Elite Eight Report, Chieftans hold slight lead, advantage

Four teams still could hold key to Calcutta

AMHERST – The Chieftans utilized a big Thursday where they almost ran away with it when 10-Arkansas flamed out late in the game. Big wins by 1-Florida and 2-Alabama catapulted the warriors to the top of the leaderboard.

Two more teams joined the defending champs on the sidelines as the morning line favorites lost two Sweet Sixteen games. The ouster of the Slayers ended their hopes of a national champion selection four-peat.

Joining the Slayers on the sidelines were the very chirpy Counselors. In the end, team dissension did them in and they will be watching from the peanut gallery the rest of the way.

Three teams sitting outside the Chieftans, the Catholic Boyz on their heels one behind and Wind-Doctors left with one-seed Houston to try and run the tape, but they’ll need help. The ole Commish making is patented late move sits three off the pace, but some gunpower left in his holster.

Let’s take a team-by-team capsule look into the weekend festivities:

Chieftans advance two to Elite Eight, Calcutta is in their hands.

The Bunch of Chieftans are seeking their first title since 2018, and first outright since 2014 when they set the Calcutta record of 16 wins. That record is safe, but this team is obviously loaded with two top seeds remaining. The 1-Florida v 3-Texas Tech (C-Boyz) matchup could be the defining game in the tourney and put some distance between the two top squads.

Catholic Boyz in the hunt

The Catholic Boyz are clearly up against it this round facing top seeds in both games, but a win in either of them gets them into the Final Four and if they both win a potential guaranteed team in the championship game. Lots of praying on Sunday for the altar boys, don't sleep on them.

Win-Docs down to the Cougars

Houston, we’ve got a problem, this trip is now solo. The Docs can only get to 11 by a Cougar run to the title, but they can do some damage on the way and can basically eliminate the Amigos and put a big dent on the Commish with wins in the Elite Eight games. Good chance to hit the board if their lone dog does the work.

Commish charging late, may be too late

When your bid up your two best teams and can’t scrape up more than one other win by your six other teams, this is what you get. Still loaded with 1-Auburn and 2-Tennessee (who proved third time was a charm against Big Blue) on opposite sides of the bracket. Rooting for the SEC Final Four and head-to-head games with the Chieftans for a circuitous route to the title.

Amigos still alive, looking for natty cash and play the spoiler role

The Amigos will ride 1-Duke into the Elite Eight and can look for a Low Tide today against Nate Oats. Bama may have shot their shot on Thursday with a phenomenal showering of three-pointers. Hard to imagine they can keep that up against the Dukies. And if they pull the upset, Kate Smith is on stand-by. 

Slayers exit after a rough Friday night

The Slayers didn’t exactly enjoy happy hour on Friday as both 3-Kentucky and 4-Purdue left the Slayers with six wins and can finish no higher than fifth. A disappointing year for the tax guys, but there’s always next year (see Chicago Cubs)...

Counselors get book thrown at them

The longest Calcutta drought reached 13 years for the Counselors who took a bad punch from 2-St. John’s in the Round of 32 and never recovered from the staggering blow. 6-BYU was nice while it lasted, and 4-Maryland ran into a buzz saw. Back to the drawing board, another hung jury in the Calcutta.

The results will be posted over the next few days in the google sheet link in the top right corner as usual. Final Four report - Monday morning with all possible outcomes. 

Good luck everyone!

 

Three teams sit atop Calcutta after Round One

AMHERST – The 2025 Calcutta has a logjam at the top with each team having at least three wins. The Win-Docs, Catholic Boyz and Bunch of Chieftans sit atop the leaderboard with five first-round wins heading into the Round of 32.

After a disastrous 0-fer on day one for the Amigos, they bounced back to garner three straight wins on Friday to avert flirting with the wrong side of the record books (which they hold the coveted 1 first round win in 2018 – a year they’d rather forget).

Three teams are hunkered down in second with four wins and within striking distance and three sit on the bottom, but only two off the leaders.

Parity has struck the 2025 Calcutta; Roger Goodell would be proud of the job I’m doing.

Win-Docs big first day vaults them to top for cut of the lead

The Good Doctors pawned off two big wins by 11-Drake and 12-McNeese, those low seed victories so key to winning the Calcutta, to jump up the leaderboard on Thursday. Solid wins by 3-Wisconsin and 4-Zona have the Win-Docs having a good shot to enter the Sweet Sixteen with eight wins which is a good number to be at heading into next weekend. Yes, their last shared title was in 2018 but seeking their first outright Chalise (sic) since 2016.

Catholic Boyz in the hunt

The Altar Boyz have been quiet since 2018 as well, without hitting the board in the last five Calcuttas. Is this the year for divine intervention? Some solid mid-seed drafting on Tuesday puts them in the hunt on the CBS scoreboard. Will need some help as the waters get deeper for three of their seeds this weekend, but they could also be sitting on eight with an upset win or two.

Bunch of Chieftans circling the wagons

Whose been steadier than the Chieftans over the years and they are right back in the thick of things battling their old nemesis the Win-Docs for the top spot. 1-Florida looks monstrous and could easily run the table giving them nine wins, but will need steady wins from 2-Alabama and another upset or two.  Could be the team to beat.

Counselors in battle to stay alive

With only one outright title in 25 years and nothing since 2012, the solicitors started strong on Thursday, but only mustered a win out of 4-Maryland on Friday to sit one back of the triumvirate above. 2-St. John’s rolled, but a looming matchup with Florida next weekend could spell the demise of the procurators. In second, but in a tedious position.

The Elders

A funny stat that I never realized (and you’ll see in the epilogue of today’s column) is that the Elders have never drafted the national champion. I guess it makes sense based on their vaunted mid-seed draft strategy. While the defending champs sit in second, they usually are sitting on five or six wins at this point, so there is cause for concern for the elderly. They need a sweep to get to eight (my magic number, not yours) and then they’ll be playing Cinderella. Better sharpen up that walker.

Commish in survive and advance mode

The Commish’s title hopes is riding on seeing 5-Oregon win over 4-Zona in Seattle. Hoping the short travel from the nearby state and some home cooking (Pacific Northwest sticks together baby) will push three teams into the Sweet Sixteen.  Of course, that assumes 1-Auburn and 2-Tennessee hold serve today.

The Slayers make good use of morning line favorite jinx

Put the kiss of death on the Slayers (artist formerly known as the Wagon-eers) with the morning line favoritism. But whose been better – drafting last three natty champs and two of last three titles, so could you blame the Greek for tabbing them as the chalk? Should put through all three remaining teams to the next round which means they’ll remain in the hunt.

Fat Lady stuffed on Friday

The Amigos were close to reliving the pain of 2018, but rebounded solidly on Friday with 1-Duke, 6-Ole Miss and 8-UConn advancing. Duke will keep them squarely in the Mix, but the other two teams will be underdogs on a big Sunday for the Chicanos.

Title data revealed

After withstanding the whining about multiple titles and naming rights, the Commish put together a historical view of title runs by each of the eight franchises since 1999. Very interesting to see both the consistency and the mediocrity of the franchises over the last 25 years.

The results will be posted over the next few days in the google sheet link in the top right corner as usual. Sweet Sixteen post - Monday morning. 

Good luck everyone!

 

Final Four Report: Going down to the wire in Calcutta

Amherst, N.Y. (UPI) -- Trying to figure out this year's Calcutta has been tougher than a one-eared alley cat.

With four teams advancing to the Final Four, three sit one spot behind the idling Tax Slayers and one sits two back, all capable of having an engraving ceremony the Calcutta Chalise.

Incredible games with three of the four Elite Eight games going down to the wire and the fourth had a 3-ball that could have tightened up the Zags game. The only top seed to advance is the Amigos' Virginia, who had to be rooting hard for the Dukies who fell hard to Sparty in the waning moments.

Let's look at the capsules and probables as we head to the Twin Cities for the Final Four.

Tax Slayers (9 points). Must be rooting hard for the Cavs at this point and the 3-way tie to claim a slice of the title. Sweeps by any of the other three teams puts them in a tie for second, but the weekend worked out pretty well for the Slayers, who watched the weekend at home.

Tap Tap Tap....

Win-Docs (8 points). Biggest disappointment of the weekend, losing a 1-Gonzaga and 2-Kentucky both favored and wins would've slipped them past the Slayers and with two teams in the Final Four with 10 wins. Welp. There's always next year.

Woulda coulda shoulda (emphasis on shoulda)

Elder Statesman (8 points). Heartbreaker when Virginia hit the buzzer beater to send it into overtime and kept the Elders from sending two teams to Minny. They'll take the red hot 3-Texas Tech squad into the Final Four and a big matchup with the Commish and Sparty to see who will cash the bigger check. Great drafting by the Elders who once again surprise with a late run.

Elders dancing into the Final Four

Catholic Boyz (8 points). War Eagle muther-effers. They just took down Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky in succession. That's some blue blood damage right there. Prayers answered and two wins away from an outright title. Divine intervention helps sometimes.

High Five!

The Commish (8 points). Down goes Duke. Down goes Duke. This was so good on so many levels. Now to get focused to make a run to a second title in three years. It's all on a focused veteran Sparty squad, but now they face defensive lockdown Tech in what should be a terrific game. Buckle your seatbelts for this Calcutta conclusion.

Two more.....

Amigos (7 points). Revived by a terrific play at the end of regulation, you know we were humming that tune, but these Amigos said Hola instead. The Hoos showed they mean business and will be favored in the national semifinal and the only representative left from the ACC. Two wins and they take the top dollar honors.

Who said we were dead?

The Bunch (6 points).

Never gets old.

Here's a look at the eight probable combinations for next weekend's games....

Virginia over Texas Tech:
1 - Amigos $800
1 - Slayers $600
1 - Elders $600

Virginia over Michigan State:
1 - Amigos $800
1 - Slayers $600
1 - Commish $600

Auburn over Texas Tech: 
1 - Catholic Boyz $1,200
2 - Elders $400
2 - Slayers $400

Auburn over Michigan State:
1 - Catholic Boyz $1,200
2 - Commish $400
2 - Slayers $400

Texas Tech over Virginia:
1 - Elders $1,200
2 - Slayers $500
3 - Commish, Boyz, Win-Docs, Amigos $75

Texas Tech over Auburn:
1 - Elders $1,200
2 - Catholic Boyz $400
2 - Slayers $400

Michigan State over Virginia:
1 - Commish $1,200
2 - Slayers $500
3 - Elders, Boyz, Win-Docs, Amigos $75

Michigan State over Auburn:
1 - Commish $1,200
2 - Catholic Boyz $400
2 - Slayers $400

Lots of different combos, but if you take care of business next Saturday you cash. Good luck to all.

Calcutta: Catholic Boyz complete comeback in heavenly fashion

Amherst, NY -- Well it was holy week, after all.

Instead of Sister Jean and the Bunch celebrating an outright title and record seventh (two outright, five shared), they'll have to share it with the Catholic Boyz and Win-Docs. It was the first three-way tie since 2011 when the Boyz and Bunch tied the Elders, with exactly the same 11-point total. The Bunch sit up at night replaying the Houston debacle thinking what might have been.

The Boyz rode the Big Ragu all the way to the title, with hot-shooting Nova destroying the competition throughout winning every game by double-digit totals. The persistence of the Boyz down the stretch to keep the train rolling a share of their fourth title (one outright).

The Win-Docs had to look idly on throughout the Final Four after a hot start, but picked up a sixth title (four outright, two shared) and a piece of the cherished Chalise engraving. Syracuse basically kept them from the title with the Michigan State upset.

The Counselors, shackled with the morning line favorite title, made a keen run to the finals that ended with Coach Beilein's second loss in a championship game. The WNY hex continues.

The Catholic Boyz were all about a three-way (Cincinnati chili reference)

It was a Calcutta to remember, with the Win-Docs grabbing a piece of the record books with seven first-round wins. The Amigos also etched their name in the books for futility, with a record one first round win and overall tournament total. X marks the spot.

See ya next year

Congrats to the winners.

Calcutta Elite Eight Report: Battle of the Titans looming

Amherst, NY -- A battle of Calcutta titans is brewing as the front-running Win-Docs look to hold off the charging Chieftans as we settle into the Elite Eight.

Battle of Titans looming (Godzilla v Rodan)

With upsets galore, the Docs set the pace early and have led throughout, holding a slim one-game margin over the Chieftans.  The Bunch kept pace and gained a game on the leaders in the Sweet Sixteen and are poised to make a run at their seventh Calcutta title.

The Win-Docs are starting to wobble as they head for home at the quarter pole of this year's tournament. Going 1-2 in the Sweet Sixteen and left with 3-Texas Tech to face off with mighty Villanova.

Here's a capsule look at the remaining teams.

Win-Docs.  The Doctors head into the Elite Eight with the Ramblin' Wreck of 3-Texas Tech who manhandled a wounded 2-Purdue squad to eliminate the Commish, last year's defending champion (see how I worked that in). The Wildcats looked good, so they could be the leader in the clubhouse watching TV the rest of the way rooting for the Chieftans to get beat. Can they hold off the Chieftans to secure a record-tying sixth championship?  Time will tell.

The Win-Docs are hanging on to the lead.

Bunch of Chieftans. Rallying late, but not exactly a cinch to cross the wire first, the Chieftans are a length back with two teams in the Eight. Both teams will face tough, physical opponents from the Big 12 in hopes to advance to the Final Four with a chance at Calcuttian glory. 2-Duke's bigs looked great last night eliminating the Cuse (to stymie the Tax Slayers, for now). 11-Loyola is the Cinderella story of the tournament, but rugged 9-K State can ball and will try and outphysical the Ramblers.  Not a Sister Jean fan, sorry.

The Chieftans are on the warpath

Catholic Boyz.  You say Catholic, I say Nova. Catholic-Nova, Catholic-Nova. Anyways the top seed in the East played like it to send home the Chieftans' Mountaineers and stay within striking distance. They need tons of help, but can stagnate the Win-Docs, hope for wins by Kansas, K-State and Michigan as their optimal Final Four. A win in a Michigan-Nova final in that situation can catch them a piece of the title. Lot of ifs in there.

Lots of praying in Catholic Boyz headquarters

Tax Slayers. With two bites at the apple and top seed Kansas still flourishing, an all Slayer final with 9-Florida State would produce 13 wins and the yellow jacket in hand. It's obvious who the Slayers are rooting for. Some big games ahead for the Jayhawks, as they'll have to put away 2-Duke to get to San Antonio and then 1-Nova in the Final Four.  Not out of the question, but daunting.

Yellow Jacket fashion for the Slayers?

Elder Statesmen. Can get to max 10 (second-place) with a 9-K-State run to glory. I'll admit they look tough, but improbable given the teams remaining.  Along with the Wildcats from Manhattan, they'll be rooting for Tech, Duke and Michigan this weekend, which gives them a solid chance at show money.

Elders be like...yeah I'm a Michigan man.

Counselors. Best scenario is sweeps by Win-Docs and Chieftans and a Beilien-led run by the Wolverines. Were set up nicely heading into the Elite Eight, but 5-Kentucky took the pipe and the Counselors best hope is likely national championship dough.

Sorry, but it's not looking bright.

Good luck, if you're still alive heading into the weekend.

Elite Eight Report: Counselors suffer "Black Friday" collapse

Amherst, N.Y. - The Elite Eight is set and the morning line favorites have run their course. They still sit atop the perch, but a late night three-jack by 3-Florida, added to their three-team collapse in the Sweet Sixteen. With visions of record book glory going out the window in double-digit losses by 3-Baylor and 4-Butler, The Counselors will sit back and root for Kansas to defeat Florida in Phoenix, to hold onto third-place finish.

For the Commish and Associate, it's been a Cinderella Story, led by the charging Gamecocks of 7-South Carolina. Big matchups with the Catholic Boys loom over the weekend, that will vault one of these two teams in front of the Counselors. Ironically, each team has a 1-seed and the UNC-Kentucky game could be the game that determines the owner of this year's Yellow Jacket. Team Commish sends three teams to the Elite Eight for the first time in Calcutta history and today's Zaga-Xavier battle will either vault them to the lead or create a three-way tie atop the standings.

It's been a Cinderella Story so far for the Commish.

The Catholic Boyz enter the Elite Eight with 1-UNC and 10-Xavier in position to capture their first title since 2009 and outright since 2006. Fueled by a nice run by the surprising X-men from Cincinnati, a win over the Zags could be the icing on the cake.  The Boyz strut into the Elite Eight with a quiet confidence shown best by George's father looking to tar and feather the Commish and bring home the Chalise (sic).

Tar Heels and Musketeers 

The Tax Slayers took it on the chin in a very entertaining 3-UCLA-Kentucky game Friday night, but the wizards from Westwood ran out of gas and succumbed to late game Ball-hogging. The remain in the hunt for National Champion and a piece of the exotics with 3-Oregon, but a big battle with the team that has looked the best so far in the tournament, Kansas, is on the horizon.

The Slayers need help, but survive and advance is the name of the game.

The Elders just won't die. 4-Florida evaded a late game collapse to knock the Counselors out of the '17 Calcutta and will need to reach the Final Four for a chance at cashing. The GIF below could have easily been Jason from Friday the 13th, but we settled on Monty Python.



The Bunch sit at five wins with 1-Kansas and can only max out at eight, tops. So the Chieftans are out of the money in this year's Calcutta, but for the National Champ prize, which they have claimed four times over the years, the last in 2014. They get to play spoiler the rest of the way and will have more than one Calcutta squad rooting them on in Elite Eight, and possibly the Final Four.

One more look at last night's buzzer beater....

Good luck and Final Four report on Sunday night.

¡Adios Amigos!

BREAKING Amherst, N.Y.- Upset City in San Jose, as the Catholic Boyz (11-Xavier) claim a tie for second-place with the Commish (1-Gonzaga) at 8 wins and start breathing down the necks of the Counselors.

As it is with tradition, the ¡Amigos! have left the building with losses by 2-Arizona and 7-Michigan, so without further adieu.....

 

Things are starting to get interesting in Calcutta land with some big tilts tonight between UCLA-Kentucky (Pickem), UNC (-7.5)-Butler, Baylor(-3.5)-So Carolina and Wisconsin-Florida (-1.5).  All three remaining teams for the Counselors will be in action, favored in one of the three (Baylor).

The Slayers could sweep all three of their games and the Commish will have to go back in the record books to see what the record is for Sweet Sixteen wins, which is currently undocumented.

Good luck, all. Here's a little Jim Reeves to wish our good friends the two-time champion ¡Amigos! a good night.....until next year.

via GIPHY

One Whining Moment: Win-Docs capture '16 Calcutta

Amherst, N.Y. -- The 2016 NCAA Tournament and Calcutta is in the books with the Win-Doctors claiming their fifth Chalise and the right to don the Yellow Jacket next March.  Spurred by a solid first round and two teams advancing to the Elite Eight backed by 2-Villanova's championship effort, the Win-Docs outlasted everyone this year chalking up 13 wins.

Congrats to the second-place Catholic Boyz who rode a record-tying first round with seven wins and the Counselors who used a Moneyball strategy to secure a claim of the pot.

The Win-Docs also extended their national championship record to seven with the Villanova selection. Amazingly, it was their sixth champ in the last nine years. I guess we have to listen to it for another 11 months.

😭 💵💸 Charles Barkley's reaction to the Villanova game winner #Villanova #NovaNation #NationalChampionship https://t.co/cbxz6EfsXk

— The Fanatics View (@thefanaticsview) April 5, 2016

For the Commish, a Final Four flame-out extended the streak to 18 years. It's time to take up croquet.

Here's the scenario that played out:

Scenario #3: If Villanova beats North Carolina
Win-Docs 1,200
Catholic Boyz 400
Counselors 400

Congrats to all and until next year.....

Final Four Report: Docs Clinch Tie, Commish Closing Late

Fat lady is humming

Amherst, N.Y. -- The Win-Doctors (11 points) clinched a tie for the overall title, capturing their fifth title, they'll attempt to win it outright for the fourth time with either a Villanova or North Carolina win on Saturday in the Final Four. The Docs' title run was aided by an impressive performance by Villanova on Saturday night taking down the overall No. 1 seed, Kansas sending the Bunch to the sidelines.

The Commish (8 points) is at the quarter pole and is making a late closing move, taking two teams to the Final Four and moving to the outside eyeing the three teams in front of him. Riding a wave of Orange and Maroon, Team Commish will need another upset of a #1 seed to even sniff a first ever Calcutta title. The Catholic Boyz (9 points) clinched a tie for at least third after a record-breaking first round.

The Counselors (9 points) Billy Ball strategy flamed out in the Elite Eight when 6-Notre Dame was ousted by the Tar Heels, leaving them saddled in a tie with the Catholic Boyz and rooting against the Commish on the weekend to maintain the currrent second-place status.

The Tax Men have the lowest seed remaining in the tournament and prohibitive favorite to win it all in Carolina.

And with the big 10-Syracuse, upset...it's that time of the year that we inevitably get to, albeit rather later than usual this year.......

Adios Amigos

So here's what we have and the eight possible national championship scenarios starting with the favorites and working down to the underdog:

Scenario #1: If North Carolina beats Villanova
Win-Docs 1000
Catholic Boyz 400
Counselors 400
Tax Men 200

Scenario #2: If North Carolina beats Oklahoma
Win-Docs 1000
Catholic Boyz 267
Counselors 267
Commish 266
Tax Men 200

Scenario #3: If Villanova beats North Carolina
Win-Docs 1,200
Catholic Boyz 400
Counselors 400

Scenario #4: If Villanova beats Syracuse
Win-Docs 1,200
Catholic Boyz 267
Counselors 267
Commish 266

Scenario #5: If Oklahoma beats North Carolina
Win-Docs 1,000
Commish 700
Catholic Boys 150
Counselors 150

Scenario #6: If Oklahoma beats Syracuse
Commish 950
Win-Docs 750
Catholic Boys 150
Counselors 150

Scenario #7: If Syracuse beats Villanova
Win Docs 1,000
Commish 466
Catholic Boyz 267
Counselors 267

Scenario #8: If Syracuse beats Oklahoma
Commish 950
Win-Docs 750
Catholic Boys 150
Counselors 150

There you have it...it's still up in the air, and up to five teams can cash going into the Final Four.

Good luck!

Elite Eight Flash Report: Win-Doctors take over lead

What's Up Doc(s)?

Amherst, N.Y.  --  The Win-Doctors took over the top spot in the Calcutta with big wins by Oregon and Villanova and look poised to move forward in the Calcutta.

With 10 wins on the leaderboard and the next two spots having nothing higher than a 4-seed, it's looking pretty good at the apex of the 2016 Calcutta. It's been six years since the Win-Docs drank from the cherished chalise (sic).

The Catholic Boyz (9 points, 2nd place)  are favored in one of its two games tonight (Gonzaga is a 4-point favorite over Syracuse) and will need a win from them and/or an upset win by 5-Indiana over 1-North Carolina to stay on pace.

Will the Catholic Boyz be sent to the corner after the Elite Eight?

Sitting in third and losing their highest seed in Miami last night are the Counselors (8 points, 3rd place), who send out one point favorite 6-Notre Dame against the Elders (7 points, 4th place) last remaining team  (7-Wisconsin).  This must pose an ethical dilemma for a certain member of the Elders who is also an UND grad.  I guess it's a win-win situation.

Counselors loosening up for tonight

Surprisingly, with just 12 games remaining in this tournament, which has gone from chaotic to formful in the past 24 hours, no team has yet to be eliminated from the Calcutta.  Not even a certain southwestern saying has been warming up.

Survive and advance

The bottom four teams remain alive to run the table and catch a bottom piece of the Calcutta and hold three No. 1 seeds and a No. 2 seed.

It does look like that everyone is playing for place and show at this point.

Good luck.

Sweet Sixteen Report: Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

AMHERST, N.Y. - In a matter of 15 minutes, the Catholic Boyz went from commanding lead in the 2016 Calcutta to "What Just Happened?" mode.

Northern Iowa has a 12 point lead with 35 seconds left and loses. Xavier has the ball in a tie game with 7 seconds left and loses. Two wins turn into losses and this here Calcutta is still officially open.

Let's see it again.....

This is how you erase a 12-point deficit in 35 seconds. https://t.co/l3eJ83wDDB #MarchMadness

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 21, 2016

They still sit on the mountain, but the lead is just one and they enter the Sweet Sixteen without its highest seed, as 2-Xavier went down when Wisco hit a big three-pointer at the buzzer in St. Louis sending the Musketeers home to Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, at Counselor Central....

The Counselors made the best of the Boyz' misfortune and land three teams into the Sweet Sixteen, with 3-Miami, 4-Iowa State and 6-Notre Dame,  The Irish, their lowest seed will actually likely be the only one favored as they will take on 7-Wisconsin in Philadelphia. The strategy looks like its paying off, but there are still big games to be played.

The Win-Doctors also remain very much in the hunt, only one back and with two power teams left in 1-Oregon and 2-Villanova. The Miami-Nova game will be a separator for the two teams chasing the Boyz for the right to wear the Yellow Jacket next year. Keep your eyes open at the top, boys....these guys have a way of sneaking up on you.

In a matter of moments, the Elders came back from the dead. 3-A&M and 7-Wisconsin were literally halfway in the coffin. They went from 5 wins to 7 wins and sniffing the board in a matter of minutes. Seth Davis actually "sharpie'd" the Northern Iowa Panthers, his first premature evacuation in history. 

Northern Iowa. Sharpie.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 21, 2016

It got better....

Tragic pic.twitter.com/xajnHS61VY

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 21, 2016

So you know the Statesmen were tight-lipped, headed into their respective bathrooms and then did this....



Hanging around seeing what might happen are the Amigos, who advanced two teams to the next round in 1-Virginia and 4-Duke. They'll need to run the table with one or both to get into the money. It's not out of the question with those two teams, but the Kentucky loss to Indiana, surely smarts. We'll have to save those inevitable two words for another day....and they cruise into the Sweet Sixteen as the silent killer....

The defending champs are down to one. The Tax Guys just didn't have it this year, but still have 1-North Carolina left to carry the banner into Philadelphia's East Regional. The beautiful thing about the Calcutta is everyone can still cash in one way or another, the Tax Guys will be looking for their refund via the Heels.

Show me the mon-ay

The Commish salvaged a horrible first round to get out of the basement and actually have some hope after the Catholic Boyz trainwreck Sunday evening. Their destiny is in the hands of 2-Oklahoma and 10-Syracuse (I like the ring of that), who move on into favored situations in the Sweet Sixteen. They have one foot in the grave, but they're not dead yet.

#Cuse about to be #Sweet16 bound pic.twitter.com/pF3QUBfFxr

— Menotti Minutillo (@44) March 20, 2016

Rounding out the second round is the Bunch of Chieftans. Like the Tax Guys, they're down to a lone 1-seed, the Jayhawks, who look impressive and can play Calcutta spoiler the rest of the way. Mired in the basement with 3 wins, they will look to win four straight, collect a check and make someone's life miserable along the way....

On to the Sweet Sixteen....