AMHERST, NY -- It's apropos that it took a prayer from half-court to lift the Catholic Boyz back into the Record Books. The heave helped tie their 2012 feat and that of the Bunch in 2002, with seven first round wins. Only a loss by hometown UB kept them from perfection. Ironically, if the bank wasn't open, the Win-Docs would have added their name on the right margin with their seventh win in the round. Easy come, easy go in the NCAA Tournament.
We're off to a fast start and the contenders have already started to separate themselves from the pretenders as the Boyz and the Docs vault to the top of the Calcutta leaderboard. The Boyz won impressively with five teams that were seeded No. 8 or higher. Solid wins by 2-Xavier and 5-Indiana have the altar boys in fine fettle going into the Round of 32 (aka the Second Round).
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| The reaction from Freddie on the UNI bucket was gold, Jerry, gold. |
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| The Win-Docs strategy paid off in healthy dividends |
The Counselors made a big move on day one, but slowly advanced through the ranks and their Moneyball approach has them sitting squarely in third-place behind the two top teams and within striking range. The problem is what lies ahead for the good attorneys. With only 3-Miami and 4-Iowa State likely to be favored in their Round of 32 contests, it could be an uphill climb for our friends from the bar. Tough losses by 6-Seton Hall and 8-Colorado kept them from piercing the first round record books.
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| Baki after Thursday's contest could not contain himself. Unfortunately, Friday didn't prove as lucrative |
The Elder Statesmen, with their "slow and steady wins the race" philosophy broke even on the opening round, losing a heartbreaker late last evening when a Cincinnati dunk was split-seconds too late and the difference between sitting one game back instead of three. The old guys have nothing higher than 3-Texas A&M who will have a tough outing against Cinderella 11-Northern Iowa in the next round. 5-Maryland looked good, but rough sledding after this round is in the forecast (Kansas, Villanova).
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| Elders - pfft. We are wild and crazy guys. |
The Amigos have only their big dogs left in 1-Virginia, 4-Duke and 4-Kentucky. Good name recognition there, but the way this tourney has unfolded so far, that shouldn't matter much. Virginia did get a big break with the Sparty loss, a couple Virginia alums actually made some donations to Middle Tennessee State's annual fund after Friday afternoon's shocker. The annual battle cry is not ready to be broken out yet....but when it is ready....the Chief Amigo says...
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| The Chief Amigo |
The defending champs had nothing to cheer about in the opening round and like the Amigos have a top seed remaining in 1-North Carolina, but tough losses by 4-Cal and 7-Dayton sent this team to the bottom half of the Calcutta. The Tax Men are still within spitting distance with a run by UNC and a decent 3-Utah could keep them relevant through Sunday.
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| It's just a flesh wound. |
The Commish's Morning Line jinx appears to have held up, as the Bunch of Chieftans came away from Round 1 with two measly wins. They may have the chalk of the tourney in 1-Kansas, but with 10-VCU on the same side of the bracket, I'm calling this one early on election evening with only 10% of the precincts reporting. Sorry that I have to break this one out so early...but you know this is open game at Calcutta central....
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| There was no General Custer in Round 1 |
That brings us to the Commish & Associate and the futility continues for your fearless (and horribly picking) leader. Sparty done effed up. Kelly and I are just going to take the wives for dinner next year instead of making the annual donation. The lone bright spot is Orange. That's right the $4 purchase faces a 15 seed and could be headed to the Sweet Sixteen. Only shot here is 2-Oklahoma running the table and picking up the National Championship check.
Enjoy the Round of 32. Report Sunday night or Monday morning.
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