Eight

The Final Eight is set, with Duke (chosen by 56 to make the Eight), Michigan State (picked by 18), Tennessee (taken by Freidhof only), and Baylor (liked by absolutely nobody) joining yesterday's advancees.

In perhaps the worst performance in the history of the pool, here's what our contestants thought of the possiblity of the actual Elite Eight moving on to the Final Four:

Kentucky (55 votes for Final Four)
Duke (20)
Kansas State (18)
West Virginia (8)
Michigan State (2 -- Templeton, Yolles)
Butler (nada)
Tennessee (zip)
Baylor (zilch)

Only 26 of us got as many as half of the Final Eight correct, led by Biebel, who was the only entrant who managed more than half (5 of 8), plus 25 who were right on four. There were 29 contestants who got three right, 15 who got only two, and five hapless individuals who managed a measly one apiece (Richardson, Pike, Booth, DaLauro, and Packman).

McKillip has surged into the lead with 246 points, followed closely by Biebel (245), R Wanger (244), and J Donadio (243). Another 18 entrants are within one Final Four pick (20 points) of the leader.