CSU Rams represent dwindling hope for March Madness upsets

The Cinderella stories in NCAA basketball are becoming rare. Colorado State University's Rams are one of the last teams with a chance to surprise everyone and keep this spirit alive. They need just one more upset victory to reach the Sweet 16. Coach Niko Medved believes in his players and their ability to defy the odds. The landscape of college basketball is changing. High salaries for top high school players and the transfer portal make it hard for smaller schools to compete. Coaches like Dusty May from Florida Atlantic see fewer underdog stories in the future. The rules now favor bigger schools, where money plays a major role in building strong teams. In previous years, smaller teams like St. Peter's and Davidson found success, but today, those stories seem unlikely. Many talented players are leaving smaller programs for better deals with larger schools. For example, Belmont University lost key players who opted for teams offering more money. This year, CSU is the lowest seed left in the tournament. Fans are hoping for the Rams to keep their winning streak alive. Even though there are teams like Arkansas, with wealthy backers, dominating the scene, a good upset could still happen. While college basketball is evolving, Medved hopes for the best for his team and wants to maintain a heart in the game, despite the competitive nature of recruiting and funding. It's clear that for the joy of March Madness to continue, teams like CSU need to keep surprising us.