This week marks the start of March Madness, the NCAA Tournament that is annually filled with major programs falling to mid-major universities that are unknown to the masses. While teams like Florida Gulf Coast running to the Elite Eight is exceedingly rare, there are typically double-digit seeds that make impressive progress.
Sports World News guide to March Madness Bracket games
At Sports World News, we will profile the potential bracket busters this year, so that you know what you're getting into when you plug in your Cinderellas. We’ve already covered the Mercer Bears, and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. Next up is another lively No. 14 seed, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.
North Dakota State Bison (25-6, 12-2 Summit) Key Victories: @ Notre Dame, Delaware
The Bison are an intriguing upset pick as the No. 12 seed in the West region, as a No. 5 seed typically goes down in its first game annually. They enter this game with the highest team field goal percentage in the entire nation (50.9 percent), and a Top 50 outfit in terms of points per game (76.4).
They are led by a trio of impressive upperclassmen, with senior Taylor Braun out front with 18.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He attempts 11.2 shots per game and connects 49 percent of the time, including a 40.1 percent mark from 3-point land.
Their second-leading scorer, senior forward Marshall Bjorklund is even more efficient—Bjorklund scores 13.4 points per game by converting 63.6 percent of his 8.7 attempts.
With an offense as balanced and potent as they possess, it might be a red flag that they’re only able to manage a No. 12 seed. That is because this team is downright deficient on the boards, coming in as the country’s 279th-best rebounding squad. The only roster one player listed as taller than six feet, eight inches.
Should Oklahoma be worried?
In short, yes. The Sooners have faced tougher competition all year, and are a highly effective offensive team in their own right, but are dominated by underclassmen and have the same problems with size as the Bison.
North Dakota State doesn’t profile as a defensive powerhouse, so Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield could present issues at his 16.8 ppg clip, but the Bison may just be the best bet among the four 12-seeds.
They will tip this game off on Thursday at 7:27 p.m. ET on Tru TV.
Do you see ND State knocking off the Sooners? Tell us your upsets @SportsWN
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