College Basketball Cinderellas: Five Teams That Can Make a Splash if They Make the Dance

Correspondent Written on March 05, 2009

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DETROIT - MARCH 30: Fans of the Davidson Wildcats support their team against the Kansas Jayhawks during the Midwest Regional Final of the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Ford Field on March 30, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan (Photo by Gre

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With everybody looking at who will get an at-large bid to this year's NCAA tourney, many people forget that a majority of the upsets come from the winners of lesser-known conferences.

Here are my top five teams that could make a splash in the NCAA tourney if they get in by winning their conferences.

I didn't mean to put an overemphasis on the Horizon, but I feel like any of those teams could possibly pull off an upset this March.

So, who is this year's Davidson? Here are my top five:

Summit League: North Dakota State Bison

Record: 16-2 Conference 21-6 Overall
RPI: 96th
SOS: 301
Record vs. Top 100: 0-3

Top Players

G Ben Woodside 23.0 PTS 3.2 REB 6.4 AST
F Brett Winkelman 18.8 PTS 7.3 REB 1.8 AST
G Mike Nelson 11.7 PTS 4.1 REB 2.4 AST

Why they are dangerous?

The Bison are currently leading the Summit League with a conference record of 16-2. What makes them very dangerous is they boast an excellent guard-forward combo of Ben Woodside and Brett Winkelman.

Woodside has shown that he has the ability to put up huge numbers, including a 60-point, eight rebound, eight assist effort against Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 12.

Winkelman has the ability to put up huge numbers as well, putting up 30-plus points in three games.

One of these players going off could end the NCAA title hopes of one of the top four seeds.

Currently, if they win their conference tourney, they could be a 13-15 seed.

Why they won't...

-No wins against Top 100 teams.
-Lost @ Minnesota 90-76, @ USC 61-57

Ohio Valley Conference: Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks

Record: 14-4 Conference 21-8 Overall
RPI: 132nd
SOS: 314
Record vs. Top 100: 0-2

Top Players

G Lester Hudson 26.6 PTS 7.7 REB 4.2 AST
G Marquis Weddle 14.5 PTS 1.8 REB 0.9 AST
F Olajide Hay 9.5 PTS 5.2 REB 0.7 AST

Why they are dangerous?

Currently leading the Ohio Valley Conference, Tennessee-Martin has one of NCAA basketball's top scorers in G Lester Hudson, who has eight games with 30-plus points. If Hudson goes off, an upset may be imminent.

Why they won't...

-No wins against Top 100 teams.
-If they win their conference tournament, they will be either a 15 or 16 seed. -Lost @ USC 70-43

Horizon League: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix

Record: 13-5 Conference 22-9 Overall
RPI: 71st
SOS: 191
Record vs. Top 100: 2-4

Top Players

G Ryan Tillema 17.4 PTS 4.6 REB 1.5 AST
G Troy Cotton 12.7 PTS 3.0 REB 1.3 AST
F Mike Schachtner 11.4 PTS 4.5 REB 0.9 AST

Why they are dangerous?

Currently in second place in the Horizon League, the Phoenix have won two games against top 100 teams, including a big win over Butler. They will need to go through Butler again in the Horizon League conference tourney in order to make the NCAA Tournament.

Why they are not...

-Only quality win is against Butler.
-Will also need to win the conference tourney in order to make the NCAA tourney

Horizon League: Cleveland State Vikings

Record: 12-6 Conference 21-10 Overall
RPI: 75th
SOS: 125
Record vs. Top 100: 2-6

Top Players

F J'Nathan Bullock 15.6 PTS 6.8 REB 1.5 AST
G Norris Cole 12.5 PTS 2.7 REB 2.6 AST
G Cedric Jackson 9.9 PTS 5.5 REB 5.5 AST

Why they are dangerous?

Currently in third place in the Horizon League, they would need to go through Butler and win the Horizon League tournament in order to get into the NCAA tourney. They have beaten Syracuse and have lost to Butler twice by only two points.

Why they are not...

-Will need to go through Butler in order to get to the NCAA tourney. If they do, they will likely be a 15 or 16 seed.

MAAC: Niagara Purple Eagles

Record: 14-4 Conference 24-7 Overall
RPI: 57
SOS: 162
Record vs. Top 100: 2-2

Top Players

G Tyrone Lewis 16.3 PTS 4.6 REB 2.0 AST
F Bilal Benn 14.1 PTS 9.1 REB 2.8 AST
C Benson Egemonye 12.5 PTS 6.7 REB 0.2 AST

Why they are dangerous?

For one, they ended the season winning 10 of their last 11 games with their only loss in that streak at Rider 90-87. They are explosive on the offensive front, second in the MAAC in points-per-game with 77.6, and have a player in the top three in points, rebounds, and assists in the MAAC.

Why they aren't...

-Have not proven that they can beat a top team, and must win the MAAC conference tourney to get in

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College Basketball Cinderellas: Five Teams That Can Make a Splash if They Make the Dance

Steve Popowski

Summit League: North Dakota State Bison

Ohio Valley Conference: Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks

Horizon League: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix

Horizon League: Cleveland State Vikings

MAAC: Niagara Purple Eagles

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The Top Ten Things Arizona Wildcats Basketball Fans Have To Be Thankful For

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