Elite Team Seizes Crown, Pepe's Elite Dominate!
There is no tradition in sports quite like the ‘Cinderella’ run. Every March, mid-major programs punch their tickets to the Big Dance, often arriving as double-digit seeds with little national recognition, but with plenty of upset potential. What makes them dangerous isn’t just the “underdog” tag — it’s the element of surprise.
Because most of the time these teams play outside the national spotlight, opponents often know very little about them. As we head into the 2026 tournament, three programs have the tools to disrupt the field and ignite their own ‘Cinderella’ run. 1) High Point University The High Point Panthers enter the tournament after a dominant 30-win season and are currently ranked third nationally in scoring ( 90.
0 PPG). This isn’t just a high-scoring team, though. The Panthers are a veteran-led group with postseason experience.
Senior guard Scotty Washington anchors the perimeter, providing elite efficiency with a 38. 2 three-point percentage. Additionally, if fans are looking for this year’s version of March Madness icon Jack Gohlke , they should look no further than Chase Johnston .
Johnston has been lethal from deep, shooting a staggering 48. 5 % on 132 attempts this season. Beyond volume shooting, High Point excels at free-throw shooting.