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

VCU Rams

Current Bracketology Status: No. 8 seed.

Defense wins championships. I know that this might be an outdated phrase but it still rings true in many situations. And with regards to the VCU Rams, this is a team that nobody will want to see in their region thanks to their top-notch defense. Of the teams that own a top-9 adjusted defensive efficiency mark in the nation, VCU (ranked fifth) is the only one that is not currently projected to land a No. 4 seed or better. Their defense is simply that darn good.

In addition, the Rams are arguably the hottest team in the nation right now. As winners of 12 straight games heading into the Atlantic 10 Tournament, this team is riding a serious hot streak that could carry into the Big Dance. As of right now, I am projecting that VCU will land a No. 8 seed but that could be even higher by the time Selection Sunday rolls around. I know that their strength of schedule is not all that great but let’s not forget that they hung around with Virginia on the road earlier this season.

On the offensive end of the floor, VCU can certainly have their struggles but their defense will keep them in every game they play. And if they start to gain some momentum on the offensive end behind the trio of Marcus Evans, De’Riante Jenkins, and Issac Vann, watch out. Head coach Mike Rhoades has his team playing at a really high level and they have second-weekend (and beyond) potential.