Winner, winner, chicken dinner

As the only person to pick a winner last night who still has a choice left for the championship game, Terry Theaker is the 2016 winner of the Danvegas Survivor pool!  He will take home the $830 winner's pot.

Congrats Terry!  And thank you again to everyone who played!  The kids at HCCF will enjoy the new gear they have to use thanks to the $220 we will be giving them!  Until next year . . . .

Final Four picks

Ten folks survived the Elite Eight round but Mac had no picks left for today so he is out.  The nine picks are below.  Three folks do not have a pick left for tomorrow if they survive today so we are basically saying goodbye to Lesley, Megan and Ponsoll, too, since others who picked their teams will have a pick tomorrow to beat them out. So for all intents and purposes there are six folks still alive.

I am still missing money from Grant, Kyle E and Alex McCrosky.  So as of right now the winner's pot is down to $830 instead of the $880 originally reported.  Potential payouts based on that number are after the picks.

North Carolina: Terry, Megan and Lesley

Oklahoma: John E and Adam V

Syracuse: Kyle, Christie, Luna and Ponsoll

If Oklahoma wins tonight and then Syracuse wins the championship John E and Adam V split the pot $415 each.

If UNC wins tonight and Villanova wins the championship then Terry gets the entire $830.

If Syracuse wins tonight and Villanova wins the championship then Kyle, Christie and Luna will each take home $276 and some change.

Good luck!  If I get some of the outstanding money in I will update the totals.

Second place the first winner?

Last night was not a night for the Number 1 seeds - or those of us who picked them. Kansas and Oregon both faltered and took out five folks.  So we are left with a dozen players this morning - four of whom are guaranteed to be picking a Final Four team.

But with a lot of people apparently planning on saving Kansas . . . what will these upsets mean moving forward as survivors struggle to map a road to victory? A North Carolina loss tonight would further upset the apple cart.  Stay tuned!

Elite Eight picks

Here are the picks for the Elite Eight.  We have folks on both sides of Oregon v Oklahoma and Syracuse v. Virginia so the numbers are guaranteed to shrink!

Even with people dropping off and the potential for folks to run out of good picks . . . I'm guessing we will have a split pot this year.  If enough people go out I will try to include potential breakdowns of who wins what with the Final Four picks next weekend.

Kansas: Laura

North Carolina: John Evans, Mac, Kyle H, Luna and Adam V

Oklahoma: Christie, Ponsoll, Megan and Lesley

Oregon: Klint, Sarabeth, Will Proto and Krista

Syracuse: Terry

Virginia: Britt 1 and Mike S

Half Strength

After Syracuse's late run our numbers have been slashed in half this morning.  There are 17 folks heading into the Elite Eight.

Congrats to those moving on - a winner for ONE Elite Eight game is due to me by 4:00 TODAY!!!

Sweet Sixteen: Friday picks

Here are the picks for today.  Beyond a shadow of the doubt those of us who did not pick Gonzaga need to be cheering whole-heartedly for Syracuse because a Zaggy loss would take out 23 people!  That's more than half of the remaining crowd.

I did not get picks from John Mesplay or Adam Voth.  If this is an error on my part please send me proof that a pick was submitted before Noon today and I'll add you back in.  Otherwise you're out. *Both submitted and are reflected below now.

If you survive today I am pushing tomorrow's deadline for picks to 4:00 as I will be driving all day and won't get to them before that anyway.  You owe me ONE pick from any of the four Elite Eight games if you survive today!

The picks:

Gonzaga: Jim, Scott, Bo, Jeremy, Jared, Brad, Casey, Jessy, Campbell, KT, Bobby, Little, David, Dan, Kristin, Will Pollom, Jon, Reynolds, Mike R, Smith2, Seth, Al, Josh and John M

North Carolina: Christie

Notre Dame: Britt1, Ponsoll, Settles and Luna

Syracuse: Mac

Virginia: Klint, John Evans, Kyle, Laura, Sarabeth, Will Proto, Krista, Terry, Megan, Lesley and Adam V

Wisconsin: Deem and Sue

Sweet Sixteen: Thursday picks

Happy Sweet Sixteen to everyone!  There are 49 folks entering today's games but we are guaranteed to say goodbye to at least a few as we have folks on both sides of Miami/Villanova, Oregon/Duke and Oklahoma/A&M!!!  The biggest kicker would be a Nova loss followed closely by an upset of Oklahoma.

I may get an update in for the early game before I go see Superman at 9:45 but after that updates before tomorrow morning are unlikely.  Sorry!

If you survive today you owe me another pick tomorrow by NOON.  After tomorrow we start picking one game per round - so one Elite Eight winner, one Final Four winner and the champ.  If you run out of picks you are done!

Here are the picks:

Duke: Smith 1 and Brent

Kansas: Deem, John E, Jessy and Christie

Miami: Amy, Zach and PK

Oklahoma: Klint, Bo, Britt1, Brad, Mac, Kyle, Luna, KT, Dan, Will Proto, Reynolds, Krista, Mike R, Terry and Josh

Oregon: Laura, Bobby, Little, Will Pollom, Jon, Mike S, Seth and Adam V

Texas A&M: Jessica

Villanova: Jim, Scott, Jeremy, Jared, Casey, Sue, Campbell, David L, Kristin, John M, Sarabeth, Ponsoll, Smith2, Megan, Al and Lesley

Eight is Great

With the Villanova and Notre Dame victories, eight folks from our crew are guaranteed a chance to pick next Thursday.  Klint, Amy, John Evans, Adam V, Casey, Jessica, Campbell and Reynolds - study those brackets!

Round Two: Sunday Picks

A Hawaiian surprise could really shake things up today! A staggering 18 people including yours truly picked Maryland! Here are the picks:

Maryland: Jim, Jared, Britt 1, Zach, Jessy, Kyle H, Christie, KT, Bobby, Little, David L, Dan, Will Proto, Jon, Krista, John Smith 2, Megan and Josh

Notre Dame: Casey, Jessica, Campbell and Reynolds

Oklahoma: Laura and Sarabeth

Oregon: Scott, Sue, Luna, Ponsoll, Terry, Al and Brent

Syracuse: Jeremy, Brad, Deem, Kristin, Will Pollom, Bo, John Smith 1 and Seth

Texas A&M: Mac, PK, John M, Mike R, Mike S and Lesley

Villanova: Klint, Amy, John Evans and Adam V

Xavier: Perkins

Grumpy Cat

It's been an up and down season and thanks to a very flat second half performance the Cats are headed back to Lexington. I, for one, am hoping the ultra competitive Ulis decides he wants one more stab at this thing with the best freshman class in the country around him next year.  While I sit here with my fingers crossed awaiting that decision, the loss sends another three folks packing.  Lauren, Clay and Michael are some grumpy Cat fans right now. (They do have a lot of company.)

No Shock Here

They tried to rally but the Shockers' tournament run is over.  Finding the door with them are Adam J and Heather who made gutsy - but apparently not so smart - buy-back picks.  Maybe they can drown their sorrows in a hurricane.

Second Round: Saturday Picks

We start today with 59 folks still in play - 9 of whom doubled down after last night's upsets. A couple of upsets today - namely Duke and Iowa State could dramatically cut our numbers!

After a total of 24 buy backs, the winner's pool settles at $880 and the HCCF Kids program will be getting $240!  Big money!

Here are the day's picks:

Duke: Bo, Jeremy B, Jared, Britt1, Brad, Zach, Sue, Mac, KT, Little, David L, John M, Perkins, Mike S, Terry, Adam V, Jane and Josh

Iowa State: Jim, Klint, Britt1, Amy, Casey, Deem, John Evans, Michael, Jessy, Kyle, Christie, Luna, PK, Dan, McCrosky2, Kristin, Perkins, Sarabeth, Will Proto, Reynolds, John Smith1, Megan, Al, Brent, Heather, Krista and Lesley

Kansas: Scott

Kentucky: Lauren, Clay and Michael

Miami: Jessica, Laura and Bobby

North Carolina: Jean, Adam J, Campbell, John Smith2 and Seth

Utah: Jean, Jane, Marlo and McCrosky2

Virginia: Christie, Will Pollom, Ponsoll, Jon and Mike R

Wichita State: Adam J and Heather

Go Cats!

Country Roads . . .

Are taking several people home.  West Virginia's upset loss potentially takes out 7 people who are joining the upset Dayton, Michigan State and California fans. All in all 17 folks have fallen prey to upsets so far today.

Five of those players - Kelley, Britt2, James, Patrick and Ellen - are completely done for this year.  Colleen, Jean, Jane, Michael, Chris H, Christie, AJ, Perkins, Charlie, Chad, Neha and Rachael have the option to "do the dumb" and buy back in with two picks tomorrow.

A lot of eyes still on the Texas, Xavier and Notre Dame games . . . we'll see how survives!

First Round: Friday picks (for real)

Here you go - the official Friday run down.  Which is so late that I can tell you that Dayton's loss took out four more people . . . Two of whom are totally out as Susan and Lori have already "done the dumb."

We had 15 double-downs which brings our winner's pot to $808 and the Kids Crossfit pot to $220 (including the $20 additional donated).  Of course, folks can do the dumb today as well so those figures may very well grow more over the next 24 hours.

Continued updates throughout the evening.  Until then the easier to read version of today's picks:

California: Britt 2, Michael, Christie, Adam J, Patrick, Chad and Ellen

Dayton: Susan, James, Lori and Rachael

Iowa: Jim, Luna, Bobby and Seth

Maryland: Kelley, Klint, Amy, Deem, Lori, Marlo, Kristin, John M, Ponsoll, Mike R, Mike S, Adam V and Lesley

Michigan State: Colleen

Notre Dame: Britt2, Amy, Lauren, Jessy, Little, Dan, Krista, Theo, Megan and Brent

Oklahoma: Scott

Oregon: Bo, Clay, Deem, John Evans and John S2

Texas: Britt 1, James, Margaret, Theo and Heather

Texas A&M: Jeremy, Casey, Zach, Kyle H, Laura, Campbell, Luna, Jocelyn, Patrick, Sarabeth, Will Proto, Jon, Reynolds and Josh

VCU: Jessica

Villanova: Mac, KT and Will Pollom

Wisconsin: Susan and Terry

West Virginia: Kelley, Jean, Jane, Chris H, Perkins, Charlie and Neha

Xavier: Jared, Brad, Sue, Campbell, PK, David L, Jay, John S1, Ellen, Adam V and Alex W

Friday Picks: Scratch pad version

Sorry for the delay . . . . It's been one of those days.  I have a 2:30 appointment to fly to now but here are the picks as scribbled from my DB.  I will do the clean and pretty post plus money updates ASAP after this 2:30.

I am missing picks from Grant and Alex McCrosky.  If you can send me proof of my error I'll add you back in.  Otherwise you can pay the double down fine and get back in with two picks tomorrow.

Little Rock, Big Splash

Another 12 seed pulls off the upset and Little Rock knocks as many as nine people out of pool.  Deem, Kyle, Chris G, Craig, Stacie, John Pollom, Margaret, Theo and Adam V will have to do the dumb if they want a shot at the winner's pot.  Which is now at $704 and climbing . . . .

First time for everything

With Yale's first ever NCAA victory, five people face elimination.  Kelley has already opted to "do the dumb" and will buy back in to play again tomorrow.  But is this goodbye for Luna, James, Les and David T?  Jamie faces the same decision at the hands of a Colorado loss.

With people on both sides of three remaining games these poor saps are guaranteed to have company soon!

Jeeves boots some people

Butler makes for an early exit for Patrick and John Erwin after knocking off Texas Tech.  Patrick is first person to "do the dumb" and will return tomorrow with two picks.  Will John do the same?

We've got people on both sides of the UConn/Colorado game so more people will be on their way out soon!  My fellow Duke-selectors are breathing a sigh of relief as we live on.

We are already off to an exciting start!

First Round: St. Patty's Day picks

And we are off!  In Derby-speak, it is a crowded field!  We have a record 86 entries!  So as of the first tip we have a winner's pot of $688 and HCCF Kids Crossfit is currently set to get $192 ($20 extra donated by Theo and Clay).  Of course, those numbers will go up as folks exercise the "I did the dumb" buy back over the next 48 hours.  If the halftime trend continues I will gladly be among the first to double down after a Duke loss!

So here we are today's picks.  If I have messed up on your pick you have until tip of your game to send me proof of my error otherwise you can always "do the dumb" and buy back in.  As always, updates throughout the day!

Arizona: Amy, Campbell and Alex M1

Baylor: Kelley, James B, Luna, Les and David T

Butler: Jessy

Chattanooga: Susan and Mike R

Colorado: Jamie

Duke: Michael, Laura, Ponsoll, Krista and John S2

Gonzaga: Jessica

Indiana: Klint, Grant, Jeremy, Brian B, Casey, Christie, Little, Kristin M, Sarabeth, Chad P, Will Proto, Rachael, Colleen, Heather and Mike R

Iowa State: Jared, Zach, Sue, Mac, Bobby, John M and Jon

Kentucky: Bo, Billy G, Charlie, Mike S and Terry

Little Rock: Jean

Miami: Jim, Lauren, John Evans, Marlo, Alex M2, Will Pollom, Neha, John S1, Megan, Al and Josh

North Carolina: KT

Providence: Kyle H

Purdue: Deem, Kyle E, Chris G, Stacie, Craig, John Pollom, Margaret, Theo and Adam V

Seton Hall: Lori and Ellen

Texas Tech: Patrick and John Erwin

UConn: Chris H and Brent

USC: Clay

Utah: Jane, Adam J, Jay, PK, David L, Dan, Perkins, Seth and Lesley

Virginia: Scott B, Brad B and Jocelyn

*UPDATE: I made a clerical error yesterday in listing Mike R as a Chattanooga pick when he in fact picked Indiana.  I have the email proof of this pick should anyone be inclined to challenge.

Survivor Dance Party: 2016 Edition

It's time for our 8th Annual Danvegas Survivor Pool (have I really been agreeing to run this mess for eight years?!). Given that I spend an inordinate (though mostly enjoyable) amount of time on this project every March, I have decided to make a unilateral change this year in order to simplify my life a bit.  Rather than players picking the charity they want money to go to in the end, the entire charity pot will go to support the Horse Country Crossfit Kids program.  It's a Boyle County area fitness class for youngsters that teaches the importance of healthy living and an active lifestyle.  The money will help the program purchase kid-sized equipment like smaller weights, slamballs, adjustable pull-up bars, etc. 

Now that we have the announcement portion of this out of the way . . . Welcome to everyone - new and old alike! Please review the rules below.  As always - I try to be fair but I am not responsible for your own stupidity and inability to read the rules and understand what you are buying into.  

Your first entry is due by NOON, Thursday, March 17.  Anyone submitting a pick after the first game starts will be subject to the "I did the dumb" (rules listed below) including increased entry fee. 

Please feel free to share this with friends and family - the more the merrier! Don't forget to review the rules! I am not responsible if you are too stupid to read the rules - player error is sufficient grounds for elimination! Most of all let's have fun!  I think this year will be a wild and crazy ride if the regular season of ups and downs is any indication!

LET'S DANCE!

via GIPHY

The Rules

The Survivor Pool is a twist on the classic NCAA bracket challenge. No filling out brackets here, though.  Pick a winner each round, win some money and help out a good cause all at the same time!

How to Play:

• Entry fee is $10 - $8 goes to the winner's pot, $2 goes to the charity pot. Additional charitable donations are accepted.  Entry fee, first day's pick and charity must be in by Noon, March 17!  Anyone who has not paid by tip of the Sweet Sixteen on March 24th will be disqualified!
• No filling out a bracket here!  Pick one winner from each day's games for the first six days of the tournament. If your team wins, then you rinse and repeat for the next day's games. If your team loses you are out. Those surviving until the Elite Eight will pick one team per ROUND from that point forward.  So, one pick from any of the Elite Eight games regardless of day.  Then one team from the Final Four is picked and, of course, the champion is picked. (A full listing of picks is detailed below.)
• Here's the kicker: You can only pick a team once per entry!  So, if you pick Kansas in the second round and they make it to the final game -  you cannot pick them again!  If you do not have a viable pick for a round - you are out!
• Each day's picks are due by NOON!  If you are late submitting a pick you are out! Entries may be submitted via email or text.  Texts should be formatted as such: John Doe: Kansas
• The last survivor standing takes home the winner's pot (or 80% of the gate). If more than one person is left standing in the end, the pot will be split evenly.
• Charity: 20% of the pot will go to Horse Country Crossfit Kids Program. 
• Multiple entries are allowed, however, there is no frequent shopper discount - $10 to play. Period.  If you have multiple entries please make sure your picks are labeled clearly!
• The "I did the dumb" reset button - If you lose in the first round (Thursday/Friday games) of the tournament, you may buy back in once for another $10 but you must pick two teams for the next day and both must win for you to advance.

How to Enter:

Entries may be emailed or texted to Krista. Entry fees can be delivered in person to Krista (I work at the Centre College Alumni House) or mailed to 1017 Middlebrook Dr., Danville, Ky 40422.  If your money is not in by tip of the first Sweet Sixteen game on Thursday, March 24 you will be eliminated!

2016 Submission Deadlines:

First Round/Thursday pick - Noon, March 17
First Round/Friday pick - Noon, March 18
Second Round/Saturday pick - Noon, March 19
Second Round/Sunday pick - Noon, March 20
Sweet Sixteen/Thursday pick - Noon, March 24
Sweet Sixteen/Friday pick - Noon, March 25
Elite Eight pick - Noon, March 26
Final Four pick - Noon, April 2
Championship pick - Noon, April 4

Multiple picks can be submitted together, but must be clearly labeled by entry and by date of pick (i.e. John Doe1: Kansas, John Doe2: Louisville or John Doe 3.15: Syracuse, John Doe 3.16: Florida) Pool administrators (i.e. Krista) are not responsible for confused submissions. You are responsible for keeping track of what teams you have used.  Pool administrators are not responsible if you pick a team you've already picked and don't catch it before game time.

Results

Each day's picks and results will be posted here.  In order to make my life easier and less redundant - I will NOT be emailing a full list of picks and results.  I will do my best to upload each day's picks by 1:00 PM (Please be patient on March 19th, in particular, as I will be posting from a track meet via my phone so I may be delayed). 

Players are responsible for checking blog postings to ensure selections have been correctly recorded before halftime of the day's first game. Any errors not reported (and documented) within 90 minutes of whenever the post goes live will not be changed.  Periodic updates of those moving on or getting eliminated will also be posted here.