Every year it is inevitable that there is a team in college basketball that will shock the world. A Cinderella team that will ruin everyone’s bracket and cost people some money by making a run in the tournament. For the most part, these are teams that fly under the radar for one reason or the other. It could be that they don’t play for one of the power conferences, or some analyst believe they are not as good as their schedule. Over the past couple of years, the tournament has been prone to teams that fit in this category.
Take a look at two years ago when a small school outside of Indianapolis, Butler University, took their journey all the way to the National Championship game as a No. 5 seed, only to fall short to Duke. Butler proved that this was no fluke by making it to the National Championship again last year, falling short once again. The Bulldogs were not the only team looking to be labeled as a Cinderella last year. Virginia Commonwealth were one of the last four teams to make the tournament due to the new 68 team bracket. They were one of four teams to play in the “first four” games, making it one game harder to make it to the championship game. Against all odds, Shaka Smart’s club was the talk of the whole tournament, making it all the way to the final four.
It is hard to predict which teams will make a run year by year. It is harder to judge a Mid-Major team for the fact that we don’t see them play throughout the year like we do teams from the ACC and Big East. This is why the NCAA takes one weekend out of the season and dedicates it to these teams. This past weekend was the annual Bracketbuster weekend that featured the Mid-Major teams battle against one another for supremacy. When it comes down to Selection Sunday in March, the tournament committee puts a lot of weight on which teams win their bracketbuster games.
So what teams should they be looking for this year? There are a couple that comes to mind. Let’s start with the team that was the last to be defeated this year in Division I. Murray State started out the year 23-0 before losing to Tennessee State. With a light schedule throughout the season, the Racers are one team that depends on their Bracketbuster game, as well as their conference tournament. Murray State took care of business on Saturday by defeating then No. 16 Saint Mary’s. I believe Murray State could enjoy the same amount of success that Butler did a couple years ago. Murray State is looking at a No. 4 or 5 seed in the tournament, which could bode well for them in the first two rounds of the tournament.
There is one team in particular that I would like to praise. All year long they have been flying under the radar with very little publicity. Yes they are a Mid-Major but filled their non-conference schedule with numerous giants. Although they might have as good a record as Murray State, and yes they did lose their Bracketbuster game in the final seconds to Creighton University.
Long Beach State has surprised me with how consistent they have played throughout the year. Early on they put themselves through the gauntlet, going up against teams such as Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina, Xavier and Kansas State. By defeating Pitt, Xavier and Kansas State, they have showed they are capable of keeping up with the big boys. Their tough non-conference schedule has clearly proven to benefit them as they have been able to run through their conference foes with an 11-0 conference record.
I am not going to say or predict them to win the National Championship because that is nearly impossible to do for a Mid-Major. I will tell everyone to keep an eye out for them. That is the one team I would not want to face when it comes to tournament time.
With 68 teams fighting for the most treasured prize in college basketball, one can surely say there will be madness in March.
Discussion about this post