It’s officially March! The greatest tournament in all of sports is nearly upon us, and the title favorites are emerging.
But to be honest, March Madness isn’t just about the teams everyone knows. What really makes the tournament so special is the underdogs who write themselves into the history books each year.
So, which teams this year have the potential to surprise everyone and make a surprising run to the Final Four? Well, a handful of teams certainly come to mind.
Just remember, this is not necessarily bracket advice. Instead, these are just four teams that are currently being overlooked and have the potential for a deep run.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Projected 3-Seed)
Nebraska is the highest-seeded team on this list. Yet, it is probably the one that gets talked about the least. The Cornhuskers have flown under the radar of most people up to this point. However, their resume speaks for itself. Finishing in second place in the Big Ten is no small feat. The boys from Lincoln could be primed for a deep tournament run.
Shockingly, Nebraska has never won an NCAA tournament game. If there ever was a year to break the streak, this would be the one.
This season, the Cornhuskers’ success has come through their swarming defense. According to KenPom, Nebraska has the No. 5 defense in the nation. They only allow 66 points per game to their opponents. Their shutdown defense has already been on display in wins vs No. 9 Illinois, No. 8 Michigan State, and No. 3 Michigan.
After starting the season 20-0, Nebraska has stumbled through the back half of Big Ten play, finishing 26-5. However, playing in the Big Ten has prepared them for the kind of marquee matchups that they will be sure to see those in the later rounds of March Madness.
There’s something special in the air in Lincoln this year, and this Nebraska team is desperate to pick up its first-ever tournament win and more. As far as 3-seeds go, Nebraska has a lot of potential. They say defense wins championships, and Nebraska will be eager to put its defense to the test.
Arkansas Razorbacks (Projected 5-Seed)
The SEC might not be the powerhouse that it was last year, but it still has several quality teams. Besides the Florida Gators, Arkansas is the conference’s best chance of making it to the Final Four. They boast the nation’s No. 6 offense and the SEC’s leader in scoring and assists in Darius Acuff. With Calipari at the helm and Acuff running the point, Arkansas is a threat to anyone.
Arkansas finished the regular season ranked No. 17 in the nation and third in the SEC. They run their high-scoring offense through Acuff. Additionally, they will be a threat to score 90+ on any opponent that they meet in the tournament.
Arkansas goes as Acuff does. The freshman from Detroit scores at will, eclipsing the 20-point mark in 20 games this season. He scored an incredible 49 points against Alabama last month in a double-overtime loss, playing all 50 minutes of the game.
All-in-all, Acuff is definitely not someone you want to see your favorite team playing in the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight. He certainly can lead this Razorbacks team to its first Final Four since 1995.
BYU Cougars (Projected 6-Seed)
BYU has been the definition of inconsistency this season. The offseason arrival of highly touted freshman AJ Dybantsa propelled BYU all the way to No. 8 in the preseason polls. However, a grueling schedule, bad injury luck, and a lackluster defense (No. 68 in the nation according to KenPom) have led to BYU falling out of the polls completely.
Despite their middling 20-10 record, BYU has the ability and players to win big-time games. In a gauntlet BIG 12 conference, BYU has picked up wins against No. 7 Iowa State and No. 16 Texas Tech. They also have notable non-conference wins against No. 23 Wisconsin, Villanova, Miami (FL), and Clemson. All these teams will be competing in March Madness.
The battle-tested Cougars’ X-factor is future lottery pick Dybantsa. The terrific freshman averages 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Most importantly, Dybansta can take over a game in the clutch. In a tournament where games can be determined by the heroics of one player, Dybantsa has the ability to put BYU on his back. He can lead them into the second weekend of the tournament.
Dybantsa and BYU have the potential to be one of the best 7-seeds March Madness has ever seen. Their ceiling is a spot in Indianapolis, but they have also shown that they could be a first-round exit. Ultimately, Dybantsa and the Cougars’ offense should have enough firepower to win several games in March. Don’t be surprised if the Cougars are making noise with a big upset against a higher seed in their region in a couple of weeks.
Saint Mary’s Gaels (Projected 7-Seed)
To any March Madness enthusiast, Saint Mary’s is a familiar name. The tiny Catholic college with ~2,700 students has been a consistent factor in March Madness in the past five years. Coached by Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s plays stifling defense and slow, methodical offense. This year, Coach Bennett will be looking to lead the Gaels past the second round for the first time since a 2010 run to the Sweet Sixteen.
Saint Mary’s lives and dies through their defense and rebounding. They only allow 64.9 points per game (seventh in the nation), and only 29.1 opponent rebounds per game (fifth in the nation). The Gaels will take this strategy into March Madness, determined to win low-scoring physical contests. Saint Mary’s also excels in free-throw shooting as a team – No. 1 in the NCAA shooting at an 80.8% clip.
These strengths allowed Saint Mary’s to win the regular season WCC title, defeating title favorites Gonzaga 70-59 in the last game of the regular season. The 59 points that Gonzaga scored in that game were the fewest they have scored all season.
Unfortunately for the Gaels, that win against Gonzaga is their only Quad 1 win on the season. They head into the tournament relatively untested against Power 4 opponents. But crazier things have happened in March. Keep your eye on the Gales to make a push towards Indianapolis behind that smothering defense.
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