Here are the final results of this year's Pool, with a total pot to be disbursed of $4,110.00.

Congratulations to our grand prize winner, BadBaker1, who edged-out Logan Stanley by 1 point to take the top prize. Condolences gp out to Wesley Hansard, whose four brackets finished 50th, 194th, 311th and 410th, respectively.

Congratulations also are in order for our other winners, who are listed below. Please remember that the sort order for ties in any positions other than First Place are determined by the highest number of points in each Round starting with the First Round and random luck based on the sort order, with coin flips deciding the fates of those who are tied for a particular position and those who are immediately above or below them if all round scores of those who are in the tie match. Anyone needing a further explanation about how the money was determined should contact me.

Remember to check back after the Tournament Selection Show on Sunday next year and we will do it all again. Thanks for participating and I look forward to next year.

Rank	Pct.	Name	Prize Money	Paid
			$4,180.00
1st Place	51.00%	BadBaker1	$2,091.80	x
2nd Place	10.00%	Logan Stanley	$410.00	x
3rd Place	5.00%	Glenn Blake	$205.00	x
4th Place	4.00%	Justin Hackney	$164.00	x
5th Place	3.00%	CoachC	$123.00	x
10th Place	1.00%	Brant Gessner	$41.00	x
20th Place	1.00%	Justin Hackney	$41.00	x
25th Place	1.00%	Robert H Beuttas	$41.00	x
30th Place	1.00%	Daddy Rap	$41.00	x
40th Place	1.00%	MEEDawg	$41.00	x
50th Place	1.00%	Wesley Hansard	$41.00	x
60th Place	1.00%	Ben Finley	$41.00	x
Most Correct 1st Rd	5.00%	Justin Hackney	$205.00	x
Week 1 Pts Leader	5.00%	Mack March	$205.00	x
Sweet Sixteen Pts Leader	5.00%	Casey Hanna 2	$205.00	x
Elite Eight Pts Leader	5.00%	Casey H 2	$205.00	x
Last Place	$1.00	Wesley Hansard	$1.00	x

 

I apologize for the AI generated output for Weeks One and Two, which just does not sit well with me and which I hope proves once and for all to the naysayers that the Pool needs a human touch (until AI wipes out all the humans, that is). I have updated the Combinations with all of the winners based on tomorrow night’s outcome and here is the rest of the information regarding winners, as well as a write-up I always enjoy doing after looking over the entries.

Good luck to everyone with a chance to win based on tomorrow night’s outcome.

Justin Hackney won the First Round over G2 with 29 points by virtue of having more points in the Second Round. Keith Melvin, Hayden King, Johnny Hawk, Max Steinman, Jackson Mills, Kurt S, Matt Oldham, Justin Hackney [2], Paige92, Mosey1, Ed Castle, Casey Hanna 2, Jared Edwin Jillson, RW Conte1 (a past champion), Hoops, I did it Again, Red Wreck, William Lehr, and CoachC all had 28. Mack March was the leader after Week One by 1 point over Justin Hackney.

Casey Hanna 2 was the leader after the Sweet Sixteen, again by just 1 point over Justin Hackney. Casey H 2 snuck into the lead after the Elite Eight, edging Jackson Mills by 1 point, Casey Hanna 2 and Bad Baker by 2 points and Justin Hackney, Ed Castle and Logan Stanley by 3 points.

Favorite aliases/bracket entries for this year - just in case you missed them: Pete Rose (may he rest in peace); PokeNeville (a timeless classic from one of the Molasses Brothers); Livi Oldham (even though her Dad picked it for her, I know this precious little lady is going to be a perennial top performer by the time she reaches middle school with all the family gambling exposure she will have); Dr K (a past champion who thumbs his nose at modern conventions and still pays his family's entries by check every year – yes, KRA, I will hold your check until Tuesday again this year); Eeyore Loves Mary Grace (of course he does, Sis, she is one of the cutest little gals ever and thanks for trying to give her a head-start on her college fund); Pablo Picasso (a decent bracket, for sure, but certainly not a masterpiece); Dr Duke 2 & 3 (interesting moniker choices since neither bracket picked his presumably beloved Blue Devils to win it all); Daddy Rap (a great guy we miss seeing whom I believe has at least one grandchild who should be calling him that); Austin Hansard and Wesley Hansard (this super twins older lighter brain trust has yet to figure out that one's registered name displays automatically and, as such, one does not need to put one's name as one's alias); Mack March (some clever alliteration from a man who had a chance to finish in the money until Arizona was steamrolled by the Wolverines); Little D (a bracket submitted by his buddy Pokey in memory of my former WebDecoder partner and great friend, Donnie Causey, who loved the Pool and gave it a much-needed face-lift several years back); Livi_Dawg4life (this proud grandpa is a rabid UGA super fan who had Hairy Dawg at Matt and Tori's wedding and will stop at nothing to make sure our granddaughter attends the Harvard of the South); Tedprimo (while I only know this young man through the Pool over the last few years, his real last name - Primavera – always reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Russell Dalrymple fell head over heels in love with Elaine after getting sick from eating pasta primavera); HeyZeus (one of my favorite Pool participants who has been "in it to win it" since the beginning but never quite has and who continues to strive for perfection from the bench); Bracket Busted (this guy knew his fate before the electronic ink dried on his bracket and I am proud of him for just coming out and telling it like it is); Getmickey.com (a shameless plug for his real estate agency and perhaps the cheapest advertising exposure he will ever get, unless prospective clients associate his prognosticating prowess with his sales skills and decide to go with someone else); GmamaLWJ01 (a tribute to a former NBA star from a guy who shares his name and has used a similar alias in the past - I will Venmo $10.00 to the first person who figures out this participant's real name based on this alias and emails same to me); LeBracket Challenge (while I hated all the French I took in high school and college and wish I had opted for Spanish instead, I find this one clever); Whodat (long suffering fans of the New Orleans Saints will understand why I like this one); Alias (need I say more?); got hozed (of course he did - sleep deprivation from a new addition ot the family can have that effect); Strait of Hormuz Tanker (while possibly politically incorrect, an a propos reminder of what is going on right now in the Middle East); XPawnbroker (if accurate, I am sure there are a number of interesting stories this participant could share with the rest of us); Hoops, I Did it Again (this was almost right, as she won some money last year and came very close again this year); Maddawg (a clever one that is a combination of her name and Athens-based allegiance); ZeroBallWatched (I believe it knowing about the precious little addition to his family and his bracket certain proves out the alias); AJ All Day (a possible shout-out to an MMA fighter?); Johnny Hawk (after more than 83 years on the planet, dear old Dad still has some great game picking skills, getting 28 of 32 and 12 of 16 the first week but then fading into oblivion after that); LadyDi (a clever alias that incorporates her name but hearkens back to simpler and more elegant times); Horse Whisperer (whom I also understand is quite the middle school volleyball player); PeePop (this one started as a joke with one of my nephews-in-law when asked what I wanted to be called by my grandchild who was then in vitro and it is here to stay after that precious little lady started talking); El Champion (I hardly think that finishing out of the top 150 qualifies and am considering disallowing this participant from using it in future Pools unless his performance improves dramatically); Huskie (while this guy picked his alma mater to win it all, he clearly did not watch enough games this season); GloboGymPurpleCobras (one of my favorite dodgeball teams); Skinnah's Winnahs (nosir - not even in the top half of the Pool when all is said and done); The Hammer 1, The Hammer 2 and Hammer Time (more like, "my brackets got hamered this year"); Cougars (wrong answer this year); the_other_double_dawg (met him at bench trial the week the tourney started and got him in the Pool - knew who it was instantly when I saw this alias); easymoneysniper (only if he is in another Pool with some grade-schoolers); Kyle Kowalczyk (I like "Frail Mamba" much better and this kid obviously attended the Hansard School on Picking Aliases); Natalie Hoza Vernon (I like "Molar Bear" much better, but realize that one may have gotten lost in the shuffle because of the Pool's terrible account setup system - I am not even going to say it will be fixed for next year, but it will); MeMaw (this is what Lynn wanted to be called by Livi until we all convinced her that "Lulah" is much better); Dogwoodrich (as the administrator of the Pool I know your true identity, Your Honor; your secret is safe with me); Packer Pat (a cheesehead, I presume); Hopeful Heel ("Hopeful, Hell" would have been better); SwampMonster (she and her two beaus have left D.C. for good and we are happy to have all of them back in Decatur); Basketball is boring (I hope she does not say the same thing about LCOPC if she decides to work with me this summer); Gamecock John (I see no reason to advertise one's allegiance to a team that went 13-19, but that is just me); The Molasses Bros. (this year's joint bracket was as bad as their incredibly slow yard work was years ago); State vs Catfish Mailbox (I appreciate the shout-out and my High Gables v. Oldham always live in infamy - see http://lcopc.com for more information); Seven (s great Seinfeld reference - those who love the show will know what I mean); No Fairways (while I have not met him in person yet, it seems we would be great golfcart companions; steve mathews (a blast from the past who lives in Texas but must have attended the Hansard School online); HookemBaby (he must be a fisherman, since he did not pick the Longhorns to go even one round); Winnie the Pooh (another Sis classic hovering near the bottom of the bracket where it belongs); Charles Barkley (the former "Round Mound of Rebound" embarrassed himself this year); RGV(she should have stuck with the AI picks); Baracket Obama (he did not include me this year after our great run last year so it serves him right that his baracket tanked); Mads Hoza Hoops (a new mother whose sleep deprivation got the best of her and busted her bracket – she, too, got hozed); Wisky Luck #2 (where is a leprechaun when you need him?); Bracketologist [Not]; Bball15 (Carolina Blue blood clearly runs through this lady's veins); BadBaker (with this alias, I can only presume that her toll house cookies turn-out like some of her brackets, but then I look at the top of the standings and think maybe I know nothing about her after all); Red Wreck (a very prophetic name for this bracket); Allen Gaston (another distinguished alumnus from the Hansard School); Speedy Claxton (this guy uses a new alias every year and I always enjoy googling them); hoopthereitisgirl (maybe not this year); WinnaWinnaChickenDinna (spam appears to be on the menu); Dirk Diggler (about where you would figure he would finish - too preoccupied with other things); stormnadofizzlebyEOY2026 (a vote of "no confidence" from a sibling who should know better); Lasso (the only thing this cow poke caught was a busted bracket but I had a good time watching games with him and Mr. Hawk); AND TIGGER 2 (bottom of the Pool where it belongs); Gramma a/k/a Great Gramma (who is, and always has been, a great Gramma and a great Great Gramma); Tater Salad (too much scotch when picking this bracket); Judge Arthur Vandelay (my favorite Seinfeld trivia guy, but not much of a basketball player, or bracket picker, for that matter); and PIGLET LOVES LIVI (just out of the last place money in 409th place, but right where she belongs).