NCAA Tournament 2012: 13 Potential Cinderella Stories Set for This March Madness

Arguably the greatest aspect of college basketball is the volatility of every moment on the hardwood. Momentum shifts, inspired play and a conglomerate of other factors are the driving force behind what we all know and love to be Cinderella stories, one of the most unique parts of the sport.

We've all heard the tale of the young maiden who, despite all odds, fell in love with a prince, and he with her. Cinderella and her unlikely pairing has been the inspiration behind possibly the greatest tournament tradition—the string of upset victories won by the most unlikely of teams.

For me, my most cherished college basketball moments have been due to these magical teams. I couldn't tell you who won the 2006 NCAA Championship, but I still have ingrained in my mind the legendary Final Four journey of George Mason.

Just a short five years later, my knowledge still blanks on a who left with the title in hand, but the memory of VCU tearing down all obstacles en route to Houston is a fond recollection. For a country that loves to see the little guy come out on top, Cinderella teams are the ultimate addiction.

We take a look at the top 13 squads that should be in this NCAA Tournament who all have the potential to be this season's Cinderella story.   

Cincinnati

Even though Cincinnati hasn't exactly been a full-on threat this season, their placement as sixth in the Big East has moved them into consideration for the Dance at a somewhat decent 10-12 seed.

An all-around power that could cause problems for any higher-ranked squad, the Bearcats need to be watched out for come March.

With strong wins over Georgetown, Notre Dame and UConn, Cincinnati is poised to really explode in the NCAA Tournament. Some tough games to finish out the year against Louisville and Marquette, however, will be big tells of whether or not the Bearcats have what it takes to go deep in the Dance.  

Chance of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 30%

North Carolina State

While the Wolfpack haven't impressed at all this year out of the ACC, their fifth place in the conference is much better than expected. As of right now, they currently aren't in the ESPN Bracketology, yet with three wins to finish out the season and a solid conference tourney run, NC State should be in around a 11-13 seed.

Even though North Carolina State has no wins over ranked teams this season, they still have performed somewhat well in a top-heavy ACC. If the Wolfpack can get going in the Dance, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

An evenly balanced squad of contributing players is what makes this team a possible Cinderella story.

Chance of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 25%

Vanderbilt

The Commodores have pretty consistently performed well in the underrated SEC. Coming in at third place behind a strong Florida squad and the all-powerful Kentucky, their huge wins over Marquette, LSU and Alabama have them projected to own a 6-8 seed.

Led by the junior guard John Jenkins and senior forward Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt matches up well with most of the top squads in the nation. Going deep in the SEC tournament is more than a sure-fire bet for this talented group of young men and will provide a great springboard for the NCAA Tournament. 

Chance of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 40%

Seton Hall

The Pirates impressed all of the first half of the season, only losing two of their first 17 games. Then disaster struck in conference play as Seton Hall dropped six in a row.

The Pirates seemed to be pretty much a sinking ship till recently when they pulled out four of their last five, including a giant win over Georgetown.

Certainly one of the most inconsistent squads in the Big East, Seton Hall is a big-time threat when they're on. The only problem would be predicting when they'll be on and when they're falling apart.

Keep an eye out for the Pirates in their conference tourney as well as the Dance. 

Chance of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 35%

New Mexico

The Lobos have silently crept into first place of the MWC, overtaking both conference powers of UNLV and SDSU. Their 22-5 record is much better than most people give credit as New Mexico has strong wins over the Aztecs and, most recently, the Rebels by 20 points.

Drew Gordon, their senior forward, has displayed himself as one of the best players nationwide. Strong defense combined with some consistent shooting has him knocking on the door into the NBA as he looks to finish his tenure at UNM with some style.

A deep tourney run along with some big-time upsets would be the perfect way to leave his four-year university as a legend.

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 50%

Alabama

The Crimson Tide are obviously more known for their proficiency on the gridiron rather than the hardwood, but after a successful season so far, they may be looking at a chance to take a run at a second championship. Their solid wins over LSU, Arkansas and Wichita State present the Tide as a threat to any program out on the court.

Alabama's senior forward JaMychal Green has shown up as a force in the SEC, helping the Tide compete against big-time programs such as Kentucky, Mississippi State and Florida.

The conference tournament coming up will be a giant stepping stone for this 'Bama squad.

Chance of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 45%

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish have slowly evolved over the course of their stay in the Big East into a program that consistently matches up with the powerhouses. While never actually winning the conference, Notre Dame is once again poised to snare a decent seed but not take home the Big East Championship.

Led by a conglomeration of talented players, the Irish are still the only team in the country that has defeated a powerful Syracuse squad. The early loss of senior forward Tim Abromaitis hasn't affected the Irish as many expected.

Just the fact alone that they're still extremely competitive without him shows how truly potent this team can be. 

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 60%

Creighton

Coming out of literally nowhere this season, the Bluejays have made a big splash in college basketball. Led by the superstar sophomore forward Doug McDermott, Creighton has wrecked shop all season long.

Possibly the best player in the country this year, McDermott has put up monster numbers with over 23 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounds, pulling down eight per game as well.

If the Bluejays can continue to utilize their star forward, this squad will go extremely deep in the Dance come March.

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 55%

Kansas State

The Wildcats have been one of those two-faced teams that never gives anyone a clue when they're actually going to show up. For example, K-State has tough conference losses to teams such as Oklahoma and Texas in games that they shouldn't have let slip away.

However, the Wildcats also own two of Missouri's losses, taking down the Big 12's top team with some style in both victories.

Under head coach Frank Martin, I can envision this squad taking a deep run into the Big Dance, especially if senior forward Jamar Samuels and junior guard Rodney McGruder decide to show up.

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 70%

Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have no middle ground when it comes to performance. They seemingly love to play down or up to the level of their opponents, making them extremely dangerous for higher seeds yet unbelievably disappointing against the bottom of the barrel.

MSU has easily played with both Florida and Kentucky, even taking down Vanderbilt in overtime.

On the other hand, however, Mississippi State has also fallen to Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia and LSU, with the latter two coming in overtime. Each of those squads are teams that the Bulldogs should have crushed considering how much talent they own, yet didn't due to reasons unknown.

If MSU can make it into the Sweet Sixteen, though, they will certainly be one of the greatest threats in the bracket with all the potential to upset anyone. 

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 65%

Virginia

The Cavaliers have been a true pleasure to watch all season. Their solid playing style, quickness and strong shooting has allowed them to slide into fourth place in the ACC. Under the direction of senior forward Mike Scott, this team has a ton of potential and all the tools to make it to the Final Four.

With two ranked squads in Florida State and UNC making the trip up to Charlottesville to close out the regular season, Virginia should be able to come away with at least one strong win before heading into the ACC Tournament.

Beyond that, the Cavaliers have upset potential written all over them as they have consistently played close with the top teams from their conference.  

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 85%

Iowa State

The Cyclones have been unusually potent out of the underrated Big 12 this season, holding onto fourth in the conference behind powers such as Baylor, Kansas and Missouri. Big-time wins over both Kansas schools has given the perception that this team is a lot more dangerous than many people let on.

Their sophomore forward Royce White has been the main key to Iowa State's success so far, making an impact in every aspect of the game. ISU is poised to explode come the NCAA Tournament, especially since most opponents will underrate this small program from the heartland.

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 75%

St. Mary's

The Gaels have consistently surprised the college basketball world over the past couple of years, making some runs into the Dance on occasion. This season looks like it will be another one of those years, as this extremely underrated St. Mary's squad prepares to head to the NCAA Tournament. 

When their two star players, Rob Jones and Matthew Dellavedova, are both healthy, this team is almost unbeatable. Some scarce losses over the course of the season have created many a critic, but this program is one of the more experienced teams in the country.

It is that undervalued experience that will make St. Mary's this season's Cinderella story.  

Chances of Becoming a Cinderella Squad: 90%