STANDINGS - March 22, 2015

Apologies for the such late posting of the current standings.  Had an action packed day yesterday and wasn't able to to grade until this afternoon.  After racing out to an unprecedented 28 from 32, Joe Fadule has really taken his foot off the gas in round 2.  Another rookie Kyle Bennett has over taken him for sole possession of first place.  What's up with these rookies coming in here trying to take everyone's money?  The Anyone But Cro Players Association (ABCPA) needs to get together in the off season and propose some sort of rookie hazing.  Here I am grading 36 brackets, while these new guys come in here and act like they run things.  I got news.  That rookie wall is coming.  You don't ever want to see the likes of Boy Pierce lurking only 5 points back.

The good news is it appears two time defending champ AC Billz IV didn't get the ABC the attention it deserves this year, and a new champ is almost guaranteed to be crowned.  Would it surprise anyone to know that he submitted his bracket at 11:43 AM EDT Thursday morning?  No.

449 PM:  Duke has been called.  Everyone had them in the Sweet 16 except for David Weissman, AC Billz IV and Tatz.  What an exclusive group that is.  Next game up, the REAL Sunflower State Showdown, Kansas v Wichita State.  There's a good mix of winners in the pool so we'll see some juggling.  I've picked Kansas to win it all 8 years in a row or something like that.  This is the first game I've picked them to lose since like 2007.  It's an awkward feeling, but I'm rooting for them anyway since my pool sucks.  Wichita has wanted this game for such a long time.  KU wins ugly.  It's going to be a tremendous game.

735 PM:  No drive.  No hustle.  No leadership.  No difference maker.  Against a team who wanted it more.  Who wanted to play you for years.  Whose players felt slighted by not being recruited hard enough by their opponent.  Add all that together and you get an easy Wichita State win.  It was evident as soon as the brackets came out.  National champions don't get their ass kicked by Temple by 30 points because they went on Christmas Break early.  KU losing in March Madness is far and away one of the worst of my year, but this one has been the easiest in quite some time.  More than expected.  In fact, predicted.  Score 2 for your boy.  In other news, I need more Shaq tweets and Barles Charkley.

833 PM:  Boomer Sooner to the Sweet 16 is one the most awkward things ever said in sports.  The top 4 all had OU in the Sweet 16 and distanced themselves from Cro a little further.  The Kyle Bennett is in impeccable shape.  Also new mother Michelle Liller has OU in Final Four and is still a severe threat to the ABC crown.

914 PM:  Only 3 without Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.  Boy Pierce, Lobitz and EEB are the odd men out.  Nothing to report really.  Only news is that if I keep this pace up through out the Louisville UNI game, tomorrow morning will be a struggle.  Cro 12 off the pace as of now, keep up the good work everyone.  He's hanging on the mathematical improbabilities, but I think deep down he knows 0 for 12 is real.

1007 PM:  Everyone except Boy Pierce had Wisconsin to the Sweet 16.  Roll the dice and get spiced!!  Will probably shut 'er down for the night.  I'll update standings to include WVU/MD and UL/UNI first thing in the morning.

923 AM:  A lot of people took a knock with the late games on Sunday.  Despite all the Louisville's out there, only 4 prognosticators had both Louisville and West Virginia in the Sweet 16.  One of those 4 was Adam Bartholomew Tatz, who had pulled himself out of the cellar!  Two time defending champ AC Billz IV has hit rock bottom.  It's quite evident how heavily he abused alcohol prior to submitting his bracket.  Future Mrs. Adam Cutter is leading him by 11 and appears to have the house title on lockdown.

Here are the standings at the completion of Round 2.  If you haven't sent over payment yet, remember its $10.  PayPal is the easiest way to go.  If I'm going to see you in person between now and the end of the tournament, obviously cash is acceptable also.  Point of note:  Games on Thursday and Friday are worth 5 points.  Hope everyone has a good week.  Talk on Thursday night.

Name	Total
Kyle Bennett	54
Michelle Liller	48
Joe Fadule	48
Chris Fusco	46
Nico Tennant	44
Kathy Atallian	44
Rachael Weissman	43
Rebecca Anzaha	43
Pat Shields	43
Drew Fenzel	43
UJ	43
Ashley Judd Clone	42
BG	42
Jenna Fusco	42
Dosh Whye	42
KC Bomber	42
Tom Moffa	41
Jim Dallas	41
Boston Strong	41
Matt Ellner	40
Ben Lobitz	40
Andrew Comenzo	40
Cro	40
Boy Pierce	39
EEB	39
Steve Henderson	39
Lauren Zuckerman	39
Chris Woody	39
Shelby Riff	38
BTK	38
David Weissman	38
Sue Henderson	38
Patrick Henderson	34
Big Meech	34
Adam Tatz	33
AC Billz IV	32