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Top 10 NCAA Hoop Cinderella Men

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by Jim Weber
HOFN.com Exclusive

With all the unpredictability in the NCAA Tournament, only one thing is certain each year: Cinderella is always the star of the show. George Mason once shocked the basketball world.

The Patriots also proved that every Cinderella team has an individual in particular who captivates the nation's attention by willing his team to victory.

It could be a player looking like the boy next door or a tattooed giant from a trailer park. Some have catchy nicknames. Others triumph over personal tragedy. And every so often, it isn't even a player, but rather a coach.

No matter what the case, these are the Top 10 Cinderella Men, whose names and games we will never forget.

#10 Harold Arceneaux (Weber State)

Harold Arceneaux
Courtesy of Weber State Athletic Department

Better known as simply "The Show," Arceneaux led No. 14 Weber State to a 76-74 win over No. 3 North Carolina in the 1999 tournament.

Years later, then-Carolina coach Bill Guthridge used one word to describe Arceneaux's performance to the St. Petersburg Times: "unconscious."

How else do you explain a 36-point performance against a college basketball powerhouse, 20 of which came in the second half? Arceneaux hit 14 of his 26 shots from the field and five 3-pointers despite constant double teams.

To top it off, he then sealed the game with two free throws in the final seconds.

"The Show" followed that up with 32 points against Florida in the second round, bowing out in an overtime loss.

#9 Mouse McFadden (Cleveland State)

Mouse McFadden
Courtesy of Cleveland State Athletic Department

McFadden had the perfect name to play the underdog role, not to mention a great story.

A New York City playground legend and high school dropout that got his GED to play for the Vikings, he burst onto the scene as a 20-year-old freshman in the 1986 tournament. With his lightning speed, McFadden helped the No. 14 Vikings pull out an 83-79 shocker against Bobby Knight and Indiana in the first round.

He exploded for 23 points in a second round victory over St. Joseph's and was deemed the breakout star of the tournament after hitting 10 of his 15 shots to send CSU to the Sweet Sixteen.

There they lost to David Robinson and Navy by one point.

Click Here for #8 & #7 »



 

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