Just 8 teams are left chasing the 2023 One Shining Moment and NONE of them are number one seeds. That is a FIRST in March Madness history and the Hopski point totals are taking a beating as a result. Surprisingly though, the underdog point totals on average are nearly an all-time Hopski low!! Go figure.
So - 29 entries have their champion still alive, but that is not equally spread:
Texas - 13
Gonzaga - 9
UConn - 7
So if your entry did not pick one of the above - best root against them!!
The Hopski Pool pulling an "0-Fer" on picking the champion has only happened once - in 2014 when UConn swept through the tournament behind Shabazz Napier and unexpectedly won the title. Three years - only one entry picked the champion (2003, 2006 and 2016).
Another lowlight this year in terms of picking is in respect to the average number of Elite 8 teams picked. This year's 2.0 is just slightly above last year's 1.6 (an all-time record low)!! C'mon Hopskis...... STEP IT UP!!!
HI AND GOODBYE!!
Our fearless leader as we enter the Elite 8 is running on fumes, with only a pick of Texas to make the Final Four accounting for his upside. So let's say a good old Hopski "HI and GOODBYE!" to CantReadCantWriteKentSt#2 from Dave Iantosca. You did well but not well enough this year!
Charging up the Leaderboard and into 2nd place is Kencik (Dukie Kent Holding of Warsaw, Poland). Kent killed the Elite 8 - picking 6 of the teams - best in the Hopski this year. Kudos on the side to Princesss of Darkness #12 and Mark Conlon for picking 5. Kencik is relying on the Longhorns of Texas to win the pool, with SDSU and the Zags joining them in the Final Four (Purdue was his fourth pick).
There is a tie for 3rd place between crowd favorite Guinness and Whip Cream (Joe Wagoner) and Princess of Darkness #12 (Mark Conlon). Both entries though have lost their Champion pick, though GWC has a slim shot if the Zags and Creighton can advance!
Defending champion Mike Ching and his Udaman #2 entry have quietly moved into contention and currently reside in 5th place!! (please ignore Udaman #1 - easy to do as it is languishing at the bottom - more to come on this!). Mike has KSt, Miami and the Zags advancing with Miami even into the final game!! Not sure how that brilliant pick came about but kudos in a big way to the Ragin' Hawaiian!!
Over in the 2nd Chance Dance, Warsowian Kyle Bowers and his My Bracket Called for Floppin' picked 7 of the 8 Elite 8 and hold the lead!
TIME TO PAY THE HOPSKI!
What can I say - I really detest late payers and unfortunately - every year there are a few. This year - there are 10 and I would hope that you would all immediately go and pay the $30 entry fee. BETTER YET - donate $100 to the Polish Humanitarian Fund and support some displaced Ukrainians in Poland, just as a penalty to yourself for giving me extra work!!
Gotta gooooo - off to see the Depeche Mode concert in San Jose!! Adios!!!
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