Defense wins championships, but offense makes upsets
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The old adage that defense wins championships is true, but when it comes to the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, offense is what provides the annual tradition of upsets.
Getting into a shootout is playing with fire, which is exactly what higher seeds don't want to do against these schools who proved they can score at will during the season:
| Scoring Rank | Team | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | No. 10 Oklahoma State | 85.5 |
| 10 | No. 12 UNC Wilmington | 85.2 |
| 17 | No. 10 Marquette | 82.5 |
| 20 | No. 10 Wichita State | 82.1 |
| 29 | No. 15 North Dakota | 80.5 |
| 30 | No. 14 Iona | 80.5 |
| 37 | No. 12 Nevada | 80.0 |
| 43 | No. 13 Winthrop | 79.7 |
| 45 | No. 14 FGCU | 79.4 |
| 47 | No. 9 Virginia Tech | 79.3 |
Here are three teams that have upset potential due to their offenses.
10 Oklahoma State vs. 7 Michigan
Oklahoma State is known for its high-scoring offense in football, but that's also true on the hardwood, as Jawun Evans (19), Jeffrey Carroll (17.4), and Phil Forte III (13.3) combine for 49.7 points per game.
Michigan shot 52.9 percent against Illinois earlier in the season, but still lost by 16 points, as the Fighting Illini shot 64.2 percent.
The Cowboys scored 82 points on a stingy West Virginia squad in Morgantown during the season, and in their last four losses - all to ranked teams - Oklahoma State lost by an average of just five points.
All it takes is one defensive stop and a basket for Oklahoma State to provide the upset.
10 Wichita State vs. 7 Dayton
The Shockers are known for stingy defense and relentless hustle, but this season, Wichita State complements that with a top-20 offense, making them a real threat.
Their schedule didn't stand out, but what did was how Wichita State cruised through it, en route to a 30-4 record and leaving many to wonder where the Shockers would be seeded.
The Selection Committee elected to go with a No. 10 seed, which should worry higher-ranked teams, including Dayton.
Though the Shockers rank 16th in scoring, it's a team effort, as six players average seven points or more, to go along with their 14th-ranked defense.
Of the last 14 NCAA champs, 13 have been top 20 in offensive and defensive efficiency, which puts Wichita State in the same league as Villanova, Kentucky, and Gonzaga this year.
12 UNC Wilmington vs. 5 Virginia
Entering the tournament, the Seahawks have the fourth highest scoring offense, but face a team on paper that's a complete mismatch.
Virginia ranks first in the country in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 55.6 points per game. However, during a four game slide at the end of the season, the Cavaliers allowed 66 points on average.
Something will have to break between the polar opposites, as the Seahawks have four players who go for over 12 points per game.
In last years tournament, UNC Wilmington took No. 4 seed Duke down to the wire, as they held a 43-40 halftime lead, only to lose by eight. Four starters from last years squad return, while sixth man Jordon Talley is also back.
Other Notes
Don't sleep on No. 13 Winthrop being a handful for No. 4 Butler, as guard Keon Johnson ranks 10th in the country with 22.5 points per game. As well, No. 7 South Carolina should be weary of No. 10 Marquette, who took down No. 1 Villanova during the season. Also, who could forget Dunk City being back, as No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast looks to rekindle their magic from 2013 when they made the Sweet 16. The Eagles face No. 3 Florida State.