Each season, I chronical potential March Madness Cinderella Stories by writing two articles that detail teams across that could become a feel-good story come March.   .  The first article is written around the midpoint of the season (late January/early February) and the second is published  just as the conference tournaments begin.  Here is the first of those two annual editions.

While almost all mid-major college basketball teams have the chance to play Cinderella come Christmas Day (aka the first round of the NCAA tourney), it is particularly special when these teams have an inspiring sentimental storyline.  Often times this involves a squad making its first trip to the Big Dance (see Northern Colorado in 2011).  Other times there is a likable coach who warms the hearts of the nation (see Pete Carril in 1994, Andy Enfeld in 2012).  Inevitably, when the second week of March comes around, these stories will come to fruition.  In the meantime, it’s worth looking at the standings and checking out which mid-major conference leaders/contenders and other probable NCAA Tournament teams could inspire us during the first few weeks of March. 

It is worth noting that I have a pretty good track record of identifying potential March Madness Cinderella Stories. For instance, I chronicled Loyola-Chicago in my early edition of this article in 2018, almost two months before the world discovered Sister Jean and the Ramblers. Last year, I wrote about the FAU Owls in this article, well before their Cinderella march to the Final Four. So without further ado, here is my early list of potential Cinderella teams in 2024. Only teams currently in first or second place of their respective conferences or squads currently in the hunt for an at-large bid will be included in this column.  They are listed in alphabetical order by conference.

Stetson (Atlantic Sun)– The Hatters have one of the better nicknames in the sport and one of the prettiest campuses, but they have never made it to the Big Dance in their 52 year history of playing Division 1 hoops. That could all change this year, however, as Stetson currently finds themselves tied for second place in the Atlantic Sun standings.

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Central Arkansas (Atlantic Sun)– Stetson isn’t the only Big Dance virgin that is currently tied for second place in the A-Sun . The Bears from Central Arkansas also hold that distinction. They haven’t been in Division 1 nearly as long as Stetson (joined in 2011), but they are just as eager to earn their first tourney bid this season.

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UMass-Lowell (America East)– The River Hawks have knocked on the door of the Big Dance for the past few seasons but have yet to earn their first tourney bid. This year’s squad might give them the best chance yet, as they are currently tied with the mighty Catamounts of Vermont for first place in America East. 

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High Point (Big South)– Neither the great Tubby Smith or his son G.G. were able to guide the Panthers to their first-ever NCAA tournament. They have since left town and first year coach Alan Huss, who has worked himself up from the high school ranks (starting at Culver Military Academy in 2007), surprisingly has the Panthers alone atop the Big South with a 4-0 conference mark and a 15-4 overall record. Could this be the year that the Panthers finally go dancing? 

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Nebraska (Big Ten)– The Cornhuskers hold the dubious distinction of being the only Power 5 school never to win an NCAA tournament game. They have a great chance of ending that drought in 2024, as they currently sit on the 10 line in my most recent NCAA tournament bracket projection. 

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Louisiana Tech (Conference USA)– The Bulldogs have been featured on this list several times in the past few seasons, as they are still searching for their first NCAA tournament bid since 1991. This season they are once again primed to end that drought given that they are currently tied for second in the C-USA standings and possess the highest NET ranking of anyone in the league. 

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Quinnipiac (Metro Atlantic)– The Bobcats are the only remaining Big Dance virgins in the Metro Atlantic, but they are great shape to finally put on dancing shoes in 2024 as they are stand alone in second place in the current conference standings.

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Toledo (MAC)– We have been certainly been down this road before. Every year when I write this column, I am always shocked to see that the Rockets still haven’t played in an NCAA tournament since 1980. This university always seems to field very good teams that fall short of their conference tourney crown every March. In fact, the past three seasons, Toledo has been # 1 seed in the MAC tourney and has been upset in each of those brackets. This season, the Rockets once again find themselves atop the the league standings with a perfect 5-0 conference mark. Will this be the year the Rockets finally launch themselves into the Dance?

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New Mexico (Mountain West)– The Lobos are one of the six Mountain West teams I currently have earning an NCAA tournament bid at this point time, and even though they have danced as recently as 2014, their current personnel would make them a very intriguing NCAA tournament story. The reason being is that in the early 19090’s Rick Pitino began his dynasty at Kentucky by recruiting and developing future NBA star Jamal Mashburn. In fact, Mashburn was Kentucky’s best player on the 1992 team that lost to Christian Laettner in the greatest game ever played. Now, over 30 years later, Pitino’s son (Richard) coaches Mashburn’s son (Jamal Jr.) at New Mexico. If the Lobos were to dance this season, it would truly be a full circle moment in the world of college hoops.

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Sacred Heart (Northeast)- The Pioneers of Sacred Heart are another Big Dance virgin in prime position to earn their first tourney bid in 2024. Currently, they are in second place in the NEC standings.

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Western Illinois (Ohio Valley)- The Leathernecks have one of the great nicknames/mascots in Division 1 and have never gone dancing before (joined Division 1 in 1982). However, this season they have switched over from the Summit League to the more geographically compatible Ohio Valley Conference and find themselves alone atop the OVC standings as a result.

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Washington State (Pac-12)– The Cougars currently have the longest NCAA tourney drought amongst Power 5 programs, as they have not gone dancing since I was finishing up college back in 2008. Surprisingly, Klay Thompson was never able to lead the Cougs to the Big Dance during his three year stint in Pullman from 2008-2011. Nevertheless, the Cougs are squarely on this year’s NCAA tournament bubble, as I have them as my 5th team outside the field in my most recent bracket projection. They have also pulled off one of the biggest wins on the west coast this season with their three point triumph over Arizona last week.

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Samford (Southern)– The top two teams in the current SoCon standings have not danced since at least the turn of the century, as Samford is seeking to end a 24 year tourney drought with a 5-0 start to league play. 

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Western Carolina (Southern)– The last time the Catamounts made it to the NCAA tournament they had a three point shot at the buzzer to become the first 16 seed ever to beat a 1 in 1996. Unfortunately, that shot against Purdue rimmed out, and Western Carolina has been trying to claw their way back to the Big Dance ever since. Now, under the leadership of former Wake Forest standout Justin Gray, Western Carolina is poised to end their 28 year tourney drought, as they find currently themselves in second place in the SoCon with a 4-1 league record.

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Nicholls State (Southland)- Like WCU above, the Colonels haven’t danced since the late 90’s, but this season they find themselves tied for second place in their league standings.

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Grambling (MEAC)– Despite their impressive football legacy that includes the likes of Eddie Robinson, Doug Williams and others, this school has never earned an NCAA tourney bid in men’s basketball in its 46 year history as an NCAA division 1 member. This year, however, the Tigers are tied for second place in the loss column in the SWAC standings.

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Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)– Like Grambling State above, the Bethunies (as I call them) are also Big Dance virgins currently tied for second place in the MEAC standings.

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Denver (Summit)– The Pioneers have one of the most prominent collegiate skiing programs in the country with 24 national championships, but they have never sniffed the Big Dance in basketball. This season, they are looking to change that, as they are currently tied with the mighty Jackrabbits of South Dakota State atop the Summit League standings. 

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