Two Mid-Majors Poised for March Madness Upsets

High Point and St. Louis look to crash the party as Cinderella teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:51pm

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The 2026 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to have some potential Cinderella stories, with two mid-major programs - High Point and St. Louis - emerging as teams to watch. High Point, the Big South champion, boasts an explosive offense and stifling defense that could pose problems for higher-seeded opponents. Meanwhile, St. Louis has had a strong season in the Atlantic 10 and could move up the seed lines with a conference tournament title, making them a dangerous potential upset pick.

Why it matters

Mid-major programs pulling off March Madness upsets have become a beloved tradition, captivating fans and showcasing the parity in college basketball. High Point and St. Louis represent the latest crop of potential Cinderella teams, bringing high-powered offenses, stingy defenses, and tournament experience that could allow them to make deep runs and knock off more heralded opponents.

The details

High Point, the Big South champion, is led by its high-octane offense that averages 90 points per game, ranking 5th nationally. The Panthers also excel at forcing turnovers, leading the country with 10.9 steals per game. St. Louis, meanwhile, has found success through its sharpshooting, ranking 10th in the nation with 11 made 3-pointers per game at a 40.5% clip. The Billikens also crash the boards well, grabbing 29.7 defensive rebounds per game, 3rd-best in the country.

  • High Point won the Big South tournament on March 10, 2026, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
  • St. Louis finished the regular season on March 5, 2026, tied for the Atlantic 10 title.

The players

High Point

The Panthers are a well-funded mid-major program that has won the Big South regular season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons, earning consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

St. Louis

The Billikens are an Atlantic 10 powerhouse that won a share of the regular season title and will be looking to claim the conference tournament crown and improve their NCAA Tournament seeding.

Darryn Peterson

A key player for Kansas who has been inconsistent in his play, creating uncertainty around the Jayhawks' prospects.

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What’s next

If High Point and St. Louis can win their respective conference tournaments, they will solidify their spots in the NCAA Tournament field and improve their seeding, potentially setting up intriguing matchups against top-tier programs.

The takeaway

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to have some exciting Cinderella stories, with High Point and St. Louis emerging as mid-major programs capable of pulling off upsets and making deep runs. Their high-powered offenses, stifling defenses, and tournament experience make them teams to watch as the madness of March unfolds.