Let The Madness Begin

It's that time of year again. Who is ready for the madness? Before you analyze each matchup down to the bench players, here are three upsets that you should consider picking. Note that these are actual upsets, not something like a nine over an eight.

1: No. 11 VCU over No. 6 BYU

After watching them play in person this week, I can for sure see how this upset could happen. VCU thrives on physicality, setting the tone with relentless defense. In their A-10 championship victory over George Mason, the Rams applied constant pressure, disrupting the Patriots' offense. Their intensity rattled George Mason’s Jalen Haynes, keeping him out of rhythm—a testament to their ability to neutralize even top-tier big men (or at least top-tier bigs in the A-10). They rank among the top 60 nationally in steals and top 10 in blocked shots. With that in mind, their only real scare is that their offense is very hot and cold. They will need Max Shulga to stop complaining every time anyone breathes on him and start being the scorer he was during the regular season. It’s a testament to how good VCU is that they won the conference tournament without their best offensive weapon shooting the ball well. 

2: No. 13 High Point over No. 4 Purdue 

For the first time ever, High Point is headed to the Big Dance, and they’re not just showing up for the experience and free swag bags. Sure, Purdue is a tough matchup, but let’s be honest—there are a couple of things working in High Point’s favor. First, Purdue has a track record of falling apart when it matters most. Just ask their fans (and ignore what happened last year; nobody on this team is a dominant NBA-caliber big man). Second, High Point is hot right now, and there is nothing more dangerous in March than a hot team. If High Point can play their game, hit shots early, and keep the pressure on, they’ve got a real shot at pulling off the upset.

3. No. 14 UNCW over No. 3 Texas Tech

CAA pride, baby! Yeah, I know this strategy flopped last year, but hey—I’m a slow learner. UNC Wilmington has a legit shot at taking down Texas Tech. Donovan Newby is leading the charge, putting up 14.4 points per game and knocking down free throws at an impressive 87.7%. Khamari McGriff brings the muscle inside, averaging 11.6 points and 7.3 boards. Texas Tech might be ranked 9th in the AP poll and averaging 81 points per game, but they’ve struggled when teams throw them out of their offense. If UNCW locks in defensively and takes advantage of their opportunities, don’t be surprised if they pull off the upset and move on. If they don’t, Elon will be the last CAA team standing in the postseason (respect the CBI, the real No. 2 postseason tournament).