March is my favorite month of the year. As winter turns into spring, the best season of sports is upon us. The month of March is the time we get to indulge ourself in the madness known as the NCAA tournament. What one of the best things about college basketball tournament is watching the little guys be successful on a national stage. In this article we count down the best Cinderella runs in the NCAA tournament.

10. 1996 Princeton Tigers (14th seed): beat No. 3 UCLA in the second round:

The 1996 Princeton Tigers did not have a Cinderella run per say. However, the Tigers had one of the best upsets in NCAA tournament history with an iconic storylines. Not many were expecting much when Coach Pete Carril’s Princeton Tigers drew Mike Tobey’s reigning National Champions UCLA Bruins in the 1996 tourney. Carril was the Ivy League’s winningest coach, and he was coaching his final year at Princeton. In 29 years, Carril compiled a 514–261 (.663 winning percentage) record. He is also the only coach to win 500 games without the benefit of athletic scholarships for his players. Carril won 13 Ivy League championships and received 11 NCAA berths. However, despite, all of this, nobody gave Carril and his squad a chance against the reigning champions. However, Carril's Tigers did not back down to the mighty Bruins. Princeton executed Carril's offensive strategy to perfection, milking down the clock with long, pass-heavy possessions. Knotted up at 41 with in the final seconds, sophomore Steve Goodrich hit freshmen Gabe Lewullis with a back door pass where he converted into a layup that sent the defending National Champions home. The Tigers beat the Bruins 43-41. That was Pete Carril's last win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYd9Tqiy-z8

9. 2008 Davidson Wildcats (10th seed): Beat 7th seed Gonzaga, No. 2 seed Georgetown, and No. 3 seed Wisconsin:

The 2008 tournament has seem to be reflected on Stephen Curry’s national coming out party. Curry carried the Wildcats on their Cinderella Elite Eight run. In the first game, Curry scored 40 points against Gonzaga. Then Curry put up 30 in Davidson’s wild comeback win over No. 2 seed Georgetown. With the whole nation watching during their Sweet Sixteen matchup against Wisconsin, Curry led the Wildcats with 33 points in an dominating 17 point victory over Wisconsin. In the elite eight, the Wildcats nearly upset eventual national champion Kansas, as Davidson’s Jason Richards missed a game winning 3 at the buzzer. Whatever scout that said Curry did not have the ability to carry an NBA team, obviously did not watch his remarkable 2008 tourney run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z fo Kf-Pw4M

8. 2013 Florida Gulf Coast (15th seed): Beat No. 2 Georgetown and No. 7 San Diego State. Lost to No. 3 Florida in the Sweet 16.

The Eagles were one of the biggest bracket busters in recent memory. In only their second year of postseason eligibility, the Eagles took the college basketball world by storm in their first berth of the NCAA tournament. Facing number 2 Georgetown, most people glanced over the Hoyas first round game over FGCU. However, all the attention turned towards FGCU once the game started. From the tip, The Eagles dominated the high powered Georgetown resulting in an 68-58 victory. Throughout the day, games kept cutting to FGCU's dominating performance that looked like repeatable clips of a high school all-star game dunk contest. FGCU proved they were more than a one hit wonder when they beat No 7 seed San Diego State. Led by Sherwood Brown, Bernard Thompson, and Chase Fielder, FGCU had an unheard of 112.8 efficiency rating in their 81-71 win over SDSU. With the win FGCU became the first 15th seed to ever win two games in a tournament and make the Sweet Sixteen.. FGCU's magical run in their game to number 3 Florida.

7. 1985 Villanova Nova Wildcats

During the 1984-1985 season, the Big East was the power horse conference in college basketball that produced two number one seeds, including defending champion Georgetown. The Villanova Wildcats finished third in their conference, and snuck into the tournament as the no. 8. During the final game of the regular season, The Wildcats became laughing stock in college basketball, after getting destroyed by Pittsburg 85-62 on national T.V. The storyline for the 1984-1985 Wildcats would dramatically change in the next 30 days. After beating Roy Tarpley's Michigan Wolverines, and Brad Daugherty's Tar Heels, the Wildcats had to face reigning National Champion Georgetown, led by future NBA HOF Patrick Ewing. Going into the game, the Hoyas were 35-3, riding a 17 game winning streak. Fighting against all odds, the Wildcats' undersized center Ed Pinkley, was able to hold the future HOF to 14 points. The Wildcats beat the Hoyas 66-64. The Wildcats are still the lowest seeded team to win the National Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGrzYe9qP7g

6. 2011 Virginia Commonwealth University (11th seed): Beat No. 11 Southern California, No. 6 Georgetown, No. 3 Purdue, No. 10 Florida State and No. 1 Kansas.

Shaka Smart’s Rams were the last team to be selected for the 2011 tournament. Initially, there was criticism towards the committee for picking them. However, the Rams proved the critics wrong! The Rams tortured their opponents with their pressure press “havoc” defense. Incorporating the havoc defense, experienced seniors, and lights out three point shooting, the Rams destroyed their first 3 opponents in the tournament, winning by an average of 17 points. The Rams snuck by Florida State 72-71 in the Sweet Sixteen, but the Rams returned to dominate form thrashing top seeded Kansas to reach the final four. The Rams would fall to in the National Semi-Finals to the Butler Bulldogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGrzYe9q

5. 2013 Wichita State Shockers (9th seed): Beat No. 8 Pittsburgh, No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 13 La Salle and No. 2 Ohio State.

Gregg Marshall's Wichita State Shockers made a name for themselves in their 2013 run to the final four. Marshall hammered the term "play angry" into the Shockers players. The Shockers' physical man-to-man defense allowed them to shut down Pittsburg in the first round, and then grind out a grueling win against Ohio State to get to the final four. Against top seeded Gonzaga, the Shockers gave up their double digit lead and found themselves trailing by 8 late in the second half. However, the Shockers were able to make a late run, hitting 5 consecutive threes to take the lead. The Shockers' run would end at the hands of eventual National Champion, Louisville. The Shockers took the momentum from their final four run into their next season, finishing the regular season 30-0. The Shockers have established themselves as one of the country’s best mid majors, making them a team to watch for in the postseason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRQr CultuRE

4. George Mason (11th seed): Beat No. 6 Michigan State, No. 3 North Carolina, No. 7 Wichita State and No. 1 Connecticut.

The 2006 George Mason team is one of the most iconic tournament teams in college basketball history. The Patriots were an experienced team, that prided themselves on their suffocating defense. Their attitude was a huge reason why they became the first mid major team to make a Final Four run in the current 64 team field. George Mason was a team that lacked size; their tallest player at 6’7. Despite this, all five of their starters averaged double figures, and forward Jai Lewis was one of the best frontcourt players in the tournament. The Patriots knocked off perennial powers Michigan State, and then North Carolina to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Then the Patriots beat a fellow mid major, Wichita State, in the Sweet Sixteen. The Patriots then shocked top seeded Connecticut in overtime to reach the Final Four. George Mason would lose to eventual National Champion Florida.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pes91XdfJsM ebc=ANyPxKohqqEQCDpy2rFm9ysNpNH hD2zRSW4-eLzv11_9iT8dz6_a7dkHk46Ioj_3ibO_15QcuAFniupb-Yq nzQz3N97RbPmg

3. 2011 Butler Bulldogs (8th seed): Beat No. 9 Old Dominion, No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 2 Florida and No. 11 VCU.

After going making a Cinderella run to the title game in 2010, the Bulldogs barely made it into the tourney the following year. Butler played 4 thrilling games to get into the Final Four: beating Old Dominion by 2, by one against top seeded Pittsburgh, Wisconsin by 7, and Florida in overtime. Butler then ended VCU, winning 72-70. However, in the title game Butler shot less than 40% from the field and fell to UConn 53-41.

2. 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack (6th Seed)

Jim Valvano's 1983 Wolf Pack team is one of the first things to come to mind when debating a March Cinderella story. The NCST Wolfpack had one of the most iconic runs in the history of sports. The NCST tourney run was thrilling from the very beginning, with a Cortez McQueen last second tip in to prevent the Wolfpack from being upset by number 11 seed Pepperdine. Then the Wolfpack beat number 3 seed UNLV followed by Ralph Sampson’s top seeded Virginia Cavaliers. In the Championship game, the Wolfpack stunned Akeem Olajuwon. The Wolfpack became the first number 6 seed to win the National Championship. The 1983 National Championship is still considered one of the most iconic sports moments of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICZ8HO8c9bw

1.1990 Loyola Marymount University

Using coach Paul Westhead’s run and gun style, 1990 LMU team had one of the most prolific offenses in college basketball history. The Lions averaged 122.4 points per game and they were ranked 22nd in the nation at the end of the season. LMU had all the ingredients for a Cinderella run. However, in the second round of the WCC conference tournament, tragedy struck. LMU's best player Hank Gathers, who lead the nation in scoring at (35.3 ppg), collapsed on the court and died of heart failure. Motivated and angered with grief, Loyola became the second 11th seed to make it the Elite Eight. The Lions offensive exploded in the tournament. In the first round LMU beat 6 seed NMSU 111-92. Bo Kimble, Gather's childhood best friend, scored 45 points in LMU’s first round game, and is remembered for shooting his first free throw with his left hand to honor his fallen friend. That event is still regarded as one of the most powerful moments in sports history. In the second round, LMU thumped defending national champion Michigan 149-115. (That is not a typo). The Lions would win a low scoring 62-60 game over Florida State before falling to eventual National Champion UNLV in the Elite Eight. Even though the Lions did not win the title, they displayed courageous heart in the midst of terrible circumstances. They will always be remembered as America’s Cinderella team.

As we reflect on the stories of the past, we get to look forward to the potential stories that will play out this year. This has already been a crazy college basketball season that has manifested improbable twist and turns. Which team will be this year’s Cinderella story? Will Wichita State make another historic run, or is it time for a new team to make themselves known on a national stage? I can't wait to find out!