re: What makes a team a "Cinderella" team?

As per the fable, a Cinderella team is one who shows up to the ball without an invitation and makes a splash. One-bid conferences don't get invitations, they get an auto bid for winning the conference tournament. No one other than themselves wants them to be there. If such a team pulls of an upset or two in the NCAA tourney, they get the Cinderella label.

Oral Roberts is definitely a Cinderella. Loyola is in my mind since they knocked off a #1 seed early. ACU was briefly.

Alabama would have gotten an invitation even if they had lost in the conference tournament.