2021 March Madness: 5 mid-majors capable of a Final Four run

Winthrop (23-1)

• SEED: 12th (South)
• RANKINGS: 91st (KenPom), 55th (NET)

With the exception of the undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs, there is no team in Div. I with a better winning percentage than the Eagles and Pat Kelsey’s crew are just three points shy of joining Gonzaga among the ranks of the undefeated.

Winthrop is not necessarily efficient offensively or defensive, checking in at 120th and 70th, respectively – but the Eagles still succeed in both areas, scoring a 30th-best 79.5 points and holding teams to a 78th-best 66.5 points per game.  They are a terror in several categories, including hauling down an offensive rebound on 35.7% of their attempts – 12th-best in the nation – while allowing teams to bring an offensive carom down on just 22.1% of their attempts, which ranks 10th in college basketball.

What the Eagles love to do, however, is run offensively – and slow teams down on the defensive end.  Winthrop plays the 11th-fastest tempo in college basketball, with an average possession length of 14.9 seconds (8th in Div. I) – while forcing teams to take 18.0 seconds off the shot-clock (308th in Div. I).

Their prowess on both ends of the court was on full display in the Eagles’ three wins in the Big South Tournament, where they trampled High Point, Longwood, and Campbell by an average of 25.7 points, holding those three squads to an average of 0.81 points per possession on clips of 43.5% (2PT) and 24.0% (3PT) – while the Eagles averaged 1.18 points per possession and shot 59.6% inside the arc.

Additionally, there are few mid-major players who have been as impressive as point guard Chandler Vaudrin, who has recorded three triple-doubles this season – including a 10-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist showcase in Winthrop’s quarterfinal win over High Point – and leads the team in all three areas with 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists.  He has not been alone, however, with Charles Falden, D.J. Burns, and Adonis Arms all averaging over 10 points and three boards per game.

There may not be a more trendy upset pick in the opening round than Winthrop toppling the Collin Gillespie-less Villanova Wildcats, and that is completely understandable.  Should the Eagles get past Villanova, however, they will face an even tougher gauntlet, with – most likely – Purdue awaiting them immediately afterward, followed by either Wisconsin, North Carolina, or Baylor.

Crazier things have happened, however, and Vaudrin – in his final go-around with Winthrop – is the type of do-it-all player who could change a game by himself and set his team up for a historic postseason run.