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Sleepers To Watch In The 2016 NCAA Tournament

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Now that the 2016 NCAA tournament field has been set, it’s time for the sleepers and Cinderellas to take over the college hoops world. However, for the purposes of this article, we will be tackling 10 sleepers to watch in the Big Dance.

Note: While teams like Indiana and Maryland are oozing with talent and both received No. 5 seeds, both squads don’t exactly fit the sleeper category, and are both capable of serious March Madness runs — and no one would be surprised if either team achieved that feat.

10. Wichita State Shockers

Wichita State Shockers Getty Images
The Wichita State Shockers might be going up against Vanderbilt first before it can even crack the field of 64, but folks can't forget that this Shockers team still has Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker. Oh yeah, just for the record, Wichita State entered the season by being ranked No. 10.

The Wichita State Shockers might be going up against Vanderbilt first before it can even crack the field of 64, but folks can't forget that this Shockers team still has Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker. Oh yeah, just for the record, Wichita State entered the season by being ranked No. 10.

9. Northern Iowa Panthers

Northern Iowa Panthers Getty Images
The Northern Iowa Panthers are capable of taking down any team in the country, and they also enter the dance on a red-hot six-game winning streak. Thanks to their red-hot ways as of late, the victories against North Carolina and Iowa State no longer look like flukes.

The Northern Iowa Panthers are capable of taking down any team in the country, and they also enter the dance on a red-hot six-game winning streak. Thanks to their red-hot ways as of late, the victories against North Carolina and Iowa State no longer look like flukes.

8. Seton Hall Pirates

Seton Hall Pirates Getty Images
Here's the best way to get some attention right before the dance: (1) Knock off two squads ranked in the top five in back-to-back games. (2) Win the Big East tournament. Folks, that is exactly what the Pirates did.

Here's the best way to get some attention right before the dance: (1) Knock off two squads ranked in the top five in back-to-back games. (2) Win the Big East tournament. Folks, that is exactly what the Pirates did.

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Getty Images
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish might be marching into the Big Dance with a No. 6 seed, but they can take down any team in this tournament. Yes, even the big boys. Notre Dame does have two victories over Duke and one against North Carolina, after all.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish might be marching into the Big Dance with a No. 6 seed, but they can take down any team in this tournament. Yes, even the big boys. Notre Dame does have two victories over Duke and one against North Carolina, after all.

6. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga Bulldogs Getty Images
It's crazy to think the Gonzaga Bulldogs will enter the tournament with a No. 11 seed. This is a squad that received some Final Four hype entering the season, and this is also a squad that has talents like Kyle Wiltjer on its side.

Translation: Watch out for the Bulldogs.

It's crazy to think the Gonzaga Bulldogs will enter the tournament with a No. 11 seed. This is a squad that received some Final Four hype entering the season, and this is also a squad that has talents like Kyle Wiltjer on its side.

Translation: Watch out for the Bulldogs.

5. Dayton Flyers

Dayton Flyers Getty Images
By now, the Dayton Flyers shouldn't be looked at as a sleeper/dark horse, but they enter the tourney with a No. 7 seed regardless. To make a long story short, this Dayton team is capable of making it to the second week of the dance.

By now, the Dayton Flyers shouldn't be looked at as a sleeper/dark horse, but they enter the tourney with a No. 7 seed regardless. To make a long story short, this Dayton team is capable of making it to the second week of the dance.

4. Iona Gaels

Iona Gaels Getty Images
Okay, so the Iona Gaels should be classified more as a Cinderella than a sleeper, but fans can keep this in mind: Don't sleep on the Gaels. First up, they will be going up against the Iowa State Cyclones, a team that was on the wrong side of a major upset during March Madness last year.

Okay, so the Iona Gaels should be classified more as a Cinderella than a sleeper, but fans can keep this in mind: Don't sleep on the Gaels. First up, they will be going up against the Iowa State Cyclones, a team that was on the wrong side of a major upset during March Madness last year.

3. Providence Friars

Providence Friars Getty Images
The Providence Friars have two big-time scorers in Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn. Said big-time scorers are more than capable of doing some March Madness damage. However, being the No. 9 seed, it won't be easy.

The Providence Friars have two big-time scorers in Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn. Said big-time scorers are more than capable of doing some March Madness damage. However, being the No. 9 seed, it won't be easy.

2. Texas Longhorns

Texas Longhorns Getty Images
The bad: The Texas Longhorns will take on Northern Iowa first.

The good: Texas has knocked off some of the best teams in the sport in 2015-16 (you know, like North Carolina and Oklahoma).

The better: Shaka Smart is Texas' head coach, and he is no stranger to making noise in the dance.

The bad: The Texas Longhorns will take on Northern Iowa first.

The good: Texas has knocked off some of the best teams in the sport in 2015-16 (you know, like North Carolina and Oklahoma).

The better: Shaka Smart is Texas' head coach, and he is no stranger to making noise in the dance.

1. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers Getty Images
Wisconsin completely cooled down at the end of the season with back-to-back losses. Before those losses, the Badgers turned a 9-9 record into a 20-10 record.

Given the fact that this team has taken down some of the best teams the Big Ten has to offer, I would say Wisconsin is more than capable of making it to at least the Sweet 16 — wouldn't you agree?

Wisconsin completely cooled down at the end of the season with back-to-back losses. Before those losses, the Badgers turned a 9-9 record into a 20-10 record.

Given the fact that this team has taken down some of the best teams the Big Ten has to offer, I would say Wisconsin is more than capable of making it to at least the Sweet 16 — wouldn't you agree?

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