College Basketball

Teams that could bust your NCAA Tournament bracket

Last year it was Wichita State who made an improbable run to the Final Four, as a No. 9 seed. Who will be this year’s Cinderella? Here are four possibilities, one for each region:

Baylor — No. 6 in West Region

The size and speed of Baylor will give No. 3 Creighton fits in the third round, and they will hammer Wisconsin on the glass in the Sweet 16.

Dayton — No. 11 in South Region

Sharp-shooting Flyers will puncture holes in No. 3 Syracuse’s zone after Ohio State transfer Jordan Sibert makes No. 6 Buckeyes pay for keeping him on the bench. Dayton proves Atlantic 10’s depth in Sweet 16 run.

New Mexico — No. 7 in South Region

The under-seeded Lobos have the size to create problems for inconsistent Kansas, which likely will be without center Joel Embiid in the third round.

Stephen F. Austin — No. 12 in South Region

Deep, experienced team full of seniors that hasn’t lost since Nov. 23, and has favorites in its way — No. 5 VCU in the second round, No. 4 UCLA in the third round — that are susceptible to upsets.

Kentucky — No. 8 in Midwest Region

The Kentucky team we saw this weekend in the SEC Tournament is the one we expected to see all year — and an eighth seed Wichita State won’t be too pleased to see in the third round.

Oklahoma State — No. 9 in West Region

Atypical nine seed has a potential NBA lottery pick in point guard Marcus Smart and plenty of offensive weapons to give offense-challenged Arizona — the No. 1 seed — fits in the third round after blowing by No. 8 Gonzaga.

Providence — No. 11 in East Region

The seeding committee either wasn’t watching the Big East Tournament or didn’t put much stock in it. No. 11 Providence doesn’t deserve to see a double-digit seed next to its name, and will make a return trip to MSG.

Memphis — No. 8 in East Region

The Tigers are another example of an under-seeded AAC team. Memphis’ speed and up-tempo style will create problems for slow-footed top seed Virginia in the third round, and a Sweet 16 matchup with No. 4 Michigan State will be a track meet.