Three mid-major teams that can be this year’s darlings of the Dance.
March Madness would be incomplete without a compelling Cinderella story. Last year, it was 15-seed Saint Peter’s with one of the most memorable Elite Eight runs in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
Here are three mid-major teams (seeded on the 12 line or lower) that can win multiple games in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Charleston – 12 seed
Charleston has been the leader in Cinderella’s clubhouse since December, and for good reason. The Cougars have put together win streaks of 20 games and 10 games, the latter of which is still active.
The 12-seed Cougars will play 5-seed San Diego State on Thursday, March 16, at 3:10 p.m. in Orlando, Florida. Considering the alternatives, that’s a favorable draw and location.
San Diego State has not won a game in its three previous trips to the NCAA Tournament. Granted, this team is not a carbon copy of Brian Dutcher’s previous squads, but they do play a similar style. The Aztecs play a physical, defensive brand of basketball. They also struggle to score for long stretches, making it difficult to pull away from teams at key moments.
Charleston is a textbook example of a team that has taken on the identity of its head coach, Pat Kelsey. In 2021, Kelsey went 23-2 and took Winthrop to the Dance, where they gave Villanova a legitimate test. In just his second year at his new job, Charleston has gone 31-3 and is primed for a Cinderella run. They play at a blistering pace and with nearly unmatched energy, taking a lot of 3-pointers and substituting frequently.
San Diego State prides itself on making teams use all 30 seconds of the shot clock. Charleston prides itself on scoring quickly and playing at a pace that other teams would call chaotic. Whoever wins the battle of tempo will win the game.
In the Round of 32, Charleston would face either Virginia or Furman. Virginia, like San Diego State, likes to play at a slower tempo and has limitations offensively. Again, if Charleston can wreak havoc and speed up the game, they will have a legitimate shot at a Sweet 16 run.