Let's clear something up. There seems to be a disconnect over what makes for a good Giant Killer.
As colleague Peter Keating and I have explained previously, we're looking at a specific type of upset in our analysis. We're not seeking to evaluate which mid-majors are the best teams; instead, we're looking at the little guys most likely to pull off tourney upsets. Our model spots trends among non-power-conference teams that knock off a favorite seeded at least five spots better, and history has shown that these teams share certain similarities in playing style.
These Davids aren't always the ones you'd expect based on national rankings or the RPI, though. Which brings us to the case of the Harvard Crimson.
To read more about why a team like Harvard will have a tougher time pulling off a tournament upset than some lesser, more volatile teams, plus get access to all of Insider's March Madness tips, sign up today.
Jordan Brenner | email
ESPN The Magazine contributing writerABOUT THIS BLOG
Giant Killers Blog
Giant Killers is Insider's annual metrics-based forecast of NCAA tournament upsets. A Giant Killer is a team that beats a tourney opponent seeded at least five spots higher. For a full explanation of our model, click here.
Peter Keating
Peter Keating is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine, where he has covered investigative and financial stories since 1999. His work on concussions in football has earned awards from the Deadline Club, the New York Press Club and the Center for the Study of Sport in Society. He joined the Giant Killers team in 2008.
Follow Peter Keating on Twitter.
Jordan Brenner
Jordan Brenner is a contributing writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Insider. He has covered pro and college basketball for the last decade and launched the Giant Killers project in 2006.
Follow Jordan Brenner on Twitter.
