Five mid-majors capable of upsets in the NCAA Tournament

Come NCAA Tournament time; everyone loves upsets. Over the next couple of days, there will be extensive research done on the mid-majors who got in via the one-bid leagues and which 5/12 matchup to go all in on.

Here are five mid-major programs who could possibly make runs the NCAA Tournament.

College of Charleston

This College of Charleston team won the Colonial Athletic League (CAA) by winning 31 games and averaging 80.8 points per game this season. That 80.8 points was good for 14th most in D-I. Five of their starters averaged double-figure point totals this season, including 6-foot-4 senior Dalton Bolon, who led the team with 12.3 points. Bolon transferred to Charleston from D-II West Liberty.

As a team, Charleston averaged 30.2 threes attempted per game; this was second in D-I men’s basketball. They also brought down 13.6 offensive rebounds and 40.5 total rebounds; both numbers are good for third in D-I men’s basketball. Threes and rebounds make for a fun style of basketball, but also is a recipe for wins.

Charleston got the 12 seed in the South bracket. They start off with San Diego State, another solid mid-major program. A potential second-round matchup between the winner of the Virginia and Furman game and then a possible tilt with No. 1 overall seed Alabama if they can advance to the second weekend. Nothing is guaranteed, but the team is built for wins.

Drake

Drake is led by the MVC Player of the Year in 6-foot-7 sophomore Tucker DeVries. Devries is the coach, Darian DeVries’ son, and averaged 19.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and shot 38.7 percent from three this season.

This Drake team is more than just a one-trick pony, however. The Bulldogs finished with five other players who scored eight or more points per game. Senior point guard Roman Penn joins DeVries as a double-digit scorer, averaging 12.6 points and 5.4 assists per contest.

Drake is the 12 seed in the Midwest Bracket. They start off with a tough Miami team, a team who could make a run themselves if their health is in order. The 4/13 matchup is between Indiana and Kent State, and then you have Houston as the one-seed.

Oral Roberts

This is Paul Mills second run to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons. Two years ago, Oral Roberts jumped behind the magic of then-sophomore Max Abmas and eventual Texas Tech transfer Kevin Obanor for a run to the Sweet Sixteen. This season, swept the Summit League with an 18-0 record and recorded a 30-win total for the season.

This year’s team is again led by now senior Max Abmas. The Texas native is the Summit League Player of the Year after averaging 22.2 points, 4.0 assists, and shooting 37.7 percent from the field. This go-around, Abmas will have 7-foot-5 center Connor Vanover by his side. Vanover, a transfer from Arkansas who can stretch the floor, averaged 12.9 points and 3.3 blocks this season.

The Golden Eagles have won 26 of their last 27 games, including 17 in a row heading into the NCAA Tournament. They get a Duke team in the first round of the East Region, who is in the midst of a nine-game win streak of their own. Tennessee and Louisiana are the 4/13 game in that bracket, with Purdue in the No. 1 seed.

Iona

Head coach Rick Pitino is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament. This is the 70-year-old’s 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance across five different teams. Iona finished this season with a 27-7 overall record and 17-3 in the MAAC. The team scored off ball movement and protected the rim on defense. The Gaels finished second in D-I in blocked shots, and 33rd in both points scored and assists as a team.

Walter Clayton, a 6-foot-2 guard, was the MAAC Player of the Year after averaging 16.9 points and shooting 42.9 percent from three. Quinn Slazinski, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Louisville, was a big factor with 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, and then menacing center Nelly Junior Joseph who was awarded his second first-team All-MAAC award this season, is as good a paint presence as there is in college basketball.

Iona is the 13-seed in the West Bracket and drew the four seed, UConn, in the first round. VCU and St. Mary’s is the 5/12 matchup in the West, and Kansas got the No. 1 seed. Pitino seems a bit rejuvenated, and this team is talented.

Furman

Furman was supposed to be in the field last season if it wasn’t for a last-second half-court heave from UT-Chattanooga that kept them out of the tournament. Bob Richey left no doubt this season, winning the SoCon regular season again and the conference tournament. Furman comes into the NCAA Tournament with a 27-7 record overall and a 15-3 mark in conference play.

The Paladins are led by two fifth-year seniors, guard Mike Bothwell and forward Jalen Slawson. Bothwell, a guard, averaged 18.0 points and 3.0 assists. Slawson, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and shot 39.4 percent from three. Guard JP Pegues and wing Marcus Foster also finished the season in double-figures for Furman.

Furman got the 13-seed in the South Region. They will face four-seed Virginia in the first round. San Diego State and College of Charleston are the five and 12 seeds in the South, and Alabama got the one seed.