Bracketology: 10 teams with Cinderella potential in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

UC Irvine Anteaters

Current Bracketology Status: No. 13 seed.

UC Irvine might be the most overlooked mid-major in the country and I think that is due to their pace of play. The Anteaters rank just 309th in the entire country in tempo and their offense is only slightly above the national average in adjusted efficiency. With this said, though, they can be absolutely stifling on the defensive end of the floor and that makes them quite dangerous.

UC Irvine boasts a top-50 defense in the country by efficiency standards (adjusted by SOS, which brings their numbers down) but they have held their opponents to just 40.3% shooting inside the arc this season. That mark ranks tops in the country and they also do an incredible job defending the 3-point line. Sure, opponents might be shooting a relatively solid 33.8% from distance against the Anteaters but they have been allowed to attempt only 33.2% of their total shots from beyond the arc. That is the 19th-lowest rate in the nation.

Additionally, it is hard to find a team in the country that stifles ball movement quite like UC Irvine. Thanks to quality scheming and execution, this team only allows opponents to dish out assists on 44.5% of their total made shots (28th nationally). The Anteaters really force teams to play out of their regular sets and this could stifle some of the best run offenses in the country. Their pace of play and high-quality defense will allow them to play just about anyone close and they have the go-to scorers needed to take over down the stretch.

UC Irvine has won 13 consecutive games and they have ridden underrated junior guards in Max Hazzard and Evan Leonard during this streak. When the Anteaters are knocking down shots, they can beat just about anyone. Defense travels.