The NCAA Tournament is always filled with upsets in the first couple rounds. Such powerhouses as Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse and Kansas have been sent home early in the past. You can expect much of the same as we prepare for the first week of the tournament in a few days.
Four Likely Early Upsets NCAA Tournament Style
1 – 12) Stephen F. Austin over 5) VCU
Stephen F. Austin will enter the NCAA Tournament on a 28-game winning streak: http://t.co/h01YQuv3QD
— Eye on College BBall (@EyeOnCBB) March 16, 2014
We don’t really care who your level of competition is. If you are riding as 28-game-winning streak into the tourney, you are doing something right. Stephen F. Austin hasn’t lost since before Thanksgiving. Let that sink in for a second.
Jacob Parker is their bast player on the inside. He’s averaging over 14 points and seven rebounds per game, which could cause a matchup concern for the Rams, who fell to St. Josephs in the Atlantic 10 Final on Sunday.
2 – 14) Western Michigan over 3) Syracuse
At one point this season, Syracuse was right up there with Wichita State among the undefeated team. They were 25-0 heading into back-to-back matchups with ACC rivals Boston College and Duke. The Orange lost both games, which set into motion a horrendous stretch of games that has seen them lose five of seven. Even before those two games, Syracuse was in trouble. It had defeated Pittsburgh and North Carolina State by a combined three points.
From No. 1 overall team in the nation to No. 3 seed within the matter of less than a month.
And Western Michigan is good. They can beat Syracuse, I think.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) March 16, 2014
They’ll be taking on a 14th-seeded Western Michigan team that has won 12 of its last 13 outings and is 18-4 over its last 24 games. David Brown is averaging nearly 20 points per game this season for the Broncos and will matchup against Syracuse’s Tyler Ennis. That’s one favorable matchup for the underdog.
3- 12) Harvard over 5) Cincinnati
Looking for a 12-seed upset pick? Harvard has a 41% chance to beat Cincy according to BPI, best of any 12-seed.
— Numbers Never Lie (@ESPN_Numbers) March 17, 2014
Don’t sleep on the Crimson here. They may be clones to Revenge of the Nerds and still wear plad shirts with corduroy, but they can sure play basketball. They’ve won eight consecutive games and are averaging nearly 80 points per outing during that span. Swingman Wesley Saunders is averaging nearly 15 points per outing, but it’s been more of a balanced scoring attack for Harvard as of late.
For what it’s worth, Cincinnati is just 5-4 in its last nine games, including a 21-point home loss to Southern Methodist, who didn’t even make the tournament. Look for an upset here. Book it down, take this baby home and come thank us later.
4- 11) Nebraska over 6) Baylor
The #Huskers are San Antonio bound. A primer on Bayor, opponent No. 1: http://t.co/uAjwAAHG4A #Nebrasketball Pic: pic.twitter.com/A083kDKZ6M
— Husker Extra (@huskerextra) March 17, 2014
This wouldn’t necessarily be a major upset. Nebraska may have been one of the last teams in at 19-12, but it has some big time wins against Nebraska, Michigan State and Ohio State, three ranked teams. Meanwhile, the Bears are 4-6 against teams that were ranked in the top 25 when they played them. This matchup of former Big 12 rivals could be really interesting.