Well, the brackets for the 2022 NCAA Tournament are out and it’s time to start making picks. We know that there’s going to be at least one double-digit seed that shocks everyone by making a run deep into the tournament. There might even be more than one. The only question is what team will be this year’s Cinderella story. If you need a little help picking one out, here are five excellent candidates to be the Cinderella story of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Loyola Chicago
The Ramblers have been in this position before and they have the pieces to do it again despite having completely turned over the roster from their memorable Final Four run (not including Sister Jean). Loyola hung tough with Michigan State and Auburn early in the season and survived a treacherous conference schedule at the top of the Missouri Valley.
They are also lined up to play a vulnerable Ohio State team and a Villanova team that’s lacking depth, so the opportunity is there for the Ramblers.
South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits haven’t lost a game since December 15, so it’s safe to say that they’ve gotten comfortable with winning. They ranked third nationally in scoring, averaging 86.7 points per game. They have three players who average at least 14 points per game and collectively shoot close to 45% from the perimeter.
That means South Dakota State is never out of a game because the Jackrabbits can always shoot their way back. That will make them a tough out and a team that could advance if it gets hot shooting the ball.
Richmond
Who says the Spiders can’t carry over the momentum they have from winning their conference tournament to the NCAA Tournament? After all, Oregon State was able to do it last year. After all, Richmond beat the top three seeds in a strong Atlantic 10 Conference in consecutive days, which is no small feat.
They are also one of the most experienced teams in the country, as several veteran players chose to use their extra year of eligibility to come back to Richmond for this opportunity. Admittedly, they didn’t get the easiest draw. But point guard Jacob Gilyard is a great player who’s a potential March Madness star.
Colgate
If you ignore the 2020 season, this is Colgate’s third straight NCAA Tournament, so the Raiders have some familiarity with such a big stage. In fact, seniors Tuckers Richardson and Jack Ferguson were complementary players in 2019 when Colgate pushed Tennessee to the brink as a no. 15 seed.
The Raiders shoot over 40% from three-point range, as a team, and have five players who average at least one made three-pointer per game. That can be a dangerous combination for higher seeds, as can Colgate’s 15-game winning streak, meaning the Raiders have confidence and momentum in addition to experience playing in March.
Indiana
It’s weird to think of a program like Indiana as a potential Cinderella. But that’s what happens when you’re a 12-seed. Keep in mind that every year a team from the First Four seems to make a run to the Sweet 16 or beyond. The Hoosiers could be that team this year. While they got knocked around in the Big Ten this year, they only lost one game outside of the league.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is the type of big man who can create matchup problems while point guard Xavier Johnson played some of his best games during the Big Ten Tournament, meaning Indiana is a team with some momentum and a higher ceiling than you think.