Congrats Region Winners

First off another HUGE thank you to those who participated in this year's bracket contest, second we will have a new winner as Shife took out last year's champ Emily!    Here are the results, and you region winners I will be emailing you for you to pick the final four games, best of luck.

EAST- this was my real life friends bracket I know all these people in real life
1- Cara 27 pts
2- Bekah 12 pts
2- Jenn 12 pts
Phats Score = 20 pts

WEST- Where all the upsets happened, also a tie and both advance if Topolk wins he will be the first two time winner
1- Topolk 14 pts
1- Rocket 14 pts
3- Jef 10 pts
4- Duck 8 pts
Phats Score = 12 pts

MIDWEST- That leg injury to the Louisville dude was disgusting, definitely thoughts and prayers with him
1- Booya 28 pts
2- Emily Rose 27 pts
3- Travis 18 pts
4- Phoenix 10 pts
5- Design Goddess 5 pts
Phats Score = 32 pts

SOUTH- Had two people not return picks only had two here, Shife picking UM was the difference, imagine if Kansas hadn't choked Emily would be going for Back 2 Back wins here.
1- Mr Shife 28 pts
2- Emily F 14 pts
Phats Score = 20 pts

Thanks again for playing look for Final Four picks soon! 

Phats Blog Bracket Contest, it's on

Welcome to the 7th annual Phats Bracket Contest, let the games begin.   Here is a quick reminder how this works, four regions, people were divided into different regions, top point scorer from each region advances to Final Four, Final winner gets a Phat-Tastic prize!   Here is the scoring break down
Rd 1 = 1 pt
Rd 2 = 3 pts
Rd 3 = 5 pts
Rd 4 = 7 pts
Defending Champ is Emily F. AKA Topolk's better half :)  Best of luck, and again a HUGE thank you for playing.  At the time of updating not all entries in as long as I get them before the games start they are eligible

EAST REGION(Competitors Bekah, Jenn, Cara)
BEKAH'S PICKS
1. IU over James Madison *CORRECT IU 83 jmu 62
8. NC State over 9. Temple *INCORRECT TEMPLE 76 ncst 72
5. UNLV over 12. INCORRECT CAL 64 unlv 61
4. Syracuse over 13. Montana *CORRECT CUSE 81 montana 34
6. Butler over 11. Bucknell *CORRECT BU 68 bucknell 56
3. Marquette over 14. Davidson *CORRECT MARQ 59 Davidson 58
7. Illinois over 10. Colorado CORRECT ILL 57 colorado 49
2. Miami Fla over 15. Pacific*CORRECT MIA 78 pacific 49
1ST ROUND SCORE = 6
2nd ROUND
1. IU over 8. NC State CORRECT IU 58 temple 52
5. UNLV over 4. Syracuse INCORRECT UNLV OUT
6. Butler over 3. Marquette INCORRECT MARQ 74 bu 72
2. Miami over 7. Illinois CORRECT MIA 63 ill 59
2ND ROUND SCORE = 6(total 12)
3rd ROUND
5. UNLV over 1. IU INCORRECT UNLV OUT
6. Butler over 2. Miami INCORRECT BUTLER OUT
3RD SCORE = 0 (total 12)
BEKAH'S EAST REGION CHAMP

BUTLER BULLDOGS INCORRECT BUTLER OUT
FINAL SCORE 12

JENN'S PICKS
1. IU over 16. James Madison *CORRECT IU 83 jmu 62
9. Temple over 8. NC State *CORRECT TEMPLE 76 ncst 72
12. Cal over 5. UNLV *CORRECT CAL 64 unlv 61
13. Montana over 4. Syracuse *INCORRECT CUSE 81 montana 34
6. Butler over 11. Bucknell *CORRECT BU 68 bucknell 56
3. Marquette over 14. Davidson *CORRECT MARQ 59 Davidson 58
10. Colorado over 7. Illinois INCORRECT ILL 57 colorado 49
2. Miami over 15. Pacific *CORRECT MIA 78 pacific 49
1ST ROUND SCORE = 6
2nd ROUND
1. IU over 9. Temple CORRECT IU 58 temple 52
12. Cal over 13. Montana INCORRECT CUSE 66 Cal 60
6. Butler over 3. Marquette INCORRECT MARQ 74 bu 72
2. Miami over 10. Colorado  CORRECT MIA 63 ill 59
2ND ROUND SCORE = 6(total 12)
3rd ROUND
1. IU over 12. Cal INCORRECT CUSE 61 iu 50
6. Butler over 2. Miami INCORRECT BUTLER OUT
3RD ROUND SCORE = 0
JENN'S EAST REGION CHAMP
INDIANA HOOSIERS  
FINAL SCORE = 12

CARA'S PICKS
1. IU over 16.James Madison *CORRECT IU 83 jmu 62
8. NC State over 9. Temple *INCORRECT TEMPLE 76 ncst 72
5. UNLV over 12. Cal *INCORRECT CAL 64 unlv 61
4. Syracuse over 13. Montana *CORRECT CUSE 81 montana 34
11. Bucknell over 6. Butler *INCORRECT BU 68 bucknell 56
3. Marquette over 14. Davidson *CORRECT MARQ 59 Davidson 58
7. Illinois over 10. Colorado CORRECT ILL 57 colorado 49
2. Miami over 15. Pacific *CORRECT MIA 78 pacific 49
1ST ROUND SCORE = 5
2nd ROUND
1. IU over 8. NC State CORRECT IU 58 temple 52
4. Syracuse over 5. UNLV CORRECT CUSE 66 Cal 60
3. Marquette over 11. Bucknell CORRECT MARQ 74 bu 72
7. Illinois over 2. Miami Illinois CORRECT MIA 63 ill 59
2ND ROUND SCORE = 12(total 17)
3rd ROUND
4. Syracuse over 1. Indiana CORRECT CUSE 61 iu 50
3. Marquette over 7. Illinois CORRECT MU 71 Miami 61
3RD ROUND SCORE = 10(Total 27)
CARA'S EAST REGION CHAMP
MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES INCORRECT CUSE 55 marq 39
FINAL SCORE = 27

FINAL EAST STANDINGS
1- CARA 27
2- Bekah 12
2- Jenn 12 

PHATS PICKS  
IU, NC State, UNLV, Cuse, Butler, Marquette, Illinois, Miami = 6
IU, Cuse, Butler, Miami = 9
Cuse, Miami = 5
MIAMI 

WEST REGION(Competitors Jef, Topolk, Rocket, Duck)
JEF'S PICKS
1. Gonzaga over 16. Southern *CORRECT Zags 64 southern 58
8. Pittsburgh over 9. Wichita State *INCORRECT WSU 73 pitt 55
5. Wisconsin over 12. Mississippi *INCORRECT OLE MISS 57 wisky 46
4. Kansas State over 13.Lasalle *INCORRECT Lasalle 63 K-State 61
6. Arizona over 11. Belmont *CORRECT AZ 81 belmont 64
3. New Mexico over 14. Harvard Crimson *INCORRECT Har 68 nm 62
10. Iowa State over 7. Notre Dame CORRECT ISU 76 nd 58
2. Ohio State over 15. Iona CORRECT OSU 95 iona 70
1ST ROUND SCORE = 4
2nd ROUND
1. Gonzaga over 8. Pittsburgh INCORRECT WICHITA 72 zags 70
4. Kansas State over 5. Wisconsin INCORRECT K-STATE OUT
6. Arizona over 3. New Mexico CORRECT AZ 74 Harvard 51
2. Ohio State over 10. Iowa State CORRECT OSU 78 ISU 75
2ND ROUND SCORE = 6(total 10)
3rd ROUND 
4. Kansas State over 1. Gonzaga INCORRECT K-STATE OUT
6. Arizona over 2. Ohio State INCORRECT OSU 73 az 70
3RD ROUND SCORE = 0(Total 10)
JEF'S WEST REGION CHAMP
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS  INCORRECT K-STATE OUT
FINAL SCORE = 10 

TOPOLK'S PICKS

1. Gonzaga over 16. Southern *CORRECT Zags 64 southern 58
8. Pittsburgh over 9. Wichita State *INCORRECT WSU 73 pitt 55
5. Wisconsin over 12. Mississippi *INCORRECT OLE MISS 57 wisky 46
4. Kansas State over 13. Lasalle *INCORRECT Lasalle 63 K-State 61
6. Arizona over 11. Belmont *CORRECT AZ 81 belmont 64
3. New Mexico over 14. Harvard *INCORRECT Har 68 nm 62
7. Notre Dame over 10. Iowa State INCORRECT ISU 76 nd 58
2. Ohio State over 15. Iona CORRECT OSU 95 iona 70
1ST ROUND SCORE = 3
2nd ROUND
1. Gonzaga over 8. Pittsburgh INCORRECT WICHITA 72 zags 70
4. Kansas State over 5. Wisconsin INCORRECT K-STATE OUT
6. Arizona over 3. New Mexico CORRECT AZ 74 Harvard 51
2. Ohio State over 7. Notre Dame  CORRECT IU 58 temple 52
2ND ROUND SCORE = 6(total 9)
3rd ROUND
4. Kansas State over 1. Gonzaga INCORRECT K-STATE OUT
2. Ohio State over 6. Arizona CORRECT OSU 73 az 70
3RD ROUND SCORE = 5(total 14)
TOPOLK'S WEST REGION CHAMP
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES INCORRECT WSU 70 OSU 66
FINAL SCORE 14 

ROCKET'S PICKS
1. Gonzaga over 16. Southern *CORRECT Zags 64 southern 58
8. Pittsburgh over 9. Wichita State *INCORRECT WSU 73 pitt 55
5. Wisconsin over 12. Mississippi *INCORRECT OLE MISS 57 wisky 46
4. Kansas State over 13. Lasalle *INCORRECT Lasalle 63 K-State 61
6. Arizona over 11. Belmont *CORRECT AZ 81 Belmont 64
3. New Mexico over 14. Harvard *INCORRECT Har 68 nm 62
7. Notre Dame over 10. Iowa State INCORRECT ISU 76 nd 58
2. Ohio State over 15. Iona CORRECT OSU 95 iona 70
1ST ROUND SCORE = 3
2nd ROUND
1. Gonzaga over 8. Pittsburgh INCORRECT WICHITA 72 zags 70
5. Wisconsin over 4. Kansas State INCORRECT WISCONSIN OUT
6. Arizona over 3. New Mexico CORRECT AZ 74 Harvard 51
2. Ohio State over 7. Notre Dame CORRECT IU 58 temple 52
2ND ROUND = 6 (Total 9)
3rd ROUND
1. Gonzaga over 5. Wisconsin INCORRECT GONZAGA OUT
2. Ohio State over 6. Arizona CORRECT OSU 73 az 70
3RD ROUND TOTAL = 5(total 14)
ROCKET'S WEST REGION CHAMP
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES INCORRECT WSU 70 OSU 66
FINAL SCORE = 14

DUCK'S PICKS
1. Gonzaga over 16. Southern *CORRECT Zags 64 southern 58
9. Wichita State over 8. Pittsburgh *CORRECT WSU 73 pitt 55
5. Wisconsin over 12. Mississippi *INCORRECT OLE MISS 57 wisky 46
4. Kansas State over 13. Lasalle *INCORRECT Lasalle 63 K-State 61
6. Arizona over 11. Belmont *CORRECT AZ 81 belmont 64
3. New Mexico over 14. Harvard *INCORRECT Har 68 nm 62
10. Iowa State over 7. Notre Dame CORRECT ISU 76 nd 58
2. Ohio State over 15. Iona CORRECT OSU 95 iona 70
1ST ROUND SCORE = 5
2nd ROUND 
1. Gonzaga over 9. Wichita State INCORRECT WICHITA 72 zags 70
5. Wisconsin over 4. Kansas State INCORRECT WISCONSIN OUT
3. New Mexico over 6. Arizona INCORRECT NM OUT
2. Ohio State over 10. Iowa State CORRECT IU 58 temple 52
2ND ROUND = 3(Total 8)
3rd ROUND
1. Gonzaga over 5. Wisconsin INCORRECT GONZAGA OUT
3. New Mexico over 2. Ohio State INCORRECT NM OUT
DUCK'S WEST REGION CHAMP
GONZAGA BULLDOGS  INCORRECT GONZAGA OUT
FINAL SCORE = 8

FINAL STANDINGS
1- TOPOLK - 14 pts
1- ROCKET 14 pts
3- Jef - 10 pts
4- Duck- 8 pts
   
Phats Picks
Zags, Pitt, Wisky, K-State, Zona, NM, Iowa State, OSU = 4
Zags, Wisky, NM, OSU= 3
Wisky, OSU = 5
OSU

MIDWEST REGION(Competitors Booya, Travis, Phoenix, Emily Rose, DG)
BOOYA'S PICKS
1. Louisville over 16. North Carolina A&T *CORRECT Lville 79 a&t 48
9. Missouri over 8. Colorado State *INCORRECT CSU 84 mizzou 72
5. Oklahoma State over 12. Oregon INCORRECT Oregon 68 OSU 55
4. St Louis over 13. New Mexico State CORRECT SLU 66 nmsu 44
6. Memphis over 11. St Mary's *CORRECT MEMPHIS 54 smc 52
3. Michigan State over 14. Valparaiso *CORRECT MSU 65 valpo 54
10. Cincinnati over 7. Creighton INCORRECT Creighton 67 Cincy 63
2. Duke over 15. Albany *CORRECT DUKE 73 albany 61
1ST ROUND SCORE = 5
2nd ROUND
1. Louisville over 9. Missouri CORRECT Lville 82 CSU 56
5. Oklahoma State over 4. St Louis INCORRECT OSU OUT
6. Memphis over 3. Michigan State INCORRECT MSU 70 mem 48
2. Duke over 10. Cincinnati CORRECT DUKE 66 creighton 50
2ND ROUND SCORE = 6(total 11)
3rd ROUND
1. Louisville over 5. Oklahoma State CORRECT L'VILLE 77 ore 69
2. Duke over 6. Memphis CORRECT DUKE 71 msu 61
3RD ROUND SCORE = 10(total 21)
BOOYA'S MIDWEST REGION CHAMP
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS CORRECT Lville 85 Duke 63
FINAL SCORE = 28 

TRAVIS' PICKS
1. Louisville over 16. North Carolina A&T *CORRECT Lville 79 a&t 48
9. Missouri over 8. Colorado State *INCORRECT CSU 84 mizzou 72
5. Oklahoma State over 12. Oregon INCORRECT Oregon 68 OSU 55
13. New Mexico State over 4. St Louis INCORRECT SLU 66 nmsu 44
6. Memphis over 11. St Mary's *CORRECT MEMPHIS 54 smc 52
3. Michigan State over 14. Valparaiso *CORRECT MSU 65 valpo 54
10. Cincinnati over 7. Creighton INCORRECT Creighton 67 Cincy 63
2. Duke over 15. Albany *CORRECT DUKE 73 albany 61
1ST ROUND SCORE = 4
2nd ROUND 
1. Louisville over 9. Missouri CORRECT Lville 82 CSU 56
5. Oklahoma State over 13. New Mexico State INCORRECT OSU OUT
3. Michigan State over 6. Memphis CORRECT MSU 70 mem 48
2. Duke over 10. Cincinnati CORRECT DUKE 66 creighton 50
2ND ROUND SCORE = 9(total 13)
3rd ROUND
1. Louisville over 5. Oklahoma State CORRECT L'VILLE 77 ore 69
3. Michigan State over 2. Duke INCORRECT DUKE 71 msu 61
3RD ROUND SCORE = 5(total 18)
TRAVIS' MIDWEST CHAMP
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS INCORRECT MSU OUT
FINAL SCORE = 18

PHOENIX'S PICKS 

1. Louisville over 16. North Carolina A&T *CORRECT Lville 79 a&t 48

8. Colorado State over 9. Missouri *CORRECT CSU 84 mizzou 72

5. Oklahoma State over 12. Oregon INCORRECT Oregon 68 OSU 55

4. St Louis over 13. New Mexico State CORRECT SLU 66 nmsu 44

6. Memphis over 11. St Mary's *CORRECT MEMPHIS 54 smc 52

3. Michigan State over 14. Valparaiso *CORRECT MSU 65 valpo 54

7. Creighton over 10. Cincinnati CORRECT Creighton 67 Cincy 63

2. Duke over 15. Albany *CORRECT DUKE 73 albany 61

1ST ROUND SCORE = 7
2nd ROUND 

1. Louisville over 8. Colorado State CORRECT Lville 82 CSU 56

4. St Louis over 5. Oklahoma State INCORRECT OU 74 slu 57

3. Michigan State over 6. Memphis CORRECT MSU 70 mem 48

7. Creighton over 2. Duke INCORRECT DUKE 66 creighton 50

2ND ROUND SCORE = 3(total 10)
3rd ROUND

4. St Louis over 1. Louisville INCORRECT ST LOUIS OUT

7. Creighton over 3. Michigan State INCORRECT CREIGHTON OUT

PHOENIX'S MIDWEST REGION CHAMP

ST LOUIS BILLIKENS  INCORRECT ST LOUIS OUT
FINAL SCORE = 10

EMILY ROSE'S MIDWEST PICKS

1. Louisville over 16. North Carolina A&T *CORRECT Lville 79 a&t 48

9. Missouri over 8. Colorado State *INCORRECT CSU 84 mizzou 72

5. Oklahoma State over 12. Oregon INCORRECT Oregon 68 OSU 55

4. St Louis over 13. New Mexico State CORRECT SLU 66 nmsu 44

11. St Mary's over 6. Memphis *INCORRECT MEMPHIS 54 smc 52

3. Michigan State over 14. Valparaiso *CORRECT MSU 65 valpo 54

10. Cincinnati over 7. Creighton INCORRECT Creighton 67 Cincy 63

2. Duke over 15. Albany *CORRECT DUKE 73 albany 61

1ST ROUND SCORE = 4
2nd ROUND

1. Louisville over 9. Missouri CORRECT Lville 82 CSU 56

4. St Louis over 5. Oklahoma State INCORRECT OU 74 slu 57

11. St Mary's over 3. Michigan State INCORRECT ST MARY'S OUT

2. Duke over 10. Cincinnati CORRECT DUKE 66 creighton 50

2nd ROUND SCORE = 6(total 10)
3rd ROUND

1. Louisville over 4. St Louis CORRECT L'VILLE 77 ore 69

2. Duke over 11. St Mary's CORRECT DUKE 71 msu 61

3RD ROUND SCORE = 10(total 20)
EMILY ROSE'S MIDWEST CHAMP

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS CORRECT Lville 85 Duke 63
FINAL SCORE = 27

DESIGN GODDESS' PICKS
1. Louisville over 16. North Carolina A&T *CORRECT Lville 79 a&t 48
8. Colorado State over 9. Missouri *CORRECT CSU 84 mizzou 72
12. Oregon over 5. Oklahoma State CORRECT Oregon 68 OSU 55
13. New Mexico State over 4. St Louis INCORRECT SLU 66 nmsu 44
11. St Mary's over 6. Memphis *INCORRECT MEMPHIS 54 smc 52
3. Michigan State over 14. Valparaiso *CORRECT MSU 65 valpo 54
10. Cincinnati over 7. Creigton INCORRECT Creighton 67 Cincy 63
2. Duke over 15. Albany *CORRECT DUKE 73 albany 61
1ST ROUND SCORE = 5
2nd ROUND
8. Colorado State over 1. Louisville INCORRECT Lville 82 csu 56
13. New Mexico State over 12. Oregon INCORRECT NMSU OUT
11. St Mary's over 3. Michigan State INCORRECT ST MARY'S OUT
10. Cincinnati over 2. Duke INCORRECT DUKE 66 creighton 50
2ND ROUND SCORE = 0(total 5)
3rd ROUND
8. Colorado State over 13. New Mexico State INCORRECT CSU OUT
11. St Mary's over 10. Cincinnati INCORRECT ST MARY'S OUT
DESIGN GODDESS' MIDWEST REGION CHAMP
ST MARY'S GAELS  INCORRECT ST MARY'S OUT
FINAL SCORE = 5 

FINAL STANDINGS
1- BOOYA 28
2- Emily Rose 27
3- Travis 18
4- Phoenix 10
5- Design Godess 5

PHAT's PICKs
Lville, Missouri, OK State, SLU, Memphis, MSU, Creighton, Duke = 6
Lville, SLU, MSU, Duke = 9
Lville, Duke = 10
LVILLE = 7(32)

SOUTH REGION(Competitors, Shife, Emily F, Cheryl, Tina)
MR SHIFE'S PICKS
1. Kansas over 16. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers CORRECT KU 64 wku 57
8. North Carolina over 9. Villanova CORRECT UNC 78 nova 71
5. VCU over 12. Akron *CORRECT VCU 88 akron 42
4. Michigan over 13. South Dakota State *CORRECT UM 71 sdsu 56
11. Minnesota over 6. UCLA CORRECT MINNY 83 ucla 63
3. Florida over 14. Northwestern State CORRECT Fla 79 nw state 47
7. San Diego State over 10. Oklahoma CORRECT SDSU 70 ou 55
2. Georgetown over 15. Florida Gulf Coast INCORRECT FGCU 78 gtown 68
1ST ROUND SCORE = 7
2nd ROUND 
1. Kansas over 8. North Carolina CORRECT KU 70 unc 58
4. Michigan over 5. VCU CORRECT UM 78 vcu 53
3. Florida over 11. Minnesota CORRECT FLA 78 minny 64
2. Georgetown over 7. San Diego State INCORRECT GEORGETOWN OUT
2ND ROUND SCORE = 9(total 16)
3rd ROUND
4. Michigan over 1. Kansas CORRECT UM 87 ku 85 ot
2. Georgetown over 3. Florida INCORRECT GEORGETOWN OUT
3RD ROUND SCORE = 5(total 21)
MR SHIFE'S SOUTH REGION CHAMP
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES CORRECT UM 79 fla 59
FINAL SCORE 28 

EMILY F'S PICKS
1. Kansas over 16. Western Kentucky CORRECT ISU 76 nd 58
8. North Carolina over 9. Villanova CORRECT UNC 78 nova 71
5. VCU over 12. Akron *CORRECT VCU 88 akron 42
4. Michigan over 13. South Dakota State *CORRECT UM 71 sdsu 56
6. UCLA over 11. Minnesota INCORRECT MINNY 83 ucla 63
3. Florida over 14. Northwestern State CORRECT Fla 79 nw state 47
10. Oklahoma over 7. San Diego State INCORRECT SDSU 70 ou 55
2. Georgetown over 15. Florida Gulf Coast INCORRECT FGCU 78 gtown 68
1ST ROUND SCORE = 5
2nd ROUND
1. Kansas over 8. North Carolina CORRECT KU 70 unc 58
4. Michigan over 5. VCU CORRECT UM 78 vcu 53
3. Florida over 6. UCLA CORRECT FLA 78 minny 64
2. Georgetown over 10. Oklahoma INCORRECT GEORGETOWN OUT
2ND ROUND SCORE = 9(total 14)
3rd ROUND
1. Kansas over 4. Michigan INCORRECT UM 87 ku 85 ot
2. Georgetown over 3. Florida INCORRECT GEORGETOWN OUT
3RD ROUND SCORE = 0(Total 14)
EMILY'S SOUTH REGION CHAMP 
KANSAS JAYHAWKS INCORRECT KANSAS OUT
FINAL SCORE = 14 

FINAL STANDINGS
1- SHIFE = 28
2- Emily = 14

PHAT'S PICKS 
Kansas, UNC, VCU, Michigan, Minny, Florida, OU, G'town = 6
Kansas, Michigan, Florida, Gtown = 6
Kansas, Florida 5
KANSAS

Let the games begin

Well kids it's my favorite time of the year March Madness, even though the Boilers failed to make the field I am still going forward with my NCAA bracket contest that I do every year.  I will be emailing out your regions here shortly.   First off thank you to those who participate you guys are freaking awesome, second sorry to those who aren't interested that I email :) haha  For those that are participating I will need the picks in by Wednesday night, Thursday at the latest as the games start Thursday at noon.  As always I will give out a fun prize to the winner how can you turn that down!!  Last year's champ was Emily, aka Topolk's better half.  Can she repeat we have yet to have someone go back to back. 


Ready for the games to start!   Also, so my Boilers aren't completely neglected, and I am embarrassed about writing this but we accepted a bid to the CBI!  YAY GO US!  We play our first game Wednesday at 7 vs the Western Illinois Leathernecks(yes, I am serious) and while I was opposed to this I just saw the upper level tickets are only 10 dollars I am thinking now I am in.  So who knows.

Anyway, best of luck to all that enter my contest I will be emailing out your brackets now Also just sent out emails if you didn't get one let me know or if you want in  let me know still time :)  Just a reminder the top scorer from each region will move on to the final four pick em for a chance to win my prize!!

Hoosier Hysteria

OK this blog post title might confuse some of you but I promise you it has nothing do with that lame inbred junior college in Southern IN.  Nope this is all about one of the country's greatest traditions that fired up this past week.  Last week was the start of the annual Indiana High School State Basketball Tournament.  High school sports are really big in the state of Indiana, possibly bigger than any other state and the kind of HS sports here is basketball.  I am not sure why but this state latched onto HS hoops and never let go.  In fact there is a saying here "in 49 states it's just basketball in Indiana it's a way of life" and that's the truth.  I was really fortunate to grow up in the single class era, and backed a team that was really really good. 

I had an odd situation I went to one school(Eastern) while I cheered for another(Kokomo) I had the opportunity to transfer to KHS going into my Freshman year and didn't, while I regret that decision now I still had it pretty good as I had the best of both worlds good friends at EHS and great sports teams at KHS.  For anyone curious both my parents worked for Kokomo at the time including my dad being the Assistant Principal as well as head football coach. So, even though I chose not to transfer I had tons of friends at KHS and ended up going to all the sporting events, which meant getting to spend most Fri/Sat nights and a lot of week nights at this mecca, which is Memorial Gymnasium



I loved getting to go to games there, the gym seats roughly 6000 people and when I was in HS it was full to capacity most nights.  It was a neat set up as 90% of the gym is home seating, and a sliver of seats given to the guests.  As big as this gym is it's not anywhere near the biggest in the state of Indiana.  USA Today actually did a story on HS Gym capacities and 8 of their top 10 gyms were from Indiana, including the world's largest HS fieldhouse in New Castle, which I have had the pleasure of going to. 

Anyway, back to the state tournament it's crazy it has gone thru changes when I was in school it was one class and everyone played, and then the small schools got whiny and a vote was taken and 1998 was the first year where there were 4 classes.  Attendance has dipped some since that went into place partly because you got to drive all over tarnation.  Both the 1 class and the class system run the same you have sectionals, regionals, semi state, and state.  Some slight differences in a one class system after sectionals you had to win 2 games at every level to keep advancing so they'd have two semi finals in the morning and then a championship game that night.  Kokomo had an amazing run when I was in school where the girls would play 4 weeks straight usually winning state, and then boys would usually make it to semi state making 7 straight weeks of road trips!  The other great part was the venues especially semi state once you got to that level in a one class system you were sent to one of four sites, down south to Indiana State/Evansville they rotated, Indy area to Butler, north west Purdue, and North East went to either Notre Dame, or the Fort Wayne Coliseum(which was Kokomo's semi state) and then the final four was held in Indy, it has been at Butler, Market Square, the RCA Dome, and now Conseco Fieldhouse.  The state of Indiana still holds the record for National HS attendance when the RCA dome was completely sold out to watch Damon Bailey and BNL take down Shawn Kemp and Concord for the state title.  Now in multiple class tournaments a lot of that atmosphere has been taken away and semi states are played at big HS gyms.  

So this past week sectionals kicked off and the Kats won!  beating Marion, Lafayette Jefferson, and McCutcheon(who was on sportscenter the night before we beat them!) and now head to the regional round to face the state's number 1 team, and I can't wait! 

I am sure this was a boring post for most of you but I wanted to share the history that is our state basketball tournament if you have seen Hoosiers(and seriously who hasn't?!) you know Hoosier Hysteria is a pretty exciting time.  So, this Saturday think positive thoughts for the Kats as they travel to Marion for the regional! Game time is Noon.   Also speaking of basketball tournaments even though the Boilers will not be in March Madness, I am still doing my bracket contest hopefully you all will play again! 

Have a great week
Phats