March Madness 2013 Bracket: Underdogs That Will Make a Run During NCAA Tourney

The annual NCAA tournament is one of the most thrilling times in all of sports, as it pits nearly every great team in college basketball against one another in a winner-take-all event.

Because of the bracket and seed formula, the most exciting results are often underdogs pulling off upsets against the favorites. In 2013, there seems to be plenty of candidates to play the role of Cinderella, as these ‘dogs look primed to put on the glass slipper and dance deep into this tourney.

Let’s take a peek at three schools we believe could make an unexpected journey through the bracket.

Be sure to download a printable NCAA bracket and check out Bleacher Report's live bracket.

Make your picks for the 2013 NCAA tournament here with the Bracket Challenge Game.

 

No. 12 Ole Miss – West Region

The SEC tournament champions shocked the world by knocking out Florida in the finals, and they now have a chance to do the same against Wisconsin in the round of 64.

The outspoken and sometimes controversial Marshall Henderson—a junior guard who can take and make all the big shots—leads this feisty Rebels squad.

During the 2012-13 campaign, this 6'2" star averaged 20.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point land.

While we’re not saying he’s as skilled as someone like Stephen Curry was during his time at Davidson, this talented young man does have the heart, motivation and talent to will his team to a few improbable victories during March Madness.

Should Henderson get hot, there’s no telling how far Ole Miss advances.

 

No. 8 North Carolina – South Region

UNC was playing some of the best basketball in the country before losing its regular season finale to Duke and an ACC tourney matchup versus Miami.

Coach Roy Williams implemented a unique small-ball strategy that includes forward James Michael McAdoo at the 5 and guards Dexter Strickland, Reggie Bullock, P.J. Hairston and Marcus Paige supplementing him in the starting lineup by stretching the court and piling in points.

While this group isn’t going to beat anyone on the glass, they are a matchup nightmare for traditional squads to deal with and neutralize some of the lumbering bigs that college teams love to plant in the paint.

With a second-round showdown against Villanova to start things off and a likely round of 32 matchup against No. 1 seed Kansas, it’s going to be difficult for these Tar Heels to get going.

However, if they are able to somehow navigate past these two opponents, expect UNC to have a real chance of making a Final Four appearance.

 

No. 4 Saint Louis – Midwest Region

The Billikens were one of the surprise teams of the 2012-13 season, and they still look to have plenty more tricks up their sleeve.

This Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament winner earned the No. 4 seed after its brilliant campaign and starts things off against No. 13 New Mexico State on Thursday to open things up.

We believe Saint Louis should have no problem winning there, but things get tricky after—especially in the tough Midwest portion of the bracket.

The round of 32 battle would be against Oregon or Oklahoma State—two strong opponents that could give the Billikens a run for their money. The Sweet 16 would likely be against Louisville, the No. 1 overall seed in this event.

It’s certainly not an easy road, but there’s a small chance that Saint Louis navigates its way through the Midwest and into the Final Four. That would perhaps be the most impressive Cinderella performance of this tourney, even if the feat is accomplished by a No. 4 seed.