A Cinderella Final Four Team:

Arkansas on Thursday night might be a little too notable (SEC and all), to call a “Cinderella” team for some, but we’re gonna go ahead and do it anyway.  A Cinderella team is typically a team that goes a little further than expected, but we like Arkansas going to Final Four (Warning: Hot Take).  There are two teams that come to mind when we think of Final Four Cinderella teams and those are Loyola Chicago in 2018 and George Mason in 2006. Let’s take a look at what makes up these types of teams.

Loyola Chicago's 2018 Story

No. 11 seed, Loyola Chicago's 2018:​

• First Round: Defeated No. 6 Miami with a last-second three-pointer.
  
  
• Second Round: Overcame No. 3 Tennessee with a late jumper.​
  
  
• Sweet 16: Edged past No. 7 Nevada.​
  
  
• Elite Eight: Beat No. 9 Kansas State 78-62 to reach the Final Four. ​
  
  

Their journey captivated fans, with the “legend” Sister Jean on our TV’s all tournament. 

George Mason's 2006 Journey

No. 11 seed George Mason Patriots in 2006:​

• First Round: Defeated No. 6 Michigan State.​
  
  
• Second Round: Overcame No. 3 North Carolina.​
  
  
• Sweet 16: Beat No. 7 Wichita State.​
  
  
• Elite Eight: Triumphed over No. 1 Connecticut in overtime to secure a Final Four berth.

​A "Cinderella" team in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament refers to a lower-seeded team that surpasses expectations by advancing deep into the competition, often reaching the Final Four. While each Cinderella story is unique, successful teams often share common characteristics: 

1. Superb Offense

To compete in the tournament an efficient offense is critical for underdog teams looking to go deep in the rounds. There are many underdog teams that have demonstrated this with exemplary shooting that propelled them into the tournament and the ability to compete with higher-seeded opponents. 

2. Winning Turnovers

Maximizing turnovers and minimizing one’s own can level the playing field by simple math. By setting this momentum and maintaining it, underdogs can give themselves an unbalanced number of scoring opportunities and even out the talent-differential.

3. Balanced Defense

While a strong offense is vital, maintaining at least an average defense ensures that a team can withstand the offensive strengths of higher-seeded opponents. Balance between offense and defense is critical for sustaining success throughout the tournament. These attributes collectively enhance a lower-seeded team's potential to achieve unexpected success in March Madness, embodying the essence of a Cinderella story.  Arkansas has showed us all three of the above– Let’s see if they can pull it off again against Texas Tech on Thursday.

Wooo Pig Sooie!