Who Will Be The Next March Madness Cinderella?

By Andrew Musur on March 12, 2015

Every year during the NCAA Tournament a lesser known team steps up out of nowhere, and makes a deeper run than most would have anticipated.

There’s no telling who this year’s Florida Golf Coast or George Mason will be, but there are definitely a few teams that should worry anyone paired up with them. There is nothing deadlier than a team coming off a conference tournament run.

With March Madness right around the corner, I felt it was necessary to highlight some of the best mid-major teams in the country.

Gonzaga University, 32-2 (17-2), West Coast Conference 

Why: There is a lot to love about this year’s Gonzaga team. For starters, the Bulldogs have several seniors that will be key pieces if the Zag’s hope to make a tournament run.

Kevin Pangos, Byron Wesley and Gary Bell Jr. will have to use their experience and leadership skills to help orchestrate a deep run for the Bulldogs. But the experienced leaders aren’t the only reason Gonzaga will be a scary team come tournament time. Gonzaga can score.

The Bulldogs average 78.8 points per game which is good enough for the 14th highest scoring offense in the country. A majority of that offensive firepower comes from junior Kyle Wiltjer.

If the name Wiltjer sounds familiar, it’s because he used to be a Kentucky Wildcat. Wiltjer didn’t feel he fit into the Kentucky game plan, and decided to take his talents out west. Fortunately for Gonzaga, Wiltjer has been tremendous this year.

The Portland native has been scorching nets, hitting nearly 54 percent of his field goals. Wiltjer is a player that can take over any game, and since the tournament is do or die, he is exactly who I would want leading my team.

How Far Can They Go: History is not on the Zag’s side. Since 2010, the Bulldogs have lost in the second round for five consecutive years. It’s hard to put faith in a program that is so shaky come tournament time, but this may be Mark Few’s best team ever.

The ample amount of scores and talented players on Gonzaga should be enough to will them past the first weekend of the tournament. The Sweet 16 is a safe bet for Gonzaga, but I believe this is the year they make a run to the Elite Eight or Final Four.

Valparaiso University, 28-5 (13-3), Horizon League

Why: Valparaiso has been one of the hottest teams in the country, as they have won 15 of their last 17 games. The Crusaders recently won the Horizon League tournament, knocking out Green Bay and Keifer Sykes (he was going to be on my All Tournament Name team).

Valparaiso will most likely be a 13-seed in the upcoming tournament, and will need to use their stingy defense if they plan on making a run. The Crusaders have held opponents to no more than 60 points since February 8, including three consecutive games of 55 points or less.

Not only does this Valpo team pride themselves in their stingy defense, but they have shown they can compete with quality teams. The Crusaders manhandled Murray State 93-58, back on November 29. A confident team on a hot streak, Valparaiso needs to be taken seriously.

How Far Can They Go: Since 1999 Valparaiso hasn’t been past the first round in their five tournament appearances. An 11-point loss to Michigan State in 2013 stopped the Crusaders from advancing.

This year is a little different as Valpo is led by sophomore Alec Peters, who dominated this year. Peters is averaging 17 points per game, and has hit double digits in all but six games. I’m not saying it won’t be tough for Valpo to advance in this year’s tournament, but with the help of Peters, the Crusaders should have a shot to make at least the second round … maybe even a Sweet 16.

One last thing, don’t forget who coaches Valpo.

Davidson College, 23-6 (14-4), Atlantic 10 Conference

Why: There is no guarantee Davidson makes the NCAA tournament, but assuming they do, they will be tough to knock out. Let’s start with the fact that Davidson has won their last nine games, including key wins over George Washington (twice), Rhode Island and VCU.

The Wildcats have been highlighted by unselfish basketball and a lot of offense. Davidson ranks in the top 5 nationally in both points per game (80.6) and assists per game (17.4). But what’s even more impressive about Davidson is they sit at 6th in the country for fewest turnovers per game. With an almost 2:1 turnover to assist ratio, Davidson understands the importance of every possession.

The Wildcats’ starting lineup has been one of the most effective starting five in the country. Tyler Kalinoski, Jack Gibbs, Brian Sullivan and Jordan Barham are all starters averaging more than 10 points per game. Davidson’s ability to score is what separates them from most teams in this year’s tournament.

How Far Can They Go: The Wildcats missed the tournament last year, but have always been a pest against higher seeds. Davidson routinely has close games with power five teams, and even made it to the Elite Eight in 2008, before losing by two to Kansas.

I’m not saying this team will see the same amount of success that Steph Curry’s team saw, but I truly would not be surprised to see Davidson put it together and make a run to the Sweet 16.

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