With the first days of action behind us, the 2013 NCAA Tournament has entered the phase of the Sweet Sixteen. In a stunning change of events, four of the 16 teams are seeded ninth or lower. The problem is, how far will each Cinderella go? An underdog is loved by everyone, however it is often difficult to find the equilibrium between what our heart says and what our minds should really be telling us. For that reason, an unbiased approach must be taken by us to the coming periods of the NCAA Tournament. For starters, we ought to acknowledge the ultimate underdog facta'at least one staff seeded No. 9 or lower is likely to make the Elite Eight. A Minumum Of One in the Elite Eight Jamie Squire/Getty Photographs One or more Cinderella story will carry on in to the Elite Eight, as No. 9 Wichita State represents No. 13 La Salle in the Sweet Sixteen. This West Region challenge may create a potential series with either No. 2 Ohio State or No. 6 Arizona. Quite simply, we could potentially view a No. 6 seed facing a No. 13 seed for a spot in the Final Four. Regardless of what transpires, we are guaranteed one or more underdog in the period of nine. Wichita State, an item of the Missouri Valley Conference, and La Salle, of the Atlantic 10, are your quintessential Cinderella stories. Wichita State took down No. 1 Gonzaga in the Round of 32 and a greatly favored No. 8 Pittsburgh team in the Round of 64. Manhattan project Salle, meanwhile, was forced to get a game to even enter the Field of 64. Once there, they beat Big 12 normal period champions Kansas State and SEC Tournament champions Ole Miss. On different sides of the bracket, No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast can play No. 3 Florida and No. 12 Oregon will play No. 1 Louisville. Oregon, the Pac-12 Tournament champions, have overcome a reduced seeding to upset No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Saint Louis. Texas Gulf Coast, meanwhile, has upset No. 2 Georgetown and No. 7 Hillcrest State on their solution to becoming the initial No. 15 seed in NCAA history to make the Sweet Sixteen. The question on everybody's mind is simple: can any of these groups make the Ultimate Four? Believe it or not, they could. However, they will maybe not. Exactly About Matchups Thearon T. Henderson/Getty Photos For Wichita State to help make the Final Four, they'll have to destroy No. 13 Manhunter Salle and either No. 2 Ohio State or No. 6 Arizona. This could look like a high task, but the Shockers are unlikely to be fazed. They have already overcome Gonzaga, VCU, Creighton, Pittsburgh and Southern Miss en route to their present situation. They are more than prepared for the job in front of them. When they can destroy La Salle, the Final Four is a reality. For La Salle, they have beaten Butler, VCU, Kansas State, Ole Miss and Boise State this season. The duty of getting down Ohio State or Arizona is rarely difficult for such an experienced squad. As long as they could conquer the Shockers, they too have the opportunity at the Ultimate Four. Unfortuitously for the most effective 50% of the group, No. 12 Oregon may play total No. 1 Louisville and No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast can experience No. 3 Florida. The chances are stacked against them, although it is hardly a difficult task for either group to attain success. Louisville's security is really as good while they come and the Gators have to be fed up with hearing about their in-state rival's Tournament achievement. How It Ends Ron Carr/Getty Pictures Our minds declare that Florida Gulf Coast will emerge victorious, but there's a reason Billy Donovan is just a two-time National Champion head coach. He'll have his group prepared and the Gators will put a psychological end to the Eagles' mysterious run. No matter how badly my heart informs me otherwise. Oregon's offense has been explosive and their rebounding out-of-this-world with Arsalan Kazemi on leading line. After seeing the Ducks annihilate one elite protection, however, do not assume the same mistakes to be made by Louisville as Saint Louis. Renowned head coach Rick Pitino today knows just what to study and how to accomplish better than Saint Louis did in the Round of 32a'expect them to do so. Both may have trouble avoiding the Elite Eight, when it comes to Wichita State and La Salle. Iowa State and Arizona current workable match-ups, but neither can see the Shockers or Explorers as walk-oversa'they'll make the depth discrepancy the determining factor. It has been an unpredictable Tournament, but the wonder will come to an end throughout the Elite Eight. Will not it?
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