10 Cinderella Teams to Watch in the 2014 NCAA Tournament
These squads could shake things up as the Tourney kicks off.
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10 Cinderella Teams to Watch in the 2014 NCAA Tournament - With all due respect to some great sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Series, Olympics and others, it's hard to argue that there's a better time of year as a sports fan than March Madness. Even if you didn't follow college hoops all season, it allows a time to dig in, catch up and watch tons of exciting games. When the nets are finally cut in April and a champion is crowned, it's usually a heavyweight that many predicted would make a run. But along the way, there are always the Cinderella teams and stories that capture the attention of fans and media and make the tournament great. Here are 10 to look out for this year. (Photo: NCAA)
Photo By Photo: NCAA
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Wichita State - Regular Season Record: 34-0 Star Player: Cleanthony Early Famous Basketball Alum: Xavier McDaniel Why They Are a Cinderella: Even though the Shockers are a No. 1 seed and reached the Final Four last year (as a No. 9), they've still got that Cinderella spirit. As a mid-major, Wichita State continues to fight off skeptics who think their schedule hasn't been as tough as that of other teams. (Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
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Harvard - Regular Season Record: 26-4 Star Player: Wesley Saunders Famous Basketball Alum: Jeremy Lin Why They Are a Cinderella: Most don't think of Harvard as an athletic powerhouse, but the Crimson have a dangerous team this year. They ran through the Ivy League, and have the talent and focus to potentially pull off an upset or two. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
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American - Regular Season Record: 20-12 Star Player: Tony Wroblicky Famous Basketball Alum: Kermit Washington Why They Are a Cinderella: After winning their league tourney, the Eagles earned a No. 15 seed and a match up with Wisconsin. The odds may be against them, but if they can shoot it as well as they did all year (better than 49 percent as a team, good for seventh in all of the nation), they could bust plenty of brackets. And remember, that 15 vs. 2 match up has a history of upsets.(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
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Stephen F. Austin - Regular Season Record: 31-2 Star Player: Jacob Parker Famous Basketball Alum: None Why They Are a Cinderella: Sure, they didn't play the toughest competition, but the Lumberjacks only suffered two losses this season — which doesn't happen unless you've got something real going on. To kick things off, they're matched up with a former Cinderella in VCU, and look to give the Rams a taste of their own medicine. (Photo: Stephen F. Austin University)
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