Chieftans distance themselves from pack, eye record

AMHERST – The Chieftans secured the top spot in the 2026 Calcutta heading to the Sweet Sixteen with four second round wins to catapult the defending to a tw0-point lead.

The big story is that the Calcutta 15-win record could be in jeopardy as the Chieftans have three brackets covered going into next weekend.

The Amigos rode the B1G into second place and is nipping at the heels but will need some help next weekend.

The Elders are right there and a big matchup with the Amigos and a bigger one with the Chieftans.

The Catholic Boyz are within striking distance, like the Amigos riding the B1G into Sweet Sixteen weekend.

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

Chieftans prime for back-to-back titles

Looking for a record setting tenth Calcutta title, the morning line favorites continue to roll in this year’s Calcutta. Advancing an 11-seed in Texas to the Sweet Sixteen to go with 6-seed Tennessee is all you need to know. With juggernaut 1-Duke avoiding the upset bug over the weekend, it looks like the Calcutta is there’s to win (or lose).

Amigos knocking on the door with powerhouse Wolverines

The Amigos knocked out top-seed Florida with 9-Iowa and will face the Elders’ Huskers in the Corn Derby in the Sweet Sixteen. 1-Michigan looks monstrous after tearing through a very good SLU team in Buffalo. Will need the Chiefs to go 1-3 in the Sixteen and squeeze out an Iowa win to have a shot.  It could come down to Duke-Michigan in the finale.

Elders hanging around (again)

The Elders once again are hanging around as we march on with three teams remaining and a legit national champion contender in 3-Michigan State. The Elders have never had the winner of the natty, so this is potentially a historic run to glory. To win the Calcutta, however, the issue is the 5-Johnnies are in the same bracket so something’s gotta give. Big matchup with the Amigos with 4-Nebraska taking on 9-Iowa in the South that could ultimately decide some placings.

The Catholic Boyz

2-Purdue and 3-Illinois advanced as expected and both have the potential to go deep.  Some late-night losses (what’s with only two games on Sunday starting before 5PM?) limited their potential win total, but the remaining squads both have a big chance to keep the drive alive. Preach.

Commish suffers through Black Saturday, 1-4 on weekend

Approximately at 9:34 p.m. on Sunday night, I threw up in my mouth.

Roll Tide.

Slayers need to run the table to catch a piece

And then there was one. At least it’s a good one. 2-Iowa State has to win out to get to 9 points, which could be enough for a piece.4

Win-Docs one behind Slayers in 7th

Down to 1-Arizona, one behind the Slayers, they can only max out at 8 wins, which may not be enough to hit the board based on the teams near the top of the leaderboard. Losing two 3-seeds in the second round may have put the nail in the Win-Doc’s coffin.

Counselors riding their big dogs

2-Houston is now the lowest seed left in the South, but the Counselors’ two remaining teams are on the same side of the bracket, which means if they both get out of their respective regions they have an auto-win, but can only max out at 10 wins.

The Elite Eight Sixteen report - Saturday morning.

On to the Sweet Sixteen!