It is almost here – the Elite 8.  We have the Big 10 tourney champion against the Big East regular season / tourney champion (Illinois vs Connecticut) in the East.  We have the West with its upsets as Alabama faces Clemson.  We have the ACC championship part 2, as Duke plays NC State in the South.  And of course, my Boilers (the Big 10 regular season champs) take on the SEC regular season champs (Tennessee) in the Midwest Region.  8 amazing teams with 8 amazing stories – all hoping to continue to write more chapters to theirs.

We also have some amazing performances in the Lunatic pool.  Congratulations to Sam Brunner who is winning the Standard Pool with 700 points.  Following him closely in a tie for 2^nd is Carrie Viera and Michael Swinson – just 20 points behind.  We have a 5 way tie for 4^th – just 40 points behind – between Anne Haines, Wil Austin, Taylor Early, Ann Schumaker, and my uncle – Bill Yost.  And then in 9^th place, just 50 points behind, are Kelly Woods, Scott Grimes, and Rob Nesbitt.  And we have another 20 people within 80 points (just one extra correct Elite 8 team).

In the Upset Pool, Michael Swinson is all alone at 259 points in first.  He is being followed by Gus Woodburn (249), Ann Schumaker (247), Taylor Early (245), and Bill Yost (240) – but beware those entries that have NC State (who if they win Sunday will score 44 points) or Clemson (who if they win tonight will score 24 points).

We have a three-way tie for the Second Chance Pool, as our leaders got 7 of the 8 Sweet 16 games correct.  Those leaders are Tanmay Gautam, Eric Zeidler, and my daughter Katie Hodgson (which is probably driving her brother crazy – apparently picking Clemson and NC State to win their regions might not be as wild as first thought when she put the picks in).   Also ironic in that is the person in my family who could care the least about how they do is Katie – who is proud that she filled out her bracket in a couple minutes.  They are being closely followed by those who got 6 of 8 games correct (also an impressive feat) – Kristian Schmidt, John Woodburn, Scott Grimes, Kathleen Godwin, Karl Knox, Gerry Sherman, David Ogle and Drew Bradley.

Congratulations to all our leaders!!!!  The Lunatic kind of fell apart in the Sweet 16 – as teams like UNC and Marquette fell.  But while he might be too far down the pool to win, he really only cares about the results of hopefully 3 more games.  BOILER UP!!!!