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Championship Game - FINAL RESULTS
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Dear John,
This is not easy for me to say. We've been together for many years and
enjoyed some great times. But I think its best for both of us if we
recruit other people.
Please understand its not you, it's me. I have needs.
Expectations. See this hand John. The rings are all old. The
edges rounded and smooth because I have to wear the same rings year after year
after year. The stones are dimmed from the saliva of other schools kissing
the ring. And the truth is, they're starting to refuse to kiss the ring.
Some have even defiantly held up their own ring, flaunting the shimmer of fresh
bling in my face. It hurts John, it hurts deep. Like right where my
front teeth use to be deep.
And I need time to get to know the team. You bring guys in and out of here
so fast we never get to learn what their mom and dad's do for a living, the
names of the siblings, their secret talent. And since Anthony took his
unibrow to the league, have any of those guys really made an impact.
On second thought. Maybe its not me. I think it could be you.
Go to Arkansas. You can grease the pigs with your hair gel. They'll
love you for that. They haven't been relevant since Nolan left.
They'll be perfectly happy standing by themselves along the gym wall while all
the other schools keep dancing. I think its a good fit.
NOW GET OUTTA HERE!
------
Sorry, breaking up can be hard. What else can be hard. Paying out
prize money. Its not like it use to be. I use to take all the entry
fee cash and spread it out on the bed and roll around in it, pretending I was
rich. Now I have to print out the Venmo and Paypal emails, and it just feels
like I'm just rolling in a giant stack of email. And the paper cuts...
don't even get me started on the paper cuts.
What's worse. Thi year, I have to give money (and keep none) to 1) a
coworker, 2) a golf buddy and 3) my boss. Sigh.
John Nelnter 2 is the 2024 Basketball Bracket Challenge. His pick of
Connect, Coneticu, Connetti, his pick of UConn to win it all was very prophetic.
OK, not really. John used the experts suggestions from CBS. Let that
be a lesson to you. But it worked. Matter of fact, his total of 315 points
is the highest point total of any champion in the seven years I've run this
pool. We'll figure out a parade route in the office John to celebrate your
win. We'll do it Thursday and give you the biggest donut.
Second place goes to Jennifer Cleveland. Jennifer also had UConn winning
it all. Her total of 302 is the only other score besides John's in BBC
history to top the 300 point mark. So technically the second best bracket
in pool history.
Zain Aziz had a more than respectable showing coming off last years
championship. And he learned a very valuable lesson about putting your
hope and faith in Purdue. You have a better chance of dating Taylor Swift
and not having a break up song written about you than you do Purdue leading you
to the promise land. Does make me wonder what Travis Kelce's break up song
will be. I have a title idea... "So Long Chief".
Fourth place, seemingly out of nowhere comes Mike King 3. Riding that
UConn pick into the prize money, the key to Mike's success was he didn't pick
his alma matter. Matter of fact, I didn't see anyone pick Penn State this year.
I'm sure that was an oversight on my part.
And then there is fifth. I've run the numbers backwards and forwards.
I went thru the rules with a fine tooth comb looking for an exception. In
the end, I'm gonna have to give my boss, Chris Jackson, $14 for fifth place.
Ugh!
Some other recognition in closing out this year's tournament.
Beside the 315 points, John Neltner also picked the most games right. 44
of 63 games (70% guess rate).
John also had the highest Sweet 16 score with 52 points, and that is what really
put him in contention.
Jennifer Cleaveland scored 169 points in the opening round, the single best
opening round score in the bracket.
Despite finishing down in the final standings, Amanda Woolums had the best
second round score with 65.
Three people had three of the four final four teams... Zain Aziz, Kevin
Kjanneken and David Lamb.
If you follow the Consensus and All Favorites pics, you'll know that the
Consensus of all our sheets would have landed you 12th. And the all
favorites sheet would have been 28th. Even in a year with a decent amount
of chalk, all favorites will not win you money.
We had two One Shining Picks. John Anneken was the only person to pick
Yale on the opening Day. And Mark Bales was the only person to have NC
State making the Final Four. Congrats to both of you.
I think that is a wrap for the 2024 BBC. Congratulations to all the
winners.
|
| Rank |
Name |
Points |
Max Pts |
Correct
Picks |
First
Round |
Second
Round |
Sweet
16 |
Elite
8 |
Final
Four |
Champ |
CHAMPION |
EAST |
WEST |
SOUTH |
MIDWEST |
| 1 |
John Neltner 2 |
315 |
315 |
44 |
125 |
58 |
52 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Duke |
Purdue |
| 2 |
Jennifer Cleaveland |
302 |
302 |
43 |
169 |
41 |
12 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 3 |
Zain Aziz |
281 |
281 |
43 |
144 |
49 |
36 |
36 |
16 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Alabama |
Kentucky |
Purdue |
| 4 |
Mike King 3 |
278 |
278 |
42 |
134 |
45 |
19 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Baylor |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 5 |
Chris Jackson |
276 |
276 |
42 |
123 |
46 |
27 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Baylor |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 6 |
Neal Schmidt |
275 |
275 |
42 |
119 |
48 |
28 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Duke |
Purdue |
| 6 |
Kevin kjanneken |
275 |
275 |
40 |
108 |
44 |
29 |
36 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Alabama |
Kentucky |
Purdue |
| 8 |
Kent Dixon |
267 |
267 |
43 |
140 |
53 |
20 |
22 |
32 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Kentucky |
Purdue |
| 9 |
David Lamb |
265 |
265 |
43 |
117 |
52 |
28 |
36 |
32 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Alabama |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 10 |
Mary Jimenez |
263 |
263 |
43 |
123 |
57 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 10 |
Andy Brickler 2 |
263 |
263 |
42 |
145 |
45 |
19 |
22 |
32 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 12 |
CONSENSUS (REFERENCE ONLY)* |
261 |
261 |
42 |
105 |
57 |
19 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 13 |
Todd Mason |
254 |
254 |
41 |
128 |
54 |
19 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Baylor |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 14 |
William Robins |
253 |
253 |
41 |
108 |
50 |
28 |
25 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Alabama |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 14 |
Rob Fain |
253 |
253 |
39 |
108 |
45 |
20 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 16 |
Andy Brickler |
252 |
252 |
42 |
123 |
48 |
27 |
22 |
32 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 17 |
Susan Murch |
250 |
250 |
41 |
128 |
41 |
27 |
22 |
32 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 18 |
rob collins 02345 |
244 |
244 |
40 |
156 |
58 |
19 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Houston |
Iowa State |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 19 |
Scott Pyles 2 |
243 |
243 |
41 |
110 |
52 |
28 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Duke |
Tennessee |
| 20 |
Lisa Kim |
240 |
240 |
42 |
137 |
56 |
36 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Arizona |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Kentucky |
Tennessee |
| 20 |
Michael Cutcher |
240 |
240 |
40 |
123 |
52 |
27 |
22 |
16 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 20 |
Dara Perry 3 |
240 |
240 |
37 |
127 |
37 |
12 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Baylor |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 23 |
David Woolums |
239 |
239 |
39 |
116 |
48 |
22 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Baylor |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 23 |
John Anneken |
239 |
239 |
36 |
114 |
42 |
30 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Michigan State |
Kentucky |
Tennessee |
| 25 |
Mike King 2 |
238 |
238 |
41 |
123 |
50 |
27 |
22 |
16 |
0 |
North Carolina |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 26 |
Eric Ruter |
235 |
235 |
40 |
102 |
50 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 26 |
Mark Douyere 2 |
235 |
235 |
40 |
102 |
50 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 28 |
ALL FAVORITES (REFERENCE ONLY)* |
232 |
232 |
40 |
99 |
50 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 28 |
rob simpson |
232 |
232 |
40 |
99 |
50 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 30 |
Mark Douyere |
226 |
226 |
40 |
142 |
46 |
27 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
North Carolina |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 30 |
Katie Schwegman 2 |
226 |
226 |
37 |
134 |
54 |
24 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
Tennessee |
Auburn |
Alabama |
Florida |
Tennessee |
| 32 |
Mike King |
225 |
225 |
39 |
123 |
52 |
12 |
22 |
16 |
0 |
Houston |
Uconn |
Baylor |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 33 |
Jeff Brown |
224 |
224 |
38 |
87 |
57 |
27 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 34 |
Mark Cleaveland |
222 |
222 |
37 |
101 |
41 |
27 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Nebraska |
Tennessee |
| 35 |
Braden Knight |
221 |
221 |
36 |
98 |
40 |
29 |
22 |
32 |
0 |
Purdue |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 36 |
Mike Rimmer 88c8f |
218 |
218 |
38 |
85 |
50 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 37 |
Doug Dearing |
215 |
215 |
37 |
95 |
48 |
19 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Saint Marys |
Kentucky |
Tennessee |
| 37 |
Amanda Woolums |
215 |
215 |
41 |
109 |
65 |
30 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Gonzaga |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Kentucky |
Gonzaga |
| 39 |
Ethan Eckerle 2 |
208 |
208 |
34 |
125 |
41 |
15 |
11 |
16 |
0 |
Kentucky |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Kentucky |
Gonzaga |
| 40 |
Todd Mason 2 |
205 |
205 |
38 |
126 |
56 |
12 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Houston |
Iowa State |
Arizona |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 41 |
Scott McPhail |
204 |
204 |
37 |
121 |
37 |
19 |
11 |
16 |
0 |
Houston |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 41 |
Mark Bales |
204 |
204 |
32 |
76 |
43 |
37 |
32 |
16 |
0 |
Purdue |
Illinois |
North Carolina |
NC State |
Purdue |
| 41 |
Jamie Lafford |
204 |
204 |
36 |
119 |
44 |
14 |
11 |
16 |
0 |
Auburn |
Auburn |
Arizona |
Marquette |
Purdue |
| 44 |
Amy Melone |
201 |
201 |
34 |
111 |
46 |
17 |
11 |
16 |
0 |
Purdue |
San Diego State |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Purdue |
| 45 |
Dara Perry |
199 |
199 |
34 |
128 |
53 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gonzaga |
Auburn |
Arizona |
Duke |
Gonzaga |
| 46 |
Jeff Brown 2 |
193 |
193 |
33 |
96 |
38 |
6 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Houston |
Kansas |
| 46 |
Dara Perry 2 |
193 |
193 |
37 |
122 |
39 |
21 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Arizona |
Uconn |
Arizona |
Wisconsin |
Tennessee |
| 48 |
David Lamb 2 |
192 |
192 |
36 |
89 |
50 |
28 |
25 |
0 |
0 |
Kentucky |
Iowa State |
Alabama |
Kentucky |
Purdue |
| 49 |
Braden Knight 2 |
189 |
189 |
36 |
122 |
46 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Arizona |
Iowa State |
Arizona |
Houston |
Creighton |
| 50 |
Bill Cohen |
188 |
188 |
37 |
116 |
45 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Tennessee |
Illinois |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 51 |
Evan Butler* |
185 |
185 |
34 |
127 |
39 |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Houston |
Iowa State |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 52 |
Kevin Young |
183 |
183 |
33 |
136 |
34 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Houston |
Iowa State |
Arizona |
Houston |
Tennessee |
| 52 |
David Stubenrauch |
183 |
183 |
34 |
95 |
46 |
15 |
11 |
16 |
0 |
Marquette |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Marquette |
Creighton |
| 54 |
Ethan Eckerle |
178 |
178 |
28 |
91 |
28 |
6 |
11 |
16 |
26 |
Uconn |
Uconn |
New Mexico |
Houston |
Creighton |
| 55 |
rob simpson 2 |
173 |
173 |
34 |
94 |
40 |
12 |
11 |
16 |
0 |
Houston |
Uconn |
North Carolina |
Houston |
Creighton |
| 56 |
Doug Dearing 2 |
171 |
171 |
35 |
95 |
48 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Kentucky |
Iowa State |
Saint Marys |
Kentucky |
Tennessee |
| 57 |
Zain Aziz 2 |
162 |
162 |
32 |
103 |
46 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Kentucky |
Auburn |
Arizona |
Kentucky |
Tennessee |
| 58 |
Jamie Lafford 2 |
161 |
161 |
31 |
117 |
38 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Houston |
Auburn |
Arizona |
Houston |
South Carolina |
| 59 |
Sj Anneken 2 |
150 |
150 |
29 |
113 |
31 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Iowa State |
Iowa State |
Baylor |
Houston |
Gonzaga |
| 60 |
Sj Anneken |
143 |
143 |
30 |
90 |
40 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Iowa State |
Iowa State |
North Carolina |
Marquette |
Tennessee |
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