Which Cinderella has the best shot reaching the Final Four?

[OTR Shockfan]

No team seeded higher than 12(Missouri in 2002) has ever made it to the Elite 8.

Only two teams seeded from 9 to 12 have made it to the Final Four. They were both 11 seeds(George Mason in 2006 and LSU in 1986).

[WuDrWu]

When I saw that for the first time, this is what popped into my head:

http://www.theonion.com/video/ncaa-expands-march-madness-to-include-4096-teams,14317/

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

When I saw that for the first time, this is what popped into my head:

http://www.theonion.com/video/ncaa-e...6-teams,14317/

You know, I almost posted a new thread about this subject.

The simple fact that everyone fails to realize is that the NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Tournament includes over 90% of all teams that play. EVERY TEAM has a chance. It starts with the first round of their conference tournament. It rolls through the play in round all the way through the Final Four.

Win and stay in. Lose and go home. EVERYONE has a chance to be the champ. All you have to do is win.

[shock]

Seth Davis wrote a piece for SI. Has the Shocks beating La Salle, then beating Ohio State for the Final Four.
Read about it here.

[Kung Wu]

When I saw that for the first time, this is what popped into my head:

http://www.theonion.com/video/ncaa-e...6-teams,14317/

Hilarious every time!

[C0|dB|00ded]

How can a major program be a Cinderella? Winthrop could be a Cinderella, Wichita State.. no way. Let's straighten up the discussion here folks. Coaches making 1.6M do not coach Cinderella teams.

Take some time and read the story of Cinderella. That story defines a team that is a flash in the pan out of nowhere. We are not that team. We have been in the top 25 more times in the last 10 years than I can count.


T


...:cool:

[Shockeriffic]

They were. But there is a difference. A 9 MUST go through a 1.

George Mason and VCU both ended up going through a 1. Lower seeds don't always have to but those two teams didn't get the easy path either.

[KC Shox]

How can a major program be a Cinderella? Winthrop could be a Cinderella, Wichita State.. no way. Let's straighten up the discussion here folks. Coaches making 1.6M do not coach Cinderella teams.

Take some time and read the story of Cinderella. That story defines a team that is a flash in the pan out of nowhere. We are not that team. We have been in the top 25 more times in the last 10 years than I can count.


T


...:cool:

I understand what you are saying COLD, but this type of thinking pretty much is isolated to the population within Sedgwick, CO. I think the mainstream media uses this term to spark additional interest for ratings purposes. Everyone roots for the underdog and since we are not in a BCS conference, we get that moniker. The WSU v. La Salle game will probably be the lowest rated televised game in the Sweet 16, but if it weren't for the national media pumping up the term Cinderella, the viewership might be even lower. Oh well. Call us Cinderella, Lucky, whatever else I don't give a damn. As long as we win, it's all good.

[SHOXAAC]

A Cinderella team/story has more than one usage or definition. It is ACCEPTED in reference to a team which advances in the tournament farther than originally expected. A 9 seed isn't "expected" to be one of the 16 still standing. It isn't a stretch for WSU to be referred to as a Cinderella team. I, for one, am not offended. It also doesn't mean I am satisfied.

GO SHOX!!!

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Funny how they left Oregon off the list if it truly relates only to seed.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Funny how they left Oregon off the list if it truly relates only to seed.

Exactly.

I don't give a flip who - "outside of Sedgwick County" - considers us a Cinderella. I am not going to conform to the media's attempt to romanticize our run at the expense of the reputation of our program. We are a top 40 program in the NCAA and have been for each of the last 12-13 years or so. We do not vanish and fall back into obscurity. We are a legitimate threat to beat any top 25 team each and every year. Hell, many years we are ranked as a top 25 team. A Cinderella comes out of nowhere and then vanishes back to nowhere. Changing the way people refer to us starts with you and I changing the way we refer to us. Please join me in rejecting (not accepting) any attempts at disparaging (whether intentional or not) the reputation of our program.

Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter,


T


...:cool:

[Kung Wu]

You mean a legitimate threat to beat the top team in the country, if only given the opportunity?

[KC Shox]

Exactly.

I don't give a flip who - "outside of Sedgwick County" - considers us a Cinderella. I am not going to conform to the media's attempt to romanticize our run at the expense of the reputation of our program. We are a top 40 program in the NCAA and have been for each of the last 12-13 years or so. We do not vanish and fall back into obscurity. We are a legitimate threat to beat any top 25 team each and every year. Hell, many years we are ranked as a top 25 team. A Cinderella comes out of nowhere and then vanishes back to nowhere. Changing the way people refer to us starts with you and I changing the way we refer to us. Please join me in rejecting (not accepting) any attempts at disparaging (whether intentional or not) the reputation of our program.

Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter,


T


...:cool:

While I'm with you and reject the idea of being labeled Cinderella, which in my book is a nice way to refer to a program as a 'one hit wonder', but what are we going to do about it? Asking WSU fans to change their thinking is one thing, expecting the media and everyone outside of Wichita to perceive us differently is another.

There is only one way for the Shox to never again be labeled this term and that's for us to start making the Dance every year and getting eye opening wins whether in the regular or post season. Beating the Zags was a start, advancing further in the Dance this year will be another step forward.

[RussDaBus]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2013/03/27/wichita-state-mistaken-for-cinderella-has-final-four-potential/2021375/

[shocker3]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...ntial/2021375/

Thanks for the link. There are some great quotes that story from people like Jay Bilas on why Wichita State is no Cinderella.