Fans could see a record-breaking number of upsets–even more than in 2016 when 10 double-digit seeds won during the tournament’s first week.
The NCAA Tournament is known for upsets and that’s one reason it draws millions of fans each March. Here’s a rundown on just a few of the games that could create mayhem this March.
South Region
#12 Davidson vs. #5 Kentucky
Kentucky has been clicking on all cylinders lately. The Wildcats captured their fourth consecutive SEC Tournament title last weekend in St. Louis. But the Wildcats are going to get more than they bargained for in the fellow Wildcats.
Peyton Aldridge (photo, Charlotte Observer)
Davidson, which upset 25th-ranked Rhode Island 58-57 in the Atlantic-10 title game, are led by the duo of freshman Kellan Grady and senior Peyton Aldridge. Aldridge is the heart of the team. A 6-8 senior, he leads the team in rebounding with 7.8 boards per game, while having the ability to step outside and knock down the outside shot (76 made 3-pointers on the year).
If Kentucky can’t contain the one-two punch of Grady and Aldridge, the Wildcats could show the other Wildcats an early exit from the tournament.
#10 Texas vs. #7 Nevada
I think Nevada (27-7) is over-seeded ‘big time.’ It doesn’t make sense to slot an at-large 7-seed from a weak conference. On the other hand, Texas is substantially under-seeded. How so? The Longhorns have quality wins against Alabama, TCU, West Virginia and archrival Oklahoma (twice). They fell just short against Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan, and Kansas (twice).
The Longhorns are used to playing in high-pressure situations, too. Texas has played in SEVEN overtime games this season—something no other team in the field can claim.
East Region
#12 Murray State vs. #5 West Virginia
The Racers really got the shaft! There’s no other way to describe it. Owners of an impressive 26-5 record and Ohio Valley Conference title, the Racers were rewarded with a 12-seed and given a grueling first-round matchup with West Virginia—a team that also deserved a higher seed.
But if Murray State can handle “Press Virginia” and Jonathan Stark (21.8 PPG) gets hot from the outside, watch out!
Jon Elmore (photo, The Herald-Dispatch)
#13 Marshall vs. #4 Wichita State
Taking down the Shockers will be no easy task, but the Thundering Herd is stampeding into the Big Dance with plenty of momentum. Marshall won the Conference USA crown, edging Western Kentucky in the title game, 67-66.
In that game, Jon Elmore hit a Conference USA championship game-record seven 3-pointers. He is one part of a junior duo that includes C.J. Burks. The pair scores over half of Marshall’s points.
#14 Stephen F. Austin vs. #3 Texas Tech
This isn’t Stephen F. Austin’s first tango in the Big Dance. Not by a long shot…. They’re in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons and the Lumberjacks scored upsets in two of those years—beating 5-seed VCU in 2014 and 3-seed West Virginia in 2016.
Texas Tech has had a remarkable season (24-9), but it will mean practically nothing if the Red Raiders are shown the exit by a “Little Bro’” in-state school.
Midwest Region
#16 Penn vs. #1 Kansas
Most fans know that a 16-seed has never beaten a 1-seed in the history of the NCAA Tournament. But mark my words: the team that finally does it will be an Ivy League team.
That’s because the Ivy’s has a patented formula–fundamentally sound offense using a slow-down tempo to control the game. The Quakers are just that team. That’s why I give them a slight chance of knocking off historically inconsistent Kansas.
Trae Young (photo, YouTube)
#10 Oklahoma vs. #7 Rhode Island
With a top NBA prospect in Trae Young (27.4 PPG, 8.8 APG), it’s hard to imagine this game being an upset. But the Sooners are still seeded lower than the Rams.
So if Oklahoma wins—which it should—the outcome will be marked down as an upset.
That’s showing no disrespect to the Rams. It’s just that the Sooners have underachieved this season. But OU could also be this tournament’s darkhorse teaam.
West Region
#12 South Dakota State vs. #5 Ohio State
The Jackrabbits are in The Dance for the third consecutive year. While the Jacks have never made it past the first round, that could change this year. Why? South Dakota State is ranked sixth in the nation in scoring (84.9 points per game) and they have 6-9 junior Mike Daum (23.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG).
#11 San Diego State vs. #6 Houston
The Aztecs are a team that’s downright scary. Believe it or not, this could be a Final Four team.
What makes San Diego State dangerous is its ridiculously balanced attack. The Aztecs have five players that average double figures in points even though SDSU’s leading scorer, Malik Pope, averages just 12.9 points per game. Opponents can’t “pick their poison” against this team.
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Cameron Brown is a former Webster County basketball player and an undergraduate student at Western Kentucky University, where he is a double major in journalism and history—with a minor in broadcasting. Contact him at Cameron.brown288@topper.wku.edu
