SECOND ROUND WIZARDS

   Robert Murphy of Bloomington, Indiana has taken the overall lead of the Big Texas Shootout after two rounds of the tournament.  Robert correctly picked 40 of the 48 played in the first two rounds.  Because of this great accomplishment, Robert has been granted Supreme ULTIMATE Wizard status.  Congratulations Uncle Bob!

 

   Who was the best of the best of the second round?  That would be Michael Hargis of Frisco, Texas.  Michael correctly picked 14 of the 16 Sweet Sixteen teams and earned Supreme Wizard status on Saturday.  Setting himself above the rest of the field for the second time during the weekend, Michael's status has been elevated to Supreme ULTIMATE Wizard.  Nice job Michael.

Making into the top ten of the standings after two rounds takes great skill.  If you can make it into the top ten, then you truly are a Supreme Wizard.  Those gained the Supreme level of Wizardry are Kristin Downing, Rockwall, Texas, Chris Pardue, Muncie, Indiana, Aidan Morris, Midlothian, Texas, Bob Crisci, Fishers, Indiana, Victor Gonzalez, Fort Worth, Texas, Rex Pasko, Pendleton, Indiana, Jamie Martin, Salem, Kentucky, Michael Hargis, Frisco, Texas, and Margaret Levy, Hurst, Texas.

  There were eight others that showed the skills of a Wizard by picking 13 of the 16 games played in the second round.  Those gurus have now been awarded Supreme Wizard status.  They are Robert Murphy, Mike Hodson, Rex Pasko, TeddyBlue Mushock, Mike Alexander, Micky Seo, Melanie Haden, and Jake Cruzen #2.

   If you can get yourself into the top 25, you deserve to be called a Wizard.  Those granted Wizard status are Stanley Macadory, TeddyBlue Mushock, David Gammache, Mark Hudson, Shelly Burgess, Mike Alexander, Jerry Goff, Ricky Fuller, Harold Durham, Idgie Threadgoode, Micky Seo, Melanie Haden, Earl Shaw, Mark Holzinger, Evan Munden, and Bryan Bassham.

 

SUNDAY WIZARDS

Things got a little tougher on Sunday in trying to predict all the games.  With #2 Wisconsin and #4 Texas going down, picking all eight games correctly ended up being impossible.  The best anyone could do was to get 7 out of 8 correctly, but when it's that difficult, if you are one of those that could do it, you have Wizard skills.  For those people, Robert Murphy, Annie Beck, Matthew Reneau, and Mike Hodson, their skills have earned them Supreme Wizard status.

  Some wizards showed up on Sunday.  To have the vision to pick UNLV to make it to the Sweet Sixteen is special.  To be able to do so will earn you the title of Wizard.  Those we now recognize as Wizards are Jason Baron #3 (of course, this is where his second home is), Steve Bealmear, Annie Beck, Janan Cartwright (how could it be so?) Kristi Downing, Nathan Downing, Kenydi Farrington, Kevin Green, Mike Hodson, Mark Holzinger, Allison Kemp, Wesley Kemp, Auggie Lay, Stanley Macadory, Kevin McGuire, Long Haired Hippy Mushock, Matthew Reneau, Korey Saunders, Charlie Sims, and John Stephens.

 

SATURDAY WIZARDS

 Once you get into predicting the second round and beyond, it gets even more difficult.  Finding no such difficulty during Saturday's second round action was Michael Hargis of Frisco, Texas.  Michael was able to correctly pick all eight games correctly.  For being the only one of 260 gurus to do so, he has been granted Supreme Wizard status.  Congratulations Michael.

You might think that getting seven out of the eight second round games might get you Wizard status, but when 40 people can do it, it just doesn't seem that special. 

 

For the record, the number of people who picked...

UNLV = 20

Southern California = 28

Butler = 61

Vanderbilt = 74

Southern Illinois = 126

Tennessee = 139

Pittsburgh = 156

Texas A & M = 180

Oregon = 180

Memphis = 203

UCLA = 235

Georgetown = 238

North Carolina = 247

Kansas = 250

Florida = 252

Ohio State = 255

Check back later (Monday more than likely) after I've had a chance to analyze those deserving of Wizard status.

 

DAMAGE REPORT

149 entries have received some damage during the first two rounds of the tournament.

111 entries still have their Final Four intact.

21 people have lost their Champion.

28 people have lost their Runner-up.

 

   ... D'OH!

The five Homer's that didn't think Ohio State would make it were Jason Baron #1, Kevin McGuire, Jennifer Munden, (all Xavier picks) and Bobbi Groff and John Hatley (thinking it would be Brigham Young).

There were actually eight people that didn't think Florida would make the Sweet Sixteen.  Maybe they were just hoping or just don't like them.  I don't like them either, but I ain't that crazy.  They were Steve Armold, Janan Cartwright, Mike Fledderman, John Hatley, Christie Jones, Alexis Morris, Matt Murray, and Ed Schmitt.

There were nine Homer's that thought Maryland would at least make the Final Four.  Those that were fooled were Pete Gascho, Bobbi Groff, Kevin Knapp, Miles Macadory, Dan Miller, Alexis Morris, Jon Reneau #1 Keyser Soze, Joe Wengert. 

.... additionally, Jon Reneau #1 and Miles Macadory had Maryland reaching the final game.  Suckers!

There were only four Homer's that thought Louisville was good enough for a Final Four selection.  Those Cardinal lovers were Kathy Cruzen #1, Gary Lessis, P Murphy, and Dawn Shaw.  At least you don't look like those two Maryland guys above.

And we had more Simpson's as these people put there faith in Washington State to make the Final Four.  They were Justin Elm, Korey Saunders, Robert Murphy, Wavetrack Wisman, and H.A. Painter. 

      Wavetrack Wisman took an additional hit having the Cougars in the Final Game. 

  Here was the scene following the Wisconsin - UNLV game.  Some of those seen were Tom Mock, Evan Munden, Steve Armold, Kristen Chambers, Matt Gillespie #2, Justin Kokena, Alex Lay, Sarah Alexander, Harold Durham, and Colton Hamilton.  All of them had reason to fall out as they all lost Wisconsin as their tournament runner-up.

 

    FRANK "Burns" Dobson needed a M*A*S*H unit for himself as he was left a bloody mess after Saturday's games.  Frank was only able to correctly pick one game out of the eight games that were played.  Good thing Ohio State pulled one out at the last second to prevent an shutout day.

  There were several others showing the wisdom of a Clavin on Saturday.  Those getting less than half the games right on Saturday were Bobbi Groff, Jeremiah Criswell, George Plisinski, Matt Gillespie #2, Heather Farrington, Phil Peckinpaugh, Sparkie Pumphrey-Dobson, and Justin Elm.

GOING DOWN IN FLAMES

BOBBI GROFF

Done!  As sad as it is to say, Bobbi Groff is basically finished.  Bobbi has lost her Champion (Maryland), her Runner-up (Boston College), and all of her Final Four (Kentucky and Brigham Young).  Eject! Eject!

So Sorry!

  GOING DOWN IN FLAMES

Mike Malcom

Sarah Alexander

Mike Malcom of Moreno Valley, CA and Sarah Alexander of Keller, TX were passengers on the ill fated Bobbi Groff flight.  Although they still have two of their Final Four teams still alive, they have lost both their Champion and Runner-up picks.

 

GOING DOWN IN FLAMES

Kathy Cruzen #1

Korey Saunders

Drew Hanson #2

Janan Cartwright

Christie Jones

Kevin McGuire

Tony Castor

Sonny Kemp

Jon Peckinpaugh

Cody Kersten

Lisa Reasonover

Elizabeth Reneau

Jeff Francis

Maison Henry

Mitch Burgess

Chris Vera

Greg Maish

Kevin Green

 All of the people listed above have all lost their Champion during the first weekend of the tournament.  When you lose your Champion that early, you are Going Down In Flames.

 

                                                          

To review the Wizards & Damage Report from the First Round, click here.