March Madness 2015: Analyzing Underrated NCAA Tournament Contenders

The Kentucky Wildcats manhandled the Florida Gators Saturday, winning by a score of 67-50 and finishing the regular season with a blemish-free 31-0 record—the first power conference team to achieve the feat since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers.

While the likes of Kentucky and other potential NCAA tournament No. 1 seeds are generating plenty of headlines in the twilight of the regular season, some under-the-radar squads are playing extremely well and could be extremely disruptive when March Madness rolls around.

So, which teams should we be on the lookout for when filling out our brackets? Here's a glance at three good examples.

Louisville Cardinals

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Louisville had a bit of difficulty when facing Top 25 opponents this season, earning a mere 3-5 record against those teams. However, in most of those contests, the Cardinals were able to keep things close throughout the duration—a trait that really paid off on Saturday.

A regular-season finale against Virginia posed a daunting task for Louisville, but the team was up for the challenge. The Cardinals were able to shoot 46.9 percent from the floor against Virginia's top-ranked defense thanks to great ball movement and physical play down low—notably from forward Montrezl Harrell, who helped will the team to a 59-57 victory.

The tenacity of Harrell and the guidance of head coach Rick Pitino will be major assets to Louisville in the NCAA tournament; however, the team's biggest advantage is its current momentum and chemistry. The win over the Cavaliers sends the Cardinals into the ACC tournament with the mindset that they can win it all, and that will lead to some inspired basketball.

Keep a keen eye on Louisville during their conference tournament, as a strong showing could lead to a bracket-busting performance during March Madness.

Iowa State Cyclones

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There's something about Iowa State's ability to light up the scoreboard in the blink of an eye that makes this team a big threat in the postseason. The Cyclones had an up-and-down regular season, but finished with a 7-4 record when facing Top 25 opposition, including a March 2 victory over No. 15 Oklahoma.

That game against the Sooners was significant for Iowa State, as the team was coming off two consecutive losses for the first time this season. After a terrible start to the game, the Cyclones found themselves down 37-18 at the half. They could have easily collapsed under the pressure, dropping another game, but forward Georges Niang had another idea.

Niang scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, leading Iowa State to a miraculous comeback victory as the Cyclones bested the Sooners 77-70, scoring a whopping 59 points after the break. Iowa State kept its composure and shot 48.3 percent from the floor on the game, a staggering number considering the team's rough start.

After the contest, head coach Fred Hoiberg explained what the win meant to his team during a press conference with The Associated Press (via ESPN.com):

"

I thought it was really a great mental half. We needed that. We needed that in a bad way. Obviously, it was a team that was struggling. Hopefully, this is what we need to get our confidence back to the point where we can get some momentum going into the tournament.

"

Well, the team certainly found its momentum. It went on to defeat TCU 89-76 in the regular-season finale. If the dangerous Cyclones keep their head of steam going through the Big 12 tournament, they won't be easy to take down in the Big Dance.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Notre Dame has been slightly overlooked of late, and that really shouldn't be the case. The Fighting Irish are 4-2 when facing Top 25 squads, earning road wins over both North Carolina and Louisville this season due to a great blend of shooting and athleticism on the offensive end of the court.

Shooting better than 50 percent from the floor as a team this season, Notre Dame utilizes the speed of smaller players to create open looks. That was the case in a March 4 win at Louisville; the Fighting Irish lost the rebound battle but shot 53.5 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the free-throw line as a team, while great perimeter defense limited the Cardinals' opportunities from downtown.

Guard Demetrius Jackson spoke about his team's fast-paced offensive attack after the game during a press conference with The Associated Press (via ESPN.com): "Everybody just went for it. Guys stepped up and made big plays. Steve stepped up and made big shots. Bonzie was like a tight end catching those long balls. Guys just did a great job."

That momentum carried over to the team's regular-season finale, as it defeated Clemson 81-67. Notre Dame has forged wins with an offense that shows no fear and trusts its ability to drain shots from all over the floor. Simply put, when this team is firing on all cylinders it can compete against the nation's best. A strong conference showing could put the Fighting Irish in great position to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.