NCAA Basketball: 10 teams with upset potential in 2023 NCAA Tournament

Furman

In recent years, there has been a slew of great mid-major teams from the Southern Conference, and Furman has always been the good one that’s never had its moment. While teams like Wofford, UNC Greensboro, or most recently Chattanooga have had success (and seen their coach move onto greener pastures), the Paladins are still hunting for their breakthrough, though a 24-7 season this year might indicate that their time has come.

It’s quite possible that the two most talented players in the conference are right here on Furman’s roster, as Mike Bothwell and Jalen Swanson have been excellent in their fifth years, both averaging at least 15 points a game this year. Nobody else in the rotation is a senior, indicating a potentially bright future if someone like JP Pegues or Marcus Foster, who both averaged 11 points a game, can develop into that next stud.

Furman actually leads the nation in 2-point field goal percentage, but they also shoot a lot of 3’s as well. They play relatively clean and efficient basketball and have won 11 of their 12 ballgames. They’ve waited for this moment and look like the best team in the conference right now. If they do win the SoCon Tournament and claim a 14-seed, they could legitimately give fits to one of those teams on the 3-seed line. Furman makes their shots and isn’t too sloppy on defense; they gave Penn State fits back in November and beat South Carolina by 19 points. It’s all about the moment, and Furman looks like a team that could stand up in that moment.