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| The donning of the famous Yellow Jacket |
AMHERST – Calcutta 2024 marks the fourth straight year with the computerized auction and I think we can all admit, the volume is down, but the technology makes life easier unless you are the Chieftans who always think someone stole their land.
Alas, the Calcutta is off to a roaring, yet
rare, Monday evening start with the annual donning of the yellow jacket by Slayers' Captain
Cancel, err…Chiampou.
The defending champs will be seeking a never-accomplished
three-peat, but their drafting was a tad suspect and the morning line maker has
them mid-table to start off this year’s hoop fest.
Win-Docs established as
Morning Line Favorites at 3-1
The Win-Docs were patient all night and have
the best chance to reset history in the first round with a squad that has sweep
potential. Their lowest seed is a 10 (Drake), meaning they have a solid shot at
running the table in Round 1. Ungodly ASR of 6.9 (nice). Squirreling away early
points in the first two rounds and having their big blue-blooded guns
3-Kentucky and 4-Kansas go deep could return the good doctors to their glory years
of 2007-2010. They are five years removed from their last title and they are
itching to be back on top.
Morning Line Odds: 3-1; Longshot: 9-TCU; ASR:6.9
Late arriving Counselors second choice on the ML
Other than brain-farting the South, the barristers were solid in the other three brackets. Even with forfeiting that region they pulled off a decent ASR at 7.4. With top seed 1-UNC leading the way and two home games to start the tourney, the Counselors have a good shot at emerging from Round 1 with six wins if their seedings hold serve. 4-Auburn is surging late and 6-South Carolina is a potential sleeper in the Midwest. Solid showing by the law guys. Currently suffering the longest active drought (11 years) since their last title.
Morning Line Odds: 4-1; Longshot: 13-Vermont;
ASR: 7.4
The chirp was back in
Chieftain land
The chirp in the northeast corner of the
conference room that has been missing was back in full force on Monday night.
The Chief proclaimed his turf early and often, going off script only once. If
top seed 1-Houston regains its regular season form they could carry this team a
long way. Will need some help from its higher seeds to contend, but this squad
is always a tough out. Some Cinderella potential in 12-UAB or 10-Nevada would
make things interesting in the teepee.
Morning Line Odds: 6-1; Longshot: 12-James
Madison; ASR: 8.5
Elders strategy unchanged
in 25 years; big shot to hit the board
You’d have to do some long, hard research to
find the last No. 1 seed this team has coveted at the draft and they surprised
everyone with a big run at the Cougars (still a good belly laugh) to no avail. I haven’t
had to change this headline in 25 years, as they once again went mid-seed and low ASR in their annual attempt to cash a ticket. Monday was no different as the Elders wrapped up the second
lowest ASR, they just don’t have the same firepower as the Win-Docs, thus the
lower seeding. They’ll need to cane a few opponents relying on their four quintets that are lower than a 5.seed. Their lowest seed of the group is 11-Oregon, who played well in the
PAC-12 tourney. Don’t nap on the old guys.
Morning Line Odds: 8-1; Longshot: 11-Oregon
ASR: 7.0
Defending champs were all
over the place
Those of the double digit ASR will need to
slay more than a dragon to make Calcutta history with a three-peat. Uncharacteristically,
their bidding was quite erratic and the results show it. Two big teams, however put
them in the bottom half of the draw, mainly because 1-UConn and 2-Arizona are
on the same side of the bracket and the other side has only 6-Texas Tech that
can muster a win. Their Midwest is a disaster. Need at least two upset wins to
contend.
Morning Line Odds; 10-1; Longshot: 12-Grand
Canyon; ASR: 10.3
Catholic Boyz counting on Big
East dominance
When the Catholics draft the Mormons, it’s
like cats sleeping with dogs, we’ve officially entered bizarro world. They went Big East heavy
with their top selections. Both 2-Marquette and 3-Creighton will need to carry the flag
for the Boyz if they want to get back on top. The left side of their bracket could
be in shambles early unless 6-BYU makes a pilgrimage to the Sweet Sixteen. Freddy
making a nice cameo to try and breathe some life into this crew, who last shared a
title in 2018.
Morning Line Odds: 12-1; Longshot: 12-McNeese
St; ASR: 9.3
Commish hoping for some
B1G magic
Go big or go home. With no distractions (i.e.
Syracuse, Auction calling) the Commish had found his groove over the past five
years. Going big early with 1-Purdue and 3-Illinois out of the B1G, a
hard-hitting physical tourney will be okay with Team Commish. Will need some
help out of the South from the 7-Gators and 9-Aggies, this troupe’s fate will
be determined in the first two rounds.
Morning Line Odds: 15-1; Longshot: 15-Peacock
Nation; ASR: 9.6
Amigos hoping to roll snake
eyes
Deuces were wild for the Amigos, with 2-seeds
Iowa State and Tennessee on opposite sides of the bracket line up as this cadre’s
best hopes for Calcutta acclamation. Matching the Commish’s 9.6 ASR was respectable
and they can only go up from here as the Calcutta longest shot on the board.
Need 5-St. Mary’s to make some clamor to contend with the favorites.
Morning Line Odds; 20-1; Longshot: 11-NC State
St; ASR: 9.6
The results will be posted over the next few
days in the google sheet link in the top right corner as usual. Next post -
Saturday morning leading into round 2.
Good luck everyone!
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