March Madness 2021 Final Update
Wednesday, April 7th
“Baylor is Champ! Spoils Gonzaga’s run for Undefeated Season”
18 years ago, Baylor began the rise from ashes with Scott Drew’s hire in 2003. The Phoenix has taken flight and the Bears are 2021 National Champions. An absolute throttling of the highly coveted and favored Zags, Baylor never looked back from the opening salvo. 9-0 run, no field goals for the Bulldogs in the first 5 and 1/2 minutes. This one was over before you had time to settle in. Baylor had the desire, the execution, a clicking offense, and a smothering defense that left Gonzaga bewildered. Aggressive, athletic, and dominant. Butler, Teague, and Mitchell led the Bears in addition to 21 points off the bench. A deserving champion, and finishing the year 28-2. Final score:
Baylor 86
Gonzaga 70
Saturday’s Semifinals recap
Gonzaga 93
UCLA 90
This was the game of the decade! If you did not see this game, it is well worth finding the rerun on whatever smart TV, internet site, or platform you have. Watch the whole game from start to finish. Tremendous execution, outstanding coaching on both ends, referees that let them play, and what makes the yearly NCAA tournament the finest in sport. Multiple lead changes, contributions from many soon to be recognized moving forward. Good sportsmanship and a wild finish. Overtime and almost double overtime. Never giving up, the gamely Bruins 5 down in the final minute manage to tie the game up on his own offensive rebound by Johnnie Juzang (29 points and unstoppable throughout the game) with 3.3 seconds to play. Follow this with a near half court bank in 3 pointer to beat the buzzer. In the days gone by, an ESPN Instant Classic! Move over Christian Laettner. The new kid on the block is Jalen Suggs! Gotta see it. Zags were finally tested and rose to the occasion. Drew Timme, Gonzaga center stepped up big despite four fouls in overtime. Hard to sleep after that game. Truly March Madness!
Baylor 78
Houston 59
Hyped as the game that would be close, this one was a bit of a yawner unless you came to see a tremendously talented team take total dominance. Frighteningly quick and precise, this one was over at halftime. Baylor earned the right to face Gonzaga in the championship, first time since 1948.
Pool News and Notes
Congratulations to our 2021 March Madness Champion, Keith Bratton!! The Bull and golfer, par excellence (and at times below) secured the championship with the play in game winner in the final four. Enough points to hold off all challengers by a mere two points and by virtue of Gonzaga losing in the final game. Special thanks to Keith for a large cut of his payout to our charitable endeavor! Thank you and congratulations. Add your name to the hall of fame.
Bye Archie!! It was great! Not!!
Best entry names 2021———Love that creativity!
You Did What? Colleen Martin
Presented by Rocket Mortgage Ben Waits
Duke Loses America Wins. Clint Bender
BuhBye Archie! Gary Gurtcheff
Outgoing reigning champion, Kelly Morgan, who held the distinction for two years (no pool last year) turns her crown over to Keith.
March Madness Central has made it official. 419 entrees. Covering the few pending with benevolence. 99% paid. $15 of each entry to the prize pool, $10 to the charities. Place of finish and $$ won are as listed below. Congratulations to all of you. Sorrows to you oh so close. Winners will be paid within the month.
Please contact me if you wish to be paid through Venmo, Pay Pal, or cash in person. Checks will otherwise be mailed to the address you put on your entry. If you wish to contribute extra to the charities and subtract from your winnings, please also advise, and thank you.
Final Standings 2021
1st place: Keith Bratton$ 2514
Keith is a long time contributor and moves from the golfing world to prognosticator of hoop outcomes given his fine acumen to predict the markets. See above.
2nd place:Joe Smith (JCSmitty) $ 1257
It’s a time for Lone Star and chili! No beans. Champagne and caviar out. Smitty had to relocate from the sunny beaches of California to Austin, Texas this past year to finally cash in his rightful due. Best final four bracket in the tournament with Baylor over Gonzaga, and Houston to follow with the two players below. Syracuse got some points as well early on. Met Smitty in like 1997 give or take a year on a golfing junket to Riviera and LA CC that former champion Paul Perry and I took to California, where we met Smitty in Beverly Hills at a fine establishment, maybe Morton’s was it? He was enamored by our pool concept and has participated ever since. Congratulations!
3rd place: John Lamb$ 629
Another financier and local stalwart, John also rode Baylor to the championship with a Zags, Houston final four. USC did most of the damage to put him in position at the top of the stretch. Third place at the wire in a tight one.
4th place: Donna Preziotti$ 440
Tweety Bird needed the Zags. Would have won the pool. But by virtue of her sizable lead heading home, she hung on for place money and the only top 10 finisher to take the Zags. Next in line on the Zags derailment was Kevin Shinar, almost but not yet for once in the money! Donna is a resident of Milan, Michigan, that state up north.
5th place: Adam Kunkel $ 315
Construction projects begin a new. Thinking about the bubble concept. Congrats to Adam, on a solid finish in the pool.
6th place: Brad Smith$ 252
Best Kansas finish amongst the throng. Also best final four in line with Smitty and Gary Bellew, with Baylor over the Zags and Houston in the final four. Wildcat Brad is established. Our 2013 March Madness Champion back in the top ten!
7th place: Joe Smith$ 189
Sherwood Joe this time and local contributor to the pool for years. Rode that play in game winner through the Elite Eight! Good finish and name’s in lights!
8th place: Diana Marquez$ 189
Kansas entry, not a Kansas fan. Strong second round keeps her in the money!
9th place: Gary Bellew$ 126
Big time participant and cracks the top ten. Appreciate the generosity with the winnings. Also ties for the best final four finish with the two above. Baylor over the Zags, with Houston. All 3 had a different losing final four team that could have secured the victory. Florida State was yours.
10th place: Gary Gurtcheff$ 126
The webmaster has cracked the top ten and also donates his winnings. Much thanks to all you do. Gary is cofounder of the March Madness Endowment Fund and in addition does everything technical to make this happen! Can’t say enough. And all from Plano, Texas!
Last place: Tyler Watkins $ 252
Big Ty from Tampa sets history. He claims last place in the pool for the first time in our 24 year history actually picking true teams he felt would win. Gonzaga, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, Baylor, Florida State, Houston, and others. All victories in the first round, but then the wheels fell off! Only 4 victors in the Elite Eight. Secures last place in an unconventional way. Runner up to Hoops Queen, followed by Travis Farhar, legitimate contenders for the coveted 4%. Last place was stolen they cry! What a nefarious turn of events and outcome!
Bridesmaid:John Rapp No money but pride!!
Three (3) Smiths in the Top Ten and Luke Smith in 24th.
And for once, no ties!
Late thanks to Maria the Hoops Queen, Roger Colman, and Corey Greening for the extra donations not previously listed and those who contributed from their winnings!! Aside from the year we had a Lilly Endowment Match, we have collected MORE charity money with less entrees than we ever had before. Thank you to all!!
Charity Notes
A banner year!! Thanks to additional contributions we have raised $14,000 to be given out to charity and our endowment fund in 2021. Essentially a record raised!! We will distribute funds as listed. This will include the checks several of you have written to the charities which we will present in the very near future.
March Madness Endowment Fund: $9000
Potter’s Wheel: $2000
Isaiah House 117: $1500
Life Choices: $1500
Final Note: Thanks to ALL participants!! It was a crazy year and somehow despite the coronabros, the politicization of sports, and the naysayers, the tournament was held, no problems occurred, they pulled it off, a champion was crowned, and all is well.
The entire tournament was held in Indianapolis. The city once again proved to be a tremendous host. Until we meet again!!
Trust the wait.
Embrace the uncertainty.
Enjoy the beauty of becoming.
When nothing is certain, anything is possible.
~Mandy Hale