Picking Cinderella: A reason to root for each double-digit seed on Sunday
After an upset-filled opening day of the NCAA Tournament, the Round of 32 games are filled with double-digit seeds looking to extend their Cinderella runs.
If you're searching for an underdog team to ride with through the rest of the tournament, here's the list of choices heading into Sunday's action.
No. 15 Oral Roberts
Round of 64: Oral Roberts beat Ohio State 75-72 in overtime behind 59 combined points from stars Max Abmas and Kevin Obanor. The Golden Eagles became the ninth 15-seed all time to win an NCAA Tournament game.
Season resume: Despite an inconsistent summit league campaign that saw the school finish fourth, the Golden Eagles caught fire in their conference tournament and advanced to March Madness. Led by Abmas - the nation's leading scorer at 24.5 points per game - Oral Roberts gave Oklahoma State and Arkansas a scare back in December, showing its bracket-breaking ability.
Why you should root for them: Because 15-seeds don't come built like this often. Many times, major underdogs attempt to slow the game down and wear out their opponents, but Oral Roberts never stops running and makes more threes than any school in the country. If you're looking to back a team coming off a monumental upset that isn't afraid of the big stage, "Midcourt" Abmas and the Golden Eagles are the way to go.
No. 12 Oregon State
Round of 64: Oregon State led wire-to-wire to defeat Tennessee 70-56 thanks to 10 made threes and a stifling defense. The victory marked the Beavers' first NCAA Tournament win since 1982.
Season resume: After brutal non-conference performances that saw Oregon State lose to Wyoming and Portland - ranked 162nd and 327th in the NET, respectively - the Beavers turned it on down the stretch. They won six of their last seven to win the Pac-12 Tournament for the first time ever.
Why you should root for them: While Oregon State may not have a superstar leading the way, it gets something different from everyone in the rotation. Whether it's Ethan Thompson's drives, Jarod Lucas' sharpshooting, or Warith Alatishe's defense, each Beaver knows their role and doesn't try to do too much. This well-balanced squad is nearing uncharted territory in Oregon State's modern-day history.
No. 11 Syracuse
Round of 64: Syracuse handled San Diego State 78-62 behind Buddy Boeheim's 30 points and seven 3-pointers. Buddy's dad, coach Jim Boeheim became the first men's coach to win an NCAA Tournament game in six different decades.
Season resume: The Orange had an underwhelming regular season which saw them finish eighth in a below-average ACC and without a victory against the top 30 in the NET rankings. Still, it was assumed coach Boeheim's bunch would turn it on for March Madness, and that's exactly what happened in their blowout victory over the Aztecs.
Why you should root for them: Because this Syracuse squad seems to embrace the challenge of being a double-digit seed. After making the Final Four as a 10-seed in 2016, the Orange made the Sweet Sixteen as an 11 in 2018, and are at it again this year. If you're the type of person who likes to save your best for last, this surging Syracuse group is a great team to get behind.
No. 13 North Texas
Round of 64: North Texas upset Purdue 78-69 in overtime behind Javion Hamlet's 24 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. The win marked the Mean Green's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Season resume: Just three weeks ago, North Texas was 13-9 and entered its conference tournament as the sixth seed. Now, after winning four games in as many days to win the C-USA title and take down Purdue, the Mean Green are one of the hottest teams in the country.
Why you should root for them: Because this squad plays extremely hard and brings energy each game. The Mean Green are the definition of scrappy, and despite not having elite size, continue to find ways to pull out victories. Watching North Texas work hard on the court makes you want to finish those chores you've been putting off all week.
No. 10 Rutgers
Round of 64: Rutgers held on to beat Clemson 60-56 in a back-and-forth affair. The Scarlet Knights had four scorers in double figures to give the school its first March Madness win since 1983.
Season resume: This season was a roller coaster for Rutgers. After starting the campaign 7-1 and being ranked 11 in the AP Poll, it lost five straight, then won four in a row, and finally settled somewhere near the middle. Leading scorer Ron Harper Jr.'s effectiveness was a key factor, as he averaged 17.2 points per game in wins, and only 12.5 in losses.
Why you should root for them: Because Rutgers has been the laughing stock of modern-day Power 5 basketball. Not only did the Scarlet Knights win their first NCAA Tournament game in 38 years, but they've been shut out of the big dance entirely since 1991. Any further success this season would reach territory untouched since the mid-70s, so if you're interested in reliving the good old days, Rutgers is the team to back.