So much round ball

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
From 68 to 16, that’s how many teams are left to challenge for the national championship in March Madness following the first and second rounds of the 2026 men’s college basketball tournament.

The single elimination competition has thus far been a demonstration of elite team superiority, with the “Madness” limited to only a handful of games, setting up a highly competitive Sweet 16 featuring mostly top-tier seeds.

This so-called predictability still exploded Scuttleball brackets, with Ben Capuco dominating the race to be the best baller in sailing. However, we don’t hand out ribbons after the first lap, with Capuco riding Michigan to the title while the top five – Ken Redler (Purdue), Jack Kunze (Arizona), Nick Mauprivez (Arizona), and Doug Steffenson (Iowa State) – have other ideas.

Balling begins again on March 26-27 with the Sweet Sixteen, and then the Elite Eight on March 28-29.

While the experiment with ChatGPT filling my bracket left me deep in the fleet, I will continue cheering for Arizona to take title (and for whoever plays UConn). Thankfully, I can reignite my hopes and dreams as Opening Day for Major League Baseball is March 26.

I will be present as my San Diego Padres host the Detroit Tigers, but this annual celebration has distracted Scuttlebutt HQ. Look for reports to flow again soon. Play ball!