The 10th annual Spalding Bracketology fundraiser is officially in the books. About 1,000 people were on hand Monday night, March 12, at Freedom Hall to hear Spalding’s panel of basketball experts break down the matchups for the NCAA Tournament and fill out their brackets accordingly.
The proceeds from Spalding Bracketology go toward supporting the Golden Eagles’ NCAA Division III athletic program. Thanks to everyone who came out to Spalding Bracketology and supported our student-athletes.
Monday night’s panel was: Hall of Fame Louisville coach Denny Crum, former Louisville player Luke Hancock, former Kentucky player and current radio analyst Mike Pratt, former University of Cincinnati player (and current Yum! Chief Sustainability Officer and new Spalding board member) Roger McClendon, former WNBA player Kym Hampton (who also sang a great rendition of the national anthem), WHAS television and radio host Terry Meiners and former longtime Crum assistant Jerry Jones. WHAS radio’s Tony Cruise was the host.
Here were the Final Four picks for all six Bracketologists:
Denny Crum
East: Villanova
South: Virginia
West: North Carolina
Midwest: Duke
National champ: Virginia
Luke Hancock
East: Purdue
South: Virginia
West: Gonzaga
Midwest: Kansas
National champ: Kansas
Mike Pratt
East: Purdue
South: Virginia
West: Xavier
Midwest: Michigan State
National champ: Michigan State
Roger McClendon
East: West Virginia
South: Cincinnati
West: Gonzaga
Midwest: Michigan State
National champ: Gonzaga
Kym Hampton
East: Villanova
South: Arizona
West: Gonzaga
Midwest: Michigan State
National champ: Arizona
Terry Meiners
East: West Virginia
South: Cincinnati
West: North Carolina
Midwest: Michigan State
National champ: North Carolina
Jerry Jones
East: Villanova
South: Virginia
West: Gonzaga
Midwest: Michigan State
National champ: Virginia
Joe B. Hall (not in attendance but made prediction on video)
National champ: Virginia
Big Cash Raffle winners
We auctioned off a ton of cool stuff, and we sold a ton of raffle tickets.
The big winners of the night were Chris and Jenny White, who won the $20,000 Big Cash Raffle . The Whites, who are with USA Portable Buildings in Shepherdsville and are parents of four, said they have been making plans toward building a new house and that the infusion of cash will go a long way. Congrats to them.
Super happy couple here: Chris and Jenny White (of USA Portable Buildings in Shepherdsville) won the $20,000 Big Cash Raffle at @SpaldingU and @SU_GoldenEagles Bracketology. Parents of four are working on plans to build a new house. Got a nice start on it tonight! pic.twitter.com/pydh9vkn1H
— Steve Jones (@SteveJones_SH) March 13, 2018
We also enjoyed a Facebook Live chat from the Spalding Bracketology VIP reception with Hancock, McClendon and Jefferson Family Court Judge and former U of L player Derwin Webb. Ollie the Eagle – Spalding’s new mascot – also made an appearance, and he was a fan favorite for pictures throughout the night.
https://www.facebook.com/SpaldingUniversity/videos/10155638555922762/
