Most likely Cinderella teams of the 2017 NCAA Tournament

One of the front-runners in the always dangerous MAC conference, Akron went 26-9 last season and competed in the NIT. The Zips last made the NCAA Tournament in 2013.

Belmont has made the postseason in six straight seasons and went to the Big Dance in four of those years. Head coach Rick Byrd has another solid squad that is favored to win the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Mocs lost to Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed last season. Their three top scorers from last year's squad return this season, and the team is heavily favored in the Southern Conference.

For a program that started in 2002-03, the Eagles have had remarkable success in men's basketball. They were a Cinderella team as a No. 15 seed in 2013 with two wins, and they gave No. 1 seed North Carolina more than it bargained for in last year's tournament as a No. 16 seed. The team is heavily favored in the Atlantic Sun again.

Head coach Dan Monson doesn't shy away from tough schedules early in the season, which has usually helped the 49ers late in the year. They made the NIT last season and are favored in the Big West this season.

Monmouth gained national attention for its bench antics last year and made some noise in the NIT. The Hawks have higher hopes this season under head coach King Rice and are slight favorites in the MAAC.

Montana has made postseason play in consecutive years, but its last appearance in the NCAA Tournament was 2013. Top scorer from last year Martin Breunig is gone, but the team still returns plenty of talent.

The Wolf Pack is the defending CBI champ but last made the Big Dance in 2007. Nevada won at least one game in three of the six all-time appearances in the Tournament and is expected to compete with San Diego State for the Mountain West Conference title this season under second-year head coach Eric Musselman.

New head coach Paul Weir inherits a solid squad that has made the postseason five straight years, including four NCAA Tournament appearances. The team is favored in the WAC again, with last year's second-leading scorer Ian Baker returning.

Northern Iowa knows all about being a Cinderella after beating No. 6 seed Texas in the first round of the Big Dance last season. The Panthers also won one game in 2015 as a No. 5 seed. There is major turnover on this year's roster, but they still have a shot to win the Missouri Valley Conference under head coach Ben Jacobson.

The Bobcats last made the NCAA Tournament in 2012, when they were Cinderellas with two wins. They got to the semifinals of the CBI last season and have a good shot to win the MAC this year.

Princeton's last NCAA Tournament appearance was 2011, but the Tigers have a great opportunity to return this year. Henry Caruso, last season's top scorer, returns to the team's veteran lineup.

Rhode Island could make things interesting in the A-10 in what looks like a three-horse race between the Rams, VCU and Dayton. The team has made a quick rise under head coach Dan Hurley and returns the three top scorers from last season.

The Lumberjacks have made the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons and most recently upset No. 3 West Virginia last year. Kyle Keller has taken over as the team's head coach as the team tries to make up for the void left by the loss of top scorer Thomas Walkup. The Lumberjacks are still favored in the Southland Conference.

Siena last made the NCAA Tournament in 2010 but has won four games in the Big Dance during its history. Jimmy Patsos' squad made the CBI last season and should challenge in the MAAC this year.

Robert Ehsan takes over for Jerod Haase at UAB, trying to return the school to the postseason for the third straight year. The Blazers won the Conference USA regular-season title last season and return star forward Chris Cokley.

Russell Turner's Anteaters have made the postseason in four straight seasons, including the NCAA Tournament in 2015. They were the runners-up in the CIT last season, and top scorer Luke Nelson is back for his senior season. The squad's postseason experience could make it scary late in the year.

UNC Asheville fell to eventually champion Villanova in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, and the Bulldogs stand neck-and-neck with Winthrop in the Big South. The team's two top scorers from last season's team departed, but the Bulldogs could still be competitive late in the year.

Head coach Kevin Keatts has sparked a remarkable turnaround now entering his third season at Wilmington. The Seahawks finished tied for first in the CAA in each of the last two seasons and fell to Duke by only eight points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Arlington has made only one NCAA Tournament appearance in its history, but the Mavericks have the ability to return this season. Forward Kevin Hervey returns after scoring nearing 19 points per game last season, but he missed the second half of the season with a knee injury.

Matt Lottich has the tall task of replacing Bryce Drew at Valpo, and the team is a heavy favorite in the Horizon League again after four straight championships. Star forward Alec Peters is looking to cap off a great college career in his senior season.

Making the NCAA Tournament seems to be an annual foregone conclusion for VCU, who has now made six consecutive tournaments. Head coach Will Wade went 25-11 in his first season, but the team has big shoes to fill after losing top scorer Melvin Johnson. The Rams are still favored in the A-10.

The Catamounts won two games in the CBI last season but haven't made the NCAA Tournament since 2012. They do have two tournament wins in their history and are favored to win the America East.

Weber State has made the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons, though it doesn't have a tournament win to show for its efforts. Star forward Joel Bolomboy has graduated to the NBA, but Jeremy Senglin enters his senior season with the ability to carry the Wildcats.

The Eagles are led by 5-7 guard Keon Johnson, who averaged 18.7 points per game last season. Winthrop last made the Tournament in 2010 but is the front-runner in the Big South.