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# Connor Takes No. 1 as Triston Shakes Up the NCBA Preseason
Connor has taken #1 in the NCBA preseason as Triston shocked the league with major upsets over Ari and Easton. Ari fell from first to third, while Samuel escaped the 0-point floor with four straight wins. The preseason race is now wide open.
# Connor Takes No. 1 as Triston Shakes Up the NCBA Preseason
**By Andy Randy | NCBA News**
The NCBA preseason has a new leader.
After another chaotic day of carpet ball, **Connor has climbed to #1 with a 7–2 record and 457 rating points**, overtaking both Easton and former leader Ari.
But Connor's rise was only part of a day filled with major upsets, dramatic ranking movement and the return of Samuel's famous comeback ability.
## Connor Quietly Takes Control
While much of the attention centered on Triston and Ari, Connor continued doing what he has done since last season: winning.
Connor defeated Dravon 6–5 in his latest match and now stands at **7–2 with a +10 ball differential**.
That was enough to move him into first place with **457 points**.
Easton remains close behind at 407, meaning Connor's advantage is only 50 points.
After briefly reaching #1 last season, Connor is back on top during the preseason.
## Triston T. the Rankings Upside Down
If Connor ended the day at #1, **Triston may have been the player who made it possible**.
Triston produced an extraordinary stretch of victories against some of the NCBA's biggest names.
He defeated Ari **twice**, with Ari ranked #1 in both matches.
One was a 6–4 victory while Triston was ranked #8, earning him **60 rating points**. The other was another 6–4 win that earned 56.
Triston also stunned #2 Easton **6–5**, adding another major upset to his day.
At one point, he added victories over William A. Samuel as well.
The run pushed Triston all the way to **#4 with 278 points**.
His day eventually ended with William upsetting him 6–5, but the message had already been delivered.
Triston has become one of the most dangerous upset threats in the NCBA.
## Ari Falls From First to Third
Just two days ago, Ari appeared unstoppable.
A seven-game winning streak carried him to **500 points and the #1 ranking**.
Then Triston happened.
Triston ended Ari's winning streak in a tiebreak during the previous session and followed it with **two more victories over Ari today**.
Ari has now lost three consecutive matches—all against Triston.
His rating has fallen from 500 to **384**, dropping him to third place.
Ari still owns the most wins in the NCBA at **9–5**, and a 384 rating keeps him firmly among the preseason leaders.
But the player who looked untouchable only days ago suddenly has a very clear problem to solve.
## Easton Holds Second
Easton also found himself on the wrong side of Triston's upset run, losing a narrow **6–5 match**.
But the defending NCBA Champion responded with a **6–4 victory over Crosby** in his latest match.
Easton now stands at **7–3 with 407 points**.
He also owns the best ball differential among the top three at **+12**.
That leaves only 50 points between Easton and Connor for first, while Ari sits another 23 points behind Easton.
The preseason now has a legitimate three-player race at the top.
## The Miracles Return—For a While
Samuel entered the day in the worst possible position.
**Zero points.**
After beginning the preseason 0–5, the player famous for last season's "Miracles on Carpet" suddenly started winning.
Samuel defeated Crosby 6–4.
Then Logan in a tiebreak.
Then William 6–5 in an upset.
Then Triston 6–4 in another upset.
**Four straight victories.**
For a player who had fallen all the way to the NCBA's 0-point floor, it was an extraordinary recovery.
The streak eventually ended, with Samuel losing his next two matches to Triston and William.
Still, Samuel finishes the latest action with **100 rating points**, far removed from the zero he started with.
The Miracles on Carpet may not be fully back.
But for four games, they certainly looked alive.
## William A. Logan Produce Upsets of Their Own
The chaos extended further down the standings.
William, ranked #11 at the time, defeated #4 Triston **6–5**, earning 59 points with the upset bonus.
Earlier, William A. defeated Samuel 6–5 while ranked below him.
Logan produced one of the largest single-match rating gains of the day.
Ranked #12 against #6 Daniel, Logan dominated **6–1**, earning **62 rating points**.
Despite sitting #11 overall, Logan still carries a **+6 ball differential**, suggesting his 3–6 record may not tell the entire story.
## Connor L. a Completely Different Top Four
The latest NCBA preseason standings now begin:
**1. Connor — 457 (7–2)**
**2. Easton — 407 (7–3)**
**3. Ari — 384 (9–5)**
**4. Triston — 278 (9–8)**
**5. Rylee — 251 (1–0)**
Only days ago, Ari was sitting at 500 and appeared to have taken control of the preseason.
Now Connor is #1.
Easton is only 50 points behind.
Ari has lost three straight.
Triston has gone from an inconsistent underdog to the player nobody near the top wants to face.
And Samuel H. proven that even zero points may not mean a season is over.
It's still only preseason.
If this is what happens before the season officially begins, the NCBA may be in for a wild year.
**Andy Randy**
*NCBA News*
**By Andy Randy | NCBA News**
The NCBA preseason has a new leader.
After another chaotic day of carpet ball, **Connor has climbed to #1 with a 7–2 record and 457 rating points**, overtaking both Easton and former leader Ari.
But Connor's rise was only part of a day filled with major upsets, dramatic ranking movement and the return of Samuel's famous comeback ability.
## Connor Quietly Takes Control
While much of the attention centered on Triston and Ari, Connor continued doing what he has done since last season: winning.
Connor defeated Dravon 6–5 in his latest match and now stands at **7–2 with a +10 ball differential**.
That was enough to move him into first place with **457 points**.
Easton remains close behind at 407, meaning Connor's advantage is only 50 points.
After briefly reaching #1 last season, Connor is back on top during the preseason.
## Triston T. the Rankings Upside Down
If Connor ended the day at #1, **Triston may have been the player who made it possible**.
Triston produced an extraordinary stretch of victories against some of the NCBA's biggest names.
He defeated Ari **twice**, with Ari ranked #1 in both matches.
One was a 6–4 victory while Triston was ranked #8, earning him **60 rating points**. The other was another 6–4 win that earned 56.
Triston also stunned #2 Easton **6–5**, adding another major upset to his day.
At one point, he added victories over William A. Samuel as well.
The run pushed Triston all the way to **#4 with 278 points**.
His day eventually ended with William upsetting him 6–5, but the message had already been delivered.
Triston has become one of the most dangerous upset threats in the NCBA.
## Ari Falls From First to Third
Just two days ago, Ari appeared unstoppable.
A seven-game winning streak carried him to **500 points and the #1 ranking**.
Then Triston happened.
Triston ended Ari's winning streak in a tiebreak during the previous session and followed it with **two more victories over Ari today**.
Ari has now lost three consecutive matches—all against Triston.
His rating has fallen from 500 to **384**, dropping him to third place.
Ari still owns the most wins in the NCBA at **9–5**, and a 384 rating keeps him firmly among the preseason leaders.
But the player who looked untouchable only days ago suddenly has a very clear problem to solve.
## Easton Holds Second
Easton also found himself on the wrong side of Triston's upset run, losing a narrow **6–5 match**.
But the defending NCBA Champion responded with a **6–4 victory over Crosby** in his latest match.
Easton now stands at **7–3 with 407 points**.
He also owns the best ball differential among the top three at **+12**.
That leaves only 50 points between Easton and Connor for first, while Ari sits another 23 points behind Easton.
The preseason now has a legitimate three-player race at the top.
## The Miracles Return—For a While
Samuel entered the day in the worst possible position.
**Zero points.**
After beginning the preseason 0–5, the player famous for last season's "Miracles on Carpet" suddenly started winning.
Samuel defeated Crosby 6–4.
Then Logan in a tiebreak.
Then William 6–5 in an upset.
Then Triston 6–4 in another upset.
**Four straight victories.**
For a player who had fallen all the way to the NCBA's 0-point floor, it was an extraordinary recovery.
The streak eventually ended, with Samuel losing his next two matches to Triston and William.
Still, Samuel finishes the latest action with **100 rating points**, far removed from the zero he started with.
The Miracles on Carpet may not be fully back.
But for four games, they certainly looked alive.
## William A. Logan Produce Upsets of Their Own
The chaos extended further down the standings.
William, ranked #11 at the time, defeated #4 Triston **6–5**, earning 59 points with the upset bonus.
Earlier, William A. defeated Samuel 6–5 while ranked below him.
Logan produced one of the largest single-match rating gains of the day.
Ranked #12 against #6 Daniel, Logan dominated **6–1**, earning **62 rating points**.
Despite sitting #11 overall, Logan still carries a **+6 ball differential**, suggesting his 3–6 record may not tell the entire story.
## Connor L. a Completely Different Top Four
The latest NCBA preseason standings now begin:
**1. Connor — 457 (7–2)**
**2. Easton — 407 (7–3)**
**3. Ari — 384 (9–5)**
**4. Triston — 278 (9–8)**
**5. Rylee — 251 (1–0)**
Only days ago, Ari was sitting at 500 and appeared to have taken control of the preseason.
Now Connor is #1.
Easton is only 50 points behind.
Ari has lost three straight.
Triston has gone from an inconsistent underdog to the player nobody near the top wants to face.
And Samuel H. proven that even zero points may not mean a season is over.
It's still only preseason.
If this is what happens before the season officially begins, the NCBA may be in for a wild year.
**Andy Randy**
*NCBA News*