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NCAA Tournament: Upsets to watch out for on lower seed lines

By Bryan Mauro

MURRAY, KY - FEBRUARY 09: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers reacts in the second half of the game against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MURRAY, KY - FEBRUARY 09: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers reacts in the second half of the game against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Russell Turner of the UC Irvine Anteaters gestures during the 2017 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at the Orleans Arena on November 24, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Russell Turner of the UC Irvine Anteaters gestures during the 2017 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at the Orleans Arena on November 24, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

No. 13 seed: UC Irvine Anteaters

No one would ever think of the Big West champion against the Big 12 regular season champions as a potential upset. This year that could be the case especially as Kansas State is reeling and enters the tournament without their star Dean Wade. The Wildcats are going to have to play in the NCAA tournament without their star for the second year in a row and this year the path to the second weekend is much tougher.

The Anteaters are making their second appearance ever in the NCAA tournament, and this year they are poised to be the Cinderella of the entire tournament. UC Irvine enters with a 16-game winning streak and head coach Russ Turner has one of the best teams in Big West history. Led by guard Max Hazzard, UC Irvine has a balanced attack that is predicated on efficient shots, shooting from deep and rebounding. UC Irvine is well-coached and got a fantastic matchup in the first round.

Why is the matchup with Kansas State a good one for the Anteaters?  The star for Kansas State Dean Wade is out and may miss the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row. The Wildcats were able to rise up an reach the Elite Eight a season ago. This year may be different, while Kansas State was still able to win without Wade, when he was injured earlier in the season, the NCAA tournament is a different animal than the regular season. Do not look at just the conference affiliation for UC Irvine, either. They have two wins over teams in the field and have been competitive in every game. Will Wade’s injury hurt the Wildcats this time around?

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