NCAA Final wrap-up. Best Finals Ever? Top 5 at minimum

Before I get my life back after 3 weeks of basketball and 5 extra pounds compliments of eating too much food and getting too little exercise, I have to write up a finale to the tournament.

This was the second time I witnessed the Final 4 in person, both times in Houston.  I'm not sure if anyone remembers the last time the Final 4 was in Houston, but it was the Kemba Walker year when they Beat Butler in the Finals.  That year (I think) was the worst shooting finals of all time.  I think there was about an 8 minute stretch in the second half of that game when neither team scored.

That was not a problem in this year's Finals.  Both teams did what they needed to do to win the game.  North Carolina lead Villanova in offensive rebounds 16-2  and shot 65% from 3-point range.  Villanova shot almost 60% from the floor overall making it close.  I was thinking that when North Carolina was down 10 with 5+ minutes to go that they were toast.  I give them a lot of credit for coming back.  The three North Carolina hit to tie it up with 5 seconds to go was crazy.  The fans in the stadium went nuts.  I think I had a shocked look on my face for a long while processing what I was watching.  I then thought about how you can conceivably get a pretty good shot off in 5 seconds, which is exactly what happened.  I walked back to the car shaking my head and saying "Wow" over and over again.

What that means in practical terms is that we have a new champion of my annual pool, and it is none other than Jonathan Ochoa of Spain.  I think he might be the only person that entered the pool who was born, raised and currently lives in another country.  He only got in because I used to work with his wife, and she's been a die-hard pool entrant for years.  He only got to enter once because they only had time to fill out one bracket apiece since they were on their way back to Spain when the brackets were due.  I think it goes to show that slightly following the seeds and having a few games go your way is really the secret to winning this pool.

If I look at where Jonathan O. really won this pool, I think it's on Day 6 (the last Day of the Sweet 16).  Jonathan nailed all 4 games that day (North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia, Syracuse) .  He was only person that day to get the full 16 points, and it catapulted him from 148th in points to 31st.  It also put him ahead of other people that also had Villanova winning it all.  One of my truisms to winning these things is that you have to take some chances, and those chances have to actually hit.  It looks like that's exactly what happened to Jonathan.  Great picking.

As a result, he will win $530, as all but one person has paid or contacted me about payments.  That's pretty good from an accounts receivable point of view.  Thanks to everyone for that.  Some you took a little longer than I would have liked, but in the end, most people were honest.  I like to see that.

Second place went to Dan Dz., who won in the tiebreaker.  He will win $265.  Missy W. #1 will take third and $159 (although she did enter a gutless bracket - proving that it's almost always better to go with your first instincts).  Howard Szeto will get 4th place of $106, which will tempered by the $50 bet he and I placed with each other as a hedge on our potential winnings (since one of us was going to win something - at least this way we don't both leave empty-handed).

I was looking at the final scores from last year, when Duke beat Wisconsin in the Finals and the winning point total last year was 141, just 2 less than the winning total for this year.  The average of the top 4 last year was 136.4.  This year it was 135.9.  That's amazingly consistent.

Here are the final standings:

1. Jonathan O.: 143 (-49)

2. Dan Dz: 134.5 (-58)

3. Missy W. #1: 134 (-58)

4. Howard S. #2: 132 (-60)

5. Daisy N. #4: 131 (-61)

6. Brian K.: 126 (-66)

7. Stefan K.: 121 (-71)

8. Adam S.: 120 (-72)

9. Jeff D.: 114 (-78)

10. Ben J. #4: 113 (-79)

11. Steve H.: 112 (-80)

12. Klei R. #1: 102 (-90)

13. Kazelli2: 101 (-91)

13. Mike C. #1: 101 (-91)

15. Michelle R.: 100 (-92)

16. James R.: 99 (-93)

16. Jim D. #2: 99 (-93)

18. Irene H. #4: 98 (-94)

19. Hutch H. #3: 97 (-95)

20. Craig G.: 96 (-96)

21. Mike C. #2: 95 (-97)

22. Carl B.: 94 (-98)

23. Jackson I.: 93 (-99)

23. Hutch H. #1: 93 (-99)

23. Ray W. #8: 93 (-99)

26. Mike S. #1: 92 (-100)

26. Wayne D. #1: 92 (-100)

28. Karen C.: 90 (-102)

28. Alyssa B.: 90 (-102)

28. Dustin B.: 90 (-102)

31. Elizabeth N.: 89 (-103)

31. Chun W. #1: 89 (-103)

31. Angie B.: 89 (-103)

34. Gutless Kye: 87 (-105)

34. Gutless Missy: 87 (-105)

34. Gutless Ray: 87 (-105)

34. Jim D. #1: 87 (-105)

34. Rob I. #2: 87 (-105)

34. Dennis R.: 87 (-105)

34. Scott K. #1: 87 (-105)

41. Matt N.: 86 (-106)

41. Brett W.: 86 (-106)

43. Scott H. #2: 84 (-108)

43. Michelle L. #2: 84 (-108)

45. Ray W. #5: 83 (-109)

45. Larry G. #1: 83 (-109)

45. Chad L. #3: 83 (-109)

45. Kristina H.: 83 (-109)

49. Jeff S.: 82 (-110)

49. Missy W. #2: 82 (-110)

49. Jason G. #1: 82 (-110)

52. Harrell R. #3: 81 (-111)

52. Chris M. #1: 81 (-111)

52. Alex I.: 81 (-111)

52. Jay K.: 81 (-111)

52. Pete J. #3: 81 (-111)

52. Julie S.: 81 (-111)

58. Ken P.: 80 (-112)

58. Joe K. #1: 80 (-112)

58. Joel B. #2: 80 (-112)

61. John E. #1: 79 (-113)

61. Chad L. #4: 79 (-113)

63. Carin C.: 78 (-114)

63. Irene H. #3: 78 (-114)

63. Harrell R. #1: 78 (-114)

63. Ava S.: 78 (-114)

63. Bella S.: 78 (-114)

68. Luis B. #1: 77 (-115)

68. Pete J. #2: 77 (-115)

68. Mason A. #2: 77 (-115)

68. Ray W. #2: 77 (-115)

68. Larry G. #3: 77 (-115)

73. Scott H. #1: 76 (-116)

73. Becky H.: 76 (-116)

73. Howard S. #1: 76 (-116)

76. Luis B. #2: 75 (-117)

77. Chris T.: 74 (-118)

77. Pete J. #1: 74 (-118)

77. Roth W.: 74 (-118)

77. Daisy N. #5: 74 (-118)

81. Gary W.: 73 (-119)

81. Angie Bow.: 73 (-119)

81. Kye G. #2: 73 (-119)

81. Taima B. #1: 73 (-119)

81. Damien R. #1: 73 (-119)

81. Larry G. #2: 73 (-119)

81. Daisy N. #1: 73 (-119)

81. Pete J. #4: 73 (-119)

89. Jay H. #2: 72 (-120)

89. Wayne D. #3: 72 (-120)

89. Szecho L. #1: 72 (-120)

89. William G. #1: 72 (-120)

89. Ben J. #3: 72 (-120)

89. John M. #1: 72 (-120)

89. Ben J. #2: 72 (-120)

89. Jim D. #4: 72 (-120)

97. Joel B. #4: 71 (-121)

97. Irene H. #2: 71 (-121)

97. Damien R. #3: 71 (-121)

97. Chris M. #3: 71 (-121)

97. Michelle L. #4: 71 (-121)

102. Kirt R.: 70 (-122)

102. Josh C.: 70 (-122)

102. Joel B. #1: 70 (-122)

105. Todd K. #2: 69 (-123)

106. John B.: 68 (-124)

106. Kansas C. #1: 68 (-124)

106. Ally H.: 68 (-124)

106. Daisy N. #6: 68 (-124)

110. Jim D. #3: 67 (-125)

110. Joel B. #5: 67 (-125)

110. Jenny E.: 67 (-125)

113. Chris L. #1: 66 (-126)

113. Dylan B.: 66 (-126)

113. Chris L. #2: 66 (-126)

113. Irene H. #1: 66 (-126)

113. Tomas L. #2: 66 (-126)

118. Tomas L. #1: 65 (-127)

118. Arianna S.: 65 (-127)

118. Brent E. #2: 65 (-127)

118. Adam E.: 65 (-127)

118. Chris M. #4: 65 (-127)

118. Rob I. #1: 65 (-127)

124. Hutch H. #2: 64 (-128)

124. April K.: 64 (-128)

126. Jay H. #1: 63 (-129)

126. Chad L. #2: 63 (-129)

126. Dan S.: 63 (-129)

126. Ryan W.: 63 (-129)

126. Mike W.: 63 (-129)

126. Dan Du. #1: 63 (-129)

126. Ben J. #1: 63 (-129)

126. Joe D. #2: 63 (-129)

134. Stephanie P. #2: 62 (-130)

134. Brent S. #2: 62 (-130)

134. Taima B. #2: 62 (-130)

134. Mason A. #1: 62 (-130)

138. Jeremy C.: 61 (-131)

138. Jason G. #2: 61 (-131)

138. Presley J.: 61 (-131)

138. Plsczor Team: 61 (-131)

138. Brian S.: 61 (-131)

138. Marissa O.: 61 (-131)

138. William G. #2: 61 (-131)

138. Virginia L. #1: 61 (-131)

146. Taran B.: 60 (-132)

146. Leslie S.: 60 (-132)

146. Joe K. #2: 60 (-132)

146. Mike S. #2: 60 (-132)

146. Michelle L. #1: 60 (-132)

146. Brandon H.: 60 (-132)

146. Joel B. #3: 60 (-132)

146. Stephanie P. #1: 60 (-132)

146. Ray W. #9: 60 (-132)

155. Kazelli3: 59 (-133)

156. Gigi I.: 58 (-134)

156. Brent E. #3: 58 (-134)

158. Chun W. #4: 57 (-135)

158. Brent S. #1: 57 (-135)

158. Ray W. #3: 57 (-135)

161. Danny H.: 56 (-136)

161. Brett K. #2: 56 (-136)

161. Brad R. #1: 56 (-136)

161. Chrissy I.: 56 (-136)

161. Mindi W.: 56 (-136)

166. Wayne D. #2: 55 (-137)

166. Brad R. #2: 55 (-137)

166. Michelle D.: 55 (-137)

166. Tim N.: 55 (-137)

166. Joe K. #3: 55 (-137)

166. Damien R. #2: 55 (-137)

172. Daisy N. #2: 54 (-138)

172. Stan C.: 54 (-138)

172. Ray W. #6: 54 (-138)

172. Eric R. #1: 54 (-138)

172. Lisa M.: 54 (-138)

172. Marc R.: 54 (-138)

172. Chun W. #2: 54 (-138)

179. Michelle L. #3: 53 (-139)

179. Harrell R. #4: 53 (-139)

179. Brent E. #1: 53 (-139)

179. Dave M.: 53 (-139)

183. Harrell R. #2: 52 (-140)

183. Joe D. #1: 52 (-140)

183. Todd K. #1: 52 (-140)

183. Ray W. #7: 52 (-140)

187. Jim K.: 51 (-141)

187. Kansas C. #2: 51 (-141)

189. John M. #2: 50 (-142)

189. Daisy N. #3: 50 (-142)

189. Ron B.: 50 (-142)

189. Jim W.: 50 (-142)

189. Brett K. #1: 50 (-142)

194. Bosun S.: 49 (-143)

194. Scott K. #2: 49 (-143)

194. Paul W.: 49 (-143)

194. Ray W. #1: 49 (-143)

198. Kazelli1: 48 (-144)

198. Irene H. #5: 48 (-144)

200. Chris M. #2: 47 (-145)

200. Todd K. #3: 47 (-145)

202. Szecho L. #2: 45 (-147)

203. Chun W. #3: 44 (-148)

203. John E. #2: 44 (-148)

203. Chris M. #5: 44 (-148)

206. Chad L. #1: 43 (-149)

206. Virginia L. #2: 43 (-149)

206. Eric R. #2: 43 (-149)

209. Jay H. #3: 42 (-150)

210. Brent E. #4: 41 (-151)

210. Jonathan V.: 41 (-151)

210. Klei R. #2: 41 (-151)

213. Dan Du. #2: 38 (-154)

Here are some other stats that I just pulled together:

Final rankings for people that were in 1st place after a given day:

8. Adam S.: 120 (-72)

16. Jim D. #2: 99 (-93)

41. Matt N.: 86 (-106)

52. Harrell R. #3: 81 (-111)

77. Chris T.: 74 (-118)

126. Dan Du. #1: 63 (-129)

138. Brian S.: 61 (-131)

Biggest difference between worst ranking and finish:  193 places (Jeff D. - 202nd after Day 1, 9th overall)

If you were one of the 47 people that entered multiple brackets, here are the best finishes for you:

Missy W.	3
Howard S.	4
Daisy N.	5
Ben J.	10
Klei R.	12
Mike C.	13
Jim D.	16
Irene H.	18
Hutch H.	19
Ray W.	23
Mike S.	26
Wayne D.	26
Chun W.	31
Rob I.	34
Scott K.	34
Michelle L.	43
Scott H.	43
Chad L.	45
Larry G.	45
Jason G.	49
Chris M.	52
Harrell R.	52
Pete J.	52
Joe K.	58
Joel B.	58
John E.	61
Luis B.	68
Mason A.	68
Damien R.	81
Taima B.	81
Jay H.	89
John M.	89
Szecho L.	89
William G.	89
Todd K.	105
Kansas C.	106
Chris L.	113
Tomas L.	113
Brent E.	118
Dan Du.	126
Joe D.	126
Brent S.	134
Stephanie P.	134
Virginia L.	138
Brad R.	161
Brett K.	161
Eric R.	172

Best finish for someone mathematically eliminated from 1st by the Sweet 16: 7th (Stefan K.)

Best finish for someone mathematically eliminated from all contention by the Sweet 16:  61st (Chad L. #4)

Worst finish for someone that was mathematically alive for all positions by the Sweet 16: 213th (Dan Du. #2)

There's probably a ton more I could do with this, but I'm a little basketball-ed out at the moment.  I'm going to take some time off and enjoy the baseball season.  I'll be back in December with the annual college bowl pool.

Again, if you had fun with the pool this year, I welcome anyone to join. I don't openly lobby for more people to get in, so if you want the pool to get bigger, feel free to evangelize.  I said I'd pay 5 spots if we got 250 people.  We may not be that far from that goal.

Congratulations again to the winners and I will hopefully see you all again next year!!!!!!

NCAA pool - Largest blowout in Final 4 history edition

Good morning everyone.  I attended the Final 4 in Houston last night, and I went in with a real chance to win my own pool.  Sadly, that chance was dashed pretty quickly as Oklahoma suffered the biggest single loss in Final 4 history.  I had some hope with the score 17-16 Oklahoma, but in short order, it was 26-17 Villanova, and it was never closer than that.  My wife and I decided to go get an early dinner with about 6 minutes left to go in the game, since it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Villanova was going to win.

The second game was a little closer, but only because the first game was such a blowout.  North Carolina slowly built a 10 point lead and more or less maintained it for the entire second half.  That makes the Finals, Villanova vs. North Carolina.

A grand total of 6 people managed to get the final 2 write.  Of those 6 people, only 1 (Irene H. #4) is not alive for one of the four payout positions, as she was knocked out way back with the Oregon loss to Oklahoma in the Elite 8.

Here are the eliminations for the two games:

For Oklahoma:

Adam E.  (3rd)

Alex I.  (4th)

Craig G.  (3rd)

Irene H. #1  (2nd, 4th)

James R.  (2nd, 3rd)

Julie S.  (1st, 4th)

Klei R. #1  (1st, 2nd)

Mike C. #2  (4th)

Mike W.  (4th)

For Syracuse:

Adam S.  (2nd)

Brian K.  (4th)

Daisy N. #4  (2nd, 4th)

Daisy N. #5  (1st)

Jim D. #2  (4th)

Jonathan O.  (3rd)

Missy W. #1  (1st)

That leaves us with only two possible outcomes, it also guarantees that after a great run, Daisy is not going to repeat as Champion.

Here are the only outcomes possible:

If North Carolina wins:

1st:  Adam S.

2nd:  Jeff D.

3rd:  Klei R. #1

4th:  Michelle R.

If Villanova wins:

1st:  Jonathan O.

2nd:  Winner of tie-breaker between Dan Dz. and Missy W. #1

3rd:  Loser of tie-breaker between Dan Dz. and Missy W. #1

4th:  Howard S. #2

Some interesting notes:

I don't think that Adam was on my original e-mail distribution about the pool, since we used to work together at my old job and all I had was his old e-mail address.  Luckily, he got a hold of the introductory e-mail and was able to enter.  I think a lost a lot of people because of my old company shuttering, so thanks to Adam for making a little extra effort to make sure to get in this year.

Jonathan O. was one of my favorite entrants last year, as he had some whacky brackets that somehow managed to stay alive for much longer than I would have thought possible.  This year, I think that he must have figured something out, since he's one of the last 2 alive for first.  I just want to point out to anyone that uses "I don't know anything about college basketball" as an excuse, that Jonathan O. is someone you need to talk to.  Jonathan O. is from Spain, and only got in because he is married to a friend of mine.  My understanding is that he may know about the NBA, but not so much about NCAA basketball.  Yet, here he is, on the verge of winning this pool.  I think this proves that with the seeding that the NCAA has, you can make a somewhat intelligent guess and maybe win.  Plus, it takes a lot of luck to win this pool.  Everyone who wins has to have about 7-8 games break your way.  That's why it's so hard to do, and also why "experts" have such a hard time doing well.

One more thing that is interesting, but not really a trend that I love is that the two potential winners both submitted only one bracket.  That's going to be a maximum amount of return on a small investment.

I heard from a number of people that I had listed as not having paid.  Here's the list of those I have NOT heard from yet:

Alex I.

Chrissy I.

Dave M.

Gary W.

Gigi I.

Jackson I.

Kansas C. #1

Kansas C. #2

Presley J.

Rob I. #1

Rob I. #2

Roth W.

Taran B.

Please remedy that ASAP.

How much the payouts will be will depend on how many people stiff me, so I'm not 100% on the payouts, but it will be 50/25/15/10 depending on how much the final count is.

Good luck to everyone still alive - and go Tar Heels!!!!!