You know what is really impressive? Of the 20 players, 16 of you still have at least one team alive, somewhere, in this the final week. So I want to congratulate everyone for doing a great job this year drafting good teams, even if you are out of contention.
Last week was a serious elimination round – Babblemur, Tabulous, Primeshow, Lasers, Alphadog, Mad Mader & more saw their hopes dashed against the sweaty hardwood. Although there are 11 teams still playing in tournaments, only three players are in contention for the coveted Babblemur B-Ball Championship and spot in the Babble-ball Hall of Fame. Time for profiles:
Jaybird, who was the Communist Division Champ this year, is sitting on a +36 point lead, with first round pick Ohio State in the Final Four, and UMASS in the NIT final four. Jaybird had a powerful season thanks to the power trio of Ohio State, Marquette, and Missouri, as well as strong supporting roles from North Carolina State, who made the Sweet 16, as well a feisty Oregon, Nevada, and George Mason.
Jaybird is seeking his second Babbleball Championship, he last won in 2009, the first year of the current set of rules, when he took North Carolina to the to the National Championship game against Michigan State. That year, Babblemur, who owned Michigan State, had the lead going into the final game, and the winner would win it all. As it happened, North Carolina spanked Michigan State hard, really hard, it was over before half time, with no chance of a come back.
Jaybird’s first opponent now in the Final Four is his brother Jutdog, who rose from the cellar this year to take the Capitalist Division Crown on strong late season play by Kansas, Michigan State, and Florida State, as well as some strong point production from Oregon, Belmont, and San Diego State. Jutdog now has Kansas in the Final Four facing off against Ohio State, as well as Pittsburgh in a best of three finale in the CBI against Washington State. Jutdog needs to not only beat Ohio State on Saturday, but also win the National Championship. There is no other way.
Jutdog is also seeking his second Babbleball Championship (since the 2008 version basically doesn’t count, the rules were vastly different). Jutdog won it all in 2010, led by West Virginia, Tennessee & Kansas State, he put four teams in the Sweet 16, and by the time West Virginia made it to the Final Four, due to some upsets earlier in the tournament Jut had clinched the championship. West Virginia lost, and Michigan State (Gunz) faced Butler (Babs) in the championship game for second place.
But both Jutdog and Jaybird need to look out for the looming threat of BOARIS. Boaris, who snuck up on Knine and Lasers in the Capitalist Division with Kentucky, Cincinnati, Michigan, Wichita State, Notre Dame, New Mexico State and Minnesota. Boaris put 6 teams in the NCAA Tournament, two in the Sweet 16, and now it all rides on Kentucky, along with Minnesota in the NIT. Boaris is 48 points out, meaning he needs a perfect storm to win: Kentucky must win the National Championship, Minnesota must beat Washington in the NIT, Ohio State must lose to Kansas, UMASS must lose to Stanford, and if UMASS and Minnesota both win, the Gophers must defeat UMASS in the NIT finale. These are long odds, but Boaris can do it.
Boaris is a four year veteran of the Babbleball Contest. In 2009, Boaris finished in fourth place with Pitt & Oklahoma. In 2010 he finished in fifth place after Kansas & Ohio State were knocked out of the tournament early. In 2011 Boaris slipped to 6th place after putting 8 teams in the NCAA Tournament and having them all knocked out before the Sweet 16. Boaris is a fierce competitor, and would be a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame.
By the way, there are some brutal battles lower down on the Leader Board as Knine, SGII, Longball Larry, Gunz and McGrumps are all still poised to score beaucoup points in the Final Four…
Okay, Love Fest is over. Here’s this week’s schedule – and below, last week’s recap.
NCAA Tournament Final Four:
Ohio State
Jaybird / Knine
vs.
Kansas
Jutdog / Longball Larry
Kentucky
Boaris / McGrumps
vs.
Louisville
SGII / Gunz
NIT Final Four (Tuesday)
UMASS
Jaybird / Lasers
vs.
Stanford
Tabulous / Akaoni
Minnesota
Boaris / Primeshow
vs.
Washington
Alphadog / Brewtown Crew
CBI Final (Mon, Wed, Fri)
Pitt (Jutdog / Mooseye) vs. Washington State (Slake B)
CIT Final (Wednesday)
Mercer (Brewtown Crew) vs. Utah State (_)
Second to Last Week – Players by the Numbers:
- Boaris +41 (Kentucky, Minnesota)
- Jaybird +36 (Ohio State, UMASS)
- Jutdog +35 (Kansas, Pitt)
- SGII +30 (Louisville)
- Knine +30 (Ohio State)
- Longball Larry +29 (Kansas)
- McGrumps +29 (Kentucky)
- Brewtown Crew +26 (Washington, Mercer)
- Primeshow +23 (Minnesota)
- Tabulous +21 (Stanford)
- Gunz +19 (Louisville)
- Mooseye +19 (Pitt)
- Babblemur +13
- Musashisan +13
- The CEO +13
- Mad Mader +11
- Alphadog +8 (Washington)
- Akaoni +8 (Stanford)
- Lasers +7 (UMASS)
- Slake B +5 (Wash State)
Standings as of Monday March 26:
01. Jaybird – 530
02. Jutdog – 494
03. Boaris – 482
*04. Lasers – 467
*05. Babblemur – 462
*06. Primeshow 461
*07. Tabulous – 443
*08. SGII – 442
*09. Alphadog – 433
*10. Mad Mader – 427
*10. Knine – 427
*12. Longball Larry 418
*13. Musashisan 417
*14. Brewtown Crew – 415
*15. Akaoni – 407
*16. Gunz – 400
*17. McGrumps – 396
*18. The CEO – 393
*19. Slake B – 391
*20. Mooseye – 384
Filed under: 2011-2012 | Tagged: Boaris, Jaybird, Jutdog | 4 Comments »