1st Place - Jordan Opp
2nd Place - James Bluestone
3rd Place - Michael Fosdick
4th Place - Danielle Stugelmeyer

Well after a recount for a hanging chad, and a Senate Judiciary committee meeting, and a recount of the points….It was decided I in fact beat Dan in this years NCAA Phat Four Challenge. I am now 2-0 against my cubicle neighbor in matters of the sporting world, for I also took it to him in the NFL playoffs this year, who would have thought that I could ride the backs of the Giants and win it all. All in all it was a great tournament and a great championship game, I was very glad to see Kansas win it all in my mind they deserved it the most, they played their hearts out this year.

Well this whole thing was very fun, thanks to you who checked in and played along with us “know it alls” yeah right

And congratulations to all the winners out there, including the ones who won on here, see you next year!!

And thank god it’s Baseball season….Go TWINS

-Justin Pierson

a.k.a KoolVanilla

Getting back to my duties…I call foul on both Dan and Justin.
Where’s the posts about Saturday’s games? What did the two of you think of the Jayhawks’ big win over UNC? If UNC would have come back and won that game (which it looked like they might do) would it have been the biggest flop in the history of the tournament? What about the way Memphis beat UCLA? Any commments about the Tigers win?

What’s going to happen in tonight’s game? From those I’ve talked to, the overwhelming majority want Kansas to win (maybe that’s just because there’s some Jayhawks alumni here in the office). I expect a good game; however, I could care less who wins. I’m a little disjointed with this tournament. I haven’t quite figured out why, but I’m less interested this year than I have been in the past. Maybe I should be calling foul on myself?

Just in case you missed the Elite 8 games because you were watching Nascar or Golf this past weekend we have the extended highlights in the Video player at the top of the page. Enjoy!!!!

Interesting tidbit I picked up this morning from watching ESPN. All eight of the Elite Eight teams in the women’s tournament were one or two seeds.
All four final four teams in the men’s tournament are No. 1 seeds.
We’ve heard a lot about how all the teams are so even, and how any team can beat another on a given night, but maybe that’s not so true this year.
The top teams continue to prove they’re the best by winning.

My husband took over the television for much of yesterday. Instead of tournament basketball, I was forced to watch one of his favorite sports — racing. Yuck. I missed all of the Kansas and Davidson game. And caught only a little bit of the Memphis and Texas game (and by that time, it was a blowout). All because of a sport I hate…racing.
Still, only two of my final four teams remain after this weekend (UCLA and UNC). Both have been impressive in the tournament. But so have Memphis and Kansas. It’s the first time ever all No. 1 seeds have made the final four. Congrats to all of them. They proved to the entire country that the selection committee was right making them all No. 1s.

This years tournament did not fail to impress at all, while some people might be bummed all the number 1 seeds made it to the Final Four, don’t forget the drama it took for them to get there it was no easy task at all. Today Davidson made their fans proud playing one the best teams in the nation all year long for 40 full minutes you can’t ask for more than that out of a team. And what about the Curry kid from Davidson following in his fathers footsteps, is possibly one of the best jump shooters i have ever seen, it’s almost like he has a chance to make it every time, AMAZING.
As for my bracket I have 2/4 of my Final Fur that made it, with Texas choking badly against Memphis today. I believe the two Final Four games will 2 of the best games you will see all year, each one will be very close I believe.
I am looking forward to watching the next round and I will keep you posted……
As for right now I am going to watch the Second Greatest sports day of the year..OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xavier has made me feel a little bit redeemed in what has been an otherwise disheartening NCAA bracket experience for me this year. I knew they were good - and I am a big Drew Lavender fan - but I think the express train may come to a grinding halt against UCLA in the elite eight.

At any rate - I am feeling good about the remaining teams I have going to the elite eight…right now anyway.

-Dan

There are a few games I can’t wait to see this weekend, and then there are those I could live without.
I can’t wait to watch Davidson vs. Wisconsin. Wisconsin isn’t flashy. Actually, they’re downright boring, but the team plays fantastic defense. And I’ve been a fan of Davidson since I watched Duke (narrowly) beat them at the beginning of the year.
I can’t wait to watch Louisville and Tennessee. I’m expecting an up-and-down game. Louisville has won pretty easily in the tournament. While I don’t expect it to be as easy against the Vols, Tennessee is going to have to play better than they have to come away with the win.
I could live without watching Kansas vs. Villanova, UCLA vs. Western Kentucky and North Carolina vs. Washington St. Every game is good this time of year, but prospective blowouts don’t interest me too much. While I can see Western Kentucky keeping it close, I don’t have as much faith in Villanova and Washington St.

The opening round of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament came and went in a flash - and all my hopes and dreams of bracket glory went with it. After day one of the tournament - It looked like we might be in for a sleeper this year - but then came Friday - and from then through the weekend, and all heck broke loose.

Nine of my original sweet sixteen remain, including all of my final four - so that’s good. But I lost SO MANY games in the first and second round that I don’t think I can recover…ever. Literally - it may take two years for me to catch back up and actually compete in a bracket pool…that is how far behind I am right now.

At any rate - the games were great. My household was in front of the new LCD HDTV most of the weekend oohing and aahing over every shot. I love this time of year…baseball is about to begin, NCAA basketball is in all its glory and the NBA is headed to post-season.

Can you imagine how incredible it would be if there were a playoff in college football? But that’s another topic for another blog, I suppose.

Have a great day folks,

-Dan