NCAA Tournament 2023: Top 10 most likely 1st round upsets to happen
By Joey Loose
8. 12 Charleston over 5 San Diego State
With a 20-game win streak earlier in the season and their first AP Top 25 ranking in two decades, Charleston has not exactly slid under the radar this season. In his second season at the helm, Pat Kelsey has done incredible work with these Cougars and has them back in the NCAA Tournament, boasting 31 wins and a CAA Tournament title. Their only losses came in the opening week against then-top-ranked North Carolina, and a tough stretch over a month ago against two conference foes.
What’s worked great for the Cougars this season is that they aren’t dependent on one or two players. Sure, Dalton Bolon was the leading scorer and First Team All-CAA, but they had four other players average double-digit points per game this season. In fact, five different Cougars received honors from the CAA after their incredible season. They play consistent basketball, rebound well on both sides, and defend the 3-pointer, though much of their competition this season hasn’t exactly been Tournament-level teams.
That’s where the issues pop up for a Charleston team that was certainly a trendy upset pick before the bracket reveal. Even though they’ve won 31 games and been impressive, they drew a San Diego State team that’s spent much of the season ranked and just won the MWC Tournament themselves. The Cougars score a lot of points, but San Diego State’s defense is electric and it’s going to be a really intriguing battle to see which style wins the fight. Honestly, the Cougars are in great shape for the Sweet Sixteen if they can pull this off, based on the potential second-round matchup.