5 Smart Choice Cinderella teams for the 2023 March Madness bracket

Who will look to fill the shoes of Saint Peter’s and become this year’s Cinderella? Check out the top candidates to wear the glass slipper in March Madness.

One of the most entertaining aspects of March Madness is meeting the Cinderella team that captures the hearts of the nation with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Saint Peter’s rocked the glass slipper last March and became the first 15-seed to advance to the Elite Eight before the clock finally struck midnight against North Carolina.

Who will take up the Cinderella mantle from the Peacocks and go deep into the dance? Let’s take a look at five of the top candidates in the field, beginning with SoCon champion Furman.

5. Potential Cinderella team: Furman Paladins

The SoCon is a league that produces very dangerous teams in March, including 2019 entrant Wofford, a No. 7 seed that won a round and gave Kentucky a run for its money in the Round of 32. This year’s champ is Furman, which has been on the doorstep of an NCAA Tournament bid for the past three years before finally breaking through with a win over Chattanooga to earn their first bid since 1980.

The Paladins are an explosive offensive team that averages 82.1 points per game, a rate that puts them inside the Top 15 nationally. The rotation is also loaded with upperclassmen, including leading scorer Mike Bothwell and top rebounder Jalen Slawson, and experienced mid-majors tend to be the most dangerous teams for top seeds to face in March Madness.

The Selection Committee did Furman a solid by giving them a very winnable first-round matchup against Virginia, a team that is slumping down the stretch. The experienced Paladins would then get a shot at either San Diego State or Charleston with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.