Can Cinderellas Dance in the Sweet Sixteen?
Everybody loves Cinderella. And, in college basketball's biggest dance, Cinderellas are everywhere, showing their lucky charms for all the world to embrace.
When ninth-seeded Northern Iowa defeated the top overall seed Kansas, 69-67, the Panthers turned the entire basketball nation on its ear. During this March Madness season, Northern Iowa hasn't been the only Cinderella wearing dancing shoes. 10th-seeded St. Mary's, 11th-seeded Washington and 12th-seeded Cornell are others that have put the whammy on basketball powers. Villanova, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Temple and New Mexico, all seeded fifth or better, are back home watching the rest of the tournament on TV and wondering what happened.
These Cinderellas are dancing at a relatively new dance hall. This is the first time in the history of Northern Iowa and Cornell that they have advanced to the Sweet 16. And, St. Mary's advanced to the Elite Eight in 1959 when only 23 teams were in the tournament. So, they too are jitterbugging to a somewhat different song.
Cornell has advanced farther than any previous Ivy League school except Penn, who made the Final Four in 1979. You might remember that team, or not, because the Final Four was dominated by Larry Bird's Indiana State and Magic Johnson's Michigan State teams.
While it is a bit shocking for the basketball world to figure out, these teams are in the final 16 because they play solid basketball and believe in themselves. While we blinked our eyes wondering if what we just saw actually happened, they have kept their eyes open and focused on winning and advancing.
Do any of us really believe they can continue to Cha-cha-cha? Most national experts don't and will pick number one seeded Kentucky to beat Cornell, fifth-seeded Michigan State to derail Northern Iowa and third-seeded Baylor to end St. Mary's run.
Yet, based on the first round, these teams will not go quietly. And, don't be suprised if the Cinderellas continue to dance to the stars.
Remember - Northern Iowa didn't stand a chance against Kansas...but they did. When they upset fifth-seeded Temple, it must have been the perfect storm for the Cornell. But surely, the Big Red wouldn't, couldn't defeat Big Ten power Wisconsin in the second round? Except, they did by dominating the heavily favored Badgers. And, really, nobody thought St. Mary's could tame Big East power Villanova. But...they did, behind the play of their big man Omar Sanham, who is becoming an internet sensation, and timely three-point shooting.
Along the way, these Cinderellas have captured a following that extends far outside their respective campuses and alumni bases. Sanham is being followed on Twitter by national media and fans all over the country. Cornell's team is getting big play in the national press as is UNI, which was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
These teams are easy to like. Why? I think because they are a lot like most of us. Nobody has heard of us either but we when we work hard and believe in ourselves, we find success.
Ivy League schools aren't regulars on SportsCenter. Neither is the Missouri Valley Conference champ UNI and St. Mary's of the Big West. But give them credit, they show that they are basketball teams that feature good and timely shooting, solid rebounding and sound defense.
Cornell has one of the best big men in the country in Jeff Foote, who Kansas head coach Bill Self said could play for anyone in the country. And, after 27 and 32 points in consecutive NCAA games, Sanham is in the same category. UNI's Adam Koch was Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Ryan Wittman of Cornell is proving to be one of the best players in the country. He was the Ivy League Player of the Year and his dad Randy was a member of Indiana's national title team in 1981. Don't forget about Ali Farokhmanesh, who calls the three-point line and beyond his home. Who? Farokhmanesh, who hails from Iowa City, Iowa, is one of three seniors on the UNI squad. He has ice in his veins and doesn't shy away from taking and making big time shots. He hit the game-winning shot in UNI's improbable first-round win over UNLV and then his three late against Kansas proved to be the difference in that stunning victory.
So, we wonder will the Cinderellas continue to dance? Cornell's chore is a bit tougher than UNI. The Big Red faces one of the traditional powers in collegiate basketball in Kentucky, who probably have four or five players that will play in the NBA. The Wildcats' point guard John Wall might be National Player of the Year. In a best of three series, the favorites probably advance, but in a one-game winner take all, anything can happen.
If these powerhouses blink, they might be another victim of Cinderella's magic. Remember in 1966 when Don Haskins' Texas Western (now UTEP) squad defeated heavily favored Kansas by one point (81-80) and then defeated Utah before upsetting Kentucky's vaunted team, 72-65, in the NCAA finals.
Maybe one of these Cinderellas will also find that ultimate success. Or, perhaps they are the next George Mason, the biggest of all Cinderellas that made the 2006 Final Four after upsetting Connecticut.
I hope the Cinderella(s) continue to dance all the way to midnight.
My Picks
I like Northern Iowa to defeat Michigan State and St. Mary's to upend Baylor. Cornell will have its dream come to an end in a loss to Kentucky. But, remember, I picked Kansas and Villanova to make the Final Four.
This and That About NCAAs
~ Duke has not defeated a team seeded higher than fifth in the regional since 2001.
~ 11 conferences have teams in the Sweet Sixteen.
~ Cornell's 20-point win over Wisconsin is the biggest margin of victory for an Ivy League school since 1970.
~ UNI will make its first-ever appearance in the Sweet 16. It will also be the first Missouri Valley Conference team since Wichita State in 1981 to advance to a regional final. Wichita State defeated Kansas, 66-65, before losing to LSU, 96-85, in the regional final.
~ Xavier and Michigan State are the only two teams in the men's tournament to reach the Sweet 16 three straight years. MSU's Tom Izzo is the only coach to lead his team to the Sweet 16 three straight times as Xavier has had two different coaches.
When ninth-seeded Northern Iowa defeated the top overall seed Kansas, 69-67, the Panthers turned the entire basketball nation on its ear. During this March Madness season, Northern Iowa hasn't been the only Cinderella wearing dancing shoes. 10th-seeded St. Mary's, 11th-seeded Washington and 12th-seeded Cornell are others that have put the whammy on basketball powers. Villanova, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Temple and New Mexico, all seeded fifth or better, are back home watching the rest of the tournament on TV and wondering what happened.
These Cinderellas are dancing at a relatively new dance hall. This is the first time in the history of Northern Iowa and Cornell that they have advanced to the Sweet 16. And, St. Mary's advanced to the Elite Eight in 1959 when only 23 teams were in the tournament. So, they too are jitterbugging to a somewhat different song.
Cornell has advanced farther than any previous Ivy League school except Penn, who made the Final Four in 1979. You might remember that team, or not, because the Final Four was dominated by Larry Bird's Indiana State and Magic Johnson's Michigan State teams.
While it is a bit shocking for the basketball world to figure out, these teams are in the final 16 because they play solid basketball and believe in themselves. While we blinked our eyes wondering if what we just saw actually happened, they have kept their eyes open and focused on winning and advancing.
Do any of us really believe they can continue to Cha-cha-cha? Most national experts don't and will pick number one seeded Kentucky to beat Cornell, fifth-seeded Michigan State to derail Northern Iowa and third-seeded Baylor to end St. Mary's run.
Yet, based on the first round, these teams will not go quietly. And, don't be suprised if the Cinderellas continue to dance to the stars.
Remember - Northern Iowa didn't stand a chance against Kansas...but they did. When they upset fifth-seeded Temple, it must have been the perfect storm for the Cornell. But surely, the Big Red wouldn't, couldn't defeat Big Ten power Wisconsin in the second round? Except, they did by dominating the heavily favored Badgers. And, really, nobody thought St. Mary's could tame Big East power Villanova. But...they did, behind the play of their big man Omar Sanham, who is becoming an internet sensation, and timely three-point shooting.
Along the way, these Cinderellas have captured a following that extends far outside their respective campuses and alumni bases. Sanham is being followed on Twitter by national media and fans all over the country. Cornell's team is getting big play in the national press as is UNI, which was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
These teams are easy to like. Why? I think because they are a lot like most of us. Nobody has heard of us either but we when we work hard and believe in ourselves, we find success.
Ivy League schools aren't regulars on SportsCenter. Neither is the Missouri Valley Conference champ UNI and St. Mary's of the Big West. But give them credit, they show that they are basketball teams that feature good and timely shooting, solid rebounding and sound defense.
Cornell has one of the best big men in the country in Jeff Foote, who Kansas head coach Bill Self said could play for anyone in the country. And, after 27 and 32 points in consecutive NCAA games, Sanham is in the same category. UNI's Adam Koch was Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Ryan Wittman of Cornell is proving to be one of the best players in the country. He was the Ivy League Player of the Year and his dad Randy was a member of Indiana's national title team in 1981. Don't forget about Ali Farokhmanesh, who calls the three-point line and beyond his home. Who? Farokhmanesh, who hails from Iowa City, Iowa, is one of three seniors on the UNI squad. He has ice in his veins and doesn't shy away from taking and making big time shots. He hit the game-winning shot in UNI's improbable first-round win over UNLV and then his three late against Kansas proved to be the difference in that stunning victory.
So, we wonder will the Cinderellas continue to dance? Cornell's chore is a bit tougher than UNI. The Big Red faces one of the traditional powers in collegiate basketball in Kentucky, who probably have four or five players that will play in the NBA. The Wildcats' point guard John Wall might be National Player of the Year. In a best of three series, the favorites probably advance, but in a one-game winner take all, anything can happen.
If these powerhouses blink, they might be another victim of Cinderella's magic. Remember in 1966 when Don Haskins' Texas Western (now UTEP) squad defeated heavily favored Kansas by one point (81-80) and then defeated Utah before upsetting Kentucky's vaunted team, 72-65, in the NCAA finals.
Maybe one of these Cinderellas will also find that ultimate success. Or, perhaps they are the next George Mason, the biggest of all Cinderellas that made the 2006 Final Four after upsetting Connecticut.
I hope the Cinderella(s) continue to dance all the way to midnight.
My Picks
I like Northern Iowa to defeat Michigan State and St. Mary's to upend Baylor. Cornell will have its dream come to an end in a loss to Kentucky. But, remember, I picked Kansas and Villanova to make the Final Four.
This and That About NCAAs
~ Duke has not defeated a team seeded higher than fifth in the regional since 2001.
~ 11 conferences have teams in the Sweet Sixteen.
~ Cornell's 20-point win over Wisconsin is the biggest margin of victory for an Ivy League school since 1970.
~ UNI will make its first-ever appearance in the Sweet 16. It will also be the first Missouri Valley Conference team since Wichita State in 1981 to advance to a regional final. Wichita State defeated Kansas, 66-65, before losing to LSU, 96-85, in the regional final.
~ Xavier and Michigan State are the only two teams in the men's tournament to reach the Sweet 16 three straight years. MSU's Tom Izzo is the only coach to lead his team to the Sweet 16 three straight times as Xavier has had two different coaches.
Comments
Post a Comment