Meet the championship contenders

— -- The most remarkable element of the NCAA tournament is its ability to spawn the Cinderella stories that we all love. Wichita State, VCU, Butler, George Mason. That's why so many watch. We await the upsets.

But the reality is that the blue-chippers have owned this tournament for decades. And it's likely that the 2014 installment of the Big Dance will follow the same script. We might see a few upsets, but there's a short list of teams that actually have the tools to win this thing.

Here they are, listed alphabetically:

Arizona

When Brandon Ashley suffered a season-ending foot injury in a loss at Cal on Feb. 1, Arizona lost a player who stretches the floor in ways that few can. The Wildcats also lost a key defender. But they're still No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency, per Ken Pomeroy, entering the Big Dance. The reconfigured Wildcats, who demand more significant roles for Gabe York and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, are still national-title good. They're backed by a pair of veteran guards, Nick Johnson and T.J. McConnell, in a tourney with a history of experienced backcourts that led their programs to the championship. Plus, Aaron Gordon is a problem for any opponent. Yes, the Wildcats can win it all.

Creighton

Florida

Iowa State

Kansas

Louisville

Michigan

Michigan State

Villanova

Virginia

Wichita State

Wisconsin