5 Sleepers in the NCAA Tournament
The hardest part about filling out a March Madness bracket is identifying the teams who will make a Cinderella run to the second weekend and beyond. Here are five possible sleeper teams ahead of the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
1. Memphis Tigers, No. 9 Seed, West Region
Many would think that losing a top-three recruit like Emoni Bates would create a decline in a team’s success. Since Bates left the program, though, the Tigers are 10-2 with a pair of wins over Houston, which sent them flying up to a No. 9 seed where they will face off against Boise State before a potential matchup with No. 1 Gonzaga.
Jalen Duren has the size and the Tigers have the strength to knock the Bulldogs off balance and put enough pressure on Mark Few to create a major upset scenario in the Round of 32.
He can also defend the paint as well as any big man in the nation, which is where Gonzaga makes its living on the offensive end.
This game sets up similarly to Duke-UCF from 2019 when Tacko Fall and the Golden Knights were a tip-in away from an upset that would have sent shockwaves across the college basketball world. Don’t be surprised if the Tigers can do something similar with this draw in the west.
2. South Dakota State, No. 13 seed, Midwest Region
The Jackrabbits looked like they were the best conference championship winner from mid-major conferences and would earn a 12 seed, but the committee disagreed and handed them the 13 seed in the midwest region.
They did give them a favorable matchup against a Providence team that analytical systems do not trust as a top seed, though.
Baylor Scheierman is an outstanding talent, who leads the second-best scoring team in the nation and an offense that shoots over 52% from the field and nearly 45% from the perimeter.
Defense can be a struggle, but there is no better defense in the NCAA Tournament than putting pressure on a higher seed and using their nerves to your advantage in upset opportunities.
3. Connecticut Huskies, No. 5 seed, West Region
If fans are looking for a sleeper who can actually win a national championship, the Huskies are the team for you. They are no stranger to winning NCAA Tournaments as a lower seed and they have the core group of players every coach wants in March.
RJ Cole is a seasoned point guard who makes good decisions and shows up in the biggest moments. Tyrese Martin is a secondary scoring threat in the backcourt who plays with relentless energy, making him one of the best rebounding guards in the nation.
Adama Sanogo controls the interior, so UConn fans don’t need to worry about a dominant big man taking over a game.
The West region is daunting, but the Huskies have the talent to play with anyone and the determination to actually do it.
4. Virginia Tech Hokies, No. 11 Seed, East Region
The Hokies could be the hottest team in the nation after winning four consecutive games in the ACC Tournament to punch their ticket to the Big Dance.
Head coach Mike Young nearly went on a run with Wofford in 2019 and he brought two of his players from that team to Virginia Tech in star forward Keve Aluma and starting point guard Storm Murphy.
His Terriers knew how to shoot from the outside and these Hokies are no different. Every player on the floor is capable of shooting 3-pointers but Darius Maddox, Sean Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor lead the charge by all shooting 42% or higher.
If they can sustain their momentum from Brooklyn and continue to shoot the lights out from beyond the arc, this could be the 11 seed that busts everyone’s bracket.
5. Marquette Golden Eagles, No. 9 Seed, East Region
The North Carolina over Baylor pick will be common because of the pedigree of the Tar Heels and the injuries that decimated Baylor this season.
While that outcome is alternatively possible, the Golden Eagles may not even let UNC get there because they are able to get out in transition with the fifth-fastest offense in the nation and slow teams down with an organized defense that ranks 46th in the country.
Justin Lewis is a star who fans need to know, and Darryl Morsell is capable of locking down any opposing guard as one of the best defensive players in college basketball.
Head coach Shaka Smart never won a NCAA Tournament game at Texas, but he is more than comfortable in the role of an underdog, taking 11-seed VCU to the Final Four as a head coach in 2011. He has the pieces to make another Cinderella run 11 years later after the most vulnerable No. 1 seed was placed in his path in the East.
Derek Bast is a third-year majoring in digital/print journalism. To contact him, email dmb6699@psu.edu.
