Blog Wars: Cinderella story

By Gus Bode

In the midst of BracketBuster weekend, in which mid-major teams seek to make names for themselves in anticipation of NCAA Tournament seeding, we ask: What is the best Cinderella story of all time?

Ryan Voyles

Going to go with the obvious pick, George Mason’s 2006 run to the Final Four.’ An 11 seed from a small school knocking off traditional powerhouses Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut.’ A fun team to watch, and their overtime game against Connecticut is amongst the greatest Tournament games played.

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Scott Mieszala

Do the Tampa Bay Rays count? They kind of do because they had never won 70 games before 2008, but then they don’t because they had a good team that PECOTA predicted to win 88 games. So I say no. The best Cinderella story was George Mason in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. That team stunned Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and UConn before the clock struck midnight in the Final Four and they lost to Florida. (See what I did there?) And I think the only player on that team who got any consideration from the pros was a power forward who some NFL teams thought could be a tight end. So when it comes to George Mason, the slipper fits. (I really should be going now.)

Jeff Engelhardt

I am going to have to go with Providence in 1997. The Friars were the No. 10 seed and played their way into the Elite Eight. They blew out Marquette and then they destroyed Duke. In the Sweet 16 they took down another Cinderella in UT-Chattanooga. They finally succumbed to Arizona in overtime in the Elite Eight. But the reason it was the best ever was because the team was led by God Shammgod. Anyone with a name that cool is clearly deserving of the best Cinderella story.

Luis C. Medina

My favorite Cinderella story is Duke.’ Because when North Carolina rolls into Cameron Indoor Arena, the Blue Devils’ coach turns into a pumpkin.’ And really, isn’t that what Cinderella stories are all about?

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