NCAA Tournament 2015: Top Four Sleepers

Courtesy – Sports Illustrated

March Madness is finally underway and if you have not been paying much attention to college basketball this year, now is the time you try to cram knowledge about each team to fill out the perfect bracket. The NCAA tournament seeds for 2015 have already been announced and the number one seed in each region is the University of Kentucky in the Mid West, the University of Wisconsin in the West, Villanova University in the East and Duke University in the South.

This year’s March Madness has the potential to be one of the best. Right now, all eyes are on the University of Kentucky who are currently 34-0 and were given a 49 percent chance of winning it all. They also have a chance to be the first team since the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to win a championship while being unbeaten.

History has a chance to be made this tournament, which makes this year extra special. It also has been reported that nearly 25 percent of brackets have a Duke versus Kentucky final. This year, everyone will be paying attention to Kentucky and the top seeded teams closely, but every year, there is a Cinderella story. This article is going to take a look at the four biggest sleepers in this year’s NCAA tournament, who have the potential to capture the nation’s attention.

1) San Diego State University

The San Diego State Aztecs should not be slept on. This is a strong team that excels defensively. The Aztecs only allow their opponents an effective field goal range of 46 percent per game. San Diego has a tough mindset that comes from their head coach Steve Fisher. The Aztecs are coming into the tournament ranked at the number eight seed in the East with their first matchup against St. John’s University. To make it to the Sweet 16, San Diego will most likely have to face Duke University and though Duke is the number one seed and everyone plans on them being in the final, the Blue Devils recently were eliminated by Norte Dame in the ACC tournament, Duke also was eliminated by in the first round by Mercer during last year’s tournament. Without a doubt, keep an eye on the San Diego State Aztecs.

2) Wichita State University

The Wichita State Shockers are a strong team. In case you forgot, the Shockers were undefeated last season until they lost to the Kentucky Wildcats. Also, just a year before that, the Shockers made an appearance in the Final Four. Wichita State can score and defend. Two juniors currently lead them, Rob Barker who averages 15 points a game and Fred VanVleet who averages 12.5PTs per game. The Shockers are the seventh seed in the Mid West and if they continue to win, they will most likely face Kentucky in the Elite Eight, which would add even more to their underdog story.

3) University of Northern Iowa

The Northern Iowa Panthers are probably a team you might not think of being capable of having a Cinderella story but please don’t doubt this team. This year alone, the Panthers finished the season with a record of 30-3, a number 10 ranking in the AP Top 25, won the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and landed on the front page of Sports Illustrated. Not to mention, during this season, the Panthers achieved a 16-game win streak. Sports Illustrated said that Northern Iowa was going to make March Madness a “slow dance”. This is because the Panthers have the ability to control the tempo of games with their elite defense, which is currently fourth in the nation in points allowed. The Panthers can also move the ball offensively, they are ranked as the nation’s 16^th best shooting team at 48.3 percent. Northern Iowa will start at the fifth seed in the East. Keep a close watch on this team, they have the ability to sneak into the Elite Eight.

4) Davidson College

The Davidson Wildcats have the potential to make a serious run during this year’s tournament. Davidson currently averages over 80 points per game, which makes them the sixth best team in the nation in scoring. This is also one of the most well rounded teams in the year’s tournament. They are completely unselfish and are third in the nation in assists. The Wildcats will start the tournament with the 10^th seed in the East. Davidson is the league champion of the Atlantic 10 and was led by three scorers, senior guard Tyler Kalinoski who averages 17 points per game, sophomore Jack Gibbs who averages 16.3 points per game and junior Brian Sullivan who averages 12.8 points per game. This offense will kill defenses with pick and rolls, screens, off the ball shots, cuts and three-pointers. Davidson has all the pieces for a Cinderella story.