The 2011 Cinderella Thread

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ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

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Feb 18, 2011 4:45 PM
So what teams going in to the tournament would you consider a Cinderella?

I suppose it would be of benefit to establish what constitutes being a Cinderella. Would you consider a seeding of 6th or lower? A seed lower of 4 or whatever taking down a highly seeded team? Hard for me to pinpoint what one aspect personifies one, but I know one when I see one.

What say you?
Feb 18, 2011 4:45pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Feb 18, 2011 5:34 PM
Typically, a team that doesn't have the athletes or players...ie a mid-major. Even if a low seeded major conference team advances I don't count it because they almost always have the athletes and such to compete...just didn't for some reason.

Of course, mid majors now have built up programs, X and Zags come to mind. But even if a team like BYU goes far, I would count it. Maybe more of a cinderella season than tourney, but still impressive given the lack of high major talentn the team out of HS
Feb 18, 2011 5:34pm
september63's avatar

september63

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Feb 18, 2011 5:43 PM
This year again watch George Mason's run to the sweet 16.
Feb 18, 2011 5:43pm
CinciX12's avatar

CinciX12

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Feb 18, 2011 7:15 PM
Screw the delusional mormons. I hope they go out in the first round.

Jimmer though is pretty freaking awesome.
Feb 18, 2011 7:15pm
Tiger2003's avatar

Tiger2003

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Feb 18, 2011 7:20 PM
september63;683357 wrote:This year again watch George Mason's run to the sweet 16.

I agree. Saw them play a couple of times while I was still living in DC.
Feb 18, 2011 7:20pm
D

dave

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4,558 posts
Feb 18, 2011 7:32 PM
Not sure a team with an outside shot at a #1 seed could be a cinderella.

Not sure I'd call these cinderella's either but I think St Johns, Xavier, and Baylor could win several games as 6+ seeds.
Feb 18, 2011 7:32pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Feb 19, 2011 12:50 AM
dave;683415 wrote:Not sure a team with an outside shot at a #1 seed could be a cinderella.

Not sure I'd call these cinderella's either but I think St Johns, Xavier, and Baylor could win several games as 6+ seeds.

BYU doesnt have a shot in hell at a #1 seed. Id say they will get a 5.

Dont let the rankings fool you, they arent even used.

Gonzaga was #2 in the nation and had a 1st Team AA on their team and got a 6 seed. Good call since they lost to Montana in round 1 that year.
Feb 19, 2011 12:50am
D

dave

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Feb 19, 2011 2:05 AM
5 seed? You don't think RPI is used by the committee? BYU isn't any mid-major, they have a ton of cash and a huge following. The NCAA would love for them to make a deep run.

If they only lose at most 1 more game (assuming they play SDSU twice and lose once) they will have an outside shot at a 1. They would need the Big East to continue to beat each other up (Pitt/ND/Georgetown with multiple loses) and all they would need is Kansas or Texas to drop multiple games. Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no.
Feb 19, 2011 2:05am
F

FALLSGUY

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Feb 19, 2011 11:22 AM
Not sure yet how good Texas is. They have been able to win playing defense in the Big-12. I want to see how they play Kansas again. I also want to see if K-State has it turned around. Baylor and A+M are very athletic and could drop some higher seeds.
Feb 19, 2011 11:22am
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

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Feb 19, 2011 4:39 PM
The "mid-majors" who could do damage.

Virginia Commonwealth
Vermont
Oakland
Belmont
Fairfield

The "power conference" teams who could surprise people (for some, they still have to get in)

UCLA
Alabama
Georgia
Dayton
Kansas State
Michigan State
Virginia Tech
Feb 19, 2011 4:39pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

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Feb 19, 2011 4:50 PM
I think Charleston, Belmont, and Morehead State/Murray State are all teams that could spring an upset given the right match up. Unfortunately I'm not sure any of them will land better than a 14 seed (13 at best), so it will be tough for them to do.
Feb 19, 2011 4:50pm
september63's avatar

september63

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Feb 19, 2011 4:52 PM
I repeat, George Mason will win atleast one game in the tourney.
Feb 19, 2011 4:52pm
D

dave

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Feb 19, 2011 4:55 PM
well so much for st johns being an underdog. byu looking real good after some loses today. i could see butler making a run again, they are looking much better.
Feb 19, 2011 4:55pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

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Feb 19, 2011 5:14 PM
Morehead and Murray definitely won't be, but Belmont and Charleston could sneak in on the 12 or 13 line. We'll see. However, given some of these possible 3-5 seeds, anything can clearly happen.

Belmont lost to Tennessee by 9, Vanderbilt by 9 and Tennessee again by 1. Outside of a loss to Lipscomb, who is a decent conference team, they have rolled everyone.

They crushed Jacksonville (beat Florida) by 38, Lipscomb by 36, Miami Ohio, East Tennessee State and Jacksonville all by double digits.
Feb 19, 2011 5:14pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

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Mar 20, 2011 8:43 PM
OK going into the sweet 16 thought I better bring this turd back to life.

VCU definitely qualifies, I might argue that BYU sans their missing big might also despite coming in highly seeded but I wouldn't fall on a sword for it.
Mar 20, 2011 8:43pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Mar 20, 2011 11:25 PM
BYU cant qualify yet. They have beaten 2 mid-majors.

VCU certainly qualifies, doubly since they were the play-in. Id say VCU is the biggest Cinderella on the year, with Butler being a close second. Richmond is third, but having Morehead in the second game makes their run less appealing to the public, imo.

BTW, who else has a tough time putting the Cinderella label on a major team like Marquette, FSU, etc???
Mar 20, 2011 11:25pm
Skyhook79's avatar

Skyhook79

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Mar 20, 2011 11:33 PM
Most people thought BYU and Jimmer would be shut down in the NCAA tourney. They beat Gonzaga with ease after Gonzaga beat St Johns with relative ease, add that to their big man missing, they qualify imo.
Mar 20, 2011 11:33pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

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Mar 20, 2011 11:34 PM
Tough call on Marquette just because of where they finished in their conference. Butler is second but they're not sneaking up on anyone especially after last season, well coached and keep teams close every game, I'm less willing to tag them this season. FSU I couldn't put the label on for some reason.

I waffle on BYU, agree about the mid major wins though
Mar 20, 2011 11:34pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

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Mar 20, 2011 11:39 PM
The Mountain West is not mid-major. It has been ranked ahead of at least once BCS Conference in RPI and Sagarin for the last 3 years. Now, losing BYU will hurt them, but I have a hard time classifying them as a mid-major if we are going to call the Pac 10 a major conference (the MWC has been better for 2-3 straight years).
Mar 20, 2011 11:39pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Mar 20, 2011 11:43 PM
Azubuike24;719481 wrote:The Mountain West is not mid-major. It has been ranked ahead of at least once BCS Conference in RPI and Sagarin for the last 3 years. Now, losing BYU will hurt them, but I have a hard time classifying them as a mid-major if we are going to call the Pac 10 a major conference (the MWC has been better for 2-3 straight years).

no, Im saying they beat 2 mid-majors to get here, so as a 3 seed, they arent a Cinderella at this point.
Mar 20, 2011 11:43pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

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Mar 20, 2011 11:47 PM
I was more commenting on how they were even mentioned in this thread as a Cinderella. They were ranked in the top 10 all year...that's not a Cinderella.
Mar 20, 2011 11:47pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Mar 21, 2011 12:13 AM
Azubuike24;719502 wrote:I was more commenting on how they were even mentioned in this thread as a Cinderella. They were ranked in the top 10 all year...that's not a Cinderella.

oh ok, I would agree with that. They have the NPOY on the team as well.
Mar 21, 2011 12:13am