Chieftans grab lead, defending champs eliminated

 

AMHERST – The Chieftans secured the top spot in the 2025 Calcutta heading to the Sweet Sixteen with three second round wins to edge ahead of first-round co-leaders, the Catholic Boyz and the Win-Docs.

The defending champion Elder Statesman exited quietly as 3-Iowa State and mid-seeds 7-Saint Mary’s and 9-Baylor took the pipe on Sunday. They’ll now settle down and wait for the groundhog to see if he sees his shadow (i.e., disorientation has set in).

The Slayers sit two back at six wins, but also advanced three teams to the Sweet Sixteen and the morning line favorites are lurking down the backstretch awaiting to make their vaunted move on the leaders.

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

Chieftans secure lead, sitting pretty in the catbird seat

The Chief called and is already asking for a jacket fitting after the weekend display the Bunch delivered. With a 1-Florida and 2-Alabama buoying their title chances, big upsets by a dangerous looking Raz
orback squad faces a winnable game against 3-Texas Tech. They’ll hope for a Florida-Arkansas Elite Eight matchup and a guaranteed finalist.

Catholic Boyz steady in second round

The Catholic Boyz were trying to bring the tournament to its knees after 1-Houston and 4-Arizona won hard fought matchups to forge onward to the Sweet Sixteen. The waters get deeper here with matchups against 4-Purdue in Indianapolis and 1-Duke in Newark. Buckle up, father as the Boyz sit one behind the leader.

Win-Docs go 2-for-5 in Round two

The Win=Docs took a bad beat when 3-Wisconsin went out with a whimper and midnight struck for both 11-seeds McNeese and Drake. They have a solid 2-Michigan State and 3-Texas Tech remaining but will likely be underdogs in both Elite Eight matchups should they advance. Still in the mix to challenge and not exactly time to call for a Code Red, but it could be coming.

Counselors two back, but reeling from Johnnies loss

When your best seed (2-St. John’s) goes out in the Round of 32, the hopes dimmed for the Counselors. With 4-Maryland and 6-BYU (looking like a nice $18 purchase now) carrying the torch for the law boys, they find themselves facing 1-Florida and 2-Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen. Here comes the judge.

Slayers looming large, lurking in shadows waiting to pounce

The morning line favorites sit two back, but in a solid position to hit the board and potentially challenge. They face two top seeds in the next round, but both 5-Michigan and 4-Purdue are playing B1G time ball heading into their big games. 3-Kentucky rolls and faces league nemesis 2-Tennessee in a must-win game for the Slayers. Their four-peat hopes for a national champ is on the ropes this weekend.

Commish in survive and advance mode, part deux

The Commish needed a big win out of 5-Oregon in Seattle last night and didn’t get it. Up 14 early the Flighty Ducks couldn’t make a late charge and 4-Arizona advanced and kept the Win-Docs knocking on the Chieftans door. Will need to run the table with 1-Auburn and 2-Tennessee to have a chance at the top spot.

The Amigos hanging tough

The Amigos, like the Commish, sit three back with two teams remaining in 1-Duke and 6-Ole Miss. Both teams are hooping out but will need some big wins out of the Rebels to make any noise in this year’s big dance. Can’t count them out as the Dookies will likely keep them in the hunt for a piece if they run the table.

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

Good luck everyone!