4/7/09 - Day 10: UNC wins it all.

I forgot the game was being played last night. I had nothing riding on the game, and have not emotional attachment to UNC or Michigan St. so the game had no interest to me. With that said, the final score was 89-72 for a total score of 161. Based on the tie breaker rules, this gives 3rd place to Blake.

Here are the final standings for this year's pool. Payment has already been made to the winners and everyone has paid up. I'll have another update when the plaque has been completed and ready for display.

Name Points Tiebreak
Greg Walker 92 168
Randy Spellins 86 150
Kyle Garner** 85 176
Blake Bumgardner 85 165
Mike Bumgardner 82 143
Jessica Bumgardner 81 153
Shannon Horton 81 0
Geoff Owens 1 81 0
Geoff Owens 2 81 0
Derrick Lewis 81 0
Cristi Walker 80 0
Drew Webb 80 156
DJ Walker 78 128
Brian Shaddock 78 140
Chris Horton 77 0
Stephen Shirley 75 155
Kylah VanHorn 70 118
Jared Selby 69 174
Ryan Casey 69 150
Donna Bumgardner 68 165
Keith Tarter** 68 168
Kyle Raible** 66 150
Dan Vargas 66 105
Tim Shelton 66 153
Wes May-hem** 64 0
Josh Joyner 64 0
Phillip Walker** 62 0
Jason Harmon 52 0

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

4/5/09 - Day 9: Only one day to go.

So, the only possible scenario where I would not win has now played out. I was SO close to actually winning money this year, and both UConn (the heavily favored) and Villanova (a better shot than Michigan St.) both lost. Luckily for me, I didn't have to watch the games as I was in Branson watching a show and my iPhone had gone out, so I couldn't get updated scores.

Because of the way the games have played out, we have a final standings. Regardless of what happens in the title game, Greg will win 1st place, Randy will win 2nd place and there will be a tie between Kyle G and Blake. This of course will be decided by the tie breaker which has been laid out in previous posts.

With that said, here are the standings before the title game.

Name Points Tiebreak
Greg Walker 86 168
Randy Spellins 80 150
Kyle Garner** 79 176
Blake Bumgardner 79 165
DJ Walker 78 128
Chris Horton 77 0
Mike Bumgardner 76 143
Jessica Bumgardner 75 153
Shannon Horton 75 0
Stephen Shirley 75 155
Geoff Owens 1 75 0
Geoff Owens 2 75 0
Derrick Lewis 75 0
Cristi Walker 74 0
Drew Webb 74 156
Brian Shaddock 72 140
Kylah VanHorn 70 118
Jared Selby 69 174
Ryan Casey 69 150
Keith Tarter** 68 168
Kyle Raible** 66 150
Dan Vargas 66 105
Tim Shelton 66 153
Wes May-hem** 64 0
Josh Joyner 64 0
Donna Bumgardner 62 165
Phillip Walker** 62 0
Jason Harmon 52 0

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/29/09 - Day 8: We have a Final Four

We are down to only three games left. I went through and determined all 8 possible scenarios, and here is how it works out.

If Villanova wins its next game, DJ gets first place, Greg wins 2nd, and Chris wins 3rd.

If North Carolina wins its next game, Greg wins first place. The places beyond that are up for grabs as follows:

If Michigan St meets UNC in the title game, Greg wins first place, Randy wins 2nd, and there is a tie between Kyle G and Blake.

If UConn beats UNC in the title game, Greg gets first, DJ gets 2nd, and Chris gets 3rd.

If UNC beats UConn in the title game, Greg gets first and Randy and Geoff are tied for 2nd and 3rd.

With all that said, here are the current standings.

Name Points Tiebreak
Greg Walker 81 168
DJ Walker 78 128
Chris Horton 77 0
Stephen Shirley 75 155
Randy Spellins 75 150
Blake Bumgardner 74 165
Kyle Garner** 74 176
Mike Bumgardner 71 143
Jessica Bumgardner 70 153
Derrick Lewis 70 0
Kylah VanHorn 70 118
Geoff Owens 1 70 0
Geoff Owens 2 70 0
Shannon Horton 70 0
Cristi Walker 69 0
Drew Webb 69 156
Jared Selby 69 174
Ryan Casey 69 150
Brian Shaddock 67 140
Kyle Raible** 66 150
Dan Vargas 66 105
Tim Shelton 66 153
Wes May-hem** 64 0
Josh Joyner 64 0
Keith Tarter** 63 168
Phillip Walker** 62 0
Donna Bumgardner 57 165
Jason Harmon 52 0

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/28/09 - Day 7: What an amazing game.

After watching the D2 championship game earlier in the day, I didn't think the day could get any better in regards to basketball. Then, I made it to a television with 30 seconds left in the Pitt/Nova game, and wow...what a game. Pulling for Nova made it even harder because they were acting like they were trying to give the game away.

With that said, Here are the standings with only 5 games remaining in the tournament.

Name Points Tiebreak
Greg Walker 77 168
DJ Walker 74 128
Chris Horton 73 0
Stephen Shirley 71 155
Randy Spellins 71 150
Kyle Garner** 70 176
Blake Bumgardner 70 165
Jared Selby 69 174
Mike Bumgardner 67 143
Dan Vargas 66 105
Derrick Lewis 66 0
Geoff Owens 1 66 0
Geoff Owens 2 66 0
Jessica Bumgardner 66 153
Shannon Horton 66 0
Tim Shelton 66 153
Drew Webb 65 156
Ryan Casey 65 150
Cristi Walker 65 0
Brian Shaddock 63 140
Kylah VanHorn 62 118
Kyle Raible** 62 150
Phillip Walker** 62 0
Wes May-hem** 60 0
Josh Joyner 60 0
Keith Tarter** 59 168
Donna Bumgardner 53 165
Jason Harmon 52 0

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

- Day 6: Elite 8 is set

Nothing to add. I needed the Kansas win pretty bad...but it didn't happen. Here's the updated scores.

Name Points Tiebreak
Randy Spellins 71 150
Blake Bumgardner 70 165
Chris Horton 69 0
Greg Walker 69 168
Mike Bumgardner 67 143
Stephen Shirley 67 155
DJ Walker 66 128
Derrick Lewis 66 0
Kyle Garner** 66 176
Shannon Horton 66 0
Tim Shelton 66 153
Jared Selby 65 174
Cristi Walker 65 0
Brian Shaddock 63 140
Dan Vargas 62 105
Geoff Owens 1 62 0
Geoff Owens 2 62 0
Jessica Bumgardner 62 153
Kyle Raible** 62 150
Drew Webb 61 156
Ryan Casey 61 150
Wes May-hem** 60 0
Josh Joyner 60 0
Kylah VanHorn 58 118
Phillip Walker** 58 0
Keith Tarter** 55 168
Donna Bumgardner 53 165
Jason Harmon 52 0

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/27/09 - Day 5: Just a few "unexpected" beatdowns

Nothing special to add. Here are the standings.

Name Points Tiebreak
Chris Horton 63 0
Blake Bumgardner 61 165
Greg Walker 60 168
Randy Spellins 59 150
Stephen Shirley 58 155
Mike Bumgardner 58 143
Tim Shelton 57 153
Brian Shaddock 57 140
Derrick Lewis 57 0
Kyle Garner** 57 176
DJ Walker 57 128
Jessica Bumgardner 56 153
Cristi Walker 56 0
Geoff Owens 1 56 0
Jared Selby 56 174
Drew Webb 55 156
Phillip Walker** 55 0
Ryan Casey 55 150
Josh Joyner 54 0
Shannon Horton 54 0
Geoff Owens 2 53 0
Kyle Raible** 53 150
Dan Vargas 53 105
Kylah VanHorn 52 118
Wes May-hem** 51 0
Keith Tarter** 49 168
Jason Harmon 49 0
Donna Bumgardner 44 165

Labels:

1 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/23/09 - Day 4: Missouri squeaks one out

Once again, one of my biggest picks of the tournament goes the wrong way. If Marquette and Western Kentucky won, I'd be in first place by myself. Next year, I should implement a bonus system if you "almost" pick upsets.

Whatever the case, here are the current standings. I do believe that all of the brackets have been collected and entered. I still need some payment from some folks (as deonted by the double asterisks) but I'm not worried about that.

Name Points Tiebreak
Randy Spellins 53 150
Blake Bumgardner 52 165
Mike Bumgardner 52 143
Brian Shaddock 51 140
Derrick Lewis 51 0
Greg Walker 51 168
Chris Horton 51 0
Cristi Walker 50 0
Geoff Owens 1 50 0
Phillip Walker** 49 0
Ryan Casey 49 150
Stephen Shirley 49 155
Josh Joyner 48 0
Shannon Horton 48 0
Wes May-hem** 48 0
DJ Walker 48 128
Tim Shelton 48 153
Kyle Garner** 48 176
Geoff Owens 2 47 0
Jared Selby 47 174
Jessica Bumgardner 47 153
Kyle Raible** 47 150
Drew Webb 46 156
Keith Tarter** 46 168
Kylah VanHorn 46 118
Jason Harmon 46 0
Matt Stagg 45 0
Dan Vargas 44 105
Donna Bumgardner 38 165

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/21/09 - Day 3: Gonzaga gets lucky

If Western Kentucky wins that game (which they almost did), I'm sitting in first place by myself. Instead, I'm well down the list. I guess that's why they play the game though.

Here is the most up to date scores with all games from Saturday completed.

Name Points Tiebreak
Chris Horton 41 0
Cristi Walker 40 0
Blake Bumgardner 40 165
Mike Bumgardner 40 143
Jessica Bumgardner 39 153
Derrick Lewis 39 0
Greg Walker 39 168
Jared Selby 39 174
Ryan Casey 39 150
Randy Spellins 39 150
Geoff Owens 1 38 0
Tim Shelton 38 153
Dan Vargas 38 105
DJ Walker 38 128
Drew Webb 38 156
Kyle Garner** 38 176
Phillip Walker** 37 0
Kyle Raible** 37 150
Brian Shaddock 37 140
Geoff Owens 2 37 0
Wes May-hem** 36 0
Josh Joyner 36 0
Jason Harmon 36 0
Shannon Horton 36 0
Kylah VanHorn 36 118
Stephen Shirley 35 155
Donna Bumgardner 34 165
Keith Tarter** 32 168

Labels:

2 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/20/09 - Day 2: Brackets have been busted

Day 2: it's 11:30 at night, and I am dedicated enough to get an update out already. The last game just ended moments ago, and wow....this is why I love March.

Here is the most up to date list. There is still at least one bracket I'm waiting to receive. It was entered in at ESPN, so there is no way it has been modified since then. I have already been paid the money, I just don't have the bracket. I'll do an audit tomorrow to see who still owes me money, and to verify I have all the brackets entered. Once I get the links working correctly, PLEASE review your bracket and make sure you agree with what has been entered.

If my numbers are correct, we have 29 entries eligible for prize money this year. For the first time in 8 years, I have given myself a free bracket. If you disagree with this decision, let me know, I'll reconsider. I have also given Jason a free bracket this year as he is going to be donating a plaque to be displayed at my home year round showcasing the top 3 places of each year dating back to the 2003 pool. Due to this contribution, his entry fee was waived. This leaves 27 paying entries at $5 a piece for a total prize pool of $135. Disbursement will be $81 for first place, $41 for second place, and $13 for third place. This is subject to change as I have to verify my counts and accounting.

If you do not see a Tiebreak next to your name, please let me know either via email (GravyTrain6@gmail.com) or leave a comment down below.

NamePointsTiebreak
DJ Walker26128
Greg Walker25168
Chris Horton250
Ryan Casey25150
Randy Spellins25150
Phillip Walker**250
Jared Selby25174
Cristi Walker240
Drew Webb24156
Blake Bumgardner24165
Wes May-hem240
Josh Joyner240
Geoff Owens 1240
Kyle Garner24176
Mike Bumgardner24143
Tim Shelton24153
Dan Vargas24105
Derrick Lewis230
Brian Shaddock23140
Jessica Bumgardner23153
Kyle Raible23150
Donna Bumgardner22165
Kylah VanHorn22118
Shannon Horton220
Jason Harmon220
Geoff Owens 2210
Stephen Shirley21155
Keith Tarter20168

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

- Day 1: March Madness has started

I apologize for the late update. I didn't get a majority (see: all but 4) of the brackets until last night at about 10:00. I did not get them entered and so had to spend my lunch getting them entered. After lunch, I had to get some work done and so am just now getting the update of the first day's games up.

The links don't work, I don't have access to my ftp right now (at least, I can't remember my password. I've got it at home, so I'll get the links working tonight.


NamePointsTiebreak
Kyle Garner15176
Blake Bumgardner15165
Mike Bumgardner15143
Geoff Owens 2140
Geoff Owens 1140
Josh Joyner140
Drew Webb14156
Greg Walker14168
Derrick Lewis140
Ryan Casey14150
Cristi Walker140
Chris Horton140
Tim Shelton14153
DJ Walker14128
Jessica Bumgardner13153
Dan Vargas13105
Jared Selby13174
Wes May-hem130
Kylah VanHorn13118
Randy Spellins13150
Shannon Horton130
Kyle Raible12150
Brian Shaddock12140
Jason Harmon120
Keith Tarter11168
Stephen Shirley11155
Donna Bumgardner10165

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/16/09 - March Madness Brackets are ready

You can go to this link at ESPN and choose your method of printable brackets. If you want in, just print, fill it out, put it in an envelope with $5 for each bracket and send it to me. My contact information is on the first post introducing MM2009.

Labels:

0 Comments - Leave one yourself

3/8/09 - March Madness 2009 is almost here.

March Madness is almost here. I didn't run the pool last year due to the birth of a child. This year, there was no way I was going to miss two years in a row. As in years past, my time is stretched pretty thin. I'll do my best to collect all the brackets and money before the first tip-off (not including the play-in game), but some might be collected Thursday evening. We will have to run on the honor system, and those that I anticipate receiving that evening, are very honorable people. If you have any issues with this, leave your concerns in the comments section. I will also accept brackets via snail mail postmarked by Wednesday. This is actually the preferred method of receiving brackets as it requires no effort on my part.

I'll put my address, phone number and email address at the end of this section, and once the bracket's are finalized, I'll put a link to a printable version. All you will need to do is print out the bracket, fill it out, put the bracket and either cash or check for your entry fee (still only $5 a bracket) in an envelope and send it to me.

Daily updates (daily as in game day) will be made on this website with the most up to date scores. I will not longer be doing daily emails, you'll just have to check back here to see who's winning (or how bad your are doing).

Contact Information
DJ Walker
148 Feldspar Drive
Sherwood, AR 72120
GravyTrain6@gmail.com
501-412-7634

  1. A completed bracket should contain the following information:
    • A prediction for all 63 games of the tournament (the play in game does not count)
    • The entrants name, phone number, email and tiebreak point prediction. The contact information is only used for payouts. Don't worry about spam, I hate it as much as you do.
  2. To be eligible for the pool money, an entry fee of $5.00 is required.
    • This fee must be received before tip off of the first game on Thursday (exceptions do apply as explained at the beginning of this post) or in an envelope postmarked by Wednesday before the first game.
    • Other brackets are readily accepted, however if the fee is received after the tipoff, no prize money will be rewards to the entry.
    • All brackets received will be listed among the leaders and prize money eligibility will be denoted. I have found it interesting to see how individuals do, regardless of their interest in college basketball or pools.
  3. Multiple brackets can be entered per person.
    • Each individual can have no more than 4 brackets eligible for prize money.
    • For every bracket entered, the entry fee is required in order to be eligible. If only a portion of entered brackets should be eligible, I have to be informed before the first game, otherwise, I will denote the eligible brackets based on the order I enter them in the system.
  4. Prize disbursement will be determined as follows:
    • 1st Place receives 60% of the final pool rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.
    • 2nd Place receives 30% of the final pool rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.
    • 3rd Place receives 10% of the final pool rounded off to complete the total prize pool.
  5. Points will be awarded for winning picks as follows:
    • By picking the winner of a 1st round game, 1 point is awarded.
    • By picking the winner of a 2nd round game (correctly placing a team in the Sweet 16), 2 points are awarded.
    • By picking the winner of a Sweet 16 game (correctly placing a team in the Elite 8), 3 points are awarded.
    • By picking the winner of an Elite 8 game (correclty placing a team in the Final Four), 4 points are awarded.
    • By picking the winner of a Final Four game (correclty placing a team in the Championship game), 5 points are awarded.
    • By picking the winner of the Championship game (correctly predicting the NCAA National Champion), 6 points are awarded.
  6. Tie Breaker
    • In the case of a tie at the end of the tournament, a tiebreak will be determined by the entry correclty guessing the TOTAL number of points scored by both teams in the Championship game.
    • If a tiebreaker is not provided at the time of bracket submission, a default tie breaker of 0 will be used.
    • The winning entry with the closest prediction to the actual total (whether going over or not) will receive the winning prize money.
    • In the case that none of the "Winners" submit a tiebreak predictions (or if the predictions are the same), the prize money will be split between the winners. If Entry A and B both have 99 points after the championship game, and both failed to submit tiebreak points, they will split the prize money of 1st and 2nd place, each will receive 45% of the final pool.

Labels:

1 Comments - Leave one yourself
center image
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe with Bloglines
Subscribe in NewsGator Online

Add to My AOL