NCAA Bracket 2011: 10 Sleepers No One Is Talking About
The incredible thing about March Madness is that you never really know what can happen.
In essence, that’s why it’s madness!
Sure, you have your No. 1 seeds that are usually good bets to make it far into the brackets, but what about those sleeper teams?
Every team believes that they have a chance to pull off an upset, but the difference is that only a few are ever able to do it.
It takes a unique blend of skill, determination, heart and yes…luck.
Here’s a list of 10 sleeper teams that nobody is talking about.
No. 16 Seed, Southwest: Boston University
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If Boston U can knock of the No. 1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks, then they truly will be the ultimate sleeper team and can have my vote for Cinderella.
The Terriers have won 11 in a row in the America East conference and rely heavily on conference player of the year, John Holland.
A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed, so Boston U is going to have to literally play perfect in every facet of the game to make it happen.
Anything is possible.
No. 11 Seed, East: Marquette
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Marquette is a team that relies heavily on their offense, which will make them a tremendous factor if they are on.
Their defense leaves a lot to be desired though, so if the shots aren’t going in, then they could be in for a quick ride in the tournament.
On the other side of the coin, if their offense is truly clicking, they have the ability to ride it out as far as it will take them.
They have a tough matchup against Xavier and point guard Tu Holloway, so they better hope that the offense will click.
No. 13 Seed, West: Oakland University
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Oakland is currently the third best team in Michigan.
That might not seem too impressive, but when you factor in that the first two are Michigan and Michigan State, then you can see why the Summit League champs are such a good sleeper pick.
The Golden Grizzlies are starting to become accustomed to the NCAA tournament, but they don’t have an easy task with the draw of Texas.
Head coach Greg Kampe was surprised by the tough draw, but is going to have to get his team ready nonetheless.
Oakland plays an up-tempo game and looks to guard Reggie Hamilton for a good chunk of their scoring.
Center Keith Benson averaged 18 points and 10.1 rebounds a game and will have to play a huge role on both offense and defense for the Golden Grizzlies to have a chance at the upset.
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No. 14 Seed, Southwest: St. Peter's
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St. Peter’s got a hard draw with No. 3 seed Purdue, but they have the ability and confidence to pull off the upset.
Their mascot is a Peacock, which is kind of funny, but the Peacocks don’t think they should be a laughing matter.
They have a team-based mentality and a chip on their shoulder. They can also play some lock down defense and don’t seem afraid of the challenge of the tournament.
Senior guard Nick Leon actually stated that they would be the “new Butler."
Let’s see if they have it in ‘em.
No. 6 Seed, Southeast: St. John's
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The Red Storm lost senior forward D.J Kennedy, which is automatically going to hinder their tournament hopes, thus putting them into the sleeper role.
St. John’s will be matching up with Gonzaga, which is no easy task, but they will lean heavily on their star, Dwight Hardy.
They are a team that is big, athletic and keeps the focus on defense.
No. 11 Seed, Southeast: Gonzaga
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Gonzaga is back in the familiar underdog role, and we all know that they can play it well.
The Bulldogs have a first-round matchup against fellow sleeper team St. Johns, and I expect that the winner of that game will have a good chance of making it to the Sweet 16.
As far as Gonzaga is concerned, they need to focus on their strength, which is defense.
They utilize both man and zone defenses effectively, and have a big 7' tree in the center in Robert Sacre.
Defense is going to be the key to this Gonzaga team.
No. 12 Seed, Southeast: Utah State
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This is the third consecutive season that the Aggies have made the tournament, and their reward is a huge test against Kansas State.
The Aggies will win games with their offense and experience. Their seven top scorers are either juniors or seniors, and they utilize multiple threats from the three-point line.
They will have a tough road to travel, but they have the firepower to make it happen.
No. 11 Seed, West: Missouri
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Missouri is a team that is in trouble entering into the tournament, but they have an opportunity to make everything better and have the talent to do so.
The Tigers are a feisty defensive team and have a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
They create lots of pressure on the defensive side of the ball and are very good at causing turnovers on the perimeter.
Guard Marcus Denmon averaged 21 points per game during the season and is going to have to play a huge factor for Missouri to have a chance.
No. 14 Seed, East: Indiana State
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Indiana State is making their first tournament bid since back-to-back showings in 2000 and 2001.
They have a tough draw against a good Syracuse team and will have to find ways to exploit their zone defense.
The Sycamores are going to have to rely on their team depth and on point guard Jake Odum.
If Odum can control the pace of the game and get his teammates open shots, than Indiana State could have a shot to take down the Orange.
No. 8 Seed, West: Michigan
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It might be a stretch to consider the University of Michigan a sleeper in this tournament, but considering where this program has come from, the lack of tournament experience and the road they must travel, they are a sleeper in my eyes.
They have a very hard matchup against Tennessee in the first round, but it is not unfathomable to see a win. If they can make it out of the first round, most likely they will be matching up with Duke, which is no easy task.
Michigan is a team that has tons of heart and tons of young talent. They have established their own version of the “Fab Five” and do have the pieces to make a run.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is emerging to be a star player in the Big Ten and juniors Zack Novak and Stu Douglass are serious threats from beyond the arc.
If Michigan can keep their offense running the way they want it to, then they could have the potential to knock of giants.
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