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.
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!
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