[Old School Hound]

Seems like every year, there's a team or two that is invited to the Ball and makes an unexpected run to the Sweet Sixteen or even further.   Remember, George Mason and Florida Gulf Coast?  Or what about Loyola of Chicago's Final Four run in 2018?

What about this year ?   Who would be a couple of your most likely candidates to make it to at least the Sweet Sixteen and maybe beyond?


I like Winthrop  and Cal Santa Barbara  for my two most likely Cinderellas  to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Both of these teams are really good!  I also like the paths to get them to the Sweet Sixteen.   I can see Winthrop beating a Villanova team that is minus its best player and then beating Purdue in the next game.  I can also see  UCSB beating Creighton and then Virginia.   In the Sweet Sixteen, Winthrop would probably be overmatched by Baylor and the same for the Gouchos with Gonzaga.

My two other Cinderellas  are Loyola  and  St. Bonaventure. I really like these two teams a lot but I am worried about their potential second opponents.   I believe Loyola will beat GA Tech but then they would have to get by Illinois, a tough matchup.  I believe the Bonnies can hang with LSU but then they would have to face a really good Michigan team.  

I will say this, if Loyola stuns  Illinois in game two , watch out. We could see the Ramblers in their second Final Four in the last three NCAA tourneys.


So, give me Winthrop  and UCSB  as my most likely Cinderellas to advance to the Sweet Sixteen and then watch Loyola, a team that players, coaches, and the metrics say is even better than the 2018 Final Four team.


Which Cinderellas  are you dancing with???