The 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket isn't ripe for as many upsets as is usually expected, but there are still some Cinderella teams in the mix. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are one such team playing basketball while looking for their other shoe (or whatever it is that causes the Cinderella moniker).
Nate Wolters, a native of St. Cloud, got some good publicity on Tuesday morning when SB Nation's Bill Connelly wrote about the South region of the March Madness tourney. Connelly isn't high on anyone coming out of the South, but if there's an upset to be had, he chose the Jackrabbits.
I made a point yesterday to mention how Baylor lost only two games all season to teams outside of Pomeroy's Top 10, which makes the Jackrabbits an unlikely Cinderella pick. But the road isn't any easier for teams like New Mexico State, Colorado or last year's Cinderella VCU. If SDSU can somehow take Baylor out, they would face a semi-friendly matchup in the Round of 32. VCU, meanwhile, must take out the second- and third-best teams in the region (according to Pomeroy) to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Connelly also gave credit to Wolters by listing him as the player most likely to single-handedly take down region heavyweight writing the following about the South Dakota State star:
Nate Wolters, South Dakota State. Quite simply, the 6-foot-4 junior is SDSU's offense. He takes one-third of the Jackrabbits' shots when he is on the court (16.5 field goal attempts per game), he gets to the line (7.1 free throw attempts per game), and when he isn't shooting, he's either setting up a shooter (6.0 assists per game) or grabbing a rebound (5.2 boards per game). He isn't much of a 3-point shooter (24 percent), but he gets hot on occasion, and when he does, look out. For the season, Wolters averaged almost as many points (21.3) as SDSU's No. 2 and No. 3 scorers combined (22.0).
It was noted here earlier today that Jordan Dykstra could also surprise the Bears, but Wolters would be the one to single-handedly destroy them.
For more on the Jackrabbits, visit our team page. For more coverage of South Dakota State in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, visit our 2012 NCAA Tournament StoryStream. Oh, and here's a link to both the men's and women's printable NCAA Tournament bracket.