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!

 

Elite Eight Report: Slayed and dismayed

Amherst, N.Y. (Reuters) -- What was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Tax Slayers turned into Black Friday as the top-seeded North Carolina walked right into a War Eagle buzzsaw. The Slayers sitting in the catbird seat for most of this year's Calcutta are now Tiger Woods sitting in the clubhouse after posting a 65, but with only a one-shot lead and the world's best on the first tee.

It was an exciting round of Sweet Sixteen as the Jack Nicklaus-Arnold Palmer twosome made a charge with some very scary 3-seeds that have emerged on the back nine.  The Elders are here and they're not going away without a fight.

The Win-Docs, of all teams, look positioned to strike with favored 1-Gonzaga and 2-Kentucky headed into wins that will vault them into the lead heading to the final four.

Here's a capsule look at a Calcutta going into regional final weekend with only 3 points separating the top and bottom teams. Pete Rozelle would be proud of the Commish and the parity he's created in the 20 plus years of ye olde Calcutta.

The Yellow Jacket awaits....

Tax Slayers (9 points). Way to ruin my morning line brilliance, fellahs. They got caught counting the benjamins and ended up with Kelvin. Now they'll have to sit back and root for a Duke-Virginia final and a share of the title, which isn't totally out of the question. The dance is no longer in their control and they have a front row seat.

Just sayin...

Win-Doctors (8 points). Took sole possession of second place in a tightly-contested Calcutta. The Win-Docs move forward two squads (along with the Elders) into the Elite Eight and if they can ward off the upset bug, they could be looking at their seventh overall title and fourth outright. They go toe-to-toe with the Elders and Boyz to see who stagnates and who moves on.

Familiar Calcutta sight for the Win-Docs

Elder Statesmen (7 points). The old guys aren't exactly riding in Cinderella's coach, but they jumped in a slicked up Tesla in 3-Texas Tech and 3-Purdue in reaching the Elite Eight. Without an outright title since 2005, and a share since 2011, the Elders have cleared their voice and jumped into the thick of things ala Jack in the 1986 Masters. They're baaack.

Much love...

Commish & Assoc (7 points). Biggest Elite Eight tilt of the night and a two-point lead with the ball and 30 seconds left would have traded places with the Win-Docs, but 3-Houston's season ended on a 7-0 Kentucky run and left the Commish with only a Sparty title run with hopes of capturing their second ever title and second in three years. 1-Duke lays in wait after two tough games.

A guy can only hope...

 Counselors (6 points). First complete casualty of the 2019 Calcutta. I'm sure the Va Tech's player's face looked exactly like Baki's after missing the chippy at the buzzer. Sayonara, legal boys.

Thanks for coming....

Amigos (6 points). 1-Virginia playing solid ball, but the waters start to get deeper now with a big matchup with 3-Purdue tonight. Need a championship run and a bunch of other stuff to happen. Will be rooting for Duke, Texas Tech and Auburn this weekend, while taking care of their own bidness.

We're still shootin, pards...

Bunch of Chieftans. (6 points). Similar to the Amigos, they'll be rooting for the same squads this weekend and a Duke-Virginia ACC matchup in the national championship game. Two nail-biters for Coach K's Zionists have CBS's team poised for a title run. Like the Amigos, they can only share the title, but you know they'll do anything to try and keep the Win-Docs at bay.

Peace out, Duke haters...

On to the Elite Eight......Final Four report and probables on Sunday night.

Slayers hold serve and 3-point edge on rest of Calcutta

Amherst, N.Y. – We head to the Sweet Sixteen, with all eight teams alive and in unprecedented fashion, each team carries two squads into the regional finals.

The Slayers hold a commanding 3-point lead with a 1-seed remaining, which should all but sew up the title with a couple of sweet sixteen wins in the favorite role.

A logjam for second has four teams looking to pick up a check by getting a team into the Final Four. Some major Sweet Sixteen matchups will determine who is still around on the final weekend in one of the more evenly matched Calcuttas in recent memory.

Here’s a capsule look at all eight remaining teams……

Slayers (9 points). Bringing a record-tying seven teams to the weekend dance, didn’t dish up any upsets and only their top two held serve. But that was al they needed after the first round mastery put a number of points on the board. Both 1-Carolina (Auburn) and 2-Tennessee (Purdue) face formidable foes, but this tournament has held to form so far. Our morning line pick still looks pretty solid.

Sitting on top of the Calcutta....Rocky Top, that is.

Win-Docs (6 points). Oh, what might have been if 9-UCF didn’t get the CBS-Duke annual screw job. They still will be pressuring the Slayers with 1-Gonzaga and 2-Kentucky sashaying into the Sweet Sixteen. Is anyone really surprised that the Docs are right in the middle of things?

All the other teams be like.....

Catholic Boyz (6 points). I thought they’d be dangerous, but some early upsets kept them out of second place. If this were a football pool they’d be the top seed with SEC powers 3-LSU and 5-Auburn leading their Sweet Sixteen charge. They’ll take the first shot at the slayers with a bombing Auburn squad and will try and knock out the Commish with the Bayou Tigers. They’ll be in the underdog role here on out.

Still dancin...ya'll

Counselors (6 points). Like the Boyz, they’re stuck with lower seeds going into the regionals with two 4-seeds surviving the weekend. Both are playing good basketball though, but the waters start to get deeper next week. 4-Florida State and 4-Virginia Tech both take on top seeds and will need to play their best games versus Duke and Gonzaga.

You're out of order....and we're still alive.

Commish & Assoc. (6 points). In the last game of the weekend, they could’ve snatched the second spot to stay on the Slayers’ heels, but 12-Oregon had other thoughts. Both Cinderellas (12-Murray State and 13-Cal Irvine) struck midnight and the Commish is down to 2-Michigan State and 3-Houston. Paging Clyde Drexler and Magic Johnson.

Commish is in the house...shhhhhh Counselors

Elder Statesman (5 points). Left with a couple of 3-seeds both looking good in the second round. The old guys could only wish that Gene “Comb-over” Keady was still coaching the Boilers. 3-Texas Tech stopped the running of the Bulls in North Lubbock..err Tulsa. There’s something to be said for experience, and the old guys got it. Need to go on a big run.

Hello? 

 Amigos (5 points). The Amigos could slide right by everyone into the Final Four with 1-Virginia and 2-Michigan (against the weakest top seed). There’s been no sense that the annual Adios has even been thought about. The team that really could come out of the clouds and steal the whole thing. Only downside is they are a full game behind the Win-Docs who also have the 1-2 combo left.

It's possible, really, it is.

 Bunch of Chieftans (5 points). Some late night heroics by morning line sleeper pick 12-Oregon kept the Chieftans looking forward to next weekend. The Ducks were almost the only team to make it through for the Bunch before the Duke “miracle” occurred in South Carolina. A Duke run of the table and one more Oregon upset puts them at 10, which would be right in the mix. Can’t count them out yet.

We are a very happy Bunch

On to the Sweet Sixteen.....

Calcutta Elite Eight Report: Battle of the Titans looming

Amherst, NY -- A battle of Calcutta titans is brewing as the front-running Win-Docs look to hold off the charging Chieftans as we settle into the Elite Eight.

Battle of Titans looming (Godzilla v Rodan)

With upsets galore, the Docs set the pace early and have led throughout, holding a slim one-game margin over the Chieftans.  The Bunch kept pace and gained a game on the leaders in the Sweet Sixteen and are poised to make a run at their seventh Calcutta title.

The Win-Docs are starting to wobble as they head for home at the quarter pole of this year's tournament. Going 1-2 in the Sweet Sixteen and left with 3-Texas Tech to face off with mighty Villanova.

Here's a capsule look at the remaining teams.

Win-Docs.  The Doctors head into the Elite Eight with the Ramblin' Wreck of 3-Texas Tech who manhandled a wounded 2-Purdue squad to eliminate the Commish, last year's defending champion (see how I worked that in). The Wildcats looked good, so they could be the leader in the clubhouse watching TV the rest of the way rooting for the Chieftans to get beat. Can they hold off the Chieftans to secure a record-tying sixth championship?  Time will tell.

The Win-Docs are hanging on to the lead.

Bunch of Chieftans. Rallying late, but not exactly a cinch to cross the wire first, the Chieftans are a length back with two teams in the Eight. Both teams will face tough, physical opponents from the Big 12 in hopes to advance to the Final Four with a chance at Calcuttian glory. 2-Duke's bigs looked great last night eliminating the Cuse (to stymie the Tax Slayers, for now). 11-Loyola is the Cinderella story of the tournament, but rugged 9-K State can ball and will try and outphysical the Ramblers.  Not a Sister Jean fan, sorry.

The Chieftans are on the warpath

Catholic Boyz.  You say Catholic, I say Nova. Catholic-Nova, Catholic-Nova. Anyways the top seed in the East played like it to send home the Chieftans' Mountaineers and stay within striking distance. They need tons of help, but can stagnate the Win-Docs, hope for wins by Kansas, K-State and Michigan as their optimal Final Four. A win in a Michigan-Nova final in that situation can catch them a piece of the title. Lot of ifs in there.

Lots of praying in Catholic Boyz headquarters

Tax Slayers. With two bites at the apple and top seed Kansas still flourishing, an all Slayer final with 9-Florida State would produce 13 wins and the yellow jacket in hand. It's obvious who the Slayers are rooting for. Some big games ahead for the Jayhawks, as they'll have to put away 2-Duke to get to San Antonio and then 1-Nova in the Final Four.  Not out of the question, but daunting.

Yellow Jacket fashion for the Slayers?

Elder Statesmen. Can get to max 10 (second-place) with a 9-K-State run to glory. I'll admit they look tough, but improbable given the teams remaining.  Along with the Wildcats from Manhattan, they'll be rooting for Tech, Duke and Michigan this weekend, which gives them a solid chance at show money.

Elders be like...yeah I'm a Michigan man.

Counselors. Best scenario is sweeps by Win-Docs and Chieftans and a Beilien-led run by the Wolverines. Were set up nicely heading into the Elite Eight, but 5-Kentucky took the pipe and the Counselors best hope is likely national championship dough.

Sorry, but it's not looking bright.

Good luck, if you're still alive heading into the weekend.

Calcutta: Win-Docs take 2-point lead into Sweet Sixteen

Amherst, N.Y. - After a historic first round, the Win-Docs cooled off going 3-4, but still control the 2018 Calcutta heading into the Sweet Sixteen. The Docs have accumulated double-digit wins and lead the Bunch by two with both squads carrying three teams into the second weekend.

Several teams sit behind the top two, bunched together in the middle of the pack, within striking distance but needing help knocking off the top two.

Every squad advanced a team to the Sweet Sixteen, although two teams are left with a lone survivor (Elders, Amigos).

Let's take a swing around the Calcutta to see where everyone sits....

Win-Doctors. The five-time champs sit in the catbird seat advancing 3-Texas Tech, 4-Gonzaga and 7-Texas A&M. Ironically, A&M looked the best of the three in their Round of 32 matchup, drilling the 2-seed Carolina in Charlotte. Tech gets a wounded Purdue squad and Gonzaga catches a break with 1-Xavier getting upset. The Docs are poised for victory, but need a couple more wins to start the celebration.

Win-Docs: It's not time to start gloating, yet.

Bunch of Chieftans. The maroon and gold of 11-Loyola (Chi) vaulted the Bunch to the upper echelon of the Calcutta. They get a break with 7-Nevada beating Cincinnati in an epic choke game, and have a shot to advance to the Elite Eight. 2-Duke gets and 11-seed who they've beat in the conference and 4-West Virginia will look to take down 1-Villanova. The Bunch is sitting chilly at the top of the stretch looking to pounce on the rival Docs.

Loyola (Chi) cheering section

Catholic Boyz. The Boyz from the altar are alive with 1-Villanova and miracle workers the 7-Nevada Wolfpack, who will be wearing the home whites in the crazy south regional in Atlanta next week. Wolfpack look hungry on They came through St. Patty's Day better than past years and have a shot to still make some noise with 7 wins heading into the Sweet Sixteen. The soft East Region could be the route to cash money.

Wolfpack heading to Atlanta

Tax Slayers. Taking advantage of Black Sunday, the Slayers re-entered the picture with a 3-0 weekend, including two huge upsets. With ACC also-rans 11-Syracuse and 9-Florida State pulling major upsets, they slide into the Sweet Sixteen with 1-Kansas, who looks to be the best remaining team left (apologies to Villanova). The Slayers be slaying.

With 4 more wins.....

Commish & Assoc. The total Cincinnati meltdown was like watching a train wreck in your backyard. The Commish was set to waltz into the Sixteen with three squads, including two deuces. Insteadthey threw craps and has to hope that a wounded 2-Purdue and an overmatched 5-Clemson can sneak through their respective regions. Best shot is third at this point.

Are you kidding me, Cincinnati?

Elder Statesmen. Caught a break facing a 16 seed, but suffered a dismal 1-4 record over the weekend. Not looking good with lone remaining 9-K-State facing high flying Kentucky in Cat-lanta.

No caption necessary

Counselors. How is a 5 seed the top team in the South? If not for a miracle shot by 3-Michigan on Saturday night (simply incredible btw), they would be down to the Cats. Actually they look to have a clear shot to Monday night with the West falling apart on Sunday. They're not dead yet.

Don't count them out just yet.

Amigos. Not sure that record will ever be broken. Total Calcutta wins: 1. Have to admit, I'm kinda speechless here. Well accept for that one thing.

Wait for it....

Wait....

Here it comes....

¡Adios Amigos!

¡Adios Amigos!

BREAKING Amherst, N.Y.- Upset City in San Jose, as the Catholic Boyz (11-Xavier) claim a tie for second-place with the Commish (1-Gonzaga) at 8 wins and start breathing down the necks of the Counselors.

As it is with tradition, the ¡Amigos! have left the building with losses by 2-Arizona and 7-Michigan, so without further adieu.....

 

Things are starting to get interesting in Calcutta land with some big tilts tonight between UCLA-Kentucky (Pickem), UNC (-7.5)-Butler, Baylor(-3.5)-So Carolina and Wisconsin-Florida (-1.5).  All three remaining teams for the Counselors will be in action, favored in one of the three (Baylor).

The Slayers could sweep all three of their games and the Commish will have to go back in the record books to see what the record is for Sweet Sixteen wins, which is currently undocumented.

Good luck, all. Here's a little Jim Reeves to wish our good friends the two-time champion ¡Amigos! a good night.....until next year.

via GIPHY

Elite Eight Flash Report: Win-Doctors take over lead

What's Up Doc(s)?

Amherst, N.Y.  --  The Win-Doctors took over the top spot in the Calcutta with big wins by Oregon and Villanova and look poised to move forward in the Calcutta.

With 10 wins on the leaderboard and the next two spots having nothing higher than a 4-seed, it's looking pretty good at the apex of the 2016 Calcutta. It's been six years since the Win-Docs drank from the cherished chalise (sic).

The Catholic Boyz (9 points, 2nd place)  are favored in one of its two games tonight (Gonzaga is a 4-point favorite over Syracuse) and will need a win from them and/or an upset win by 5-Indiana over 1-North Carolina to stay on pace.

Will the Catholic Boyz be sent to the corner after the Elite Eight?

Sitting in third and losing their highest seed in Miami last night are the Counselors (8 points, 3rd place), who send out one point favorite 6-Notre Dame against the Elders (7 points, 4th place) last remaining team  (7-Wisconsin).  This must pose an ethical dilemma for a certain member of the Elders who is also an UND grad.  I guess it's a win-win situation.

Counselors loosening up for tonight

Surprisingly, with just 12 games remaining in this tournament, which has gone from chaotic to formful in the past 24 hours, no team has yet to be eliminated from the Calcutta.  Not even a certain southwestern saying has been warming up.

Survive and advance

The bottom four teams remain alive to run the table and catch a bottom piece of the Calcutta and hold three No. 1 seeds and a No. 2 seed.

It does look like that everyone is playing for place and show at this point.

Good luck.

Sweet Sixteen Report: Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

AMHERST, N.Y. - In a matter of 15 minutes, the Catholic Boyz went from commanding lead in the 2016 Calcutta to "What Just Happened?" mode.

Northern Iowa has a 12 point lead with 35 seconds left and loses. Xavier has the ball in a tie game with 7 seconds left and loses. Two wins turn into losses and this here Calcutta is still officially open.

Let's see it again.....

This is how you erase a 12-point deficit in 35 seconds. https://t.co/l3eJ83wDDB #MarchMadness

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 21, 2016

They still sit on the mountain, but the lead is just one and they enter the Sweet Sixteen without its highest seed, as 2-Xavier went down when Wisco hit a big three-pointer at the buzzer in St. Louis sending the Musketeers home to Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, at Counselor Central....

The Counselors made the best of the Boyz' misfortune and land three teams into the Sweet Sixteen, with 3-Miami, 4-Iowa State and 6-Notre Dame,  The Irish, their lowest seed will actually likely be the only one favored as they will take on 7-Wisconsin in Philadelphia. The strategy looks like its paying off, but there are still big games to be played.

The Win-Doctors also remain very much in the hunt, only one back and with two power teams left in 1-Oregon and 2-Villanova. The Miami-Nova game will be a separator for the two teams chasing the Boyz for the right to wear the Yellow Jacket next year. Keep your eyes open at the top, boys....these guys have a way of sneaking up on you.

In a matter of moments, the Elders came back from the dead. 3-A&M and 7-Wisconsin were literally halfway in the coffin. They went from 5 wins to 7 wins and sniffing the board in a matter of minutes. Seth Davis actually "sharpie'd" the Northern Iowa Panthers, his first premature evacuation in history. 

Northern Iowa. Sharpie.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 21, 2016

It got better....

Tragic pic.twitter.com/xajnHS61VY

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 21, 2016

So you know the Statesmen were tight-lipped, headed into their respective bathrooms and then did this....



Hanging around seeing what might happen are the Amigos, who advanced two teams to the next round in 1-Virginia and 4-Duke. They'll need to run the table with one or both to get into the money. It's not out of the question with those two teams, but the Kentucky loss to Indiana, surely smarts. We'll have to save those inevitable two words for another day....and they cruise into the Sweet Sixteen as the silent killer....

The defending champs are down to one. The Tax Guys just didn't have it this year, but still have 1-North Carolina left to carry the banner into Philadelphia's East Regional. The beautiful thing about the Calcutta is everyone can still cash in one way or another, the Tax Guys will be looking for their refund via the Heels.

Show me the mon-ay

The Commish salvaged a horrible first round to get out of the basement and actually have some hope after the Catholic Boyz trainwreck Sunday evening. Their destiny is in the hands of 2-Oklahoma and 10-Syracuse (I like the ring of that), who move on into favored situations in the Sweet Sixteen. They have one foot in the grave, but they're not dead yet.

#Cuse about to be #Sweet16 bound pic.twitter.com/pF3QUBfFxr

— Menotti Minutillo (@44) March 20, 2016

Rounding out the second round is the Bunch of Chieftans. Like the Tax Guys, they're down to a lone 1-seed, the Jayhawks, who look impressive and can play Calcutta spoiler the rest of the way. Mired in the basement with 3 wins, they will look to win four straight, collect a check and make someone's life miserable along the way....

On to the Sweet Sixteen....