Tournament Pools Sleeper Teams

A "sleeper" team is a team whose performance exceeds expectations. The following teams, listed in order by team name, are the teams we expect to outplay their seeding.

2003 NCAA Tournament Analysis by Matt Satten

Total Wins By 2003 Sleeper Teams: 5 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seeds)

10. Alabama

Alabama, 17-11, SEC -- The rocking duo of Maurice Williams and Erwin “Studley” Dudley can be downright filthy when they’re feeding off of each other. ‘Bama enters the Dance on the bottom end of the bracket, but don’t think that will curtail their enthusiasm. They’ll be eager to avenge last year’s early exit and won’t have all the pressure of a high seed. The biggest problem is squaring off with an experienced squad like the Hoosiers in the opening round.

Key Player: Williams. Quick as a hiccup, Williams must find the right tempo to operate at and stick with it all game.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

10. Auburn

Auburn, 21-11, SEC -- The Tigers shouldn’t have been even trying on tuxes much less renting a limo to the Dance because they had no business being invited. 8-8 in a softer SEC and two losses in the early going with their cupcake schedule usually equals a seat on the couch in late March. But now that they’re here, Auburn will take full advantage of the situation by trying to steal one from St. Joe’s before bowing out to Wake.

Key Player: Marco Killinsgworth has a terrific wingspan on a sculpted body. He needs to find the instruction manual before Thursday.

Actual Wins: 2 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

12. BYU

BYU, 23-8, MWC -- The Cougars were co-winners of the Mountain West with Utah but earned one of the last at-large bid with their loss in the Conference tourney. BYU won’t scare you with their athleticism but they will make you crap your pants with the way they shoot the rock. The team connects at a 47% clip form the field, but the most telling stat is that they jack up about 17 treys a game and hit on 38 percent of them. In other words, if they start cooking, UConn is going to be eating a lot of unwanted triple-decker sandwiches.

Key Player: Mark Bigelow is no gigolo; he’s a serious 3-point threat.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

11. Central Mich

Central Michigan, 24-6, MAC -- If you’re searching high and low for an upset, CMU might fit the bill. Junior 7’0” Chris Kaman is an absolute monster on the low block posting numbers like 22.7points, 12.3 caroms and 3.3 swatations per game. The rest of the Chippewas ain’t no slouches either. Their total offensive production of 80.5 points on 51% percent shooting is astounding. If they can find a way to keep Korver in check and continually feed the big guy, they may have to relocate the game to Upset City.

Key Player: Kaman is a man among boys. Success depends on that remaining the status quo.

Actual Wins: 1 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

10. Colorado

Colorado, 20-11, Big 12 -- Yet another battle-tested Big 12 team. The Buffs have knocked off both Kansas and Texas already this year and are looking for more. Like fellow Big 12 team Missouri last year, this squad is significantly better than their #10 seed indicates and thus is ripe for an upset. Michael Morandais is the team’s scoring champ but David Harrison is the heart of this team. Only a sophomore, the 7’0” shot-blocking center will be showcasing his game for NBA scouts whether he realizes it or not.

Key Player:Harrison. His presence inside will force MSU to operate solely from the perimeter (which could be a bad thing if Hill blows up).

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

9. Gonzaga

Gonzaga, 23-8, WCC -- Now it seems like you hear this every year: the Zags are no longer a Cinderella candidate. That is, of course, unless they beat Arizona. Blake Stepp steps into the void created by Dan Dickau’s departure, by both leading the Zags in scoring and dime drops. Stepp also has a nasty deep jumper and has hit 93 treys already this year. It seems like polar opposites will square off in this emotionally charged 8-9 pairing.

Key Player: Big boy Cory Violette missed their most recent game. Will their be another DNP in the future?

Actual Wins: 1 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

14. Holy Cross

Holy Cross, 26-4, -- The Crusaders are on a holy mission to make it out of the first round. Don’t let the name fool you, most of these kids are New York area ballers who’ve playing since they were old enough to walk. You may remember 7’6” English import Neil Fingleton. He doesn’t even get any run on this team. Too soft.

Key Player: Jave Meade scores every now and then but it’s his 6 assists per game that should interest you more.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

11. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, 22-5, Ivy League -- Don’t overlook the Ivy League rep because they’re traditionally a bunch of eggheads. These anti-“dumb jocks” have serious athletic talent enabling them to snag big victories over Temple, ‘Nova and USC. However, don’t for one second confuse them with the Princeton offense. London, England import Ugonna Onyekwe has NBA swingman talent and Koko Archibong is more than just another pretty name. The Quakers are better than their 11th seed and their athletic playmakers will open many eyes against Okie State.

Key Player: Jeff Schiffner’s percentages are as follows: 46% on FG, 89% on FT, and 50% on threes. If he’s on, it’s over.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

15. Sam Houston St

Sam Houston State, 23-6, Southland -- I wasn’t aware of the 51st state, Sam Houston. Nevertheless, their ball club could be Cindarella if they keep the heat on a disoriented Florida squad. The likelihood of the Bearkats accomplishing such a feat is remote, but stranger things have happened.

Key Player: Robert Shannon’s 5.9 dimes per game indicate he is a solid playmaker. He’ll need to become Jason Kidd for the day in order to wear the glass slipper.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

13. Tulsa

Tulsa, 22-9, WAC -- The Golden Hurricane is spearheaded by a trio of 15 ppg scorers. Dante Swanson, Jason Parker and Kevin Johnson do the scoring for Tulsa and have been instrumental cogs in their late-season win streak. A #13 seed upsets a #4 virtually every year and this match-up with Dayton bodes well for Tulsa. Interesting.

Key Player: Swanson. He’s a 5’10” scoring dynamo and is their best bet for getting a few more points.

Actual Wins: 1 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

12. Weber St

Weber St., 26-5, Big Sky -- The Wildcats are riding high on a 17-game win streak after sweeping the conference. The streak began with a big win over BYU when Jermaine Boyette scored a career-high 37 points and was an instrumental force in the team’s biggest regular-season game of the year. Yugoslavian-born Slobodan Ocokoljic is more than just a mouthful, he’s a handful, too. The forward averages 15 and 8 boards per game but is a turnover machine. This school has been to the Dance before so they won’t be intimidated by the specter of it all. Don’t be shocked to see this team have enough juice to upset Wisconsin and possibly make its way to the Sweet 16.

Key Player:Jermaine Boyette. This boy-ette needs to be a man when the Wildcats takes center stage.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)

12. Wisc Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 24-7, Horizon -- Clay Tucker has been molded into a versatile senior forward for the Panthers. He averages 18.3 points, 5.0 boards, 4.1 dimes and 1.9 steals per game and is the biggest reason this squad has a shot at upsetting Notre Dame. Dylan Page helps form a high-scoring frontcourt that is more than able to compete with any squad. But Milwaukee’s strength is their passing evidenced by their 18.5 dimes per game, 4th best in the whole country.

Key Player: Tucker. Jack-of-all-trades gets a national showcase for his all-around talent.

Actual Wins: 0 (0 Wins Expected Based On Seed)