27th Annual Hopski International March Madness Pool

Welcome to the 27th Annual Hopski International March Madness Pool!

FOR ALL LATEST UPDATES - https://thehopski.blogspot.com/ You should also receive these automatically by email via mailchimp - but just in case.

Splash Sports has bought RunYourPool - but same set-up as last year in terms of hosting the Hopski this year.

Thus, for any returning entrants, just use your same login and password from last year to enter this year’s pool. If you've forgotten your login information, use the 'Forgot username or password' link in the login area (e.g. don’t contact me!). DEFINITELY come up with a NEW ENTRY NAME as this keeps the Hopski colorful AND YOUR WILL AVOID PUBLIC HARASSMENT BY THE COMMISH!

A Heads Up from a longtime Hopski Participant that already went to sign-up/sign-in at Splash Sports (thanks Scott Iantosca - clearly the best of that bunch - he also has the first grandson!) - "Just a heads up so everyone doesn’t get mad, the app apparently got bought by “splash sports” so everyone’s same password works, but you do have to download splash sports. Not a big deal. Everything is still there from last year, I think it just needs to be reactivated. Shouldn’t be an issue for anyone."

For new entrants - give them this link for the pool:
https://www.runyourpool.com/p/j/d745a9cdff5445a893b3aa22da96dadd

The pool ID is: 226932

The points and underdog points (when you pick the lower seed to advance - you get the point differential) are as they have always been!! Enjoy the Madness!!

The entry fee remains at $30!! Payment via venmo (@Mark-Hopper-27) or zelle (3175233988). NO PAYPAL THIS YEAR.

More importantly, in our ongoing effort to keep this time of year societal productive, we will stick with $5 going to Ukrainian relief fund given the ongoing issues there and the ties that the Commish, our family and many Hopski entrants have to the region. These fees will go to POLISH HUMANITARIAN ACTION (https://www.pah.org.pl/en) a relief charity that is supporting Ukrainian refugees. In this respect, if the $5 seems paltry - GREAT!! Click the above link and donate directly to PHA OR donate to YOUR favorite Ukrainian support charity and send me the receipt by email. For new donations of at least $100, I will cover your Hopski entry. Nothing like a bit of ingenuity towards making your Hopski participation tax deductible!!!

This link to PAH for donating may work best: https://www.pah.org.pl/en/donate/

A brief reminder: Get your bracket(s) in before the pick deadline and make sure to review the pool settings for scoring and tiebreakers. Only the main 64 teams that make up a standard bracket are included (i.e. the play-in games, or 'first four', are NOT included).

If you have any questions, please contact me at markhopski@yahoo.com.

— The Commish

• Members pick all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament.
• The pick deadline is set to March 19, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET.
• Each participant is limited to 4 entries in the contest.
• Points are awarded for each correct pick.
• Points values increase as the tournament progresses, as follows:
• Play-in games are not included or scored
• First Round = 1 point
• Second Round = 3 points
• Sweet 16 = 5 points
• Regional Final (Round of 8) = 9 points
• National Semifinal (Last Four) = 17 points
• Championship = 30 points
• The contest uses a seed point bonus for underdog wins ONLY. When an underdog wins, the difference between their seed and the favorite team's seed is added to the points per round. For example, if a 3 seed beats a 1 seed in the Sweet Sixteen round then 7 points will be awarded for a correct pick (5 round points + 2 seed points [3-1]).
• The tie-breaker is the combined number of points scored in the Championship game. Each member must enter a tie-break value when they make their picks.
• The winner is the entry with the most points at the end of the NCAA Tournament.

Additional Rules (These are custom rules added by your pool commissioner that are above and beyond the website rules.)

• ENTRY NAME: Please provide a fun name for your entry, aside from picking the #13 seed to win it all this is your best chance to enamor the field with your wit, charm and creativity. Best entry name as voted on by pool entrants gets free entry next year to the Hopski.
• ENTRY FEE & PRIZE POOL: An entry fee of $30 USD is required for each entry. Prize Pool is split 60% to the winner, 25% to 2nd place, 10% to 3rd place and 5% for the 2nd chance pool. $5 of each entry will go as a donation to Ukraine Refugee Relief Efforts in Poland. Prize pool is 100% of collected entry fees less the Toilet Bowl and Best Entry Name and probably about $80 Run Your Pool fees (NOTHING FOR THE COMMISH - THE "LOVE OF THE POOL" CLAUSE).
• PAYMENT REQUIRED BY THIS THURSDAY 9PM EST if you are a rookie or an unknown commodity to me!! If your payment is not received, you will be booted out of the pool - NO EXCEPTIONS. ALL RETURNING HOPSKI PARTICIPANTS get a 3 day grace period – so payment BY SUNDAY NIGHT!
• VENMO preferred - @mark-hopper-27 or pay via Zelle at 317-523-3988. JUST SIMPLY YOUR NAME as reference point and ensure $30 NET to the recipient
• THE TOILET BOWL AWARD: You can even win by losing! The entry with the lowest point total receives free entry in next year's Hopski.
• ALL DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE ARE FINAL. I CAN AND WILL BOOT ENTRIES NOT ADHERING TO THE MADNESS CODE OF HONOR.