by Jackson Schneider ’24
March 7, 2024
The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the writer and do not reflect the views of University School of Nashville or the Peabody Press.
The most exciting postseason in sports, March Madness, is coming up. While teams like Purdue and Gozaga have been clear favorites going into previous seasons, there’s no dominant team this year, making this season more interesting. Here are some teams that have flown under the radar this year and can make some noise during the tournament:
- University of South Florida Bulls (21-5):
The resurrection of USF sports has caught the college sports world’s attention. USF saw major improvement in both football and basketball, launching them into the conversation for the next teams to move to the Power Five level. The rise of their basketball team has been the most surprising aspect of their season. After firing coach Brian Gregory last season, the Bulls were predicted to finish 9th in the American Conference this season. However, the new coach—Amir Abdur Rahim—has translated his success from Kennesaw State to Tampa. South Florida does not excel in any one thing particularly, but is solid in every aspect of the game. An all-around team that can shoot and defend the three ball well is not something those mid-seeded teams in the tournament want to see. The Bulls have two main scorers in Selton Miguel and Chris Youngnblood, who are both shooting over 40% from beyond the arc. Both players have a lot of competition experience: Youngblood was with Rahim on the Kennesaw State team that made the tournament last year, and Miguel comes from Kansas State, a Power Six school. This is a team that has not lost since January 7 and has beaten top teams in their conference and other conferences throughout the country. With wins over the major conference powers in Memphis, FAU, and Charlotte—and a win over current A-10 standings leader Loyola Chicago—USF is poised for a Cinderella run in March.
- New Mexico Lobos (21-7)
Last season, the Lobos finished just short of getting into their first March Madness since 2014; now, they are a few games away from securing their spots into the big dance. The Lobos team sports one of the scariest guard trios in the country, with Donavan Dent, Jamal Mashburn Jr, and leading scorer Jaelen House putting up 15.5 points per game. This team uses speed and a fast pace of play to put up points quickly. Faster-paced teams have had great Cinderella stories in the past, with teams like Oral Roberts in 2021 (who made it to the Sweet 16) and Fairleigh Dickinson University last year (who was the second team ever to defeat a number 1 seed in the first round). New Mexico State is a team with their experience and skill that can create a lot of chaos from the 8-9 seed, as they would be facing a number 1 seeded team in round 2 (Per ESPN Bracketology Projection).
- Michigan State Spartans (17-11)
Despite some struggles recently, Tom Izzo should have his March Madness streak continued barring collapse. The Spartans have an elite backcourt that can shoot the lights out and play teams right up on the perimeter. The downfall of this MSU team is its lack of a consistent big man. Not having a player to go to in the post has hurt the Spartan offense many times throughout the season, which is why they are sitting at an unusually low 7-10 seed in bracket projections. However, if there is something Izzo has always done, it is winning when he is doubted the most. The last time MSU went into the tournament as a 7 seed they made it all the way to the Final 4. To do that this year, however, Izzo will need his freshman to step up, namely highly touted five star Xaiver Booker. Booker was a top 10 prospect in the country coming into the season, but hasn’t broken into the rotation until these past few games, where he has shown some promise down low. Just like every year, facing Izzo in March is a very dangerous matchup.
4. Iowa State Cyclones (22-6)
While the Cyclones are ranked inside the top 10, they are not getting the respect or recognition of a top ten team. Since TJ Otzleberger took over the program in 2021, the Cyclones have returned to their glory days of the Fred Hoiberg Era of 2010-2015 with one of the best defenses in the country. Many thought they would take a step back as a team with the transfer of former star point guard Caleb Grill to Missouri, but it has been the opposite. This has been the best Cyclone team in the Otzleberger era, with players like Keshon Gilbert and Taimen Lipsy picking up the load left behind by Grill. Currently, the Cyclones are sitting at 11th in the KenPom rankings, thanks to the Cyclones’ lockdown defense that currently ranks as the third best in the country. Along with an offense generating around 78 points per game, the Cyclones have their best shot at a deep run in March for the first time in a long time.
