It’s that time of year. As we speak, Vegas is scrambling to get a final glimpse of these 14 teams and craft their betting lines for the mayhem that is the Hamilton College Intramural Basketball playoffs. Forget the oddsmakers; look no further than this list for everything you need to know heading into the November Classic. Without further ado…here is the field of 14 and their chances to take home the hardware, from worst to first.

14. The Bricks (3–1)

I can still hear the “Sell the team” chants resounding throughout the arena as if it was only a week ago. Fans had high hopes after a huge grind-it-out win over Basecamp on opening night, but there has since been way too much turmoil within the organization to consider them a legitimate threat.

13. The Dunkin’ Donuts (1–3)

The Donuts have shown glimpses of really good ball, especially on the defensive end, but the lack of offensive consistency is going to make a deep playoff run very difficult. They have one win on the year, and it was by forfeit, so they face an uphill battle having to face a top team in round one.

12. Not Your Average Rebound (1–3)

This is a deep roster with a lot of heart, but they have also failed to win a game without forfeit. They continue to battle late in games but do not appear to have enough offensive juice to score in bunches when they need to.

11. Zoe Katz (1–3)

I have to give them the nod over NYAR after toppling them 34–31 in an absolute barn-burner on September 20th. However, fans are on high alert after a forfeit this week, wondering if they can expect total buy-in from everyone in the locker room down the stretch.

10. Phi Beta Ball (1–3)

The league’s winless team (excluding forfeit) could be a sneaky tough out in the postseason, and although they have yet to muster a victory thus far, I could see them causing some issues if they get hot from beyond the arc. They shoot the ball well and play a fast-paced, cohesive offense that could knock off a top dog in November.

9. Dripping Deltas (2–2)

The Deltas’ opening night 33–32 win over Dirty Murr was an all time classic, but they have since seemed to struggle to find an offensive identity. Hollywood heart-throb Aiden Regan has emerged as the leader of this team, but there is growing concern of potential distractions with the bevy of endorsements not only he, but the whole team has received as one of the better-looking rosters this league has ever seen.

8. CBA (2–2)

The “Beasts from the Far East” have had a frustrating season that has seen them on the short end of a few heartbreaking losses. They continue to bring elite energy and inspiring chemistry day in and day out, and while a short bench could pose some challenges deep in the playoffs, Kevin Liang is a dominant scorer at his best with versatile and athletic scoring options around him.

7.


Dirty Murr and the Boys (2–2)

DM&B has had an up and down season to say the least. They have struggled to shoot the 3-ball, costing them in a few very winnable games, but this is a deep and athletic roster that can hang with anyone. The highlight of the year came on Sept. 25 when they downed the preseason favorite A-Team 52–50. They can be scary at their best, but they have to get hot from deep.

6.Basecamp Baddies (3–1)

There’s so much to like about the Baddies who bounced back after a tough opening night loss to rattle off 3 straight victories. Captain Bohbin Shim will enter the concussion protocol after a collision in a joint practice with MASF, but sources close to the organization tell me he is as tough as a $5 steak and should be back in action this week for a primetime bout against A-Team. They play hard and elevate when the lights are bright. Ryan Connors is a dark horse for postseason MVP.

5. A-Team (3–1)

I run the risk of lighting a fire under a roster with playmakers at every position. The preseason favorites are explosive on both ends of the floor and are certainly a force to be reckoned with at their best. However. They are 0–4 against the spread this year and have struggled to separate late in games, leaving fans wondering if they have the consistency to go all the way.

4. Bobby’s Fan Club (3–1)

This squad has athletes up and down the roster and possesses a killer knockout punch with a lead. Currently leading the league in point differential, BFC has a swarming defense that plays with passion whistle to whistle. The schedule degree of difficulty is the lowest of the 3–1 teams, but I think they can make some real noise in the playoffs.

3. Labat Blue Dimers (3–1)

The Dimers are a big, bruising team that brings a physical element up and down the floor. They make it tough on every team they play with rock-solid defense and a glass-eating big man group. A-Team outshot them in their battle of heavyweights for their lone loss, though the Dimers can usually shoot the ball really well for such an athletic team.

2. Jream Team (3–1)

Here is a team that brings elite skill and playmaking ability in all phases of the game. They have a deep roster of long, athletic shooters that punishes any team who fails to bring consistent effort on the defensive end. They have sniper Eddie Taylor back from a lower body injury to add to an already explosive offense.

1. Make a Swish Foundation (3–1)

Hard not to love everything about these guys heading into the playoffs. Austin Stapleton returns from that gruesome ankle injury that he re-aggravated kicking a door after Jahmyr Gibbs under 13.5 sips of Gatorade cost him a 14-leg parlay. He brings a physical presence to add to an elite shooting group. Tristan Sollecito has been an embarrassment offensively, frustrating fans with poor body language and an alarming lack of aggressiveness, though he has made up for it on the other end, leading the league in defensive efficiency. Hopefully he can get going, but GMs fear he may have lost a step in the later stages of his career. This squad has as much passion as anyone… my one concern is whether or not they contain it. Between Stapleton, Danny “Tantrums” Goldstein, Matty “Sticks” Fiore, and others, this is a volatile roster that could pick up some untimely technical fouls late in close games.