2010 NCAA Dark Horse College Possibilities

The snow is melting away, the birds are singing, the flowers are beginning to bloom, baseball players are warming up down south, and just about every man in the nation is glued to the sports channel. This can only mean one thing: March Madness is upon us. Every year, there are several surprises as teams try to claw their way to the Final Four. This fight to the death will often produce some surprises as some team that was predicted to be eliminated in the first round or two, somehow makes it to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond. This year provides some of the same excitement as it is anyone's tourney, and there are plenty of teams and players with something to prove. Here is a look at three of these possible dark horse teams. At this point though, it is anyone's guess on who will still be around for the Final Four.

San Diego State Aztecs

While San Diego still hasn't played as of this writing, I think they really stand a good chance to make it past the first round and then some. San Diego State has shown the drive for this trophy in the Mountain West tourney. They came from nowhere to topple UNLV and get their ticket to the dance. One of the few teams that rarely makes this tournament, the Aztecs have something to prove. In the history of the school, they have yet to win it all. This young squad is hungry to end that drought. With Gay seemingly at the helm of this team, I think they can really get somewhere. The Aztec's point guard, D.J. Gay is the driving force on this bench, and he looks to carry the entire team to the promised land. This guy is viral to his team, and can get some of the worst players in the game to look like Joshua tearing down the walls of Jericho. Not only can he get anyone amped, Gay is like the energizer bunny and could log the most playing time of any player in the entire competition. It will be interesting to see just how far SDSU can get this March.

Saint Mary's Gaels

Saint Mary's is no stranger to this tournament, but for the first time in over 50 years, they have actually advanced. It was no surprise that this school was invited, but they may have shocked the entire free world by actually winning a first round game. 1959 was the last time this team was able to win a game in this tournament, until today. The amazing thing about this team is that there is not one outstanding player, but an entire team that is hungry and determined to make their impact. This entire team is in sync and on a mission. The best part about it for Saint Mary's, is that this team is young and will be even better next season. I see Saint Mary's definitely making the sweet sixteen and maybe beyond. There are going to be a couple upsets from this dark horse as they show that Saint Mary's can compete at this level. The last time they got past the first round, they won the whole thing. This year may be history repeating.

Murray State Racers

Another college in a drought, Murray State, has not only produced an upset, but with a third string backup that no one ever thought would get a 15 foot, game winner. This is a true upset in every sense of the word. This only goes to reinforce the fact that this team is tired of being beaten. With only one win in tournament history, these guys have decided that the drought is over, and the trophy is going with them. This game winning shot was not only from a bench player, but it was an off the wall surprise play that had not been used this season. The inventiveness of the coach and the drive of the players will take this team deep into the tourney. The Racers are here to stay and may be one of the greatest surprise winner stories in the history of the NCAA championship.

These three are not the only teams that could upset the entire bracket, but they stand a big chance of doing so. Their drive, heart, and desire can make any one of these teams a champion this year, but they will have some stiff competition. No one is counting out the top rated Kansas team just yet, and there are other teams that have much more talent standing in the way. Heart may not be enough, but we can all remember stories, movies like Rudy or Invincible come to mind, where heart can win a championship and dreams can become reality.

Sources:

NCAA Bracket

Point Guard Gay a Quiet Dynamo

Saint Mary's Basketball History

Murray State Stuns Vanderbilt in NCAA Opener