HoopsHysteria > 2023

2023

UConn Do It

The Connecticut Huskies in fact did do it. The “it” being winning the National Championship – their fifth in the past 25 years which is the most in men’s basketball during this stretch. UConn controlled the game from the beginning. San Diego State made a late run to close within five but the Huskies stuck their foot on the gas and pulled away to leave no doubt. As the tournament comes to a conclusion, it’s time for the annual tradition – One Shining Moment.

UConn’s win meant a win for Tracey Hall. He finished first in the pool. He along with second-place finisher Alex Wimmers were the only two to correctly predict UConn as champions. Congrats to all that finished in the top 7.

Rank Name Points Champion Winnings
1 Tracey Hall 109 UConn $300
2 Alex Wimmers 93 UConn $150
3 Troy Harding 79 Marquette $100
4 Tommy Fiasco 77 Arizona $75
5 Jeff Thompson 74 Houston $50
6 Bryan Hailey 74 Arizona $25
6 Ryan Bohardt 64 Texas $10

If you paid via PayPal, payment has been sent. If you did not, an email has been sent asking for direction.

Thanks to everyone for participating this year!

Title Time

Tonight we will see San Diego State face Connecticut for the men’s basketball National Championship. The Aztecs are playing in their first national championship game while the Huskies could win their fifth national championship in the past twenty-five years – the most in the men’s basketball during this stretch.

Our pool is now down to two scenarios.

Again a reminder to the payout. Tie-breaker is closest to the final score. For example if San Diego State wins, Tommy and Tracey would finish tied with 77 points but for payout purposes the person that is the closest to the final score would be paid out for second while the other would be paid out for third. In the case of the seventh place tie, the closest would be the only entry paid out.

1 $300 (+$20)
2 $150
3 $100
4 $75 (+$25)
5 $50 (+$25)
6 $25 (+$25)
7 $10

And For Something Completely New

This year’s Final Four has THREE schools (FAU, Miami and San Diego State ) making their first appearance. Meanwhile UConn is looking to win their potential fifth National Championship in the past 25 years. One of these schools is not like the others.

As a result of these new schools crashing the Final Four, the outcomes for our pool have been significantly reduced. Currently only four brackets can win the pool. You can look at each scenario below.

https://www.pickhoops.com/HoopsHysteria/bestresults

https://www.pickhoops.com/HoopsHysteria/whatifvar

Again payouts were expanded this year. Good luck to those in the running.

1 $300 (+$20)
2 $150
3 $100
4 $75 (+$25)
5 $50 (+$25)
6 $25 (+$25)
7 $10

 

History

For the first time in NCAA tournament history, zero one-seed teams advanced to the Elite Eight. San Diego State and Miami both upset their one-seed opponents Friday night to knock out the two remaining one seeds. This also led to a lot (and I mean a lot) of trashed brackets.

Thursday night saw two of the best played games to this point in the tournament. First Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell had a performance for the ages.

And he’s fun to watch. Really fun.

Oh and this happened right before the play. Baller.

Nowell’s Wildcats survived overtime, this first and only overtime game this year, and a tough Michigan State to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1964.

Gonzaga and UCLA renewed acquittances once again. These two teams battled in a classic at the 2021 Final Four with Jaden Suggs hitting the game winner in overtime.

Thursday night saw UCLA take a double-digit lead into half. Gonzaga rallied to take the lead and pullaway in the second half when UCLA went scoreless for over nine minutes. Amazingly ULCA rallied from down eight with 1:04 to take the lead.

And then Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther buried a three and UCLA’s hopes.

Just another incredible game between these two schools.

So now the Elite Eight field is set.

How could have seen this group schools? Well based on our pool not many. Of the remaining schools, here’s the list of champions selected with the number of brackets.

Texas (14)
Gonzaga (5)
Connecticut (2)
Kansas St. (1)
Miami Fla. (1) **

Note: the Miami entry was disqualified for non-payment.

Speaking of which I did not received payment for only one bracket. This means that the official pool pot is $710 (142 x $5), a $95 increase from last year. This increase led to adding another bracket getting paid and increased amounts to others. Here’s the payout for this year with any increase noted. 

1 $300 (+$20)
2 $150
3 $100
4 $75 (+$25)
5 $50 (+$25)
6 $25 (+$25)
7 $10

You can use the Best Results report on Pick Hoops to see if your bracket is the running.

https://www.pickhoops.com/HoopsHysteria/bestresults

Good luck to all and enjoy the four game this weekend.

Farleigh Incredible

The 16-seed Farleigh Dickinson Knights shocked the world Friday upsetting 1-seed Purdue Boilermakers, 63-58. FDU becomes the second 16-seed to pull an upset in NCAA tournament history joining UMBC. This upset may have been more improbable than UMBC’s upset of Virginia. Consider the following.

True madness.

FDU wasn’t the only upset during the first two-days of the tournament. 15-seed Princeton stunned off 2-seed Arizona, 59-55, on Thursday and followed it up on Saturday by knocking off 8-seed Missouri. It’s the Tigers first Sweet 16 appearance since 1967.

14-seed Furman also joined the party by literally stunning Virginia on Thursday, 68-67. Virginia appeared to have the win wrapped up leading 67-65 with :07 seconds to go and then the Madness was unleashed!

The Madness has created havoc in the pool too. Here are the teams picked to win the championship in this pool.

Several favorites are already out before the weekend is over.

We topped out at 143 brackets this year which would be increase of 20 from last year. That’s awesome!.

However the official count is TBD until all payments are received. The deadline is Wednesday. If you have not paid yet, please do so.

I will send out an update tomorrow wrapping up the Sunday action when we will have the Sweet 16.