One

So after all that we end up with a repeat champion, albeit one that hasn't won since the 90s. It didn't seem like that would be the culmination of this odd year, but then it didn't seem like Newt Gingrich would be the least laughable GOP candidate either. So there you go.

I like the Bruins, I guess. Some interesting players. Some great faces. Illinois grew on me, too. But I wasn't really pulling for either team. I just wanted it to go five.

So I was disappointed by game four.

It's all over and Kim Jung Illinois has taken it the hardest. Yes, I know that's not particularly funny and I've now posted it in three separate locations, but times are tough. Jokes, no matter how weak, must be stretched out a bit.

Congratulations to UCLA -- and to Illinois.

And two

What a weird season this has been.

I thought Florida State would make a better showing than they did. Kidder's a cut above Iowa State's hitters, but I really don't know where their ball control went. Jitters? Regardless, that one was ugly.

When did Ward step up her game so much? She's become a top-notch offensive player if the Illini's last two matches are any indication. She and Bartsch make for a tough combo. And kudos to Luhrsen for a really well-played match.

USC was fortunate to win g4, imo -- and it was a credit to Jupiter scoring from the back row. But the match still came down to this: USC needed Jupiter to beat McMahon and she couldn't. They were back in that rotation for g5 and Alex was slowed down again. They needed more than Alex and Williams, but they *really* needed Alex to score again McMahon, letting the other hitters deal with the smaller block.

I liked what Haley tried to do, but, ultimately, that was the difference.

And then there were 4 (and not the 4 I picked)

So my 1st, 3rd, 9th and 12th most likely teams to win it all advance to San Antonio. Not an impressive effort on my part.

But it gets worse. These were the teams I was pulling for in each match in the round of 16:

Kentucky
Penn State
Purdue (I guess)
Minnesota
Ohio State
Florida
Hawaii
Pepperdine (I guess)

Round of 8 (adjusted for the winners in the previous round):

Texas (I guess)
Iowa State
Florida
Pepperdine

Add it up and you can see that I was disappointed in 10 of the 12 matches. Part of this has to do with pulling for the underdog, but most of it has to do with the Fates crushing my every dream. I have pissed someone off, there is no doubt about it.

Finals?

Florida State and Illinois with Illinois winning it all. But this has more to do with wanted someone new to win it all -- and not wanting the Pac12 to win another title -- than it does with really pulling for either of those teams. Florida State is a nice story and I did get to see them in person, but I really don't have a strong desire to see any of these teams win it all.

And, that too, is Karma messing around with me.

And then there were 16 ...

First of all, congratulations to the Concordia Golden Bears for their 5th consecutive DII volleyball championship. A truly amazing feat, one that may not be matched for ... well, two more weeks.

Meanwhile, over at the DI end of the pool, 64 teams jumped in and 16 crawled out. What an absolutely horrible metaphor that was! What the hell is the matter with me??

Anyhow, 64 buses tried to jump the canyon and only 16 landed safely on the other side, with (if my math is correct) 48 busloads of screaming passengers plummeting to a horrific end, complete with fireballs and twisted wreckage.

Oh, never mind.

My ranking of the final 16, in terms of their odds to win it all (taking into account the path each must take to get there):

1) USC - their semi-final, against Hawaii, appears to be their biggest hurdle prior to the final four. I like them in the national semi-final against the Gainesville winner.

2) Texas - they should handle Kentucky while UCLA and PSU will each have their hands full beating the other.

3) Illinois - now I don't think they are the 3rd best team in the country, but I do like their chances in Gainesville (although Florida could easily upend them).

4) Purdue - practically the same rationale as the Illinois pick, although either Minnesota or Iowa State will be a formidable test for the Boilermakers - and Florida State is far from a gimmee.

5) Penn State - I don't think this will be their year, but if they can get past UCLA and Texas (assuming it's Texas), I expect they will be in the championship, where anything could happen.

6) Hawaii - they have to beat USC, of course, but if they do ...

7) Iowa State - can't see them winning it all, but final four is doable.

8) Minnesota - ditto, just less so. The Gophers' inconsistency is not going away. But there is that home court advantage.

9) UCLA - not sold on the Bruins and they have a brutal road to win it all.

10) Florida - a true dark horse, but this is not an impossibility. If the Gators make good use of their own home court advantage, they have the experience to win it all.

11) Pepperdine - odds are really starting to get long from this point on. I'm not sure I even like the Waves chances against Kansas State. But there is talent on this team, no doubt about that, and they could show everyone how underrated the West Coast has been this entire season.

12) Florida State - not going to happen, but I'm looking forward to seeing the team play again.

13) Kansas State - this is a hot team, but that won't be enough.

14) Kentucky - I like this team, but I hate their chances in the bracket they are in.

15) Ohio State - an upset of the Illini is not unthinkable and the final would then be winnable, but that's as far as I can see the Buckeyes going.

16) Michigan - great win over Stanford, but I don't see them beating Florida.