As the 2024 NCAA March Madness men’s tournament approaches, the excitement and speculation among college basketball fans and analysts are palpable. Teams from across the nation are gearing up for a chance to be part of this esteemed event.
While the experts are trying to figure out which favorite has the best chance to win this year’s NCAA Tournament, it’s the underdogs that truly capture the fans’ attention come March Madness. Every year, there’s a Cinderella team that sweeps us off our feet and has us pulling for them to go all the way. Over the past few years, teams like Princeton, Loyola (Chicago), St. Peter’s, and Florida Atlantic came out of nowhere to make deep tournament runs.
This article delves into who could be this year’s Cinderella, that team that shocks the NCAA basketball world and makes a deep run at the Final Four.
Grand Canyon
At 16-1, the Grand Canyon Antelopes are flying under the radar in Division I basketball. They are currently riding a 13-game winning streak and have their sights set on winning the Western Athletic Conference and making their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years. Their highlight win of the season came on Dec. 5 when they knocked off then-No. 25 San Diego State, 69-63, a team who made the NCAA championship game last year. The Antelopes are led by Tyon Grant-Foster, who is scoring 20.6 points per game. Grand Canyon could end up somewhere around an 11-seed if they keep winning, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, and could be a true surprise come tournament time.
Utah State
At 16-2, the Utah State Aggies are getting the respect they deserve, ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 rankings. Despite their recent loss to New Mexico, the Aggies are atop the Mountain West Conference Standings and in good shape to make this year’s NCAA Tournament. Led by Great Osobor, the Aggies offense is scoring 82.1 points per game. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has them projected as a 6-seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, an indication of how well they’re doing. While the Aggies have made their fair share of tournaments over the years, they have not advanced past the second round since 1970.
James Madison
James Madison didn’t only have a great year in football, they are also crushing it on the basketball court. At 15-2, the Dukes are just outside the top 25, although they may need to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to make it to March Madness. They started the year with a bang, upsetting Michigan State to start a string of 14 straight wins. T. J. Edwards leads the Dukes offensively, scoring 17.1 points per game. Despite losing two of their last four, the Dukes are still in a solid position to make their first tournament appearance since 2013 as long as they keep winning.
Princeton
A year ago, Princeton made it all the way to the Sweet 16 as a No. 15 seed. This year’s team closely resembles that one; thus, the Tigers should be monitored closely come tournament time. The Tigers are 14-1 this year and are winning games not just with defense, as is their trademark, but also with offense, scoring 78.7 points per game. They’ve scored more than 80 points in a game eight times this year, and have a notable win over Rutgers to start the season. It’s possible they may have to win the Ivy League Tournament to qualify for the tournament, but they are big favorites to do so. If they make it to the 64-man field, expect them to be somewhere around an 11 seed, according to ESPN projections. While they may not have the same FanDuel March Madness odds as a team like UConn, they have the ability to hang with any team on the court.
St. John’s
While many wouldn’t include St. John’s in the same Cinderella category as the teams above, the Red Storm haven’t exactly been a basketball force to be taken seriously in the recent past. Known for their great runs in the 1980s under legendary coach Lou Carnesecca, the Red Storm have made the NCAA Tournament just three times since 2003. They also haven’t made it to the Sweet 16 since 1999. However, new head coach Rick Pitino has revitalized the Red Storm program. They are currently 12-6 and sit in fifth place in a loaded Big East Conference. They have a challenging upcoming schedule, but if they have a strong second half to the season, they can make this year’s tournament and be a serious underdog contender.
Main Image Credit: Photo by Todd Greene on Unsplash
