Most Likely Cinderella Teams in March Madness 2024

Charleston carries a record of 27-7 into the NCAA Tournament. After dropping to 15-7 on Feb. 1, the Cougars have remained unbeaten this season. Additionally, Charleston (99th) is in the top 100 out of 362 teams in the NCAA NET rankings.

That puts the Cougars well ahead of fellow mid-major conference winner Oakland (127th), who is going dancing after winning the Horizon League. The 99th-ranking positions Charleston near Florida State, who went on a run in the ACC Tournament¹.

Charleston does not have one true superstar on their roster. The Cougars rely on multiple players to contribute on both ends of the floor.

One-dimensional teams do not tend to go on the best Cinderella runs at March Madness. Fortunately, led by guard Reyne Smith and forward Ante Brzovic, Charleston facilitates and plays team ball well.

Smith is first on the team in scoring, with an average of 12.8 points per game. He’s one of three Cougars in the double digits in scoring, which includes Brzovic.

The 6-foot-10 Croat has scored 12.3 points per game on 47.1% shooting. Brzovic is also the leader in rebounds, with 6.2, and second with 2.4 assists per game². He, Ben Burnham, and Frankie Policelli provide Charleston with a few strong bodies in the frontcourt.

The Cougars are a well-balanced team capable of winning with their defense or offense. The latter, in particular, has a chance to get hot at the right time in the NCAA Tournament. They aren’t overly dependent on one player, so that is a major plus.

Charleston is averaging 80 points per game for 34th in the nation³. Whether it’s Brzovic, Smith, Burnham, or someone else, the Cougars have multiple players who could carry the team to a March Madness Cinderella run.

Also, Charleston is a confident team after winning 12 straight games. This is also a college that pushed a national title finalist to the brink in the First Round in 2023. They likely won’t be intimidated against higher seeds this year.

This team is ready to surprise the world, so keep an eye on the Cougars!

McNeese State enters The Dance with a wildly impressive record of 30-3. They own one of the best marks among mid-major schools in 2024. In their latest effort, McNeese State pummeled Nicholls State in the Southland Championship for a 92-76 win.

Additionally, the Cowboys own a standout NCAA NET ranking of 57. According to NET, they are ahead of several teams who have better odds to win the 2024 NCAA Men’s National Championship.

Guard Shahada Wells is a player that deserves attention before the NCAA Tournament begins. If McNeese State is going to be among the March Madness Cinderella teams, Wells will be the driving force.

THAT is a "Player of the Year" type of pass.

Shahada Wells with the DIME to DJ Richards for 3!

📺 ESPNU #EarnedEveryDay x @McNeeseMBB pic.twitter.com/l1JWeijhjO

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) March 12, 2024

The six-foot senior leads the Cowboys in points (17.5), assists (4.7), and steals (3) per game. He’s a do-it-all guard who doesn’t mind pulling up from the perimeter and cutting to the rim. Wells is shooting 47.3% from the field and 39.6% from three.

McNeese State isn’t only about Wells, however. Four players are scoring more than 10 points per game. On top of that, guards DJ Richards Jr. and Javohn Garcia era, both shooting better than 44% from deep⁴.

While McNeese State has shooters, they win more games with their defensive effort. The Cowboys are eighth in the nation, with 63.6 points allowed per game. Wells’ three steals per game are a difference-maker.

In addition to everything we just discussed, McNeese State has a win over a major school this season. The Michigan Wolverines had a down season, but going on the road to win in Ann Arbor, 87-76, is not a simple chore.

On top of the impressive numbers, McNeese State has looked sharp on the road against a major program. The Cowboys have the talent to win a hard-nosed defensive contest or come out on top in a shootout. This is a team that no one wants to draw in the First Round.

Failing to acknowledge McNeese State as a March Madness Cinderella team would be a mistake. The Cowboys are catching top value at +30000 odds.

James Madison enters the March Madness tournament with a record of 32-3. They haven’t lost a game since Jan. 27 against Appalachian State. That equates to a 13-game winning streak for the Dukes.

The Dukes have garnered plenty of respect in the NCAA’s NET rankings. Currently, the Sun Belt’s most dangerous team is 54th, which puts them slightly ahead of Ohio State. Also, they are in the same ballpark as Virginia, South Carolina, and Northwestern.

Terrence Edwards Jr. is the key player to watch on the Dukes. The 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He leads the team in points and assists but is also a solid contributor on the boards.

Edwards Jr. is a physical guard who can play inside or from beyond the three-point arc.  Forward T.J. Bickerstaff, the nephew of Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B Bickerstaff, has been instrumental on both ends of the floor.

Bickerstaff has averaged 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game heading into the NCAA Tournament⁵. If Edwards Jr. and Bickerstaff are on the same page, James Madison will be a tough out in March.

James Madison will likely be a popular March Madness Cinderella pick in 2024. Along with a star player, the Dukes have solid depth to back him up. Edwards Jr. is the star attraction, but James Madison has an array of contributors who can step up.

The Dukes rank 13th in the country in scoring, with 83 points scored per game. Most impressively, James Madison has a defense to support their offense. James Madison is 14th in the NCAA, with a defensive efficiency rating of 0.942⁶.

Sure, the competition they faced wasn’t elite, but you can only beat what’s in front of you.