Spring Break
Who will be the 'Cinderella' of this year's NCAA Tournament?
Kevin Velturo and Matthew McDonough
Issue date: 3/18/09 Section: Sports
VCU will be this year's Cinderella. They have a star in Eric Maynor who can take control of the game against anybody. Add that to the fact that the Rams have done it before, beating Duke two years ago, and it is hard to dispute the fact that they have the tools to upset a few teams. Their first-round matchup against UCLA is not too difficult and they are poised to be the second 11-seed from the CAA to make a tournament run.
The Cinderella story this year is without a doubt North Dakota State. The Bison from Fargo won the Summit League in their first year of eligibility, with their all-time leading scorer Ben Woodside making the game winner against Oakland in the championship. Head Coach Saul Phillips is the greatest thing to happen to North Dakota since…well ever, VCU had their Cinderella story; SDSU is new on the scene and ready to make noise.
Matt McDonough: North Dakota State is this year's Cinderella. They went 26-6 in their first year of postseason eligibility and won their conference. Unlike VCU, they don't get any national attention, and like a Cinderella team, no one knows about them. VCU had their run in the tourney a couple of years ago. It's the Bisons' turn.
Kevin Vellturo: VCU does get a lot of national attention - and deservedly so. They have a future NBA player in Eric Maynor, who beat Duke a couple of years ago and that gives them something North Dakota State does not have: experience.
Matt: That is true, but Cinderellas aren't about tournament experience. Cinderella's are about newcomers winning everyone's hearts. VCU has been there before, and now they are just overkill. Eric Maynor is a future NBA player, but Ben Woodside is a great college player, and has the stuff to will his team past Kansas.
Kevin: That brings up another thing. Kansas is a good team - Big 12 Champions, in fact. I find it hard to believe that a team who has never played a tournament game can beat the defending national champs. VCU is playing UCLA, who has underachieved this year. The Rams have an easier go.
The Cinderella story this year is without a doubt North Dakota State. The Bison from Fargo won the Summit League in their first year of eligibility, with their all-time leading scorer Ben Woodside making the game winner against Oakland in the championship. Head Coach Saul Phillips is the greatest thing to happen to North Dakota since…well ever, VCU had their Cinderella story; SDSU is new on the scene and ready to make noise.
Matt McDonough: North Dakota State is this year's Cinderella. They went 26-6 in their first year of postseason eligibility and won their conference. Unlike VCU, they don't get any national attention, and like a Cinderella team, no one knows about them. VCU had their run in the tourney a couple of years ago. It's the Bisons' turn.
Kevin Vellturo: VCU does get a lot of national attention - and deservedly so. They have a future NBA player in Eric Maynor, who beat Duke a couple of years ago and that gives them something North Dakota State does not have: experience.
Matt: That is true, but Cinderellas aren't about tournament experience. Cinderella's are about newcomers winning everyone's hearts. VCU has been there before, and now they are just overkill. Eric Maynor is a future NBA player, but Ben Woodside is a great college player, and has the stuff to will his team past Kansas.
Kevin: That brings up another thing. Kansas is a good team - Big 12 Champions, in fact. I find it hard to believe that a team who has never played a tournament game can beat the defending national champs. VCU is playing UCLA, who has underachieved this year. The Rams have an easier go.
Be the first to comment on this story