2023 March Madness - SDSU Aztecs!!!!!! Nothing else matters....

I want to start off with an apology for tonight.  I said I would send out eliminations between games, and then didn’t do it.  Between games finishing, updating spreadsheets and eating dinner I decided I didn’t really have the right amount of time.  I could have finished them, but they would have been done around halftime of the Princeton / Creighton game and I just figured I’d catch up with a more complete breakdown after the game were over.

So, here we are.  We started the day with hearts full of hope and most people’s champions intact.  It certainly didn’t end that way.  For the first time in NCAA history, no #1 seed made it to the Elite 8.  As a matter fact, only 1 #2 seed made it (Texas).  Does that make them the favorite?  I mean, is any team the favorite right now?  I am not sure how surprised I would be by any of the remaining teams winning it all (maybe Florida Atlantic, although I had them ranked in the teens most of the year).

At the start of the day, I think we had something like 88 entries that were still alive for something.  At the end of the day today, we now have 43, so despite all the carnage, we only lost half of the entries.  The thing about this pool (and any pool really), is that everything is relative.  Alabama and Houston cost a lot of people points, but someone is going to win this thing.  Their bracket may not look pretty when everything is over, but someone will win.  Alabama and Houston losing just kind of jumble things up a little.  Honestly, of the 43 people still alive for something, 20 of them no longer have their champion alive.  2 of them have both of the teams in the championship game out.  On the other hand, there are 18 people that still have their champion alive, and can’t win anything.

Another fun fact is that no one is going to go 4/4 in the Final 4.  As a matter of fact, the best any bracket looks right now belongs to Hurry Up #1, who is only missing Baylor from the Final 4.  He’s not missing anybody else currently.  Even with that, he’s not the favorite to get 1^st right now, or the favorite to win anything at all.

That second honor goes to someone that has Alabama winning it all.  Noah N. has about a 30% chance to win something.  His best chance is to win 2^nd or 3^rd, but he still has a decent shot at 1^st.  That’s truly strange.

My favorite stat is that Rob I. #1 only cares about San Diego State.  As long as SDSU wins the whole thing, his bracket is going to win.  The results of all the other games don’t matter to him.  Anything can happen in those other games.  It’s all Aztecs all the time for Rob – which it may be in real life regardless of the tournament.

87 people can no longer get any points at all, including Chun W. #4, who is sitting in 10^th in points.  Just a strange pool this year.

Just remember that when it comes to the pool, it’s like trying to outrun a bear.  You don’t have to run faster than the bear, you just need to run faster than the next guy….

Here’s the matrix:

Name	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place	4th Place
Noah N. - Alabama	5.0781%	11.7188%	8.2031%	5.3385%
Chun W. #3 - Texas	13.6719%	4.2969%	6.2500%	5.3385%
Hurry Up #1 - Gonzaga	13.2813%	3.9063%	6.6406%	4.2969%
Hack a Zach (Dave F.) - Purdue	4.2969%	2.6042%	9.4401%	8.5286%
Steve D. #1 - Purdue	8.5938%	6.2500%	4.6875%	1.5625%
Charlotte N. - Connecticut	5.0781%	3.3854%	5.1432%	6.1849%
Rob I. #2 - Arizona	2.3438%	5.4688%	5.6641%	3.1901%
Rob I. #1 - San Diego State	12.5000%	0.7813%	Princeton	0.6510%
Brian K. - Alabama	Xavier	1.5625%	4.6875%	7.4219%
Chad L. #2 - Gonzaga	3.1250%	3.1250%	Xavier	7.0313%
CAAT #4 (Adam O.) - Connecticut	4.6875%	4.6875%	3.1250%	0.3906%
Pete J. #4 - Connecticut	3.1250%	3.1250%	3.1250%	3.5156%
Harrell R. #2 - Connecticut	UCLA	3.9063%	3.9063%	4.6875%
Veronica G. - Kansas State	10.1563%	2.3438%	Xavier	Xavier
Mustard (Nikolajs B.) - San Diego State	Xavier	9.3750%	1.7578%	0.1953%
Aaron E. - Creighton	8.5938%	0.7813%	0.7813%	0.7813%
Baily T. - Purdue	Houston	2.3438%	4.2969%	2.7344%
Matt O. - UCLA	1.5625%	3.1250%	1.5625%	1.5625%
CAAT #3 (Adam O.) - Gonzaga	Michigan St.	3.1250%	3.1250%	1.2500%
Scott K. #1 - Gonzaga	Michigan St.	3.1250%	3.1250%	1.2500%
Brandon B. - Texas	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	6.2500%
Brent S. #2 - Texas	UCLA	Princeton	6.2500%	Alabama
Bret K. #2 - Texas	Houston	Princeton	6.2500%	Princeton
Bryce S. - Texas	Sweet 16	6.2500%	Princeton	Alabama
Harrell R. #1 - Texas	Princeton	6.2500%	Princeton	Princeton
John A. - Texas	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Houston	6.2500%
Quinn1130 (Brett G.) - Duke	0.7813%	1.5625%	2.3438%	1.5625%
Vang L. #1 - Gonzaga	Michigan St.	3.1250%	3.1250%	Xavier
Ryan W. - Purdue	1.5625%	1.1719%	1.1719%	1.9531%
CAAT #2 (Adam O.) - Arizona	Sweet 16	0.7813%	1.5625%	1.1719%
Ben S. #1 - Arizona	1.5625%	0.7813%	0.7813%	Houston
Emily T. - Alabama	Houston	1.0417%	1.0417%	1.0417%
Luis B. #4 - Alabama	Alabama	Houston	Houston	3.1250%
D Row (Dennis R.) - Purdue	Princeton	Princeton	0.3906%	1.9531%
Damien R. #3 - Alabama	Alabama	Princeton	0.7813%	1.5625%
Pete J. #5 - Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	0.7813%	1.5625%
Valerie D. - Houston	Houston	Arkansas	Houston	1.5625%
Brett W. - Gonzaga	Xavier	Xavier	Xavier	1.2500%
Chun W. #2 - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Houston	1.2500%
Schmuidos #1 (Bob & Max) - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Houston	1.2500%
Elizabeth N. #1 - Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston	1.1719%
Chad L. #3 - Arizona	Michigan St.	Alabama	Princeton	0.7813%
Upset City (Brett G.) - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	0.3906%
Adalyn H. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Adam E. - Texas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Ally H. - Alabama	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Alyssa B. - Purdue	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Amanda R. - Baylor	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Arkansas
Andrew D. #1 - Houston	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	Alabama
Andrew D. #2 - Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston	Princeton
Andrew D. #3 - Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Andy Katz - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
April K. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Barack O. - Duke	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Becky H. - Marquette	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.
Ben S. #2 - UCLA	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Brad R. - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.
Brandie H. - Duke	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Brandon H. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Brent E. #1 - Alabama	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Brent E. #2 - Marquette	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Brent E. #3 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Arkansas	UCLA
Brent E. #4 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Brent S. #1 - Duke	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Bret K. #1 - Purdue	Sweet 16	UCLA	Alabama	Alabama
Bret K. #3 - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
CAAT #1 (Adam O.) - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Carrie F. - UCLA	Michigan St.	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Chad L. #1 - Duke	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chad L. #4 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chase L. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chris E. - Baylor	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chris L. #1 - Alabama	Alabama	Houston	Houston	Houston
Chris L. #2 - Houston	Sweet 16	Houston	Houston	Houston
Chris L. #3 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chris L. #4 - Connecticut	Alabama	Princeton	Xavier	Princeton
Chris M. - Purdue	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Michigan St.
Chris T. - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chrissy S. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chun W. #1 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Chun W. #4 - Houston	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	Alabama
Cicely K. - Alabama	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Colonel Sander (Eric S. #3) - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Connor W. - Alabama	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	UCLA	UCLA
Cool Guy (Wytosick) - Marquette	Xavier	Xavier	Xavier	Xavier
Craig G. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Daisy N. #1 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Daisy N. #2 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Daisy N. #3 - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Daisy N. #4 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Daisy N. #5 - Houston	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Michigan St.
Damien R. #1 - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Damien R. #2 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Damien R. #4 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Dan D. - Purdue	Arkansas	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Dan Dz. - Kansas	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Arkansas
Daniel E. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Dave A. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Dawn G. - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Xavier	Xavier
Deanna T. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Arkansas
Derek B. - Marquette	Xavier	Xavier	Xavier	Xavier
Derek H. - Duke	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	UCLA	UCLA
Devils (Brett G.) - Houston	Alabama	Alabama	Houston	Houston
Dianna A. - Texas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Dimitris M. - Alabama	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Dustin B. - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Sweet 16
Dustin D. #1 - Houston	Alabama	Houston	Houston	Houston
Dustin D. #2 - Kansas	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Dustin D. #3 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Dylan B. - Marquette	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Arkansas
Elizabeth N. #2 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Elizabeth N. #3 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Elliot N. - Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston
Eric G. - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.
Eric S. #1 - Houston	Arkansas	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama
Eric S. #2 - Arizona	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Eric V. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	UCLA
Eric V. #2 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Alabama	Alabama	Houston
Eric V. #3 - Texas	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Greg L. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Harrell R. #3 - UCLA	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	UCLA
Hero R. - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
House Rules (Jacob S.) - Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston
Howard S. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.
Howard S. #2 - Texas	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	Alabama
Hurry Up #2 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Hutch H. #1 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Hutch H. #2 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Irene H. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA
Irene H. #2 - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Irene H. #3 - Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Irene H. #4 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Irene H. #5 - Marquette	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Alabama	Houston
Irene H. #6 - Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston	Princeton
Jackson I. - UCLA	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Jacob A. - UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
James G. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
James P. - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Michigan St.
Jared B. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Jason S. - Houston	UCLA	Houston	Houston	Houston
Jaxon S. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Jay H. #1 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Jay H. #2 - Texas	Arkansas	UCLA	UCLA	Princeton
JB Erickson - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Houston	Xavier
Jeremy H. - Kentucky	Michigan St.	Houston	Xavier	Xavier
Jim W. - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Jon F. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Jonny Y. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Josh C. - UCLA	Arkansas	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Josiah T. - Houston	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Karen C. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Kealoha G. - Houston	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	UCLA	UCLA
Kirt R. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Kirt R. #2 - Houston	Arkansas	Alabama	Houston	Houston
Klei R. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Klei R. #2 - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Klei R. #3 - UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Klei R. #4 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas
Kristin G. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Arkansas
Kristina H. - Kansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Kylan G. - Purdue	Houston	Xavier	Xavier	Xavier
Kyler T. - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Luis B. #1 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Arkansas
Luis B. #2 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Luis B. #3 - Alabama	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Luis B. #5 - Alabama	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Luis B. #6 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Marblesox - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Mark B. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Marshmallow (Nikolajs B.) - UCLA	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Mary Lou H. - Houston	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	UCLA	UCLA
Mason A. #1 - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Mason A. #2 - Gonzaga	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Mason A. #3 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Mason A. #4 - UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Matt H. - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Matt N. - Houston	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Arkansas
Max A. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	Arkansas	UCLA	UCLA
Max A. #2 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Arkansas
Melissa W. - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.
Melody T. - Baylor	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Michigan St.
Michael S. - Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston	Houston
Michelle L. #1 - Alabama	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	Alabama
Michelle L. #2 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Michelle L. #3 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Michelle L. #4 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Michelle L. #5 - Marquette	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Miela314 (Brett G.) - Alabama	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Alabama	Alabama
Mike N. - Duke	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Mike W. - Marquette	Houston	Houston	Princeton	Princeton
Mindi W. - UCLA	Michigan St.	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Nick D. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Nick I. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Nick M. - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Arkansas
Niren D. - Texas	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Paul K. #1 - UCLA	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Paul K. #2 - Arizona	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Paul K. #3 - Houston	UCLA	Houston	Houston	Houston
Pete J. #1 - Houston	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA	Alabama
Pete J. #2 - Alabama	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Alabama	Alabama
Pete J. #3 - Marquette	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	UCLA	UCLA
Pete J. #6 - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
RB Blackburn - Indiana	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Sacrificial Gutless Bracket - Alabama	Michigan St.	Michigan St.	Arkansas	UCLA
Sally R. - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Samer C. - Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama	Houston
Scarlett H. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Schmuidos #2 (Bob & Max) - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Scott H. #1 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	UCLA
Scott H. #2 - Houston	Michigan St.	Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
Scott K. #2 - Houston	Sweet 16	Arkansas	UCLA	UCLA
SD Azteco (Dan McK.) - Gonzaga	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Xavier	Xavier
Shanky G. - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Shawn D. - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Snoop Dogg - UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Stan C. - UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA	UCLA
Stefon K. - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Stephen C. - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Steve D. #2 - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Szecho L. - UCLA	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Tiggy Tony (Tony N.) - Duke	Sweet 16	Arkansas	UCLA	UCLA
Tim D. #1 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Tim D. #2 - Purdue	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Tim N. - Marquette	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
TJ Val. - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Tom W Bel. - Kansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas	Arkansas
Tomas L. - Houston	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
Tyler C. - Alabama	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama
Vang L. #2 - Gonzaga	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Michigan St.	Arkansas
W Lafayette Blues (Dave F.) - Texas	Michigan St.	Arkansas	Alabama	Alabama
William M. #1 - Alabama	Sweet 16	Arkansas	Arkansas	Alabama
William M. #2 - Arizona	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16
William M. #3 - Kansas	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	Sweet 16

Games start in the mid/late afternoon.  Mercifully for me, they are going off one at a time.  Do you remember during COVID times, they were considering playing games at the same arena, sequentially.  Man, I wish they did that.  I would stay up 72 straight hours or more….

Game 57

Kansas State v Florida Atlantic

Vegas Line: Kansas State -2

Picks for Kansas State: 14

Picks for Florida Atlantic: 0

Picks for Other: 218

Remember when I thought the winner of this bracket would probably either be Purdue, Marquette or Duke?  Kansas State was a distant 4^th on the predictions list for this region.  Every year, there is a bracket where the eventual winner gets a bunch of points on the field.  I have no idea if that is this bracket or the South bracket this year.  Florida Atlantic reminds me a little of the Wichita State team that made the Final 4 as an 8-seed a few years ago.  The year after that, they had an undefeated regular season and finished as a #1 before the NCAA railroaded them by putting an underseeded Kentucky seed in their region as an #8.  That year, I think Wichita State beat a #1 seeded Gonzaga team on the way.  Florida Atlantic didn’t do anything like that, but they beat everyone that was put in front of them.  It’s not their fault, Purdue choked.

I am excited about this game because my favorite player in the tournament is playing.  If there’s any justice in the world, Markquis Nowell will get to keep playing and getting a bigger stage.  He’s the breakout star of this tournament in my mind.  He gave me a chance to remember Mark Wade, who was on one of my all-time favorite teams (the 1990 UNLV team) when he broke Wade’s record for assists in an NCAA game.  Incredibly, Wade was arguably the 4^th or 5^th best player on that UNLV team.  So good.

All right, here are the eliminations for the game:

If Florida Atlantic wins:

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

Brian K. is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Chad L. #2 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

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

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

Ryan W. is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Steve D. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

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

Veronica G. is eliminated from 1st & 2nd place contention.

If Kansas State wins:

Baily T. is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

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

CAAT #2 (Adam O.) is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

CAAT #4 (Adam O.) is eliminated from 4th place contention.

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

Chad L. #3 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

D Row (Dennis R.) is eliminated from 3rd place contention.

Elizabeth N. #1 is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Emily T. is eliminated from 2nd & 3rd place contention.

Hack a Zach (Dave F.) is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Mustard (Nikolajs B.) is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Pete J. #5 is eliminated from 3rd & 4th place contention.

Quinn1130 (Brett G.) is eliminated from 1st & 2nd place contention.

Rob I. #1 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

Ryan W. is eliminated from 1st place contention.

Upset City (Brett G.) is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Valerie D. is eliminated from 4th place contention.

Vang L. #1 is eliminated from 2nd place contention.

I always think that these last 2 days are the hardest to get through.  There are 8 games to survive in 2 days, and you usually have to get 3-4 of them to go your way to stay alive.  If you are still alive at this point, you are doing really good.  The end is getting closer.  Someone is going to  win this thing, I promise….

Good Luck!!!!!