

78. Scottt #1: 88 (-104)

78. Justin L.: 88 (-104)

81. Irene H. #1: 87 (-73)

81. Dustin B.: 87 (-73)

81. Brad R.: 87 (-73)

84. Jonathan M. #1: 87 (-105)

84. Andrew D. #2: 87 (-105)

84. Amber W.: 87 (-105)

84. Brad E.: 87 (-105)

84. Steve K. #1: 87 (-105)

89. Ray R.: 86 (-74)

90. Roth W.: 86 (-106)

90. Joe K. #2: 86 (-106)

92. Chris La. #4: 85 (-75)

93. Brent E. #2: 85 (-107)

93. Steve H. #1: 85 (-107)

95. Larry G. #3: 84 (-108)

96. Carl B.: 83 (-109)

96. Brandon B.: 83 (-109)

96. Peter J. #3: 83 (-109)

99. Luis B. #3: 82 (-78)

100. Steve K. #2: 82 (-110)

100. Joe R.: 82 (-110)

100. Bhav R. #1: 82 (-110)

100. Jax Q.: 82 (-110)

104. Joe K. #3: 81 (-111)

104. Kirt R. #1: 81 (-111)

106. Paul W.: 80 (-112)

106. Kolton D.: 80 (-112)

106. Larry G. #1: 80 (-112)

106. Andrew D. #1: 80 (-112)

106. Jonathan M. #2: 80 (-112)

111. Irene H. #2: 79 (-113)

111. Scott H. #1: 79 (-113)

111. Klei R. #1: 79 (-113)

111. Jay H. #3: 79 (-113)

111. Michelle L. #2: 79 (-113)

111. Kai Q.: 79 (-113)

117. Damian M. #2: 78 (-114)

117. Bhav R. #2: 78 (-114)

117. Ken P.: 78 (-114)

117. Jack Q. #3: 78 (-114)

121. Ben J. #2: 77 (-115)

121. Chris Lu. #1: 77 (-115)

121. Marissa W. #2: 77 (-115)

124. Peter J. #6: 76 (-116)

124. Ben S. #2: 76 (-116)

124. Steve H. #2: 76 (-116)

124. Ally H.: 76 (-116)

128. Eric V. #3: 75 (-117)

128. Scott K. #2: 75 (-117)

128. Todd K. #4: 75 (-117)

128. Jim K.: 75 (-117)

128. Chun W. #4: 75 (-117)

128. Jim D. #1: 75 (-117)

128. Ben J. #1: 75 (-117)

128. Jason G.: 75 (-117)

136. Daisy N. #2: 74 (-118)

136. Damian M. #3: 74 (-118)

136. Hutch H. #1: 74 (-118)

136. Brent E. #3: 74 (-118)

140. Mindi W.: 73 (-119)

140. Mike S. #2: 73 (-119)

140. Chad L. #1: 73 (-119)

140. Michelle L. #1: 73 (-119)

140. Howard S. #1: 73 (-119)

140. Chun W. #2: 73 (-119)

146. Peter J. #2: 72 (-120)

146. John B.: 72 (-120)

146. Kansas C.: 72 (-120)

149. Mason A. #1: 71 (-121)

149. Tomas L. #1: 71 (-121)

149. John E.: 71 (-121)

149. Luis B. #1: 71 (-121)

149. John M. #1: 71 (-121)

149. John M. #2: 71 (-121)

155. William G. #3: 70 (-122)

155. Harrell R. #1: 70 (-122)

155. Shane B.: 70 (-122)

155. Mike G.: 70 (-122)

159. Joseph H.: 69 (-123)

159. Scott H. #2: 69 (-123)

159. Howard S. #2: 69 (-123)

162. Damian M. #1: 68 (-124)

162. Dan D. #2: 68 (-124)

162. William G. #1: 68 (-124)

165. Irene H. #3: 67 (-125)

165. Bret K. #3: 67 (-125)

165. Bret K. #2: 67 (-125)

165. Kirt R. #2: 67 (-125)

165. Alex Q.: 67 (-125)

165. Christy K. #2: 67 (-125)

171. Eric V. #2: 66 (-126)

171. Gary W.: 66 (-126)

171. Ben J. #4: 66 (-126)

171. Julie S.: 66 (-126)

175. Angie B.: 65 (-127)

175. Peter J. #1: 65 (-127)

177. Mason A. #2: 64 (-128)

177. Taima B. #1: 64 (-128)

177. Daisy N. #5: 64 (-128)

180. Michelle L. #4: 63 (-129)

180. Tomas L. #2: 63 (-129)

180. William G. #4: 63 (-129)

180. Dylan B.: 63 (-129)

184. Jay H. #1: 62 (-130)

184. Brian G. #1: 62 (-130)

186. Hutch H. #3: 61 (-131)

186. Tim N.: 61 (-131)

186. James R.: 61 (-131)

189. Jack Q. #4: 60 (-132)

190. Marc R.: 59 (-133)

190. Michelle R. #2: 59 (-133)

192. Michelle R. #1: 58 (-134)

192. John M. #3: 58 (-134)

194. Scott K. #1: 57 (-135)

194. William G. #2: 57 (-135)

194. Marissa W. #3: 57 (-135)

197. Jeff W.: 56 (-136)

197. Sue L.: 56 (-136)

197. Missy W. #2: 56 (-136)

200. Jack Q. #2: 55 (-137)

201. Jay H. #2: 54 (-90)

202. Daisy N. #3: 52 (-140)

202. Brian G. #2: 52 (-140)

204. Jack Q. #1: 40 (-152)

205. Sally R.: 36 (-156)

206. Jonathan O.: 24 (-168)

I also think that if Karma has any hand, Duke will wind up winning the championship.  The reason is because Daisy was nice enough to overpay for this year's entry as a sort of tip and Szecho bought me a beer during the Sweet 16.  I'm thinking that Karma smiles on people that do that.  It's totally self-serving of me to say that, but the evidence is there.

On the flip side of the Karmic coin, I still have 10 entries that STILL haven't paid.  None of them is alive for any place.  Another fine example of karmic payback.  Here they are:

Brad E.

Hutch H. #1

Hutch H. #2

Hutch H. #3

Jay H. #1

Jay H. #2

Jay H. #3

Kansas C.

Marc R.

Steve D.

Please remedy this ASAP.  Thanks.