Cam wiped out, what the hell did I do wrong?!?!?

So I thought the #8 intake lifter had collapsed, so I took the intake off to check it out. When I got it off, I found 3 lobes of the cam wiped out, along with the lifters. Also, when I got the timing chain off, I can't even rotate the cam by hand, so looks like the bearings are shot, too.
I just got this thing together and broke in, now this!! The cam is (was) a Hughes 3742AL Hyd cam, using the beehive springs they recommended. I put it together following all instructions that came with everything, and a couple books. Cam rotated with just my fingers, lifters dropped right in the bores, etc, etc.
When I was first trying to start it for break in, I had some troubles getting it started, so turned it over a few times before I got it to fire. Could that have been enough to do this kind of damage?
The 3 lifters are so messed up, I can't even get them out, and don't want to mess up the bores by yanking them out.

Pics to follow.