These Five Mid-Majors Can Make a Cinderella Run in the NCAA Tournament

In just a few days, the ball will be tipped and the greatest tournament in sports will get underway. One of the reasons that it is considered the greatest tournament in sports is because of the Cinderella run.

Across the board, no matter whether professional or college, it is rare to see upsets in a tournament setting. The NBA, MLB and NHL all have seven-game series, so an off night doesn’t kill a team. 

The NFL and the College Football Playoff are the closest product to March Madness because like college basketball, you have one game to play and win or else you pack your bags.

Some of the greatest upset runs of all time include Florida Gulf Coast’s 2013 run to the Sweet 16, George Mason’s 2006 run to the Final Four and VCU’s vault from Play-In game to Final Four in 2011.

Which Mid-Major is primed to make a run this year? These five teams have the best shot.

Lipscomb is fresh off of the Atlantic Sun Championship over North Alabama. They were the regular season champion of the conference and came into the tournament with a record of 25-9, but will be no surprise to the big stage. 

They had early season losses to Kentucky and Arkansas, but have shown the ability to score the ball on offense. They are led by senior forward Jacob Ognacevic, who stands at 6-foot-8 and scores 20.1 points per game. Their first-round matchup with Iowa State is one to keep an eye on because if they can score on the Cyclones, they will be in line for an upset.

The High Point Panthers took over the scene last week with a huge comeback victory over Winthrop in the Big South Tournament Championship. They are much more than a late run and a nasty mean mug. They can muck it up. 

They do not have any matchups on their schedule with a high-profile opponent, but they take care of business no matter what. Their Round 1 matchup is with a Purdue team that has been sputtering down the stretch. If they take down Purdue they will either have Clemson or McNeese State, who we will get to in a minute.

An old friend is back in the mix in college hoops and that is Will Wade. Wade’s career has had its ups and downs, but he has settled in at McNeese State and built a great team. The Cowboys are 27-6 on the season and are led by 6-foot-3 guard Alyn Breed, who averages 17.3 points per game. 

Of their six losses, none of them have been by more than nine points. They have single-digit losses to Alabama, Liberty, and Mississippi State. If you aren’t on your A-Game, this team will get you.

It’s the battle of the plains in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament between the Drake Bulldogs and the Missouri Tigers. Missouri better have their head on a swivel because Drake can play basketball. 

The Bulldogs enter the tournament with a 30-3 record and have shown the ability to suffocate teams on defense. They give up only 58.4 points per game, which is the best in all of college basketball. They have wins over Miami, Vanderbilt and Kansas State on the season. 

If they get by Missouri, they will take on the winner of Texas Tech and UNCW for the right to go to the Sweet 16.

Look out, these Akron Zips can flat-out play. They needed a miraculous comeback to win the MAC Championship to finish with a 28-6 record. 

Akron can score in bunches. They average 84.5 points per game, but they don’t get it from one guy. Nate Johnson leads the way at 14 points per game, but eight different players average over seven points per game. They have a balanced attack and they are relentless in their attack. The Zips have Arizona up first and if they get that win they face the winner of Oregon and Liberty. 

It’s an uphill climb for every Mid-Major team, but every single year there is at least one team that makes a run. These five could be the team that does it this year.