Four mid-majors with double-digit seeds and Cinderella potential
Whether it’s Florida Gulf Coast’s improbable run to the Sweet 16 two years ago, Davidson coming within a shot of the Final Four in 2008 or George Mason actually getting there in 2006, the NCAA tournament has delivered some memorable Cinderella stories.
Here’s a look at four mid-majors with double-digit seeds and a chance to do some damage this year. Note that big-budget Wichita State and Gonzaga were not considered here, nor were double-digit power-conference teams like Vanderbilt or Michigan.
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Yale (22-6, 13-1)
League: Ivy (first place)
Seed: No. 12 in the West
Opening-round opponent: No. 5 Baylor
Potential Round of 32 opponents: No. 4 Duke/No. 13 UNC Wilmington
RPI/KenPom: 44/38
Why the Bulldogs are dangerous: Yale’s biggest advantage in its matchup with Baylor might be in the stands rather than on the court. The Bulldogs are playing the Bears a 100 miles from campus in Providence, R.I., an easy trip for Yale fans and alumni who haven’t seen their team in the NCAA tournament since John F. Kennedy was still in office. Geography isn’t the only reason to believe in Yale though. The Bulldogs also match up extremely well against Baylor. The Bears typically bludgeon opponents on the offensive glass but their long, athletic zone defense can be susceptible against teams adept at shooting threes. Well, Yale is No. 7 in the nation in defensive rebounding percentage and is in the top 60 nationally in 3-point percentage. One concern for the Bulldogs is the absence of point guard Jack Montague, who was expelled over a sexual assault allegation last month and is suing the school as a result. Not only is the situation a potential distraction, Montague was the team’s second best 3-point shooter.
Northern Iowa (22-12, 11-7)
League: Missouri Valley (Tied for fourth place)
Seed: No. 11 in the West
Opening-round opponent: No. 6 Texas
Potential Round of 32 opponents: No.3 Texas A&M/No. 14 Green Bay
RPI/KenPom: 73/76
Why the Panthers are dangerous: Northern Iowa developed a reputation as a giant killer during a peculiar season rife with highs and lows. They toppled No. 1 North Carolina in November, defeated in-state power Iowa State a few weeks later and won two out of three against Missouri Valley champ Wichita State. They also somehow finished a distant fourth in the Valley standings and lost 12 regular season games including a stunning season sweep at the hands of Loyola. Which version of Northern Iowa will we see in the NCAA tournament? Based on their recent play, it’s a good bet the giant-slaying Panthers show up. They’ve won 12 of their last 13 games and take plenty of momentum into the NCAA tournament after their buzzer-beating win in the Valley title game over Evansville. Title game hero Wes Washpun is a name to get to know because of his ability to create for himself and others off the dribble.
Hawaii (27-5, 13-3)
League: Big West (Tied for first place)
Seed: No. 13 in the South
Opening-round opponent: No. 4 Cal
Potential Round of 32 opponents: No. 5 Maryland/No. 12 South Dakota State
RPI/KenPom: 86/61
Why the Rainbow Warriors are dangerous: If you’re looking for a big underdog to ride in the opening round, you could do far worse than Hawaii. The Big West champion Rainbow Warriors have fared well against strong competition this year, beating Northern Iowa, pushing Texas Tech and falling to Oklahoma by just three. Hawaii leading scorer Stefan Jankovic will be a problematic matchup for Cal because of his 39.5 percent shooting from behind the arc. The 6-foot-8 big man has the ability to drag the Bears’ big men out of the paint, open up driving lanes for his teammates and perhaps reduce the effectiveness of Cal’s otherwise smothering half-court defense. One disadvantage for Hawaii in this game is the 11 a.m. PST tip-off — which is 8 a.m. for the Rainbow Warriors. But if they can adjust their body clocks, they have a chance, especially since Cal has struggled to close out games away from home this year.
Iona (22-10, 16-4)
League: MAAC (second place)
Seed: No. 13 in the Midwest
Opening-round opponent: No. 4 Iowa State
Potential Round of 32 opponents: No. 5 Purdue/No. 12 Arkansas Little Rock
RPI/KenPom: 87/73
Why the Gaels are dangerous: This is a tempting pick because the Cyclones were seeded a line or two too high and the high-octane Gaels can match them point for point. Led by high-scoring guard A.J. English, Iona is top 50 in the country in scoring, tempo and 3-pointers made. They’ve won 12 of their last 13 capped by an impressive victory over Monmouth in the MAAC title game. Iowa State can put up points in a hurry too, but the Cyclones’ defense couldn’t stop a nose bleed. If this turns into a fast-paced shootout, that might favor Iona considering the Gaels go nine deep and the Cyclones scarcely use more than six players. The one disconcerting thing about Iona is its record against top 100 competition this season. The Gaels have been blown out by Valparaiso and Oregon State and Monmouth is the only team they’ve beaten.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
