The wait is over. The field is set, all that remains is for this year's Cinderella to step forward. Every year there are a certain amount of upsets, we all know that. Which ones can take it past the simple upset and sneak into a possible Elite Eight or Final Four? There is also some good news for the number ones too. Only two times since the field expanded(1980, 2006) have we seen a final four without a single number one seed.
In eleven of the past twelve years at least one team seeded 7th or worse has reached the elite eight. Only four times since 1982 have all four number 2 seeds reached the sweet sixteen. So,needless to say, there will be some highly ranked teams to fall the first weekend. Connecticut, Kansas, Oklahoma, PITT, and Wake Forest should already brace themselves as they all lost in the first round of their conference tourneys, and there has never been a national champion that has lost in it's respective conference tourney's first round.
Upset watchers may want to look for Sienna to upend Ohio St. and Arizona to knock out Utah with it's athleticism in the Midwest. In the west look out for Mississippi St. to continue it's hot streak and knock off Arizona St., although their steam will end in the first round. Utah St. very well could join the SEC champ going into the second round in this region. Keep a close eye on VCU and Minnesota to upend UCLA and Texas in the east. Finally don't be surprised if the south sees Western Kentucky and Temple advance to the second round themselves.
My prediction for the final four, you ask? I see Wake Forest dumping Louisville, Memphis escaping Washington and UCONN, PITT dominating, and Syracuse sneaking by North Carolina. Memphis will get redemption for there self implosion last year by defeating Syracuse in the title game.
Keywords: march madness cinderella stories, national championship, NCAA basketball tournament
