The 2010 Calcutta got off to a rousing start as the yellow jacket (note the matching tie) was presented to the Counselors celebrating their first title in 11 years. The Co-Champs donned the yellow jacket and smiles were abound for the legal beagles.
Next up were the Catholic Boyz, who accepted the Calcutta Chalise (engraved with both teams) for the second time in four years. Congrats to both teams for a job well done in 2009.So now it was time for game-on and a sense of nervousness came over the room for the first team to be auctioned off. The Catholic Boyz tossed out the first team and they were off....so here's the Commish's morning lines and draft night synopsis as the 2010 Calcutta is underway.....
COUNSELORS MADE MORNING LINE FAVORITES
The Counselors (3-1) were made the morning line favorites based on the lowest average seed ranking of 7.5 and scooping #1 seed Kentucky to boot. The co-champions, missing half of their normal draft night team had a quiet and strong showing. With one strong #4 Vanderbilt and one weak #4 Purdue (had at the bargain basement price of $10) the legal pros bobbed and weaved all night long. Only their Midwest Region has any sign of weakness. If they steal a couple wins out of Big East #6 seeds Marquette and the Irish, look out. Sleeper Team: Minnesota.
The Catholic Boyz (4-1) and defending co-champions made another strong draft showing, challenging the Counselors as the team to beat. Selecting teams from all of the major conferences, they have a lot of eggs in the #3 Baylor basket. With a low ASR of 7.88, they need some second round magic out of their mid-seeds (#5 Spartans, #7's Clemson and Oklahoma State, #8 Gonzaga or #9's Wake Forest and Louisville) in order to be a factor in weekend number 2. Only one team seeded lower than #9. Sleeper Team: Louisville.
The Three Amigos (5-1) are looking to bounce back after a fourth place finish out of the money last year. We made them the third choice based on strong #3 seeds in New Mexico and Pittsburgh anchoring their brackets and solid mid level seeds such as #7 Richmond, #8 Texas and #9 Northern Iowa. Will need to do well early to be around late. The question is when will we say Adios to the Amigos this year? ASR: 8.0 Sleeper Team: San Diego State.
The Win-Doctors (7-1) were awfully quiet in the corner and didn't seem to have the normal tension among team members. We've got them as the fourth choice mainly on reputation alone. They'll need two teams (#1 Duke and #2 Ohio State) to thunder through the brackets to have any chance at sipping from the Chalise again. They also could use a mid-level seed to make the sweet sixteen to be a factor. ASR: 8.38 Sleeper Team: Washington.
Rounding out the bottom half of the morning line selections is the Bunch (10-1). For years a perennial contender, they've come up short in recent Calcuttas and need to right the ship. They'll be cheering on locally-bound #2 West Virginia, hot off a Big East Conference Tournament Championship and #5 seeds Texas A&M and Butler to win some early contests. #5 Xavier, upset in the A-10 tourney has a tough draw of Big Ten Minnesota who has been improving under Tubby Smith. ASR: 8.63 Sleeper Team: Georgia Tech.
Next up in the morning line are the Tax Men (15-1) who went with a similar strategy as the Commish, big guns blazing and try to catch a high seed upset. Three strong teams head up the Tax Men squad, with two #2's in Villanova and Kansas State and a #4 Maryland from the ACC. The Tax Men will have to ride their big dogs to the Elite Eight where anything can happen. ASR: 9.13 Sleeper Team: Utah State.
The Commish (15-1) again is one of the longshots. Never having enjoyed a sip out of the Calcutta Chalise and closest to the yellow jacket was putting it on the co-champs tonight. They played the hometown card and grabbed the Orange playing in nearby Buffalo and then hopefully in Salt Lke. Staying within the Big East, they picked up #3 Georgetown, who seemed to be improving late in the year. After shooting their wad early, they'll need a mid-level #8 UNLV or #4 Wisconsin to win a few games to go anywhere. ASR: 9.0 Sleeper Team: Florida.
The Elder Statesmen (20-1) is the longest shot on the board. With one of the largest bids in Calcutta history ($51 on #1 Kansas) it appeared the strategy that has made them one of the best Calcutta competitors in the history of the contest went completely out the window. their next highest seed is #5 Temple and then it's double figure seeds baby. Best of luck, there's always the 10% National Championship coin.... ASR: 9.75 (Wow!) Sleeper Team: St. Mary's.
Well there it is Calcuttians, we're off and running for the 2010 Edition. Stay tuned to the blog and we'll try and keep up the results on the top of the right sidebar as quickly as possible.
Enjoy and good luck......The Commish
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