Quintets solution
by Kegler
As indicated by 23 Across, MARCH MADNESS, seven clues incorporate an anagram of the letters M-A-R-C-H.
Across
| 1 | PAP + I.E. + [RMACH] + E |
| 10 | BUSS ("BUS" hom) |
| 11 | NOW + HER + E |
| 13 | ENS(NAR)ED (RAN rev; NEEDS anag) |
| 14 | N(ESTLING),G (SILENT anag) |
| 16 | C + O + B |
| 18 | COP + Y |
| 20 | ALBUMen |
| 22 | V(AN)ILLA |
| 23 | MARCH MADNESS |
| 26 | ALCHEMY (LECH MAY anag) |
| 29 | ELIZA (hidden) |
| 30 | ANTE (NEAT anag) |
| 31 | K + I'M |
| 32 | A[RMCHA]IR |
| 35 | F(REAK)ISH (RAKE anag) |
| 37 | R(ENT)ING (NET anag) |
| 38 | LATE (TEAL anag) |
| 39 | STA[RCHAM]B + E,R |
|
Down
| 2 | AU + REO + LA (ORE anag) |
| 3 | P.S. + IS |
| 4 | ISN'T (SNIT anag) |
| 5 | EYELASH (rev hidden) |
| 6 | MOS (1st letters) |
| 7 | [CHARM] + IN + G |
| 8 | HERCULEAN (CLUE HE RAN anag) |
| 9 | WE'D |
| 10 | BE + N + [CHMAR] + K |
| 12 | REOIL (ROLE I anag) |
| 15 | NBA (BAN anag) |
| 17 | BRASS + ERIE |
| 19 | P[ARCHM]ENT |
| 21 | SCHEMATA (hidden) |
| 24 | D[RACHM]A |
| 25 | SAT + I + ATE |
| 27 | LO(I)RE |
| 28 | MIR (RIM rev) |
| 33 | HE(L)M |
| 34 | ARAB (hidden) |
| 35 | FRY (2 defs) |
| 36 | IN + C |
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