WINNER: NCAA College Hoops 2011-12 — Nate the Great

[TheKidsTrumpet]

update?

[flexmaster33]

Back from vacation...brackets/boxes updated...overall #1 Illinois is the first to reach the Final Four...congrats to coach Mizzou3181.

[Robespierre__]

If I did the math correctly ... I just got bounced by one point. Princeton wins 5 of 8 games but unfortunately three of those were reserves. The sad, lasting memory will be starting first with a star on the standard map and losing in 7 rounds, failing to take a spoil twice ... a bitter pill to swallow. Princeton had played all of its matches with the prediction of its early demise on the bulletin board and was that close to proving the naysayers wrong.

Thanks for all the time and effort, Flex. Definitely one of the best (if not the best) part of the CC calendar.

Coach Robespierre__ of THE Princeton University Tigers

[flexmaster33]

sorry all working on an update hopefully Wednesday (in not, then in the next few days)...been double-whammied with work and some real-life stuff this week.

[flexmaster33]

Hi all...my apologies for the long delay in this thing...brackets for the NCAA tourney and for the NIT are updated. A couple thrilling finishes during the delay with #8 Duquesne winning the South Region by two points and #15 Georgia remaining the surprise team of the tourney with a two point win to take the East Region.

Ole Miss takes on Stanford in the NIT championship game.

Available matchups going out shortly (hopefully before I turn in tonight).

[flexmaster33]

brackets updated...Ole Miss holds a 67-52 lead late in the NIT Final, and Miami, Fla. wins the West Region 90-64 over the Oregon Ducks to round out our Final Four.

[jon_snow]

Georgia falls in the Final 4, and their dream run comes to an end. The team will work hard in the off season, choose a new home floor, and try to cut down the nets again in 2013.

Thanks, flex, for an amazing tournament. It is why I stay on conquer club.

Good luck to Duquesne in the finals.

[Mizzou3181]

The Illini have fallen. Good luck to shoop in the Final. Well played. Unfortunately all the bonuses couldn't make up for starting 2nd in 7 of 8.

Thanks for running a great tourney.

[flexmaster33]

We have a pair of #8 seeds in the title game with Duquesne (Nate the Great) taking on Miami, Fla. (shoop76) for this year's championship. Also, congrats to Ole Miss (spore08) for winning the NIT bracket with an 83-70 win over Stanford in that final.

[shoop76]

Congrats to Nate the Great for winning the tourney and to flex for running it. Don't know how you do it.

[Nate the Great]

The third season was a charm for Duquesne!

For the 2nd time in 3 years the Duquesne Dukes made it to the NCAA Basketball finals. This time they did not come home empty handed. Winning the championship will help erase the disappointment of losing in the finals 2 years ago and and the even more disappointing first round defeat in last year's tournament.

It was a roller coaster season that saw the Dukes ranked as high as a top 5 team and at times not ranked at all. Duquesne won several big games and had a few discouraging let downs along the way, including a loss in the Atlantic 10 tournament final. As a result of their inconsistency, the Dukes received the #8 seed in the South Region bracket.

The tournament proved that anything can happen in the postseason. After a first round win against Minnesota, the Dukes expected to take on powerhouse and #1 seed Arkansas. But fate had a different plan. Arkansas was upset by #16 seed and play-in winner Rider. Duquesne was able to avoid upset and ended Rider's historic run in the 2nd round, advancing to the Sweet 16.

The Dukes had now proven itself to be a contender, but they were far from their goal and many giants stood in their way. The Sweet 16 saw Duquesne taking on reigning NCAA Champs and former rival Butler. Fortunately the Bulldogs were not on their game that night and the Dukes advanced. There would be a new champion crowned and Duquesne was one step closer.

The Elite 8 was an even bigger challenge for Duquesne. They narrowly defeated #3 seed and 29 game winner Washington State to advance to the Final Four. Their next match up came against arguably the hottest team in the tourney, #15 seed Georgia. The Dukes avoided falling to the upstart Bulldogs, ending their Cinderella season and historic run.

So it was that the Duquesne Dukes found themselves in the NCAA Finals for the 2nd time in 3 years. Their opponent would be another #8 seed and another team that had been on fire, the Miami Hurricanes. The Canes had played in one of the best conferences in the league and held their own all season long. They were also on a roll at the perfect time. After winning the ACC tourney, The U had rolled off several wins against quality opponents to make the finals. Luckily for Duquesne, the chemistry the Canes had at the end of the season and all tournament long was not with them in the finals. The Dukes were able to take advantage of early starts and some hot shooting to defeat Miami and bring home the Championship banner. Duquesne can now rank itself among the league elites. Another run next year might get people saying "Dynasty"

Thanks to Flex for running this tourney. Once again one of the best on the site. I look forward to next season and all the friendly competition!

[flexmaster33]

Congrats to Nate the Great...I've got to get my historical records done this summer...you've got to be up there among the all-time winningest coaches.

I'll be reporting the win and setting up the premium prizes now.

Thanks to all for playing and I hope to see y'all back next season

[ViperOverLord]

Well at least I lost to the eventual winner I was beating him too in the early rounds and then my dice just went to ____ Good job Nate. Oh and I beat Minnesota in the first round too. Apparently that's the key to winning this tournament

[uckuki]

congrats to the winner and tx to flex for running an excellent tourney.
see you next season.