March Madness 2024: Top 5 Potential Cinderella Teams That Could Spark Tournament Upsets
The NCAA Tournament's excitement comes largely from Cinderella stories and unexpected upsets. Here are five sleeper teams with genuine potential to make deep runs in March Madness:
Vermont Catamounts (13-seed)
- Dominated America East conference with just one loss
- Elite passing and shooting team led by Ben Shungu and Ryan Davis
- Face Arkansas as 5-point underdogs with potential to advance
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- One of college basketball's most efficient offenses
- Riding 21-game winning streak
- From same conference (Summit League) that produced last year's Sweet 16 team Oral Roberts
- Strong chance to upset Providence in first round
Chattanooga Mocs (13-seed)
- Won conference championship on dramatic half-court buzzer-beater
- Led by Malachi Smith averaging 20+ points per game
- Could challenge Illinois despite seeding difference
Loyola Chicago Ramblers (10-seed)
- Proven tournament success in recent years
- Elite defense allowing just 61 points per game
- Well-positioned to beat Ohio State and advance
San Francisco Dons (10-seed)
- Strong perimeter defense makes them dangerous
- Face Murray State in compelling mid-major matchup
- Could potentially challenge Kentucky in second round if they advance
Each of these teams combines strong fundamentals with specific strengths that make them particularly dangerous in tournament play. While they may be underdogs, they have the potential to create memorable March Madness moments.