So long, slipper: Why Cinderella will be harder to find at March Madness this season

The allure of Cinderella stories in March Madness draws fans, yet the tournament's expanding landscape poses challenges for underdog teams. With 76 teams competing, fewer small schools can make deep runs as bigger programs wield more influence. Niko Medved, a former Colorado State coach, predicts it may become harder for smaller schools to advance.

Established teams like Gonzaga and Butler, once Cinderellas, now dominate the bracket. Mid-major programs such as St. Peter’s have seen key players transferred to larger conferences. Meanwhile, expansion benefits the big conferences, which gain more automatic-qualifier spots. As a result, the chances of a Cinderella team emerging decrease while the likelihood of a massive upset increases.

Teams that defy expectations, like N.C. State, still exist but represent the exception rather than the norm.