Six dark-horse teams that could shake up March Madness

As the intensity of conference play rises, the spectacle of March Madness nears. While the usual suspects and perennial powerhouses hog the limelight, this year's tournament again offers the possibility for underdog teams to make waves. 

Here are six teams that  could emerge as formidable challengers to the big dogs in March:

Northwestern Wildcats (12-3)

Sitting second in the competitive Big Ten, Northwestern is led by the dynamic graduate student Boo Buie, who is on the 2024 Bob Cousy Award watch list (given to the best point guard in college basketball) as one of the nation's top guards.

Averaging 18.1 points and 5.1 assists, Buie has demonstrated his ability to shine under the spotlight, scoring a season-high 31 points to go along with nine assists, four rebounds and two steals in a thrilling 92-88 overtime victory against No.1 Purdue. Northwestern's exceptional ball-sharing skills, highlighted by the eighth-best 1.78 assists-to-turnover ratio, make the Wildcats a team to watch as March approaches.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-3)

Nebraska has quietly built momentum, recently stunning top-ranked Purdue 88-72. Senior guard Keisei Tominaga scores a team-high 14.6 points per game, and junior forward Rienk Masts lead the charge in the paint corralling 8.7 rebounds a game. Tominaga showcases a lethal limitless range three-point shot reminiscent of Steph Curry's. The Cornhuskers' ability to upset giants makes them a team with the potential to mirror the Cinderella run of Davidson in 2008.