With the brackets released, the search for this year’s Cinderella story begins.
The NCAA Tournament this year radiates excitement, featuring powerhouse teams like Duke, Michigan, and Arizona poised to dominate. Yet, March is notorious for its surprises, and surely, one team will capture the nation’s affection.
This March, we spotlight two double-digit seeds that could sneak into the spotlight.
No. 13 Hofstra (Midwest)
Speedy Claxton’s Hofstra Pride might just have the right ingredients for a Cinderella run. This team boasts plenty of experience, highlighting star players like former St. John’s guard Cruz Davis and Long Island’s own Preston Edmeade, and they play a tough defense.
In terms of stats, Hofstra stands tenth in effective field goal percentage on defense, and they’re fourth in Division I regarding two-point shooting defense, according to Bert Torbic’s model.
Offensively, the Pride can heat up, showcasing impressive shooting skills from deep. They’re ranked 29th in the nation for 3-point shooting percentage, with three starters—Davis, Edmeade, and German Plotnikov—hitting at least 37 percent from beyond the arc.
Another factor to consider is the Midwest bracket, which seems ripe for surprises. Although Michigan State leads this division, other seeds have the potential to shake things up.
Besides Hofstra, teams like No. 9 St. Louis, No. 10 Santa Clara, and No. 12 Akron are also in the mix, possibly paving the way for the Pride to make a memorable impact.
Hofstra will need to pull off an upset against No. 4 Alabama in the opening round, but their defensive prowess might just be enough to counter the high-scoring Crimson Tide.
No. 13 Cal Baptist (East)
The WAC champions possess a unique blend of stats heading into the tournament.
Cal Baptist showcases solid defensive capabilities, ranking 50th in KenPom and 37th with Bart Torbic, making them formidable. They’re also strong on the boards, standing 11th in offensive rebounding percentage and 44th in defensive rebounding.
While the Lancers aren’t known for explosive plays, they do have one standout scorer. Senior Dominique Daniels Jr. is incredible, averaging 23.2 points per game, ranking among the top four scorers nationwide.
