Why This Sleeper Team Could Go On Cinderella Run In NCAA Tournament

Here's one team to keep an eye on for a potential cinderella run in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Mar 16, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; VCU Rams guard Joe Bamisile (22) celebrates after making two free throws in the final second in the second half against the George Mason Patriots at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

With the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament officially kicking off on Tuesday, the madness is in full-effect.

And with all this madness comes every fan filling out their brackets in hopes of having the perfect one. While the odds may not be in their favor of picking the correct winner for every game, it helps to know of the potential cinderella teams this year, like the VCU Rams.

Despite being awarded the 11-seed, the Rams received a perfect round one matchup against BYU. The Cougars are one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning nine of their last ten games. Their successful run has been fueled by the three-pointer, as head coach Kevin Young's squad contains four players above a 38.5 percent three-point percentage this season (min. of 16.9 minutes per game).

However, the combination of VCU's efficiency on both ends of the floor gives them an advantage over BYU. The Rams defense has kept opponents to an average of 62.4 points per game this season, while also averaging over 77 points per game. If VCU can limit the Cougars' success from outside the perimeter and maintain their offensive efforts, they can easily find themselves in the Round of 32.

Looking ahead, the Rams would be projected to play the No. 3-seed Wisconsin Badgers in the following round. The powerhouse from the Big Ten fell short of a conference tournament victory over the Michigan Wolverines, but the program still finished the regular season with a 26-9 record. Like VCU, the Badgers have excelled in all aspects of the game this year.

Having a well-rounded style of play will help the Rams in the tournament, especially against Wisconsin. The Wolverines were a prime example of this, as their lockdown defense was good enough to withstand the Badgers. And even though Michigan is statistically better than VCU, their conference tournament victory laid out the perfect blueprint for the Rams.

Read More College Basketball Coverage

MORE: Madness in Dayton, March Madness Gets Off to Thrilling Start in First Game

MORE: John Fanta Predicts Shocking Round 1 March Madness Upset

MORE: McNeese State Student Manager Amir Khan Sets Historic Milestone

MORE: UCLA HC Named Dark Horse For Villanova Job

MORE: Iona Fires Head Coach Tobin Anderson After Two Seasons