NCAA Bracket 2011 Predictions: 10 Potential Cinderella Candidates
It has been several hours since the NCAA tournament selection committee closed their eyes, threw some goop at a wall, interpreted the splatter pattern and released the findings as the 2011 tournament bracket.
OK, it wasn't that bad. Then again, I'm not from Colorado.
But I'm not here to talk about the past. The seedings are cast in stone, and in the interest of not gathering moss, it's time to move forward and start filling out those brackets.
At this time of year, it's natural to think back on the ghosts of March Madnesses past. The fondest of these memories are not whichever blue-blood scissored up the twine at the end. It's the Cinderellas—the buzzer beaters, the Bryce Drews, the little teams that could—that define a tournament.
They resonate with the underdog in all of us, the David striving against Goliath. In a very essential way, the Cinderella story is an American tale.
So when we strike out to find the giant-killers in this year's field, it's not about bragging rights at the office water cooler. It's not about triumphantly hoisting that manila envelope full of swampy five-dollar bills. And it's definitely not about impressing that new girl two cubicles down.
No. This is about AMERICA, doggone it! It's about overcoming odds! If you doubt me, then I apologize. I'm sorry you never learned to dream.
So now, let me just address the dreamers out there—the true patriots, if you will. Just for you, here are 10 Cinderella possibilities in this year's field. For the record, you may not want to pick all 10. Then again, there were 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights. Great, now I'm tearing up.
On with the slideshow.
10. Richmond Spiders
1 of 10
Seed: 12
First opponent: Vanderbilt
Region and top seed: Southwest/Kansas
The Spiders have shown and proved themselves under the bright lights before. They came up just short last season against a St. Mary's team that made a glass-slipper run of its own to the Sweet 16.
But this year, it could be Richmond's turn. (We at least know it won't be St. Mary's, but that's another matter.) The A-10 champs toppled Temple not long ago, beat Purdue back in November and just knocked off a frisky Dayton team to capture the conference title.
Having won seven straight and 14 of their last 16, Kevin Anderson, Justin Harper and Richmond have serious mo' going into the dance.
9. Washington Huskies
2 of 10
Seed: 7
First opponent: Georgia
Region and top seed: East/Ohio State
Isaiah Thomas and his Pac-10-winning shot put the Huskies on another level. Before, they were a high-octane team capable of winning a game or two. Now, they could be a dark horse to come out of the East region.
Ohio State is a tall order for anybody, but with Thomas, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday and Terrence Ross off the bench, the Huskies can outscore the powerful Buckeyes, who received no favors from the selection committee (they should handle all-time Cinderella George Mason in the second round, but not without a fight).
According to the manual, outscoring your opponent is likely to win you the ball game.
8. Missouri Tigers
3 of 10
Seed: 11
First opponent: Cincinnati
Region/top seed: West/Duke
All right. Time to take a flyer.
Missouri stumbled rounding the third base of the season, losing four of its final five. But when all five of your starters score in double figures and you have the flexibility and breakneck speed afforded you by multiple ball-handlers, you have a chance to make some noise in March.
Cincinnati is nice enough, but despite being seeded five spots above the Tigers, it is only one spot ahead in RPI and lost only two fewer games. At the same time, the Bearcats have struggled with team cohesion all season, with top player Yancy Gates recently receiving a one-game suspension, basically for being a jerk.
That doesn't bode well for Cincinnati's chances to circle the wagons this week.
7. University of Illinois Fighting Illini
4 of 10
Seed: 9
First opponent: UNLV
Region/top seed: Southwest/Kansas
Now is the time for the real Illinois to please stand up. Or fold your arms and go home. Either way, we'll know.
Bruce Weber has coached some talent-loaded squads but seems to have trouble getting them ready for prime time. The Illini have some awful losses on their schedule, including Indiana and Illinois-Chicago.
People like to point out that Illinois went 6-9 to close their season. Fair enough. But I would like to counterpoint out that seven of those 15 opponents were ranked in the Top 25 when they played, and 10 are in the RPI top 50.
Illinois has four seniors on its roster, including team leader Demetri McCamey. Their collegiate legacies will hinge on this tournament performance, and they know it. UNLV has four seniors as well, but only two are factors for the Rebs. Illinois should be fired up for this one, and it could get the win.
6. Florida State Seminoles
5 of 10
Seed: 10
First opponent: Texas A&M
Region/top seed: Southwest/Kansas
When Chris Singleton missed FSU's last six regular-season games with a fractured foot, the 'Noles went a not-terribly-shabby 3-3 in his absence. Then there were reports Singleton was running, jumping and practicing before their March 11 game against Virginia Tech, and though he didn't play in that one, it's hard to imagine him missing the NCAA tournament.
Singleton would give a boost to the ACC's top field-goal percentage defense. Florida State wants to dirty it up, and if it can swamp the Aggies, it might have a chance to throw a big, sludge-covered wrench into the offensive machine that is Notre Dame.
5. Long Island Blackbirds
6 of 10
Seed: 15
First opponent: North Carolina
Region/top seed: East/Ohio State
This one may be a bit of a stretch. But that's sort of the point, right? That's why it's not March Normalcy.
Everyone's assuming Carolina will cruise. But not so fast, my friend. The Heels are young, untested and more than a little gassed. LIU hasn't played since March 9 and is coming in hot, having won 21 of its last 22.
The Blackbirds are fourth in the nation in scoring and third in rebounding. About 26 of those points and 16 of those rebounds come from two forwards, Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasawere. John Henson and Tyler Zeller will have to make a conscious effort to hold them in check. If LIU can keep it close early, maybe—just maybe—it has a shot.
Stranger things have happened. Just ask Northern Iowa or former 14-seed Weber State. Who was it that Weber shocked again? Oh, right. It was North Carolina.
4. Virginia Commonwealth University Rams
7 of 10
Seed: 11
First opponent: USC
Region/top seed: Southwest/Kansas
Yeah, that's right. VCU.
After all the heat they've taken over the past 24 hours, one of the tournament's "undeserving" entrants is bound to use the vitriol as motivation for a win. My money is on the Rams.
VCU finished 49th in RPI—ahead of Michigan, Florida State, Marquette and, yes, Colorado (interesting). They beat UCLA in November and George Mason just last week.
USC—another team who, in my opinion, could be viewed as not having done enough to get in—stands in front of the Rams and Georgetown. Chris Wright is back for the Hoyas, but there's a good chance he will be limited.
With Wright injured on the bench, Georgetown lost five of its last six. VCU is loaded with seniors and juniors and won't be afraid of the name on either opponent's jersey.
Bottom line: Maybe VCU doesn't deserve to be in the tournament. But it's a moot point now. They're there, and that's that—and just because they don't have the résumé doesn't automatically mean they'll flunk the interview.
3. Oakland Golden Grizzlies
8 of 10
Seed: 13
First opponent: Texas
Region/top seed: West/Duke
Oakland is a team in the classic Cinderella mold. They shoot and shoot some more. If those shots start going down in Anaheim, the buzz in that arena will start to build in that inimitable March Madness way.
Texas is certainly formidable, but it's shown a tendency to fall asleep. If it starts to dream about Arizona or Duke, it'll be sleeping on a team that finished second in the nation in both points and shooting percentage, 10th in the nation with 280 made three-pointers and 19th with 738 attempts.
They have five guys who score in double figures. They've won 18 of 19 and haven't dropped a game since Feb. 5.
A halfhearted effort by the Longhorns would not appear advisable.
2. Belmont Bruins
9 of 10
Seed: 13
First opponent: Wisconsin
Region and top seed: Southeast/Pittsburgh
Each year, it seems someone comes up with The Magic Ingredient to predicting tournament success. The three-point shot. The backdoor cut. And if this article is any indication, this year it's scoring margin.
Ohio State may sit atop the rankings, but the little juggernauts from Nashville lead the nation in this category. The deep, balanced Belmont Bruins bullied their Atlantic Sun colleagues this season by 21 points a game, including a 41-point whupping of North Florida in the conference championship.
Of course, it's easy to do this in a smaller conference, but it's still impressive. What's more, Rick Byrd's group has been on the big stage before. Not long ago in 2008, Belmont nearly upended second-seeded Duke in the first round, until a Gerald Henderson jumper saved the Devils in the waning seconds.
This year, the Bruins have the steady aim to line up the kill shot on the metaphorical giant.
1. Old Dominion University Monarchs
10 of 10
Seed: 9
First opponent: Butler
Region and top seed: Southeast/Pittsburgh
The 27-6 Monarchs don't want to be your feel-good story, sir. They're in the tournament for the same reason all the big guys are: win games. Real games. Why should they be so different from the high majors?
Last season, ODU strangled Notre Dame and nearly ran past Baylor into the Sweet 16. This season, they could go farther.
Kent Bazemore and the Monarchs play a drum-tight zone defense. They're also seventh in the nation in rebounding; forward Frank Hassell alone pulls down 10 per contest.
This means they can literally control the basketball. They're a rugged team that can out-physical a lot of groups. This could include the likes of Butler and, yes, Pittsburgh.
.jpg?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "NFL Strength of Schedules 👀")
