Fansided

Casting Cinderella: 10 teams that can be March Madness darlings

By Nate Williamson

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 17: Kameron Edwards #20 and Eric Cooper #2 of the Pepperdine Waves attempt to box out Silas Melson #0 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs after a free throw in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 17, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 81-67. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 17: Kameron Edwards #20 and Eric Cooper #2 of the Pepperdine Waves attempt to box out Silas Melson #0 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs after a free throw in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 17, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 81-67. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 27: Lucas Siewert #23 of the Colorado Buffaloes drives to the basket in the game against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at The Frank Erwin Center on March 27, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 27: Lucas Siewert #23 of the Colorado Buffaloes drives to the basket in the game against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at The Frank Erwin Center on March 27, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

5. Colorado Buffaloes

The Colorado Buffaloes are the epitome of “We’re getting the band back together.”

The best way to summarize the key losses from last year for Tad Boyle’s Buffaloes can be said in one word: no one.

The whole gang is back, with the team being one of just eight teams in college basketball returning 90 percent or more of their minutes from last season. This year’s team comes equipped with plenty of experience (a necessity for any team looking to play Cinderella) in reliable veterans Shane Gatling and Lucas Siewert. Gatling comes into this year ready to assist on the playmaking and catch-and-shooting side of the game at the shooting guard position.

Siewert could also be key to seeing this Colorado team make the next step up this season, and make a big run in the year’s biggest dance come March. The forward isn’t the biggest at just six-foot-nine but comes in as a tricky matchup capable of beating opposing defenses on the inside and outside of the court thanks to some solid shooting, and sneaky post moves.

Of all the weapons that could lead this team to overcome their season’s expectations and tear up the NCAA Tournament for the 2019-20 season, McKinley Wright is the undisputed nuclear-caliber tool of destruction.

Wright serves as the key to unlocking this squad. After a relatively disappointing 2018-19 season, at least, when compared to the star-powered season that was his freshman campaign the year prior, Wright looks ready to take the leap this year thanks to a wide array of shot-making abilities.

If Wright can improve upon his ability to make shots off the dribble, he’d force defenders to not sag back on him in the lane, and could fully unlock his playmaking potential.

Whether Wright makes that ultimate leap remains to be seen, but even this early in the year, Colorado looks poised to make some noise with broken brackets come March imitating the great Cinderellas of the past.