Second Round ends - It's Anybody's Ballgame

Elder Statesmen, Counselors lead Calcutta into weekend

As one of my favorite broadcasters from my childhood used to say...."It's anybody's ballgame."

If you were a fan of Saturday afternoon's Game of the Week, you'll know what I'm talking about and this Calcutta is there for the taking. The New Guy is obviously muttering to himself. "Who's Joe Gar....?" He's also savoring his final selection of 14th-seeded Mercer who pulled the biggest upset of the second round (I really hate calling it that...you all know it's the opening round). If you think I'm not a fan of the First Four, check out Gregg Doyel's take.

So let's take a spin around each Calcutta squad with a capsulized look at the twists and turns of the first two meaningful days of this year's tournament that each franchise experienced.

Who doesn't love a golden Coach K Face?

The Commishioners. Wait, what? We're not out after the first day? Duke lost a first round game for the second time that they have been part of Commish Central. Two strikes and you're out, Dook.

Despite the loss of a major 3-seed the Commishioners (like our new name?) still pulled out four first round wins highlighted by 2-Kansas and 3-Creighton, both who had their hands full with lesser seeded opponents. A solid win by 7-Oregon and upset win by 10-Stanford propels the usual basement-dweller into contention. A guaranteed win in the Kansas-Stanford game on Sunday means this team will live to see another day.  Oh yeah...one more Dook picture.

Ain't that the truth?

The Win-Doctors. So Artie had the wheel of Team Win-Docs on Tuesday night, and the bus is still rolling down Highway 4 (seed). Both Louisville and Michigan State advanced on Thursday amid upset hopes by Manhattan and Delaware. Tough beats by higher seeded 5-Oklahoma and 8-Colorado have reduced the Docs chances to pick up valuable points. With a split on the line on Friday night after 11-Providence gagged the Carolina game, 8-Kentucky was just too much to handle for 9-Kansas State, so the Win-Docs are limping into round three with exactly that many survivors...

They call him Dr. Love.

Catholic Boyz. Three wins on Thursday and a big ole goose egg on Friday for the Boyz. When I saw the Villanova priest head up the tunnel before their game on Thursday night I thought it might be a good omen for the Catholics. Then again, it was right after 6th-seeded Ohio State coughed up a win against in-state rival Dayton (check out the headline in the Dayton Daily News). Will the Catholic Boyz take the collar over the weekend?

Dos Amigos. And a one, and a two and a.....five that barely escaped. The defending champs didn't have the best opening two days, but with Duke out of the picture in the Midwest, Michigan's chances to reach the Elite Eight got a big push. Sitting tight with Zona still rambling towards Anaheim, it's way too early to even think about wishing this team those dreaded two words.

Slow and steady wins the.....

Elder Statesmen. You know what they say about the ole tortoise when he takes on the hare. It brings straight to one's mind the strategerie of the Elders when it comes to the Calcutta. Their top two seeds 3-Texas and 3-Iowa State both held serve and impressive wins by 6-Baylor and 9-Pittsburgh have them hunting wabbit. The icing on the cake was the mesmerizing upset by Stephen F. Austin over VCU late Friday night. While pocketing a Calcutta leading SIX wins over the first two days of the tourney has them right in the thick of things going into the weekend. Slow and steady, bros.

Bunch of Chieftans. The Chieftans became lifelong Mercer fans on Friday pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NCAAs and looked damn good doing it. Call it beginner's luck, call it new blood, call it anything you want, but the Bunch is threatening again in the Calcutta. They've won or shared a record five Calcutta victories in their storied past and looking to add one more to the mantle. In the next round however, they'll be the underdog in all but the Florida game.  Stay tuned.

By the way. BEST. VIDEOBOMB. EVER.



The Tax Men. They would have sat atop the Calcutta with five wins over the first two days but for a crazy VCU meltdown in the final moments. A valuable point slipped away and knowing that wins over the opening weekend are so important when it comes down to the nitty gritty of the Calcutta. Strong performances by 1-Wichita State, 3-Syracuse and late game heroics by 6-North Carolina and 12-North Dakota State (Geno sleeper pick) still has the IRS helpline all abuzz. Was looking like the team to beat heading into the weekend....  You've heard of bracket busters.....

Who ya gunna call for a 4-point play?

The Counselors. Anyone notice the Counselors on Tuesday night, not sparring as usual. Messrs. Seashells and Balloons. I don't get it. They always argue. Sometimes bad words are uttered. The morning line favorites had a brief scare from the Miami Dolph...I mean Coastal Chanticleers who held a lead into the second half in an auto-win game versus 1-Virginia.  Routine wins by 2-Wisconsin, 4-UCLA and 8-Gonzaga has the Counselors approaching the bar with confidence. They held serve and sit alone in second on the leader board with five wins and three higher seeds favored to win over the weekend.

Sleeper Central. The Commish's sleeper predictions in the morning line column went 5-3 with wins by 10-Stanford, 11-Tennessee, 12-Harvard, 12-Stephen F. Austin, and 12-North Dakota State. Not too shabby.

Next update after the third round on Monday. Will try to keep the standings up to date in the meantime. Good luck!