The Best Cinderella Pick in Every Region for March Madness 2026
March Madness is known for its upsets, and every year a few underdogs emerge to bust brackets across the country. With the 2026 NCAA Tournament set, here is one Cinderella team from each region that could make some noise and pull off a surprise run.
South Region: #11 VCU Rams
VCU Rams are no strangers to the NCAA Tournament, making their 15th appearance since 2004. Along the way they’ve delivered their share of memorable moments, including a shocking win over Duke in 2007 and their unforgettable 2011 run from the First Four all the way to the Final Four. This year’s Rams enter March Madness red hot, winning 16 of their last 17 games and cruising through the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.
A first round matchup with the North Carolina Tar Heels looks competitive on paper, with UNC listed as only a 2.5 point favorite. The Tar Heels are dealing with the absence of star forward Caleb Wilson, and the results haven’t been great. North Carolina was blown out by Duke without him and then lost to the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Tournament.
VCU feels like a strong candidate to advance at least one round. A potential second round meeting with Illinois would be a much tougher challenge, but the Rams could still have a chance if they land that matchup.
Mid-West Region: #12 Akron Zips
Akron Zips were the best team in the MAC this season and backed it up by winning the conference tournament, getting past Toledo in the championship game. They lost just once in MAC play all year, and that close loss came against Miami OH who went undefeated.
The matchup in Round 1 is what really makes this interesting. The Texas Tech Red Raiders have struggled late in the season after losing star forward JT Toppin to an ACL injury. They dropped their last three games, including a 22-point loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference tournament.
That makes this a pretty good first round draw for Akron. If the Zips can grab that opening win, they could ride the momentum and make a run to the second weekend for the first time in program history.
West Region: #12 High Point
After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time last season, High Point returns looking to pick up the program’s first March Madness win. The Panthers put together a remarkable 30-4 record, closing the regular season by winning 22 of their final 23 games.
Offense has been a big part of High
Point’s success. The Panthers average 91 points per game and feature three players scoring at least 12 points per contest, led by former Florida State forward Cam’Ron Fletcher.
High Point opens the West Region against Wisconsin, a talented team that has shown a tendency to play down to lesser opponents at times this season. If the Panthers can turn the game into an offensive battle, they have the firepower to challenge the Badgers and potentially pull off the upset.
East Region: #12 Northen Iowa
Northern Iowa is not new to playing the role of a Cinderella in March. The Panthers made a run to the Sweet 16 back in 2010 and also picked up tournament wins in 2015 and 2016. One reason the program has stayed competitive is head coach Ben Jacobson, who has been leading Northern Iowa for years and is closing in on 400 career wins with the school.
The Panthers entered the Missouri Valley Tournament as the No. 6 seed but got hot at the right time and rolled through the bracket. Earlier in the season they struggled when forward Tristan Smith missed time with an injury, but the team improved once he returned.
Smith gives Northern Iowa a strong presence inside, while guard Trey Campbell helps lead the offense. The Panthers also play a slower style and rely on defense to keep games close.
Northern Iowa opens the tournament against a red hot St. John’s team that has won 19 of its last 20 games. If the Panthers can control the pace, they could have a chance to pull off the upset.
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