In March 31 IssueWith the Final Four set for this coming weekend, two brackets are tied at 80 points each in the Times Journal's second annual bracket contest.
Both Woody Gosser and Joseph Luttrell each have 80 points, with each one picking at least two of the final four teams correctly. Gosser has Kentucky and Connecticut correctly in the Final Four while Luttrell correctly picked Connecticut and Butler to make it to Houston.
Kara Stille has 79 total points and also correctly picked Kentucky and Connecticut to go the Final Four. There is currently a tie for third as well with both H.F. Rexroat and Larry Smith equaling 73 points to this point. Pat Hopper has 71 points for fourth place.
With one final weekend of action and the championship next Monday night, it is still up for grabs in our contest with the winner receiving a houseboat weekend on Lake Cumberland courtesy of Indian Hills Resort/Alligator II Marina, a $2,000 value. The Times Journal received a total of 205 brackets for this year's contest
Other runner-up prizes in the free contest will include four oil changes from Franklin Motors, a $30 value for each change, a $25 gift certificate from The Porch in Russell Springs and a University of Kentucky plaid tote from Sarah's Cards and Gifts, a $21 value.
The University of Kentucky has made an improbable run as a four seed to reach the Final Four, defeating Princeton, West Virginia, the top overall seed Ohio State Buckeyes and North Carolina en route to Houston's Reliant Stadium, where this year's final four will be played. UK hasn't been back to the Final Four since 1998, when they won it all under former coach Tubby Smith.
Kentucky will play the University of Connecticut Saturday night in the second NCAA semifinal after Virginia Commonwealth University plays last year's runner-up, the Butler Bulldogs, in the first game.
The sponsors for this year's Times Journal bracket contest are Indian Hills Resort/Alligator II Marina, Laker Country 104.9 fm WJRS/ESPN Radio 1060 am, Franklin Motors, The Porch Restaurant and Sarah's Cards and Gifts.
"With three big games left we know that all of our participants still in contention for the win are on pins and needles," said Times Journal Editor Derek Aaron. "That's what the madness of college basketball in March is all about."
