First Round Upset: No. 10 Maryland over No. 7 California: Maryland slipped in to the NCAA tournament thanks to an upset over Wake Forest in the ACC tournament and a close loss to eventual ACC Champion Duke.
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So, it's flying under the radar without a lot of pressure or expectations. It also has the kind of big-game player in junior guard Greivis Vasquez, leading the team in points, assists and rebounds, who could carry this team through the tournament. Maryland doesn't have a lot of height, which could pose a problem down the road, but California doesn't have strong interior play either. Timing is everything when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. Teams playing their best basketball at the season's end can help carry momentum into the Big Dance, but Cal has struggled as of late losing four out of their last six. As long as Maryland can contain Bears' shooter Jerome Randle, the Terps could pull off a first round upset in their 23rd trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Sleeper Team: Missouri
It's hard to call Missouri a sleeper team sitting at a No. 3 seed, but the Tigers come into March Madness with a lot of tenacity and nothing to lose. Missouri hasn't reached a NCAA Tournament in six years and was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 Conference. Ignoring critics, the Tigers put together a 28-6 season capped off by a Big 12 Tournament championship over Baylor. They love to pressure on defense and run the ball to establish a fast-paced, high-scoring tempo, leading the conference with an average of 81.1 points per game. A potential second-round encounter against Marquette could slow them down, but the absence of Golden Eagle guard Dominique James will likely give the Tigers the advantage to get past them. Connecticut has played sporadically since the loss of Jerome Dyson, and Missouri's style of play matches up very well with Memphis; so the West is really up for grabs. A game against Missouri has been called "the shortest 40 minutes in basketball." The Tigers frantic style of play has the ability to trip up defenses and could carry Missouri very far.
Impact player: Hasheem Thabeet
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