Which Cinderella Team Is Posed For A Run?
With the NCAA Tournament back and set to tip off Friday, which Cinderella teams have the best shot at making a legit Final Four run? We all saw Loyola-Chicago do it in 2018 and they are definitely a team who can do it again. But which three are the most likely, either based on being under seeded or getting hot at the right time.
Drake Bulldogs
In my opinion, the Drake Bulldogs were one of the most underrated teams in the country this regular season. The Bulldogs, who finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference, were one of the few teams to start all seniors, and the experience showed. They scored a solid 77.4ppg and their only losses came to Loyola-Chicago (twice), Valparaiso, and Bradley (both losses after back-to-back nights). This team also has an easier way to the Elite 8/Final Four. To get to the Elite 8, they would have to get through Iowa and Kansas pretty much. Which in my opinion both underperformed this season. Iowa has struggled against ranked teams and Kansas wasn’t any better. I know Drake wasn’t ranked but they sure as hell play like it. However, I have them losing to Gonzaga in the Elite 8. But keep an eye out for them! If they can beat Wichita State on Thursday then I guarantee they beat USC on Saturday.
North Carolina
Roy Williams and the Tar Heels are the 8 seed and have a very fun matchup with Wisconsin in the first round. I personally have UNC beating Wisconsin and then marching onwards to the Elite 8. I actually like UNC pretty comfortably against Wisconsin too. They are struggled as bad as anyone in the last month of the season and their early exit in the Big-10 Tournament shows this team is struggling. After that they have another team who is struggling in Baylor. Baylor looked really bad against Oklahoma State. They didn’t look confident and just let a 19 year old freshman beat them. I have Baylor losing to UNC. Like I said, they have struggled. Ever since their Kansas loss they have not been the same team. They have not had the same energy they had throughout the year. Also, UNC isn’t even supposed to be in this. There is nothing I want less than to face a team that has nothing to lose. UNC loses to Baylor, they’re supposed to! But if Baylor loses it’s four years that were for nothing for Jared Butler. Then not to mention after they beat Baylor they don’t see any competition until either Arkansas or Ohio State in the Elite 8.
Georgia Tech/Loyola-Chicago
This game in my opinion is the most important game in the first round. Both of these teams are criminally under-seeded. Both teams are coming off conference championship wins and got absolutely disrespected by the committee. Georgia Tech might be the hottest team in the country. Granted their game against Virginia was cancelled, but they still had to beat FSU to win the ACC. Not to mention, Josh Pastner is a great coach who always get’s his players to play for him. Then we have Loyola-Chicago. It is not the same team as 2018, but they are still very good. They have been dominate all year and are coming off a big win against Drake to win the MVC. This is also a program that has been there. You have to think, those 2018 guys are now juniors and they have experience. This team can play. I think if Loyola-Chicago beats GT then Illinois is in trouble the next round. As someone who has picked Illinois to win it all, I am very afraid of either team. I personally would rather want GT but both are a nightmare, upset scenario. What’s nuts is that this 8/9 game can win the Midwest! If they take out Illinois their only challenge is Oklahoma State. I think Houston is fake because they play in the AAC and West Virginia always underperforms in the tournament. You could potentially have a 9 seed in the Final Four, and it’s not that crazy.
-John (Uncle_mac4)
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