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| | Wednesday, March 8 | ||||||||||||||
| As the last Cinderella Watch heading into Selection Sunday, we feel we've narrowed the list of Cinderellas down to a pretty potent list.
We couldn't have done it without the users. Not every vote tally was met with acceptance (Long Beach State fans are still feeling a little rejection, so if you meet one, give him or her a hug), and even a few bucked the trend and made it back on the Watch. But in this paragon of democracy, we let you all help determine who should be fitted for the glass slipper this season -- and you did a great job. Is there another Gonzaga in this crowd? We'll find out over the next few weeks. All in all, a successful third season of the Cinderella Watch. We'll have a special NCAA Tournament edition up next Monday, and then be following the Cinderellas march through the Big Dance nightly in a feature called As the Ball Bounces. With that being said, on to the masses!
I'm impressed. For the first time all season the teams on the Cinderella Watch can truly be classified as Cinderellas. Taking Dayton off the watch isn't a big deal -- they never should have been included to begin with. ESPN would never have included other A-10 teams as Cinderellas (i.e. Temple, Xavier) and should never have included the Flyers, either.
Chad Vinci
I think that the poll is dead on about Utah State being the top Cinderella team. My gripe, however, is that the Aggies are not getting the respect they deserve when it comes to the polls. After a 16-game winning streak, I would have thought that someone would have noticed this 25-5 team. Their RPI ranking may be a little low, but in this streak they have managed to knock off some good teams, like New Mexico State and Long Beach State (another team not getting the recognition it deserves). When the NCAA tournament comes by, Utah State will prove to all those non-believers that the Aggies are true contenders.
Daniel George
Oh No! For all of last week, the campus and city of Bowling Green had been flying high on the idea that beating three of the top teams in the MAC (and moving into first place) had assured us of an at-large bid. After all, life in the MAC has been tough on all the teams with us escaping with the best record at 14-4. However, after beating the Miami RedHawks twice in the regular season, both gut-wrenching affairs, a miracle shot and an uncharacteristic couple of misses by Anthony Stacey have seemingly put us out of the Big Dance. It's really hard to beat a team three times in one season, especially to a rival school such as Miami. I hope the committee sees it my way as well.
Russell Baltes Thank you thank you thank you for taking Dayton off the Watch. It is great to know that some people are now seeing what us Daytonians have known all along: Dayton is a contender! Just watch out in the tourney -- I wouldn't be surprised to see Dayton make it to the sweet 16 if not further.
Jordan Kathary
I mean really, Hofstra? Who are we kidding? The fact is that come tourney time the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens know how to win. Coach Mike Brey (former Duke assistant) has the team poised to go to its third straight NCAA Tournament via its third straight America East title. The Blue Hens have won eight straight and manhandled a talented Maine team in their last game. The Hens' roster is full of seniors who can not only win under pressure but realize it's do or die for their basketball careers. Though the America East is not widely followed, Blue Hens fans already know next Saturday's outcome and are looking forward to seeing coach Brey and crew at the NCAA Tournament. Look for the Hens to make an early-round upset!
Chad Harris Parker
Sure, Indiana State didn't reach the MVC final, but that shouldn't matter to the selection committee. Winning the regular-season title in what is arguably the best mid-major conference in the country has to count for something, as should the Sycamores' monumental victory over IU. Reserve a place for the Cinderella Sycamores in "March Madness!"
Joby Topper
Bears don't wear slippers, so stop trying to put glass shoes on them! Southwest Missouri State is going to the Big Dance as a strong mid-major entry, and it will be poised to scare some nationally ranked teams, and possibly make a run to the Sweet 16 like last year. The five seniors on this squad have proven they love the smell of victory as evidenced by the 10-game win streak during crunch time. Time to pass the slipper!
Josh Marquart
OK, I've been sending in responses for the past few weeks proclaiming Iona to be the Cinderella. The Gaels beat Siena (who get several postings each week on their behalf) in the MAAC final. Now that Iona has sewn up its spot in the tourney, it will start to pull the real upsets. This team is the Cinderella. How unknown are they? They couldn't even make the Cinderella Watch. Now they have their dance card punched and they are ready to make some noise.
Jason Sclar
The Penn Quakers should be considered a possible Cinderella team. They have strong senior leadership in their backcourt in Michael Jordan and Matt Langel and an athletic freshman forward in Ugonna Onyekwe. Penn also has won 14 games in a row and will be going into the tournament on a hot streak. No one can take this team lightly.
Todd Simon
Is Gonzaga too good to be considered a Cinderella? Seems that a team that made it to the Elite Eight with all of its starters returning should be an obvious choice for Cinderella. The Zags have the experience and the ability to match their effort put forth last last year. Gonzaga is my Cinderella.
Charlie Jarrell
No Samford? Big wins this year over St. John's and over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. They have everybody back from a team last year that everybody was saying had a chance to be the Valpo of '99. They've got to be on your Cinderella Watch!
Phil Barnes
i guess you can take Southwest Missouri State and Indiana State off that list and replace them Creighton, seeing how the Blue Jays just dimantled both of the above teams. Creighton showed its defensive talents and the capabilities to drain the 3-pointer.
Scott Collins
The voters have responded, and the result was overwhelmingly in the Flyers' favor. Congrats to Dayton for their promotion from Cinderella to Contender. Now let's exchange that glass slipper for some boogie shoes and start dancing!
Tim Hacket
Keeping Indiana State out of the NCAAs would be a great injustice! Losing to Creighton by two in a hard-fought game, as opposed to SMS' loss by 12 in a game that wasn't really close, should tip the scales in ISU's favor. The best solution? Bring all three to the Big Dance!
Ken Kosinski
Get rid of Bowling Green, the loss to Miami blows the Falcons' whole chance a tourney bid. No tourney, no Cinderella.
Andy Wendeln
First of all, I would think sheer patriotism would not allow you to leave Navy and its incredible season off of the Cinderella Watch. We get no respect in the bracketeering either, as you have Lafayette (who we most recently trounced by 40 points) getting the Patriot League bid over Navy. We've won 21 of our last 23 including a 10-in-a-row streak, but continue to be ignored. Watch out -- you know what they say about momentum and the Navy: Full Speed Ahead.
Bale Dalton
If 15 straight wins and a conference tournament championship on ESPN aren't enough to put the Butler Bulldogs back on the Watch, then this thing is a bigger joke than I thought it was.
David Rueth
Finally! Appalachian State is in...Please focus your attention to the dance floor as Cinderella has entered the building.
Jared Everett
Cinderella, shminderella. Pepperdine has a great basketball team and that's all there is to it. So, while the other teams might be waiting for their fairy Godmother, Pepperdine is already on its way to the ball...riding a Wave, of course.
Zer Iyer | ALSO SEE Cinderella Watch  | ||||||||||||||