It's finally time. Time for every single NCAA basketball fan to hide their phone under their desk so their boss (or teacher in the case of us at RationalFanz) doesn't catch them watching the games. Of course, everybody loves a good tourney filled with upsets (see 2011 Butler and VCU), and it's heartbreaking when your team falls, but exactly which teams can become the classic Cinderella and crash the big dance?
EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (13 seed, South Region) Eastern Washington resembles Wisconsin just a smidge in that the Eagles rely heavily on their offensive game (80.8 PPG) and their defense is nowhere to be found (73.6 PPGA). Those two numbers are good for first in PPG, but last in PPGA of the 68 tourney teams. Eastern Washington's pairing in the round of 64, a tourney opener against an overrated Georgetown, is the prefect starting point to kick off their run for the trophy. BYU COUGARS (11 seed, West Region) BYU is a team who has some huge wins this season, and also some big losses. The Cougars have struggled this season, mainly at the beginning, but they've roared back (no pun intended) by ending their season 8-2, including handing Gonzaga their second loss of the year. They joined Arizona as the only other team to beat the Zags this year. The one downfall to the Cougars is their losses to bad teams such as St. Mary's, Pepperdine TWICE, San Diego.... you get the idea. At any rate, the Cougars have the best potential of any double-digit ranked team to run the table. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN LUMBERJACKS (12 seed, South Region) The team who came into the 2014 tourney as a 12-seed and knocked out VCU has the same potential one-year later. The Lumberjacks are easily the most selfless team in the entire tourney, averaging 17.8 assists per game, and that could mean defensive nightmares for teams. When a team averages nearly 17 assists per game, that means that there's usually a guy open. Therefore, the opposing team needs to lock down on D, keep the Jacks to a passing minimum and boom, game over, SF Austin is knocked out. But wait a sec, it's not that easy. SF Austin's leading scorer is Thomas Walkup, at 15.7 points per game, and their second-leading scorer is Jacob Parker at 14.1 PPG. Both of those guys can rattle off 20 point games at any given moment, and the balanced scoring attack is how the Jacks can go far. TEXAS LONGHORNS (11 seed, Midwest Region) I don't really consider the Longhorns that big of an underdog, but since they were "awarded" an 11-seed, I'll put 'em on here. The Longhorns started the season on a good note, winning all of their cakewalk games along with a 71-57 beatdown of Iowa. The Horns' only loss in their first 11 games was against Kentucky, and we all know how Kentucky is... Texas followed up their victory over Long Beach State with an atrocious loss at home against Stanford. Everything fell apart for the Horns from their, who proceeded to go 8-10 in the Big 12 along with 2 losses to 9-seed Oklahoma State, who I feel got way overranked. Nonetheless, Texas managed to rein in the runaway train at least a little, and after taking Iowa State to the wire, they are ready to make a splash for revenge. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (10 seed, West Region) Ohio State is one of many teams this year who I feel got underrranked. For example, Oklahoma (22-10, 12-6 Big 12) was granted a 3-seed, but 23-10, 11-7 Ohio State was given a 10-seed. Does one game difference really mean a 7-seed gap? Probably not, but being a 10 gives OSU that much more of an opportunity for upsets. The Buckeyes lack a good win against opponents outside the BIG 10 and some of their losses in conference are simply embarrassing. The huge bright spot for the Buckeyes is obviously D'Angelo Russell. The fabulous freshman is averaging 19.3 PPG and has the skill set to go off for a huge game. The bottom line for Ohio State is how well Russell plays. In 7 of the Buckeyes losses, Russell has scored less than his season average. So goes Russell, so goes the team. If D'Angelo plays like his potential, OSU can make a deep tourney run. HONORABLE MENTIONS: DAYTON FLYERS, VALPARAISO CRUSADERS, BELMONT BRUINS, BUFFALO BULLS, UC IRVINE ANTEATERS So put the finishing touches on your bracket and get it in! Make sure you pick enough upsets to appease the basketball gods.
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