Five mid-major teams that could be March Madness Cinderellas
The NCAA Tournament is just around the corner and once it tips off the small mid-major schools that often become March Madness darlings will be on full display.
While this season has been far from smooth - the pandemic has forced the cancellation or postponement of games and some teams have had trouble finding their rhythm - there are some obvious leaders in the clubhouse in this category.
Some are familiar names - take Loyola-Chicago, for example. The Ramblers and Sister Jean advanced to the Final Four three years ago. Drake, off to its best start, hasn't qualified for the tournament since 2008.
Five teams poised to wear a glass slipper as a potential Cinderella in the 2021 NCAAs:
Drake
The Bulldogs (18-1) just lost their first game Sunday to Valparaiso but have built up a solid tournament résumé. It's likely they could land an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament out of the Missouri Valley. Regardless of seeding line, whichever team draws Drake in March Madness will be in trouble. The Bulldogs shoot over 50% from the floor with a dynamic offense that overshadows a top-20 defense. ShanQuan Hemphill (14.4 ppg) has the skillset to be a March star.
Loyola-Chicago
As Drake has hogged the top 25 spotlight in the MVC thanks to its strong start, fellow MVC kingpin Loyola has been overshadowed. In 2018, coach Porter Moser took the Ramblers (17-3) to the Final Four. This group isn't as special as that remarkable team, but the same winning recipe has been coming to fruition of late. Loyola has won 10 in a row and has been pummeling opponents: a 42-point win over Northern Iowa on Jan. 17 and a 36-point win over Valparaiso on Jan. 20 are just two examples.
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Belmont
The Bruins (20-1) haven't lost a game since Dec. 5. Coach Casey Alexander has continued to keep this mid-major a force in the Ohio Valley since legendary coach Rick Byrd retired in 2019. Belmont has a well-balanced offense that is the sum of its parts, with five players averaging double figures starting with veteran big man Nick Muszynski (15.1 ppg).
BYU
The Cougars (15-5) held their own against No. 1 Gonzaga on Monday in an 11-point loss and have a strong enough tournament portfolio to land a No. 7 to No. 9 seed – staying off the bubble. Senior Alex Barcello (15.4 ppg, 4.6 apg) is a do-everything guard who could rise as a March star. As a team BYU averages about nine three-pointers a game.
Winthrop
The Eagles (16-1) also just lost their first game of the season, to UNC Asheville. Chandler Vaudrin does it all for Winthrop, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. This team will need to prevail in the Big South to secure an automatic bid but if it earns its ticket this group could surprise power conference teams with its efficiency.
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson